Judge John Roberts Watch: No Ideologue

Senate Judiciary Committee member, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., left, greets Chief Justice nominee John Roberts on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005 prior to the committee’s confirmation hearing for Roberts.

The ASSociated Press has Roberts Says He Won’t Be Ideologue.

Chief Justice nominee John Roberts wound up three days of sometimes-contentious Senate testimony Thursday by telling wary Democrats that ideologues don’t belong on the Supreme Court. He said his record shows he will rely on the law, not personal views.

Persistent grilling by Democrats on the Judiciary Committee made no apparent inroads in Roberts’ support among the Senate’s majority Republicans, who plan to vote the week after next to make him the nation’s 17th chief justice.

Roberts tried to reassure Democrats that he would use the “rule of law,” not his personal beliefs, to judge cases that come before the high court.

“I think if you’ve looked at what I’ve done since I took the judicial oath, that should convince you that I’m not an ideologue,” Roberts said after an impassioned plea by Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California and Charles Schumer of New York for him to explain what kind of chief justice he would be. As for ideologues, he said, “you and I agree that that’s not the sort of person we want on the Supreme Court.

The leftie Democrats are stymied. Checkmate!

For what reason would any Senator oppose this nomination besides blatant partisan politics.

Flap is anxious to hear from California Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein. DiFi voted to confirm Roberts two years ago for the Court of Appeals, she is up for re-election in 2006, and is considered a moderate Democrat.

If she does not vote to confirm Roberts (Senator Orrin Hatch is correct), then she will probably be unable to vote for any candidate nominated by President Bush.

The Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, Arlen Specter, should move up the timetable and vote this nominee out of committee early so the Senate can confirm Roberts before the first Monday in October.

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