Roberts nominated for Chief Justice.

In a move filled with political risk and unknown consequences President George Bush nominated John Roberts to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court today.

As Robert's hearings are ready to begin tomorrow for his confirmation this quick decision by Bush to evalate the relatively unknown Roberts to Chief Justice caught a lot of observers by suprise. No one really thought Scalia or Thomas were viable Chief Justice options as they would have raised a firestorm of opposition, but as no one really knows which way Roberts leans on crucial issues, elavating him to Chief Justice is fraught with risk for Bush and the conservative movement. If Roberts turns out to be another Justice Souter, Bush, like his father will have made the error of pushing through "a blank slate" only to have them turn out to be something other then what they had hoped.

This move should raise the stakes of the hearings commencing tomorrow and also raise the pressure on Bush to fill the other opening with either a Hispanic or woman. Fascinating stuff.