'Shaken': Analyst claims John Roberts has been left reeling from immunity ruling backlash

[Jmb 4 Harris-Walz]

Sarah K. Burris
October 11, 2024 11:30AM ET

Supreme Court Justice John Roberts has been left "shaken" by the unexpected public reaction to his ruling in the Donald Trump presidential immunity case, a columnist wrote Friday.

Slate's judicial writer Dahlia Lithwick wrote that Roberts was left shocked that Americans didn't buy his attempt to persuade them that his ruling was not about Trump, but instead focused on the office of the presidency. The court ruled that a president was largely immune from criminal prosecution for official actions.

Lithwick referenced a report by CNN's Joan Biskupic. He “was shaken by the adverse public reaction to his decision affording [Donald] Trump substantial immunity from criminal prosecution," she wrote.

"His protestations that the case concerned the presidency, not Trump, held little currency.”

Lithwick also mentioned New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Adam Liptak's claim that Roberts had hoped his pro-Trump ruling would be written with such poetry that it would lower the bubbling anger from an anti-Trump public still furious over the elimination of Roe v. Wade.

Read the rest at: https://www.rawstory.com/justice-john-roberts-bubble/

[Jerry2144]

1. If he's so upset

he could always resign. Presidnet BIden and/or PResidet (soon-to-be) Harris can replace him with a good person

[AllyCat]

57. I'm a Harris/Walz voter and I approve this message.

[brush]

79. Yes, please resign. It amazes me that he and the other SCOTUS 5 thought and ruled that a president is above the law.

Last edited Sat Oct 12, 2024, 02:45 PM - Edit history (1)

A president is just another citizen and should not be allowed to commit crimes with impunity. How moronically full of themselves and their so-call power can they get, especially after yanking away abortion rights.

I have a feeling there's more shock to come for those bozo jurists...a citizen/president is above the law.

Hah!

[a kennedy]

120. Absolutely insane.....

🤬 🤬 🤬

[brush]

125. Wonder how it would play out if someone sued SCOTUS for ruling that a president is above the law...

which is nowhere in the Constitution.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

140. Similar to Sandra Day for helping to install George W.

There was quite a bit of scorn heaped onto her. They kept on saying that would be in the first line of her obituary.

[Upthevibe]

172. kerry-is-my-prez.......

I'm a very spiritual person and have worked very hard on myself. Having said that, I will NEVER forgive Sandra Day O'Conner - NEVER

[not fooled]

177. Yeah, when she passed that was my first thought

It was aggravating to see the rosy praise heaped on her at the time, with the installation of chimpy mentioned usually only as an afterthought.

[GenThePerservering]

2. SCOTUS is really circling the drain

I'm not sure how the three sane justices on there can stand it.

""His protestations that the case concerned the presidency, not Trump, held little currency.”"

Sorry, Roberts - that horse is an ass and it has long since left the barn anyway. No one believes you. Nor your "poetry".

[unblock]

3. lol! The case (TRUMP v. United States) concerned the presidency, not trump? lol!!

He was hoping to convince us that the case wasn't about ... THE APPELANT?



Especially when the concept of presidential immunity never came up in a quarter of a millennium, not until Donnie. But no, the case isn't about Donnie.

Yeah, right.

[ShazzieB]

115. Thanks for pointing out this particular absurdity.

The mode I think about it, the more amazed I am by Roberts' utter inability to read the room. The idea that he did not realize that the public would see the immunity decision as being all about helping TSF avoid prosecution is mind-blowing.

The man must live in a bubble, surrounded by people who never, ever question or criticize his actions or tell him he's wrong. Smdh.

[B.See]

180. Exactly. 'Shaken' MY ASS. The only time

these SCROTUS MAGATS are 'shaken' is when Americans get wise to their TREACHERY.

Frankly wouldn't mind seeing a little tar and feather in their future.

(figuratively speaking, of course)

[Roy Rolling]

182. "Shaken" and "unexpected"

His mindset was disturbed [because] the push back was unexpected? What does he expect from American people?

[B.See]

184. He, they expect to get away with

the same partisan miscarriages of justice they've BEEN getting away with.

[bluesbassman]

4. Crocodile tears that I don't buy for a minute.

Neither he nor any of his cronies on the SC bench give a rats tail about “public perception”. That ship has long since sailed. They’re untouchable and don’t care who knows it or suffers the consequences.

[msfiddlestix]

114. My feelings exactly. What Poppy.Cock that report is

but the way, your post got 22 recs including mine.

[Rebl2]

143. Agreed

[Lovie777]

5. I can't imagine Roberts being that clueless.....................

[Hekate]

18. No -- but he sure thinks the rest of us are, doesn't he?

[Tribetime]

36. Exactly

[littlemissmartypants]

116. DUzy! 🏆🏅

[NonPC]

111. He's Now Questioning His Legacy

He's been so arrogant in spite of the obvious evidence of his court being so corrupt. Now it's becoming hard for him to ignore. Too little and too late.

[chicoescuela]

6. Roberts must think we are fools. His legacy is sealed, worst chief justice of all time

F off Roberts

[BamaRefugee]

10. And maybe the last Chief Justice of all time. No need for one in a dictatorship.

[chicoescuela]

14. You're right. I didn't follow that thought to its logical conclusion. Thank you

[Hekate]

19. Actually, any functioning dictatorship needs a High Court as window-dressing

[BaronChocula]

46. Makes me think of one of the best last lines in cinema history

[wnylib]

98. What a coincidence. I just watched this film again this morning.

I've seen it so many times now that I almost have the dialogue memorized.

[BaronChocula]

117. What a movie

It always makes me think of how easy it is for people to want to "move on" after atrocious acts.

[wnylib]

138. Makes me see how we compromise ourselves if we

take the first step down a slippery slope out of fear or to keep the peace through appeasement.

[BamaRefugee]

60. I don't think so. That's Cold War thinking imho. 'Murica will just be brutal and blatant

about it.
Smaller countries have needed to put on a sham display of “fair play “ because they know they might have to come begging the USA for help at some point.

‘Murica won’t be asking anyone else for help ever.

Our laws will just spring from random bursts of hatred and revenge out of the mouth of a lunatic, with the death penalty on all of them because anything else is just too annoying to deal with.

Writing a sentence like the one I just did will get me killed.

And news of these things will NEVER be reported in print or TV. There will just be quiet trembling whispers of rumors about neighbors who haven’t been seen for a while.

Forgive my clairvoyance, oops, sorry, I mean my rambling. 🤕

[PortTack]

47. Indeed...I always thought they of all ppl would understand there's only room for one at the top in a dictatorship

[Prairie Gates]

176. Roberts thinks he's safe from Trump

He is, of course, wrong.

[Comfortably_Numb]

65. Move over Roger Roger B Taney, there's a new worst chief justice ever and he too has perverted the Constitution,

And will die on the wrong side of history. Roberts’ fate is sealed, crocodile tears or not. The court is a disaster.

[Voltaire2]

156. That is some tough competition.

I'm not sure that making it official that humans were property throughout the USA is not still the worst decision in our history.

So far.

[yourout]

160. Any one of...

Citizens United or Plessy/Dobs or immunity would get him the top honors of worst ever.

He will lap the field as worst ever.

[SWBTATTReg]

167. He let it go to his head, the power and all he has. Instead, he's turned a hell of a lot of people against the

Supreme Court, which had a pristine rating, and w/ him, no more. He dragged that institution into the gutter and still hasn't gotten it out of the gutter. Until these six want-to-be dictators are gone from the Supreme Court, it will always be tainted.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

181. The Six Sedition Forgivers

[MomInTheCrowd]

7. Take the tiniest of violins and...

…shove it right up his … ahem. Sorry…

[orthoclad]

15. Use a cello.

[drmeow]

82. Could we make

a Double Bass fit? Could we try?

[GopherGal]

97. One way to find out... (n/t)

[RussBLib]

8. oh please

.....is he really that stupid and tone-deaf?

[sheshe2]

24. No, he thinks we are.

[SheltieLover]

29. THIS!!!

He is upset that Americans are paying attention!

[sheshe2]

38. IKR?

How dare we be WOKE .

[Keepthesoulalive]

9. Oh please

He doesn’t give a hoot, he’s in charge of the court and he’s doing his masters bidding.

[NameAlreadyTaken]

11. Oh please

Spare us the crocodile tears, Roberts

[Skittles]

12. he's surprised at being called out for being a Trump whore?

[Hekate]

13. Roberts has made some goddam stupid rulings overall...

I was appalled and disgusted when he gutted the Voting Rights Act.

I cried for 3 days after Dobbs — and a friend of mine who had been thru any number of failed rounds of IVF basically took to her bed for the same 3 days.

But his ruling about presidential immunity damn near gave me a stroke, and I wish I was joking. I thought Imperial Presidency was settled when we got rid of Nixon, I really did.

He and his Sleazy Six on the Court are trying to undo all the progress of the 20th Century, especially the second half, which was the first part of my lifetime.

So if the gentleman is “shaken” and having a sad, he fckng well should, and I hope it gets worse every day for the rest of his misbegotten life.

[orthoclad]

16. He's reeling all the way to the bank,

despite what Flawed Story says.

[Hekate]

17. No doubt, but I hope he never rests easy again

[orthoclad]

20. He doesn't care.

The plutocrats will coddle him. That's all he needs.

[UpInArms]

33. Citizens United

And it has never stopped since then

[KPN]

67. And don't forget Citizen's United -- the decision that paved the way for all of the others.

Without that decision, there night actually be a 5-4 liberal leaning SCOTUS right now.

[lindysalsagal]

21. He'll be reeling when a woman he loves suffers or dies because of

His cold dead heartlessness

[diane in sf]

42. I've always thought he's very deep in the closet and the widow w two children he married is a beard. I doubt

he relates much to women.

[tavernier]

72. If you're saying you think he is gay,

that’s ok I guess, but most of the gay men I know care very much for the rights of women and all people in general because they well know what exclusion feels like.

[brush]

81. Yes, the LGBTQ+ community is for the rights of all.

[StarryNite]

48. They'll get the care they need. We're the ones who will be left to die.

[maxrandb]

89. They never will, and that's the problem

His grandchildren could charter a plane with a full surgical suite, have an abortion at 32,000 feet, and be on the beach in Cabo by noon.

[JoseBalow]

22. Shaken, but not stirred enough to stand up to MAGA

He's just another partisan cultist hack. Fuck that guy.

[Orrex]

23. He should just admit that he lets Trump shit in his mouth whenever he wants.

[bmichaelh]

25. What a terrible SCOTUS

Some of this I find incredulous.

If its true, Roberts should immediately resign.

There were conservative jurists like J. Michael Luttig that did not support immunity.

SCOTUS went out of their way to delay their decision.

They could have heard arguments back in January.

Some of the SCOTUS thought they were issuing a decision that would stand the test of time.

Since, they broke precedent in Dobbs; they should realize there could be a later SCOTUS that will reverse their immunity decision.

[Akakoji]

26. Oh, Please!

Not sure what his problem is - maybe Alito or Thomas or Kavanaugh have something on him - but to say that he was surprised by the reaction to his reactionary, anti-American ruling is a large, hot dump.

[Aristus]

27. Fuck all the way off, Roberts, you chuzzlewit.

And to hell with anyone who thinks right now that maybe George W. Bush wasn’t so bad, and isn’t his schoolboy crush on Michelle Obama cute?

Roberts is doing exactly what he was elevated to SCOTUS to do. Anyone who thinks differently is fooling himself.

[liberalhistorian]

128. I think that Trump and

his MAGA ilk have helped us forget just how awful and authoritarian and proudly ignorant Dubya was, and how horrible his SUPCO appointments, Roberts and Alito, are. I knew twenty years ago when they were appointed just how bad they'd be and I'm not at all surprised that this gas been the outcome.

Even Sandra Day O'Connor was appalled at Alito and that he'd be her replacement, noting his horrendous misogyny.

[Aristus]

170. O'Conner was no prize, either.

Rumor has it she voted Bush in Bush v Gore 2000 because she wanted a Republican to appoint her successor.

Well, she got what she wanted. So I don't care how "appalled" she claimed to be.

[RidinWithHarris]

28. Even if the decision had nothing to do with Trump, it's still profoundly awful

Being for the benefit of Trump simply takes an unthinkably awful decision and elevates it to satanically malevolent.

[PortTack]

45. +10,000!

[StarryNite]

52. I believe it had everything to do with trump.

[RidinWithHarris]

53. My point is that denying Trump had anything to do with it hardly elevates Roberts case

Granting any President pulled-out-of-your-collective-asses dictatorial powers is profoundly against any rational interpretation of the Constitution. It's an unadulterated naked power play by authoritarians, for authoritarians.

[StarryNite]

55. Yup.And trump is their authoritarian of choice.

[KS Toronado]

30. Robert's biggest shock is yet to come..........

when President Biden uses the "IMMUNITY POWERS" Roberts gave him to stop KFC from stealing
the election. Hell Biden might have to jail 6 Supremos on some petty charge so the 3 remaining
good ones can make all the decisions.

[brush]

84. My God, you are so right. Joe Biden has the power and immunity to effect the election in a certain way...

ane we here all know in what direction I'm talking about, and no one can't do anything about it.

So ruled SCOTUS.

[Marcuse]

127. Who needs Seal Team 6 when he has a Treasury detail in place. Preserving American democracy is clearly an official act.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

155. Far more so than trying to end it

[SheltieLover]

31. The pos is "shaken" that scotus isn't invisible.

People are paying attention!

[sheshe2]

32. He thinks we are as stupid as his Maga klan.

[usonian]

34. Hey, political hack Roberts:

[patphil]

35. Justice Roberts sealed his fate with that one...so many terrible decisions have come from his court.

Historically, his legacy is one of failure to defend the Constitution and the rule of law.
He single-handedly allowed the court to become a partisan tool of those who want to end our Constitutional Democratic Republic, and create a fascist totalitarian government in it's place. And, he allowed religion, not the rule of law, to dictate the court's decisions.
He should have reigned Thomas and Alito in decades ago for their lack of ethics. His failure to act then has set the stage for a court that has no regard for ethics at all. He lost his honor back then, and has continued to betray his position of Chief Justice of the highest court in the land.
Now that Trump added 3 more partisan judges, Robert's position has devolved into a rubber stamp for all the things the court was supposed to protect us from.

And he wonders why the Court is held in so low regard!

[PortTack]

43. Indeed! Citizens United, gutting the voting rights act and on! He wants to look like the voice of reason..he's not!

[Drum]

37. Bookmarking!

🔎

[Tribetime]

39. He's trying to cover his bases in case we win the Predidency, House and Senate

That we might think less about expanding the SC

[dchill]

40. John Roberts is a rather dim-witted asshole...

... especially for a Chief Justice. Thin-skinned too, apparently.

[PortTack]

41. Oh like the roe decision? I'd like to think there was a soul in there, but alas there isn't. He knew women would die

Do us all a favor and retire!

[ShazzieB]

123. He's probably hoping the Orane Hellbeast will win so he can replaced by another GOP partisan hack.

If Kamala wins, we may be stuck with him for a while yet.

Which, as a tradeoff for having her as potus, I will reluctantly accept.

[aggiesal]

44. Here is the non-Rawstory, story ...

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/10/supreme-court-analysis-john-roberts-public-confidence-crash.html

[muriel_volestrangler]

94. Thank you - much better than an aggregator's quick summary (nt)

[aggiesal]

102. I personally don't like when Rawstory is the source because they're never a source ...

The actual story is out there.

[B.See]

178. Actually, the Rawstory article

is about the Slate article. It's cited in the story.

[aggiesal]

179. I know. That's why I linked the Slate story. n/t

[byronius]

49. Such poetry?

It will be forever remembered as the criminal scribbling of low traitors to all that is American.

History will record it this way — the Roberts court betrayed their nation for comfort and the promises of men who sought to damage the founder’s creed.

Blah blah blah, John Roberts — your name will stand for truly criminal justice.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

153. Chapter 45 - The Court Breaks Bad. The John Roberts years.

[niyad]

51. Dear Goddess, if he really is that clueless, he is TOO FUCKING STUPID to

be an ambulance chaser, much less CJ on the supreme court. And if he believes that WE are stupid enough to believe him, he clearly cannot read the room, and, again, is TOO FUCKING STUPID to even be ON the court, much less CJ.

Quit wasting oxygen, you sick, twisted, lying, clueless jerk.

[BWdem4life]

54. Shaken, but not stirred

into any kind of self-reflection I'm sure.

[AllyCat]

56. Phuck him. I really don't care if that anti-democratic freak

Feels discomfort about anything he’s done. Corrupt SCROTUS.

[Botany]

164. Yup! Phuck the Court.

Letting a criminal walk on his crimes against the Constitution and the American People after
being installed by a hostile dictator doesn’t set well with the American People. And that wasn’t
long after the court ruled it was illegal to count the legal voters’ votes. See bush v Gore.

No matter how well the decision was written.

[tishaLA]

58. He's a moron.

If he believed anyone would regard that decision as anything less than a French kiss to their orange Jesus m

[RainCaster]

59. He has no morals, how can he see things like the rest of us?

WTF? Roberts, it's past time for you to resign.

[ShazzieB]

61. Boo fucking hoo! 😭

I see a lot of comments expressing disbelief that Roberts is actually upset, but I believe he is indeed perturbed, in the sense of being shocked to realize that he miscalculated so badly.

He strikes me as being quite sure of his own brilliance, and I can easily believe that he's quite miffed to learn that there are so many people who are not impressed by his "brilliance" at all.

Also, if he's read any of the commentary I've read about the damage that all of these bull pucky decisions like Dobbs and that immunity garbage have done to his precious "legacy," I can well believe that his tighty whiteys are in a bit of a knot about that. Which is peachy keen and hunky dory, as far as I'm concerned, because he RICHLY deserves it, after screwing with people's lives the way he's done.

Cry your eyes out, Johnny Boy. And while you're crying for yourself, maybe consider thinking, just for a nanosecond, about all the lives that you and your 5 little buddies have caused to be upended and in some cases even ENDED-ended. Their blood snd their heartbreak are on YOUR hands, you selfish prick!

[LiberalLovinLug]

147. He made a big splash early on with the Citizens United ruling.

I'm sure he thought, in his great mind, that this was a good thing. To open the door to unlimited donations from any dark crevice on the planet towards one candidate. More money - more democracy????

He's been going downhill every since

[slightlv]

62. Well.... THAT was a self-own! How stupid IS he??? n/t

[littlemissmartypants]

63. I just came to say

Fu*k his feelings.

[Hotler]

75. +1 nt

[KPN]

64. Good!

[ThoughtCriminal]

66. Shaken, not Stirred

to do anything about the shattered reputation the Republican majority has earned.

[caraher]

68. I wouldn't care if it was in service of a Democratic president

It's a ridiculous ruling. Presidents should not have license to crime.

[COL Mustard]

69. The SCOTUS is the least accountable part of our Government

The only way their rulings can be overturned is by Congress passing a law specifically reversing a Court decision.

With lifetime appointments, the justices are essentially unaccountable and untouchable.

[pfitz59]

70. Fuck him, and the other 5 Fascisti on the court.

He could have left the perfect Appellate ruling stand, instead he blatantly re-wrote the Constitution to protect one man. He should be excoriated every time he dares show his face in public "Shame, shame, shame..."

[SamKnause]

71. Is he really that stupid ???

Lifetime appointments for evil fucks, liars, and ignorant assholes.

Corporations are not people.

Money is not speech.

The news should be factual.

Cops should not have immunity.

Ignored the precedent of Roe vs. Wade.

Overturned the Voting Rights Act.

The Supreme Court has been a destructive force against democracy.

[milestogo]

85. Evil, not stupid.

[brush]

87. Absolutely.

[mtngirl47]

135. And in my opinion only muzzle loaders and muskets are protected by the 2nd amendment. n/t

[tavernier]

73. I bet I know how to get SCOTUS to reverse their immunity decision in 5 flat minutes...

When President Joseph R Biden decides to take them up on it and declares a few new rules of his own.

[stumpysbear]

74. Completely disconnected from reality

No one is above the law.

[Think. Again.]

76. We're in dangerous waters...

...when the lead of the highest court in the land is surprised to find out there are consequences to actions.

[intheflow]

77. Fucking delusional.

That first sentence should read that he was shaken by the “unexpected” public reaction. Because he gave presidents the rights of kings, it’s impossible to believe that backlash was unexpected. FFS, I’m sure he heard reality from the liberal justices but is so far in his bubble he dismissed them because they have vaginas.

[Scrivener7]

78. Fuckhead's name will go down in history right next to Taney's.

[GoCubsGo]

80. Rude awakenings are rude.

This is what happens when you are so arrogant that you are convinced of your own correctness, and you think everyone else believes the way you do. And, then you find out that they don't. I hope this is giving that corrupt motherfucker and his five toadies nightmares of mobs bearing pitchforks and torches at their doorsteps.

[malaise]

83. Call me when it's a serious seizure

and not a shake

[kentuck]

86. Wel, that takes the cake!

What a dumbass is Mr Roberts!

He must of thought Mr Trump was a product of a witchhunt and that he had never committed any crimes?

[MaryMagdaline]

88. He's left me reeling from the immunity decision, too.

I hope he never has a good night’s rest until the day he dies. Traitor to democracy.

[PCIntern]

90. I don't want to speak in specifics but

There is ZERO doubt in my mind that the Roberts public persona is a sham. There’s someone else who’s been hiding all these years.

[Hekate]

136. Like hell he "just calls balls & strikes." He's the nice face of the Opus Dei theocratic fanatics ...

…on what is supposed to be our secular High Court.

In repose, Sam Alito’s face always reminds me of a portrait of some medieval cardinal just burning to put sinners on the rack. But Roberts is the nice face out front.

[PCIntern]

137. Balls does have some relevance here...

[travelingthrulife]

91. He should have thought about that when he earned his current job overthrowing

an election. He is as bad as any January6th insurrectionist. He actively helped overthrow Gore's win in 2000 and was rewarded with the SC Chief Justice role. Could not have been any more in our faces.

[valleyrogue]

99. How did he actively overthrow the 2000 election?

He wasn't even on the court then. GWB appointed him to the CJ slot when William Rehnquist died. It was in 2005, nearly five years after the 2000 election.

From his Wikipedia page:

In 1992, President George H. W. Bush nominated Roberts to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, but the Senate did not hold a vote on his confirmation. In 2003, President George W. Bush appointed Roberts to the D.C. Circuit. In 2005, Bush nominated Roberts to the Supreme Court, initially as an associate justice to fill the vacancy left by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, but promoted him to chief justice after Rehnquist's death. Roberts was confirmed by a Senate vote of 78–22, becoming the youngest to serve in the position since John Marshall.[8]

[Hekate]

139. You'd be amazed. I was. Other people followed the Brooks Brothers Rioters long before I did...

https://thedemlabs.org/2022/07/08/supreme-political-payback/

Supreme Court has three lawyers who worked on Bush v. Gore
Justices Clarence Thomas voted to suspend the vote count in Florida that ended up with George Bush Jr. as president. Three other justices worked on the Bush team including John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Comey Barrett. All three were later appointed to the Supreme Court! Roberts was appointed by Bush. Kavanaugh and Barrett by Trump.

John Roberts flew to Florida in November 2000 to assist Bush's legal team. He helped prepare the lawyer who presented Bush's case to the Florida state Supreme Court and offered advice throughout.
Brett Kavanaugh was in private practice in 2000 and helped the Bush legal team. He wrote on a 2018 Senate questionnaire that his work related to recounts in Volusia County, Florida.
Amy Coney Barrett wrote on the questionnaire she submitted to the Senate for her Supreme Court confirmation review, "One significant case on which I provided research and briefing assistance was Bush v. Gore." She said the law firm where she was working at the time represented Bush and that she had gone down to Florida "for about a week at the outset of the litigation" when the dispute was in the Florida courts. - CNN

[valleyrogue]

145. That wasn't what was implied above.

He was not directly involved in the USSC decision on Bush v. Gore. According to your site, he had a very minor role with the lawyers on the case.

Not the same thing at all as what was implied above.

[Hekate]

149. I think I understood it pretty well. There were a lot of references that popped up on Google...

I kind of just tossed a dart at them and chose one. You may choose another. You may phrase it differently.

The salient points to me are as follows:

These young lawyers played a part on Bush’s side in the case of Bush v Gore. Some can be spotted in the “class photo” known as the Brooks Brothers Riot that played a prominent part in shutting down the vote count in Florida. They were handsomely rewarded in their subsequent careers — specifically, Dubya appointed John Roberts as Chief Justice.

Yes?

[peggysue2]

92. I don't think Roberts is reeling over anything

I suspect he's disturbed, angry that messages from Mt Olympus haven't been accepted as Gospel and that the reputation of SCOTUS is in the toilet.

The latter is well-deserved and delivered by his own hand.

[dalton99a]

93. Bullshit. The corporate whore is amoral and shameless

[The Madcap]

95. The main problem...

The main problem that I see with their ruling is that no one seems to have defined exactly what an official action is. Is meeting undercover with a dictator an official action? How about a backroom deal to build a hotel with one's name on it? How about shooting someone on Fifth Avenue? Harassing journalists? Accosting women? What's next? Gas chambers for immigrants?

I mean, come on. Under the current scenario, the Orange Messiah could do anything and get away with it simply because no one has the guts to tell him to his ugly mug what he cannot do. My bet is that they'll wait until after the election if Kamala wins to set those boundaries.

What a ridiculous situation. I mean, this clown could have pushed the nuke button over and over again with impunity and then called it an "official act." What a terrible ruling.

[dickthegrouch]

107. I had some suggestions about "Official Acts"

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219319695

Please feel free to improve on that and help get it into law.

[valleyrogue]

96. The USSC's reputation has been in the shitter since the ridiculous Jones v. Clinton decision,

which was under the Rehnquist court, but it gave the public warning signs of its corruption, if said public had been paying attention.

It's gone downhill ever since.

[Jakes Progress]

100. Bullshit. He's just following the Project 2025 playbook.

He has been working to do this for years. He was groomed to lead the judicial dismantling of our government and has been leading the way for two decades. This was always a part of the plan. If the right wing loonies win, he will be lauded. If they lose, he will be eventually identified as the worst American ever.

See the book Antidemocratic: Inside the Far Right's 50-Year Plot to Control American Elections by David Daley.

[RJ_MacReady]

101. good he should be

He knew exactly what he was doing. Frankly the attacks on their credibility and legitimacy need to be ramped up.

[Hotler]

103. Was he really shaken, or was it just melodramatic wording by the writer? nt

[republianmushroom]

105. The supreme court is nothing more that a wealthy boys club.

Protecting their sugar daddies.

[ecstatic]

106. He leads the most corrupt Supreme Court in US history

Does he know that?

[TBF]

108. The calculation that Trump might show him favor

for doing his bidding would be naive at best. I don't believe Justice Roberts is that gullible or stupid. And neither are we.

[uponit7771]

109. does "... left reeling ... " mean he's going to jail or is going to make a tangible change to the ruling? thx in advance

[Ford_Prefect]

110. Roberts is a sanctimonious swine who deserves as much scorn for this as for money is speech.

[Coexist]

112. poor little fool

I'm crying on the inside

[RussBLib]

113. This feels like propaganda

...I have a hard time believing any of the "conservative" justices even have a conscience.

[3825-87867]

122. Yeah, how can you be a conservative today

and actually have a conscience?

[Hermit-The-Prog]

118. Piss on Robber Baron Roberts; he's just 1 of the Subversive Six.

[a kennedy]

119. Oh boo fawking hoo.

Did he seriously think this was even remotely smart??? Give me a break. 🤬 🤬 🤬

[3825-87867]

121. Oh, please.

He wasn't shaken over Citizens United and he had to know what that can of worms meant and would lead to.
I"m sure once he get to the bank or makes an online deposit, the shakes stop.

[Scalded Nun]

124. He knew what he and his minions on the court were doing.

What he really needs to remember is that this is the 'Robert's Court' and that name, and all that goes with it, will hang around his neck as long as this country exists...and deservedly so.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

126. Roberts is a partisan asshole

Link to tweet

[Susan Calvin]

129. He is an idiot then.

Guess that goes to prove you don't have to actually be smart to make your way to the Supreme Court.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

130. its the antithesis of "calling balls and strikes".

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/supreme-court-trump-immunity-decision-john-roberts-rcna159884

[Generic Brad]

131. Awww. We hurt the corrupt man's feelings

We expect our justices to...I don't know...be fair and just. The right wing of this court is nothing more than bought and paid for shills. They are and continue to be a disgrace and need to go.

[NNadir]

132. Bullshit. This horrible person has no respect for the Constitution or the law. He's no more than a partisan thug...

...a corrupt perjurer and supporter of the overthrow of the government he swore to defend.

He doesn't give a rat's ass about his country; he's gone full MAGA.

History will record him on the same level as Roger Taney and his rulings will all be recorded with similar disgust to that of Taney.

[polichick]

133. It's obscene that he still has a job.

[grumpyduck]

134. He isn't reeling.

He's just pissed off.

Not that he gives a shit what people think.

[wolfie001]

141. He's getting bad council from his MAGA lawyer wife.....

.....who's a 100% 'Handmaid's Tale' adherent. Scary as fuck couple in the exact same mold as Scrolito's upside-down flag waver wife and "Free Buffet" Ginni "The Tank" Thomas.

[DallasNE]

142. The Problem With The Decision

Last edited Sat Oct 12, 2024, 08:16 PM - Edit history (1)

Is how ham-handed it is written. You can see some merit in the "official" versus "unofficial" separation except for the lack of clarity regarding how this is determined because it sounds like a case-by-case situation that will drag the Supreme Court into every decision. Roberts, understanding the unmanageability of the situation, brought up the instance of Trump ordering his acting Attorney General to do something and he declared that conversation as official. Here the problem becomes that Roberts focused solely on WHO the conversation was with rather than WHAT was being discussed. As the minority pointed out, that would grant immunity to a President to order Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political opponent. It fixed one problem but created a bigger problem. That remains unanswered.

Smith was very clever with his new indictment of Trump. He removed the testimony between Trump and his executive staff but he made the determination that the remaining conversations/evidence was unofficial and related to the campaign - "what" mattered after all. Next, we have the mini-trial that weighs the remaining evidence provided by Smith against the Supreme Court ruling to see whether it flies with Roberts.

[NBachers]

144. Blowit outcher ass, fuckwad

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

146. Well John then maybe you need to go back to the ruling and clarify that leading, encouraging, collaborating on

insurrection and refusal to abide by the outcome of an election is not, and cannot ever be an "official" act of ANY president.

we be OK with that I think! And then you could sleep better at night.

[Martin68]

148. Roberts lives and works in a bubble. He thinks we are all stupid and easily manipulated. That suggests he thinks

MAGAts are representative of all Americans. Glad to hear he realizes he missed the mark by miles. When the Supreme court rules on presidential legal immunity, it could only be related to the multitude of charges against Trump. What other president has charged and found d guilty of so many crimes?

[Hekate]

150. Remember when SCOTUS told the country that Bush v Gore only applied to that one case ...

… and “would set no precedent” ?

I’m no lawyer, but I knew it was a damn lie. Everything the Court does sets a precedent.

So, telling the American people that “presidential immunity” only applies this one time is a lie of even greater magnitude.

[Martin68]

152. Good point.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

151. Don't go away mad

just go away !

One of the most biased rulings in my lifetime...and he didn't understand...what a dope

[JohnSJ]

154. Bullshit. He knew exactly what he was doing.

[From The Ashes]

157. Dear John Roberts

Most of us are NOT THAT STUPID! Of course it was for Trump

[OldBaldy1701E]

158. Wow.

You say that lying to people about not messing with something popular and then messing with it and then making even more stupid and dangerous rulings would make people mad?

WEIRD!

[Evolve Dammit]

159. living in a bubble. So many are just fucking clueless when it comes to reality and truth. (Same as reality)

[NoMoreRepugs]

161. A lickspittle toady MF 'er.

[Zambero]

162. "Oh, Whoa is me!"

First Citizens United, and now this. And I was expecting ticker tape parades with marching bands!!

[sdfernando]

163. Seriously, Roberts cannot be that stupid!

He is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, surely he is smarter than this?....but apparently not.

[Hekate]

165. As I and others have already said: he is not stupid, but he thinks we are

[mahina]

166. Not shook enough.

But I do recognize the potential for a shield for Joe should the devil win

[somaticexperiencing]

168. what does he think? we're fucking idiots? probably. a child could see past the distorted logic of this opinion.

[Ruby the Liberal]

169. Stunning lack of self awareness

[Mr. Jinx]

171. Too bad, Johnny

This shows how out of touch with reality the Supreme Court has become. Not just the DC bubble or the conservative/GOP bubble, but the one around the court itself. It has tilted so far to the right that the fact the Chief Justice is surprised by the backlash says volumes.

Besides, who in their right mind thought that giving a con man immunity for "official acts" was a good idea? He's the last person who deserves any breaks for his actions.

[Baitball Blogger]

173. Roberts is as smart as a box of rocks.

[timoteus]

174. Who else

remembers Roberts continually complaining about not earning enough money the first couple years he was on the Supreme Court? Then he went completely silent on the matter. I'm sure they compensated him bigly behind the scenes.

[vapor2]

175. What the hell did he expect?

[Ferrets are Cool]

183. Bullshit.