More on Roberts's Partisan Activities

by Chris Bowers, Wed Jul 20, 2005 at 04:54:12 PM EST

Surprise, surprise. Roberts's work for Ken Starr was not about being an advocate, it was about furthering the conservative political agenda:
Solicitor General Kenneth W. Starr is expected to name Washington attorney John G. Roberts Jr. to be the "political" deputy in the solicitor's office, the government's advocate before the Supreme Court.

Roberts, 34, a former clerk to Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, met Starr when both worked as aides to Attorney General William French Smith in the early Reagan years.

The job, counselor to the solicitor general as well as deputy solicitor general, was created in 1982 after strong conservative criticism that the traditionally independent office was not forceful enough in pushing the administration's social agenda at the high court. Of the five deputies in the office, the political deputy is the only non-career appointee.

This was a position created in order to further a partisan agenda, not to enhance the legal capabilities of the solicitor general. It was created to render a "traditionally independent" office less independent and more politically partisan. Is it that much of a stretch to argue that the second Bush is trying to hire Roberts in order to perform the same function on the Supreme Court?




Tags: Republicans (all tags)

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Roberts satisfies the 3 Republican interests (none / 0)

First he satisfies the Right-To-Life anti-abortion wing of the party.

Second he satisfies the corporatist croud.

And third and probably most important he satisfies the facist/Neocon Bush, Cheney, Rove, Gonzalez, Rumsfield, Wolfowitz faction.

Add to that he's a Republican operative and probably a corupt one at that.

Councilman Bill Painter
by Painter2004 on Wed Jul 20, 2005 at 05:08:30 PM EST

worse and worse (none / 0)

Every time I read something

Trillin
http://www.mnleftyliberal.blogspot.com

by trillin on Wed Jul 20, 2005 at 05:28:12 PM EST

Just Tossing Out Stuff Won't Work (none / 0)

The position in question has also existed in Democratic administrations, and has been held by some fairly prominent attorneys. Attacking Roberts' tenure at the SG's office is unlikely to produce results. People should do a little research before throwing everything at the wall in hopes something sticks. That is an extremely ineffective tactic and is rapidly undermining the credibility of Roberts' critics.
by SLinVA on Thu Jul 21, 2005 at 12:13:10 AM EST

Re: Just Tossing Out Stuff Won't Work (none / 0)

So the position was created in a Republican adminsitration, what is the next Democrat suppose to do?  Remove it and not take advantage of it as well to counter the prior administration.  It would be nice if the position weren't simply replaced once the next Republican got into office.  If the Republicans remove the filibuster should the Democrats put it back once they get back power?  Or do they use it to make up for the damage done by the Republicans.  It would be a better world if that would work.  If being decent people worked when fighting evil but it doesn't.  It may be Dems held the post afterwards but the psotion was created and most likely exploited more by Republicans so its fair game to look at the post and its use in this situation.  Anything that sheds light on this man is fair game.
"So this is how liberty dies...to thunderous applause." Padme, Star Wars Episode III
by jrflorida on Thu Jul 21, 2005 at 02:25:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Roberts Advised Jeb Bush in Florida 2000 Mess (none / 0)

Did my research tonight, and found that word is surfacing that John Roberts was a key advisor...some say THE key advisor, THE "800-lb gorilla" in the 2000 debacle...to Florida Governor Jeb Bush, in the 2000 post-election Florida "recount." He helped Jeb "understand" his responsibilites under Florida law.

Seriously!

by Deborah White on Thu Jul 21, 2005 at 01:18:10 AM EST


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