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Courting controversy Justice Roberts: Pro or Con?By Rick Horowitz
It's simple, really: Conservatives like the John Roberts nomination because John Roberts is one of them. Liberals don't like the John Roberts nomination because John Roberts is not one of them. Conservatives like the John Roberts nomination because they know John Roberts could change the direction of the Supreme Court for decades to come. Liberals don't like the John Roberts nomination because they know John Roberts could change the direction of the Supreme Court for decades to come. Folks on the far right like the John Roberts nomination, but they wish he had fire coming out of his nostrils; they've been dreaming of a nominee who has fire coming out of his nostrils. Folks on the far left don't like the John Roberts nomination because he doesn't have fire coming out of his nostrils; it's easier to demonize someone who has fire coming out of his nostrils. Folks on the not-so-far right think the John Roberts nomination was a brilliant move by President Bush. Folks on the not-so-far left think the John Roberts nomination was a brilliant move by whoever advises George Bush on the important stuff. Folks on the far right are just the slightest bit nervous about John Roberts -- there's the no-fire-in-the-nostrils thing, and then there's the Republican-establishment thing. Folks on the far right don't want an establishment pick; they want a revolutionary. Folks on the far left are more than slightly nervous about John Roberts -- there's the no-fire-in-the-nostrils thing, and then there's the Republican-establishment thing. Folks on the far left have had it up to here with the Republican establishment. Folks on the not-so-far left wonder if they should count their blessings. Compared to some of the other people the president could have nominated, John Roberts isn't the most provocative of the bunch. Folks on the not-so-far right wonder if they should count their blessings. Compared to some of the other people the president could have nominated, John Roberts doesn't guarantee an all-out fight in the Senate. Folks on the far right worry that John Roberts doesn't have a paper trail. They're afraid he could be a Souter in sheep's clothing. Folks on the far left worry that John Roberts doesn't have a paper trail. They're afraid he could be a Scalia in sheep's clothing. The leaders of the far right say they're pleased as punch with the John Roberts nomination -- they say the president lived up to the commitment he made to them. Of course, if they say otherwise, it would mean that they don't have all the clout they claim to have. (And they wouldn't get to spend all the money they've raised to support the nominee.) The leaders of the far left say they're angry as hell about the John Roberts nomination -- they say the president has done exactly what they knew he'd do. Of course, if they say otherwise, it would mean the president isn't quite as awful as they claim he is. (And they wouldn't get to spend all the money they've raised to defeat the nominee.) Folks on the not-so-far left think maybe John Roberts won't be so bad. Everyone says that John Roberts is a thoroughly nice guy, and folks on the not-so-far left simply don't believe that anyone that nice could really be a conservative. They hope he'll "grow in office." Folks on the not-so-far right think maybe John Roberts will be just perfect. Everyone says that John Roberts is a thoroughly nice guy, and folks on the not-so-far right know they could use another likable conservative on the court. They worry that he'll "grow in office." Folks on the not-so-far left see the folks on the far right celebrating the John Roberts nomination, and it confirms their worst fears. Folks on the far right see the folks on the not-so-far left holding back just a bit from criticizing the John Roberts nomination, and it confirms their worst fears. The more the folks on the not-so-far left seem willing to live with John Roberts, the more the folks on the far right will start to wonder about him. (And the angrier the folks on the far left will get.) The folks on the far right will start to wonder if the folks on the not-so-far left are saying they can live with John Roberts just to drive the folks on the far right crazy. So here's where things stand, very early in the process: John Roberts should be able to get all the votes he needs, unless it looks like he'll get a lot more votes than he needs -- in which case he might not get enough votes at all. Any questions? Posted 7/21/05. Rick
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Rick Horowitz
