Here's one Republican who is VERY relieved he will not be asked about his feelings on Kavanawful

[DFW]

SCOTUS Chief Justice John Roberts.

I'll bet deep down he is praying every night that he will not have this abomination writing opinions full of the kind of vindictive language Kavanawful used at his hearing. I think Roberts knows the difference between an ally and an albatross around his neck.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. As long as he's CJ the Supreme Court will be called the Roberts Court

and I doubt he wants his name attached for the rest of history to an institution whose reputation has been corrupted by the appointment of an unsuitable person by a sham of a process. He does have some control over who is assigned to write opinions, and AFAIK he can also manage issues like recusals. Unfortunately, even if K turns out to be a total douche as a justice Roberts can't fire him - but he might be able to manage him and keep him from going off the rails entirely.

[DFW]

2. Roberts couldn't dismiss him, but public opinion might

This is IF he is even confirmed, which is anything but a sure thing.

But with nonstop allegations still coming, his position would be difficult to maintain. One thing I'm curious about--do SCOTUS justices enjoy immunity from prosecution? If not, and solid, well-worded perjury charges are brought, Kavanawful would have a hard time rendering his opinions from a country club prison.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Judges aren't immune from prosecution unless they were acting in their judicial capacity

and maybe not even then, if they did something that's not normally what judges do. For example:

A judge accused of biting a defendant’s nose in his courtroom pleaded no contest to battery and resigned Thursday.

Joseph Troisi, a 47-year-old judge on the Pleasants County Circuit Court, could get up to a year in jail and a $500 fine for the alleged attack June 26 against Bill Witten, 29.

...

Troisi was accused of stepping down from the bench, taking off his robe and confronting Witten after the defendant cursed at the judge while being led out of the courtroom. Afterward, witnesses said, Troisi returned to the bench as if nothing happened.

A report prepared for the state Supreme Court said Troisi, who was first elected to the bench in 1992, had a long-standing inability to control his temper on the bench. In all, Troisi lost his temper 19 times in the past two years, the report said.

Troisi’s arraignment on the federal charges is scheduled for Oct. 31.

He was acquitted on the federal civil rights charge. http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/oct/24/feisty-judge-bites-unruly-defendants-nose/

[getagrip_already]

3. you know they are lining each of them up for retirement......

The reich wing wants to replace all of their court majority with 50 year old federalists (gimmeists actually, the name is a misnomer).

Roberts will surely be next. They want them all out and retired as quickly as possible. 5 solid votes for 30-40 years is what they demand.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Roberts is only 58. He isn't going anywhere.

[getagrip_already]

6. they still want him out - he isn't a reliable vote

They will find a way to retire him, just like they did with the most current retiree.

roberts especially is hated among the gimmiests. They just need a lever and they will force him to retire.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Nobody can force a Supreme Court justice to retire. They have a constitutionally-guaranteed

lifetime appointment. Kennedy retired only because of his age (he's 82) and because he wanted to give his protege and former clerk a shot at the job. If he hadn't wanted to retire he couldn't have been forced to do it.

[getagrip_already]

8. hey john, about those pictures of you and....

You have a wonderful legacy, it would be a shame if anything should happen to it.

There are lots of extra-constitutional ways they can do it. Once the midterms are over, watch them try.

I'm worried about them using the second amendment to take our justices and some senators away. I don't put it past them.

[magicarpet]

9. Hunt high and low for Kompromat,..

Find past actions that permit blackmail or extortion and all of a sudden your have got your tiger by the tail and ripe for suggestion. Open to do things and see things from your perspectives and take actions that more align to your benefits.

Covertly contaminating the normal course of events so the final results are skewed in your best favor.

The Rethug/trDumpian way of celebrating the transformation Democracy into an Authoritarian Theocratic Fascistic Oligarchy.