john roberts

The Wall Street Journal/NBC poll which was released yesterday is very
interesting. It comes from the Journal, which is one of the more conservative
publications in the country. I have been diving into the actual findings of the
poll and want to share them now (to view the actual poll, click
here
- Adobe Acrobat required).

Ironically the lowest point in history for that question was in July of 1992,
during Bush seniors Presidency when 14% thought the country was heading in the
right direction as opposed to 71% who didn't. The highest point was in September
of 2001 when 72% thought the country was heading in the right direction (which
was taken in the aftermath of 9/11).

Cronyism is at it again and this time it comes in the form of a Supreme Court
Justice. Today President Bush nominated long time friend and confidant Harriet
Miers to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Miers has no judicial experience, so there will be no paper trail to base her
upon. This will make it even more of a challenge for Senate to confirm her.

Miers is a 60 year old female who graduated from Southern Methodist
University and its law school. She has served on Dallas's city council in the
early 1990's and as president of the Texas Bar Association before taking over as
the Texas lottery commissioner.

Miers came to Washington with Bush in 2001 where she served as staff
secretary and deputy chief of staff during his first term. Last year, Miers was
appointed to White House Chief Council, replacing Alberto Gonzalez. Bush once
described Miers as "a pit bull in size 6 shoes".

With no previous judicial experience, we are most likely to see a filibuster
come from the Democrats on this nominee. The confirmation hearings should be
rather interesting. Will she give more or less answers than John Roberts? If she
gives any less then they might as well save the time and not even have them.

Via

Bloomberg

Specter Urges Delay in Replacement of
O'Connor at Supreme Court

Sept. 21 (Bloomberg) -- The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee
said he urged President George W. Bush today to delay nominating a
replacement for retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Senator Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, said he talked to
Justice O'Connor about staying on the high court. ``She's prepared to do
that'' through the court's term ending in June, Specter said. The president
``was noncommittal,'' Specter said. ``The body language was not very
positive,'' Specter said.

Specter said the delay would give Congress and the rest of America more
time to know John Roberts as chief justice. ``When we know a little more
about Judge Roberts it's going to be easier with the next'' nomination,
Specter said.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee said he urged Bush to
submit a name to the Senate promptly. ``I feel we should proceed with the
nomination as anticipated,'' Frist said. If so, the confirmation process
could be completed ``around Thanksgiving.''

O'Connor, 75, often a key swing vote on the Supreme Court, announced on
July 1 that she is retiring and agreed to stay on until her replacement is
confirmed. She has said she wants to help care for her husband, John
O'Connor, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Specter and Frist, together with Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of
Nevada and Patrick Leahy of Vermont, ranking Democrat on the Judiciary
Committee, spoke with reporters at the White House after meeting with Bush
over breakfast.

We are now into a historical week. While Senate is holding
confirmation hearings on John Roberts and coverage still comes out of the Gulf
Coast, there is another event happening in New York that is of paramount
interest.

The United Nations will be hosting leaders from all over
the world this week in the largest summit of its kind. This will also mark the
debut of none other than John Bolton.

The ideals and plans that Bolton has for restructuring of
the United Nations is already causing turmoil with some of our staunchest
allies. Take for example this paragraph from the
Guardian this week.

The Guardian has learned that Jack Straw, the foreign
secretary, has made a personal plea to his American counterpart, Condoleezza
Rice, for the US to withdraw opposition to plans for wholesale reform of the UN.
He has asked Ms Rice to rein in John Bolton, the US ambassador to the world
body.

Our number one ally in the war in Iraq is now breaking away
from us in order to try and preserve the United Nations.

These concerns are not only concerns of our ally, but also
concerns of a majority of the leaders. John Bolton has taken the plans for
restructuring of the United Nations and butchered them into something that could
have only been envisioned by the Project for a New American Century.

We learned over the last couple of weeks that we can not be
alone in the world. We need friends abroad to help us out when disaster strikes.
The United Nations supplied us aid after being delayed by our own government and
it was aid desperately needed.

I have just added a new polling question. I ran the
previous question for approximately 1 month and had the following results:

Do you feel America is certain to experience another
terror attack on our home front?

Yes – 70%

No – 17%

Uncertain – 13 %

There were a total of 30 votes in that poll. The new poll
question is posted regarding John Roberts. Please cast your vote.