Bush is a smart boy. He picks a young, white guy with no history for the Supreme Court. The Democrats cannot object to him because he has no history, i.e. no judicial decisions that would indicate how he feels about certain subjects like abortion and civil rights. He does not have to answer direct questions posed by Senate Democrats like "Would you repeal Roe vs. Wade?" therefore he will be confirmed in no time.
John Roberts is a devout Catholic and an admitted conservative. His wife is a lawyer and openly anti-choice and does pro bono work for anti-choice organizations. Chances are very good that he feels JUST like his wife does.
President Bush would not name a person to the Supreme Court unless he was sure that person would do his bidding and Roberts is his man. Bush knows about previous Republican appointees to the Supreme Court who turned out to vote with the liberals and he is not going to let that happen again. This man will ensure a conservative court for a good long time (he is only 50).
Why did previous Republican appointees did not turn out as conservative as republicans had envisioned? I think people that finally make it to the court can truly be themselves. They cannot be fired and do not owe anything to any individual or group. This freedom and the realization that their decisions will influence, for better or worst, this country and its people, makes some of them see certain issues in a different light; a light different from their pre-Supreme Court days.
I also feel that Supreme Court Judges, rely on their values learned through their upbringing and their own life experiences - age brings wisdom through experience. When you appoint someone that is young (50) and had very little experience in life (law school to law firm to judge), you have someone that really does not have much background to draw wisdom from and I think Bush picked Roberts for that very reason - he will vote conservative like a robot.
Roberts will be confirmed and he will do some damage BUT there is always hope that as the years go by and he sees the results of his decisions that he will gain some wisdom and vote using that wisdom.
On the other hand, Bush can pack the Court with religious zealots, overturn Roe vs. Wade and bring on the "Big Brother" era. It can happen.
Janusz
