Roberts Papers Being Delayed: Bush Aides Screen 50,000 Pages

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Roberts Papers Being Delayed
Bush Aides Screen Pages for Surprises

By Jo Becker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 10, 2005

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/09/AR2005080901232_pf.html

Thrown on the defensive by recent revelations about Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr.'s legal work, White House aides are delaying the release of tens of thousands of documents from the Reagan administration to give themselves time to find any new surprises before they are turned into political ammunition by Democrats.

Before Roberts's July 19 selection by President Bush, there was no comprehensive effort to examine the voluminous paper trail from his previous tours as an important legal and political hand under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, administration officials said.

Three weeks later, these officials say they recognize that Roberts's record is going to be central to Senate confirmation hearings scheduled to begin Sept. 6, and lawyers and political aides are urgently reviewing more than 50,000 pages -- at the same time denying requests from Democrats for an immediate release. While the White House plays catch-up in studying Roberts's past, it is facing complaints from some of its conservative supporters about what they feel has been a stumbling campaign for the nominee.

Sean Rushton, director of the conservative Committee for Justice, said in the days after the nomination "there was a drop-off of message and focus." "Merely saying 'He's a lawyer's lawyer' isn't enough," Rushton said. "This is the moment to explain why so many of us feel so strongly about the judicial system in ways that can change hearts and minds of swing voters who could be added to the Republican column."

[endarkenment]

1. But but but....

the MSM told us it would be smooth sailing and he's a shoo-in and the DINOs all lined up to tell us what a good guy he is what with that nice fambly dancing jack and everything from brazil or ireland or wherever they bought their little aryans and his wifey a real honest to jesus feminazi of the nazi persuasion and pay no attention to the fact that you can't even peak at anything he's written in the last 12 years. Just be satisfied with the junk he wrote for raygun. Oh wait, you can't have that shit either.

But he did some pro boner work for them gays so he must be all right :-)

[wishlist]

2. This was covered well on TV news last night (ABC I think)

Only difference was that on TV news report last night, they flat-out stated that White House was blocking (not "delaying") release for fear of surprises that could interfere with him getting a smooth confirmation.

My husband has always said about WH and Repubs that they are like cats in the sandbox.