Advantage Roberts After Day Two of Questioning

Posted on September 14, 2005

In his second day of questioning by the Senate Juciciary Committee members, John Roberts evaded, avoided and dodged all attempts by senators to pin him down on whether he thinks the right to privacy includes a woman's right to have an abortion. This guy is the most competent person so far (other than Colin Powell) that President Bush has nominated or appointed for any position since he came into office.

When Senator Finestein pushed him a bit on abortion, he finally showed some emotion. He leaned forward in his chair, almost (but not quite) started sweating, and clenched a muscle in his jaw. He absolutely refused to say how he would rule or give his opinion on any issue that he said would be in front of him on the court. But the look in his eyes seemed to say the idea of an abortion upset him. After all, he just said Roe was entitled to "respect." He didn't say he wouldn't chip away at it, or vote outright to overturn it.

So where does this leave us? He portrayed himself as a moderate, but he left himself plenty of room to vote to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Roberts has argued cases in front of the Supreme Court 39 times, which means he's been questioned by the likes of Scalia, Rehnquist, Thomas and O'Connor.

Roberts made mincemeat out of his questioners, sitting for 10 hours of grueling questioning without pulling a Bork and looking like a madman. Barring his having some kind of psychotic break between now and Friday, he'll be sent to the full Senate for more questioning after winning the vote on the Judiciary Committee. Advantage Roberts.