Roberts: At The Solicitor General’s Office “I Had Final Responsibility”
Roberts: At The Solicitor General’s Office “I Had Final Responsibility”
The White House claims that John Roberts tenure as Deputy Solicitor General is irrelevant. They argue his work during that time has no bearing on his personal views. Former Senator Fred Thompson — who the President has put in charge of marshalling Roberts through Congress — had this to say about his role in the Solicitor General’s office:
[H]e was a litigant. I think it’s enough said about that. He was representing a client, the client’s position.
That’s not how Roberts described the job on his resume. Instead, Roberts emphasized how he had final say on the administration’s position in hundreds of cases. Newsday provides excerpts from Roberts’ resume:
I have served as Acting Solicitor General in some 90 cases before the Supreme Court, including 15 argued on the merits – three by me personally…I had final responsibility for determining whether the United States would seek further review of adverse decisions in some 380 cases.
In other words, according to Roberts, he wasn’t just implementing policy. He was making policy. Thus, documents related to his work as Deputy Solicitor General are critical to understanding his legal philosophy.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Cheeeez — he lied on a resume? How rare.
August 3rd, 2005 at 4:51 pmWho does he think he is, Bolton?
August 3rd, 2005 at 5:03 pmOr Bush?
August 3rd, 2005 at 5:15 pmNo wonder Bush wanted to keep Roberts’ background as quiet and unavailable as possible.
So, why is DINO, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, so enchanted with him? She’s like a school girl who lights up when she talks about John Roberts.
Disgusting.
. . .
August 3rd, 2005 at 5:19 pmMaybe he and Bolton will some quality time together at the sex clubs before Bolton moves to NYC…
These guys all give me the creeps. They’re such manipulative and dangerous sociopaths!
August 3rd, 2005 at 5:22 pmLiberals have to work WAY too hard to protect CONservatives from themselves… It’s tiring work, but someone’s gotta do it…
August 3rd, 2005 at 5:28 pmWell, you can spin it that way if you want to. Another way to spin it is that it had already been determined that decisions were “adverse,” and his role was to decide which ones to re-argue positions already taken further up the chain.
August 3rd, 2005 at 5:30 pmDailyKos has some good stuff on Roberts today.
DiFi. I voted for her. She’s been drinking bushco’s koolaide lately it seems. There’s a difference between being a midddle of the roader and being roadkill. t isn’t like she’s going to run for president or anything.
August 3rd, 2005 at 5:38 pmkindness,
All of the senators became more ‘pliable’ after wellstone was killed… There was a sudden and dramatic shift in the tone of democratic senators after the ‘accident’, and frankly I don’t blame them for being a little scared. These fascists in charge aren’t traditional conservatives – they are radical fascists who would gladly purge the country of anyone who stands in their way, by force or any means possible.
August 3rd, 2005 at 5:55 pmThe gang that can’t shoot straight just can’t their stories together can they? Yet, they continue to bamboozle the gullible public.
August 3rd, 2005 at 6:15 pmRight again, Ryan, these are dangerous and radical fascists in charge; they have no compunction in carrying out whatever they deem to be done.
August 3rd, 2005 at 6:17 pmYeah we could do anything at anytime, look out behind you it’s a Republican, BOO! Look under your bed ryan, ask mommy to check your closets. LOL! You people threaten people who disagree with you,(well from the safety of your keyboards anyway), make every argument personal, hell this week one of you was brave enough to go around NY taging “I kill Republicans” all over town, scary. How did we get Michael Kennedy, did we plant that tree? No that’s right we are sworn to destroy the Earth, you gotta do that to join.
August 3rd, 2005 at 6:44 pm” Look under your bed ryan, ask mommy to check your closets.”
FascismBreedsIdiots,
I didn’t grow up with abusive parents like you obviously did, so the parental tone doesn’t make me cower looking for daddies approval as it obviously does for you. Your attachment to the father figure in a manner that prevents question shows you have severe oedipal issues that you’ve never resolved – get some help!
August 3rd, 2005 at 6:57 pmFake, did you pull wings off flies when you were a kid? Or set cats’ tails on fire? You have a certain way of expressing yourself.
August 3rd, 2005 at 7:02 pmMarie,
NICE!
I like your style girl!
August 3rd, 2005 at 7:17 pm“You people threaten people who disagree with you,(well from the safety of your keyboards anyway), make every argument personal,”
FascistRetardedIdiot,
When did I threaten anyone? You stupid lying sack of shit?
As for making things personal – well if you’d stop lying, and saying stupid things – I’ll stop calling you the idiot that you clearly demostrate you are.
As for anyone posting anything about threating to kill people – I disagree with that. But considering that the GOP flew in people to Ohio to make anonymous phone calls from telephone booths threatening to kill democrats who voted, you’re on shakey ground. In fact I’d say you’d be a big fat stupid hypocrit – but that seems your normal state of being…
August 3rd, 2005 at 7:49 pmWith Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on John Roberts still over a month away, a battle royale over the nominee’s paper trail is rapidly developing. But despite White House protests to the contrary, the conflict may be less about protecting attorney-client privilege, and more about protecting the President’s father.
For the details, see:
“Roberts, Bush and the Poppy Documents”
August 3rd, 2005 at 8:13 pmBut considering that the GOP flew in people to Ohio to make anonymous phone calls from telephone booths threatening to kill democrats who voted, you’re on shakey ground.
Link?
August 3rd, 2005 at 8:15 pmI will kill all liberals, when Roberts makes it legal!
August 3rd, 2005 at 8:39 pmFascismBreedsIgnorance,
Thanks for clarify the point of what is Fascism. By it’s very nature Fascism attempts to change the laws to make the immoral become ‘legal’ and thereby justify the state acting in an irresponsible manner. After all, it was legal for the Nazis to gas the jews, communists and gays – it was morally acceptable to the right wing whack jobs.
Thanks FBA for demonstrating both the moral relativism and right wing whackery that is your side…
August 3rd, 2005 at 8:56 pmUgh,
http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/19/2005/1383
The particular quote is:
“The “Texas Strike Forceâ€? (25 people registered at a Franklin County Holiday Inn, paid by the Republican Party) threatened targeted people from a pay phone, if they voted. “
August 3rd, 2005 at 8:57 pmMore liberal lies and propaganda!
August 3rd, 2005 at 9:16 pmBLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!
August 3rd, 2005 at 10:18 pmLiberal Lies! I won’t listen!
BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!
Liberal Lies! I won’t listen!
BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!
Liberal Lies! I won’t listen!
BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!
Liberal Lies! I won’t listen!
BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!
Liberal Lies! I won’t listen!
It’s irresponsible to suggest foul play in Wellstone’s death. I like your politics, Ryan, but you gotta turn on the lights, man. Take a walk.
I know you are your own man, but dude, do something else. I drive around with shoe polished opinions in my rear window. I look like a wierdo, but “TREASON” in bold letters sticks out in motorists minds, esp. in Texas.
It is more rewarding than sword fighting Fake.
August 3rd, 2005 at 10:43 pmGive it up for • Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ ), in his fight for truth in the CIA leak case.
August 3rd, 2005 at 11:05 pmOh yeah, don’t bother with Fake But Inept. He is a worthless sack of shit. Somebody needs to put him down like a lame horse.
August 3rd, 2005 at 11:11 pmWe all miss Wellstone but I don’t want to even think that any conspiracy was involved in his death.
I think if we are going to talk about filibustering Roberts, we have to get better goods on him than we have now or it won’t wash. I suspect that some of what we need is what bush is holding out on. The Soliciter General period.
Some of the statements he’s made lately have been very smooth, but some of the quotes I’m reading are very draconian. He would set us back decades.
If we can actually beat him, AND if it won’t hurt democrats at the ballot box I say filibuster the guy.
August 3rd, 2005 at 11:14 pmHastert is in trouble.
August 3rd, 2005 at 11:21 pmDel is indicative of most conservatives – they are so desperate to hang on to their delusions that they shut down their brains and their reasoning. This is why so many believe CONservatives believe that the earth is 8000 years and that Creationism is more ’scientific’ than evolution. They clearly demonstrate in the person of Del, why they’re such dangerous, irrational and psychotic individuals.
They come to a liberal blog, never bring their critical reasoning, or read any of the clearly laid out facts, and simply claim they won’t listen. Del if you won’t listen, then would you do us all a favor and also not type? Just shut up and go home you stupid little bigotted moron!
August 3rd, 2005 at 11:28 pmBrian,
Frankly I don’t have an ounce of proof that would make me believe Wellstone was killed, other than he was the only senator who had the balls to oppose the war, only to be dead in a matter of weeks. Then the congress all seemed to lose much of their voices after this happens.
If you can’t imagine that the same people who faked intelligence, outed their own CIA agents, detained and tortured and even murdered prisoners, and clearly stole 2 elections aren’t ‘capable’ of this – then I’d say you should reassess your opinion on the subject. Frankly it is ENTIRELY speculation on my part – but I’d say it’s grounded in more reality than any of the crazy claims made against Clinton or ones made against any other dems…
August 3rd, 2005 at 11:32 pmAnd brian, it’s more irresponsible to NOT consider the possibility of foul play, than it is to assert its possibility in light of the incredibly insane things I’ve seen committed in the last 5 years. Even Reagan funding the Contra’s illegally BushI’s training of AlQueda never made me think that either of them were truly right wing nuts. But these NeoCon freaks are dangerous fascists – and americans who think they’re cuddly CONservatives are seriously not paying attention!
I have an incredibly strong ability to distinguish ambiguity – and I can tell the difference between something being proven within reason, versus speculation. My person beliefs around Wellstone are what I call ‘healthy scepticism’ about the official story. I KNOW these guys are capable of this, the only thing I don’t know is whethere they actually did it or not.
August 3rd, 2005 at 11:35 pmJudd, careful, you’re givning credence to the argument that Roberts’ client was the President when you paraphrase his own words and interchange administration (the word you used) with United States (the phrase he used).
The United States is all of us, not just the administration. That is the point with the attorney/client priviledge argument. WE are his clients, not the President, uless you are including him as just another citizen. The distinction is important.
August 4th, 2005 at 1:02 amWellstone was killed, like any and all liberals will be when Roberts makes it legal. Muhahahahaha! We have been doing it for years! Haha! Just like stealing elections you fools!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hale_Boggs
August 4th, 2005 at 1:47 amRyan,
August 4th, 2005 at 8:52 amMost would agree that the congress lost their voice because of a social movement in this country.
Soft Americans were bloodthirsty, and congress was afraid of losing their jobs.
The fascists made 2 calculated errors. First, they assumed they would always have public opinion on their side. Second, they over-estimated their reach into the CIA.
I just read that Roberts did some gay rights work (gasp!) in the mid 90’s that went to the Supreme Court. How do you think the Religious wackos will feel about that? Will they excuse that with the same excuse that they embrace now — “what he did for a client is not necessarily indicative of how he will vote as justice? I can’t wait for the hearings on his nomination — there could be some interesting Q&A.
August 4th, 2005 at 9:41 amMarie could you give us alink to that? I’d like to see it.
August 4th, 2005 at 9:56 amLa Times
August 4th, 2005 at 10:01 amMSNBC “the note”
Marie,
August 4th, 2005 at 10:02 amMy best man was a gay republican. We don’t talk anymore, but he is gay, Bush fanatic, anti-abortion. It takes all kinds. We always overlooked our differences because our friendship was so strong.
We’re no longer friends. I blame Bush who willingly divided the United States.
Kindness: This is front page LA times, but The Note” is actually ABC, not MSNBC
August 4th, 2005 at 10:08 amBrian – No disagreement from me. It does take all kinds. People who vote against their own best interests are an enigma to put it kindly.
August 4th, 2005 at 10:09 amThanks, I caught it through a link in Wonkette. For anyone who want to see it here is the link to The LA Times .
August 4th, 2005 at 10:50 amBrian,
The timing for ‘congress’ to lose its voice was too coinciental to me – that’s all I’m saying… Just reading the tea leaves, and nothing more…
As for a social movement – I disagree. Bush has polled worse consistently for most of his presidency, and in states that don’t have the ‘new’ voting machines democrats do very well. I there’s more of a fascist movement to control, than a social movement to let them. And the press unfortunately is a willing tool in this. This month’s harper’s article is GREAT in bringing that all forward – go get a copy when it hits the stands! A friend of mine has a subscription, and I got a peek at his.
August 4th, 2005 at 1:07 pm“When did I threaten anyone? You stupid lying sack of shit?
As for making things personal – well if you’d stop lying, and saying stupid things – I’ll stop calling you the idiot that you clearly demostrate you are.
As for anyone posting anything about threating to kill people – I disagree with that. But considering that the GOP flew in people to Ohio to make anonymous phone calls from telephone booths threatening to kill democrats who voted, you’re on shakey ground. In fact I’d say you’d be a big fat stupid hypocrit – but that seems your normal state of being… ”
Ryan is off his meds again.
August 8th, 2005 at 4:16 amTell us Ryan, where do you stand on gay marriage?
This answer to one simple question will tell all who and what you are.
(They hate to answer this one…. seems a bit too stinky for them, as it tips thier hands to us)
Are you in favor, or against?
and while we’re at it, how about blacks getting the vote?
August 8th, 2005 at 4:41 amSEE, almost 1 week later, and RYAN STILL WON’T ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT GAY MARRIAGE…..
It seems he wants the government to take the SSI money and NOT GIVE IT TO THE APPROPRIATE PERSON…..
CAN YOU SAY N A Z I???
CAN YOU FEEL A D R A F T IN 2006?
August 15th, 2005 at 5:00 amWACK JOBS!
August 15th, 2005 at 4:06 pm