Roberts comfirmed by Senate

[Phlegm]

John Roberts will be the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. From CNN:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Judge John Roberts was easily confirmed Thursday to be the 17th chief justice of the United States, winning Senate approval with a solid majority.

He is expected to be sworn in to the post later in the day during a ceremony at the White House. He will be sworn in by the senior associate justice, John Paul Stevens.

The 78-22 vote ended a nearly three-month roller coaster ride for the 50-year-old federal appeals judge.

Roberts watched the voting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House accompanied by a staffer that assisted him during the confirmation process, including former Sen. Fred Thompson. Roberts' wife watched the vote from the Senate gallery.

He was originally nominated to fill the vacancy created by the pending retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. But following the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist September 3, Roberts was quickly named by President Bush to take over the court's top spot.

All 55 Republicans were united in their support. They were joined by 22 Democrats and one independent senator. Twenty-two Democrats voted no.

In an unusual break from tradition, senators voted from their seats as their names were called. Lawmakers usually are free to mill about the floor or leave the chamber.

The vote was never in doubt, despite misgivings from some Democrats that Roberts would be too conservative.

"I hope I am proven wrong about John Roberts," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, in a floor speech before the vote. "I have been proven wrong before on my confirmation votes. I regret my vote to confirm Justice Scalia, even though he too, like Judge Roberts was a nice person and a very smart Harvard lawyer."

Kennedy was also among five Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee to vote against Roberts. Others voting in opposition included Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Dianne Feinstein of California and Evan Bayh from Roberts' home state of Indiana.

Democrats voting yes included Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Ron Wyden of Oregon and Max Baucus of Montana.

"I do not know, none of us do, the mark that Chief Justice Roberts will leave on the court," said Sen. Mitch McConnell R-Kentucky. "With his many fine qualities he may be a great administrator, he may leave some great reform of our court system, he may revolutionize some area of law -- but he will be a successful leader."

With Roberts widely expected confirmation, attention on Capitol Hill shifts to the president's choice to replace retiring O'Connor.

At the White House, spokesman Scott McClellan called on the Senate to treat Bush's next nominee in the same "civil and dignified way" Roberts was treated.

"The president will nominate someone that all Americans can be proud of, someone who is highly qualified to serve on the highest court in our land," McClellan said.

"While this nomination did not warrant an attempt to block this nominee on the floor of the Senate, the next one might," warned Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, in a speech Wednesday. "I hope and pray the president chooses to unite, rather than divide -- that he chooses consensus over confrontation."

Some Democrats complained that Roberts did not adequately answer their questions, after Roberts repeatedly deflected inquiries by insisting he could not comment on issues that might come before the high court.

Because O'Connor has been a moderate swing vote on the closely divided court, the battle over her replacement could prove more contentious than the comparatively mild tussle over Roberts' confirmation.

Bush administration officials close to the selection process have told CNN that Bush will announce his nominee to replace O'Connor as soon as Friday.

The focus of the search process has been on women and minority candidates, Bush sources confirm, although White House advisers are holding their cards close to the vest.

Roberts, a native of Buffalo, New York, grew up in Indiana before going east to Harvard for undergraduate studies and law school. A Roman Catholic, he is married with two small children.

[Ouchyfish]

Holy shit I need more sleep. I thought that title said "Robots confirmed by Senate". I was wondering "WTF-we have humanoid robots secretly walking around and now the Senate confirms it?"

[brinstar]

hey

what's with robot sex?

[Minrott]

I'm more interested in seeing if Alberto R. Gonzales gets the nomination to replace the woman justice. edit. He's quite anti firearm.

[Captain Insano]

I'm more interested in seeing if Alberto R. Gonzales gets the nomination to replace the woman justice. edit. He's quite anti firearm.

thats because mexican's prefer to use switchblades and butterfly knives.

[Arlos]

His confirmation chances went up dramatically when it turend out that he would be replacing Rhenquist and not O'Connor. Little resistance to replacing a hard-core conservative with another one, a LOT more resistance to replacing a more moderate conservative with a hard-core one.

Oh, hrm, I actually owned a butterly knife once. (no, I'm not Mexican, though, heh). Not too hard to figure out how to flip it to open it and close it with one hand.

-Arlos

[Tuggan]

I have several, theyre alot of fun to learn and play around with. Silly laws prevent me from carrying one though

[Ouchyfish]

He needs to nominate Hilary. Imagine that. Bulldykin bitch would probably keel over from a heart attack.

Best of all, we don't have to see her ugly ass face nor hear her godawful shrill screams come election time.

[Jeddas]

RIP Abortion.

[Gidan]

RIP Abortion.

Long live a higher abortion rate and back ally abortions? I doubt it

[Phlegm]

RIP Abortion.

Since he is replacing Renquist, the court doesnt move at all on this issue.

[Jeddas]

RIP Abortion.

Since he is replacing Renquist, the court doesnt move at all on this issue.

When sandra day o'connor is out shortly, the vote can be swung. I'm just making forshadowing.

[xaoshaen]

RIP Abortion.

Since he is replacing Renquist, the court doesnt move at all on this issue.

When sandra day o'connor is out shortly, the vote can be swung. I'm just making forshadowing.

Were you perhaps expecting a copnservative administration to replace a conservative justice with a liberal judge? If not, the court has gotten slightly more liberal than it had been.