"An insider's account of the momentous ideological war between the John Roberts Supreme Court and the Obama administration. From the moment John Roberts, the Chief Justice of the United States, flubbed the Oath of Office at Barack Obama's inauguration, the relationship between the Supreme Court and the White House has been confrontational. Both men are young, brilliant, charismatic, charming, determined to change the course of the nation--and completely at odds on almost every major constitutional issue. One is radical; one essentially conservative. The surprise is that Obama is the conservative--a believer in incremental change, compromise, and pragmatism over ideology. Roberts--and his allies on the Court--seek to overturn decades of precedent: in short, to undo the victory FDR achieved in the New Deal. And now they are linked in history by Roberts's stunning vote to uphold Obamacare. As the nation prepares to vote for President in 2012, the future of the Supreme Court is also on the ballot."--Publisher description.

The politician's path -- "On behalf of the strong in opposition to the weak" -- The era of good feelings -- The legacy of Appendix E -- The ballad of Lilly Ledbetter -- The war against precedent -- The hunter -- Lawyers, guns, and money -- The unrequited bipartisanship of Barack Obama -- Wise Latina -- Money talks -- Samuel Alito's question -- The rookie -- The ninety-page swan song of John Paul Stevens -- "With all due deference to separation of powers" -- The retired justices dissent -- Softball politics -- The Tea Party and the justice's wife -- The Thomas court -- "Democracy is not a game" -- "You should do it" -- Broccoli -- The "effective" argument -- Epilogue: The Roberts court.