Thanks for the report. I've never heard of this site, though. Reliable, as far as you know?
McConnell for Chief Justice is interesting. I'm not surprised that Thomas would decline for the reasons stated, but, I don't understand Scalia being passed over.
Should be hard for dems to raise a stink over McConnell since they confirmed him in the last 4 years.
Scalia is Near 70.
You want someone far younger in the CJ slot.
Picking a Chief Justice from the existing court would require two confirmation hearings, and for what? The Chief Justice exercises no more influence on what cases are heard than any other justice. His voice carries no more weight. In matters of law he is one voice among equals. He enters first and votes first. If in the majority he decided who writes the majority opinion. But other than that all he gets is a higher salary and the additional responsibility of being in charge of the building and grounds.