New Nominee

As we all know by now, our President has nominated John G. Roberts as his nominee to the United States Supreme Court to fill the slot recently vacated by Sandra Day O’Connor.  Not surprisingly, he has chosen a devisive nominee rather than a consensus candidate.  Since the Presidnet hasn’t even given his speech yet, we don’t know a lot about this man other than the fact that he wants to overturn Roe v. Wade. and is pro-corporate and anti-environment.

Given that such a justice would tip the balance of the court in the other direction.  This serves two purposes in my mind: First, it will overjoy the religious right who form the core voters that got Bush and his cronies (or is that the other way around?) into office.  Second, it will all but ensure a filibuster in the Senate, and Bush will ultimately have to nominate a more moderate candidate.

Bush knows this.  In fact, he’s depending on it.  The last thing that the GOP wants is to do is overturn Roe v. Wade.  They need it as a rallying issue.  Without abortion, the religious right won’t vote in the same numbers.

I could be wrong.  In fact, I hope I’m wrong—more on that later—but that’s my prediction: Roberts won’t get confirmed, and a more moderate candidate will be nominated.