What would you want in a nominee? Of the ones most likely, which is the best? Who else would you pick?
President Obama faces a politically difficult choice about a new justice as the Supreme Court is at its own crossroads.
Liberal Justice John Paul Stevens, who announced Friday that he will leave the court this summer, has been a shrewd strategist at crafting majorities. In recent years, he has worked with swing-vote Justice Anthony Kennedy to blunt the force of the dominant conservatives. Though Stevens’ exit will not shift the ideological makeup of the court, it leaves a leadership vacuum on the left.
It also offers Obama an important moment to shape his legacy with a lifetime appointment on the highest court.
As Obama, a former constitutional law professor, confronts the decision, two basic paths lie ahead. He could choose a nominee likely to garner easy consensus among senators, such as U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan, 49, or Washington-based U.S. Appeals Court Judge Merrick Garland, 57. Alternatively, he could pick a liberal stalwart, such as Chicago-based U.S. Appeals Court Judge Diane Wood, 59.
Are you trying to be funny Benjamin?
Tom Clancy wrote a great way to do it in Executive Action after Jack Ryan became President and he had to replace the entire court.
Hand the president the files on X number of federal judges that had never had a decision overturned by the SCOTUS.
#21 Of course.
#22 In Tom Kratzman’s book, Caliphate someone killed a Supreme Court Justice that the President disagreed with. He pardoned the killer and let it be known that he would pardon people who did similar with the rest of the Court that he disagreed with. The Presidential pardon should not be used as a tool for assassination. Used that way it could lead to dictatorship. Interesting in fiction though.
Anyone else notice that Don Quixote (#19) has a fixation on a male body part?
ahem…. HRC anybody?
HRC? No. Fracking. Way. I don’t want to have to look at the mug on that old shrew on the news for another 30-40 years. I was hoping she would disappear after her husband was out of office. Wishful thinking on my part I guess.
With the queer community who seems to have the attention of the democratic party now, feeling anyone who have ever had a dick up their ass deserving the same consideration women who raised the nation’s next generation have,
Wow, someone has some issues…
@jccalhoun: I think hes got a whole subscription.
You can bet that the party of “NO” will reject every nominee that Obama offers. That is unless, of course, he nominates Sarah Palin. Now wouldn’t that be embarrassing to said party. She’s “OK” to be a VP, but so “NOT OK” to be a Supreme Court Judge. Why? Because she’s not the least bit qualified for either position. Tell that to the stupid Tea Party.
He’ll nominate someone who cites international law in their decisions.
OOO!
OOOO!
OOO! OO!…
ME ELECT ME…
Chief Circuit Judge Paul R. Michel.
He would make it past both sides.
Cursor_
Katie Couric in a unitard.
He should get an aggressive left winger to start balancing the court. That selected person should be held in reserve while he nominates a sacrificial lamb==a far left wing moonbat and let the Repugs do their thing and get a win all to make the stealth candidate a shoe in while threatening to nominate another moonbat if the stealth candidate is not now approved.
I don’t know who the “real” candidate should be but Glen Beck could help pick the false flags.
Harriet Miers!!!
Just kidding.
Hey Don Quixote…are you by any chance a Catholic priest? Cardinal? Republican Congressman?
Now for actual nominee, I agree that a sacrificial lamb of sorts is in order. That’s what brought Miers to mind.
So, nominate Al Franken, then, when the shouting is over, perhaps Hillary, but I’d really prefer that she just go away. Jerry Brown would be a good choice, but he is needed in California, and I don’t think he would consent to living in the East. Dershowitz would be good, but probably couldn’t get approved. Kathleen Sebelius? I always liked her.
How about Courtney Love?
Who I want him to nominate? Someone who will follow the constitution, especially someone who knows what the tenth amendment is.
Who the populace wants nominated? Someone moderate, that will at least give lip service to the constitution, and keep congress on their toes.
Who he will probably nominate? A left winger, from left wing town, who thinks their is no such thing as a federal government that is too big, and that the constitution is just a piece of paper, who’s rules just don’t apply in todays age. A rubber stamp for a democrat congress, and a roadblock for a republican one.
#37 Bob said “A left winger, from left wing town…”
Obviously, Bobby Hull fits the bill.
OK, skip Katie Couric. I’m thinking Florence Henderson now.
And here you go….
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_ts1571