Posted on 06/28/2005 4:05:40 PM PDT by RWR8189
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid suggested on Tuesday that four of his Republican colleagues be considered by President Bush if a vacancy occurs on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Seeking a possible consensus nominee, Reid recommended Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Mel Martinez of Florida, Mike DeWine of Ohio and Mike Crapo of Idaho.
Reid described them all as bright and able lawyers who would be strong additions to the nation's highest court.
"We have had approximately 10 members of the Supreme Court that came from the United States Senate over the years," Reid told reporters.
"There are people who serve in the Senate now who are Republicans who I think would be outstanding Supreme Court members," Reid said.
There had been widespread speculation that a resignation could come soon on the Supreme Court. But uncertainty rose on Monday when the court ended its term for the year without any announced departures.
Still, court observers say there could be a resignation on the aging federal bench in the days, weeks or months ahead.
Reid, who has conferred with Senate Republican leader Bill Frist on the possibility of a Supreme Court opening, said he has made his suggestions to "anyone who will listen."
Reid and fellow Democrats have urged Bush to consult with them before making a nomination, which the Senate would then be asked to confirm.
Earlier on Tuesday, Frist said, "I've made some suggestions" to the White House on potential nominees, but declined to disclose names.
"They are reaching out for suggestions," Frist said after giving a speech at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative group. He added, "I don't have any inside information" about who the nominee could be.
Another senator who has been mentioned as a possible Supreme Court nominee is Republican John Cornyn of Texas, a former member of the Texas Supreme Court and the only senator with appellate court experience.
Asked if Bush should consider Cornyn, Reid shrugged and said, "I've told you (the ones) I think he should consider."
Graham and DeWine were among seven Senate Republicans who joined seven Senate Democrats in reaching a compromise last month on Bush's most contentious appeals court nominees.
The accord cleared the way for the confirmation of a number of Bush's nominees, but preserved the right of Democrats to block others "under extraordinary circumstances."
Cornyn was among those who have criticized the accord, which could face a major test with a Supreme Court nomination.
BWHAHAHAHA!!! There's not a single SCOTUS material amongst that group. He really DOES take Republicans as fools.
Reid just can't understand what GWB means by "no consultation" on judges. Dingy, STHU
Of COURSE, he suggested those Republicans...I don't know that much about Crapo...but the other ones surely would please the dems...
Which means, not no, but heck no!!!
Cornyn, though, would be great!!!
What an idiot. I hope Rove & Co. have some plans to drive Reid totally off his rocker...
The boob DeWine was just stabbed in the back. As has been noted by scores of FReepers, anyone who has the political tin ear that DeWine has should not be in the Senate. Is Kasich listening?
Pound sand, Harry, you lying weasel SOB. We won, we get our judges.
I'm surprised Arlen Specter didn't get a mention...
John Kyl would be a perfect cheif justice of the supreme court a great conservative of course reid didn't suggest him.
I wish one of the peanut gallery had asked reid about Kyl and shown how much of an obstructionist reid is because Kyl is a brilliant conservative that would be a strict constitutionalist.
Dewine-Laughable
Lindsay Graham republican during the day democrat at night=Laughable
Crepo don't know enough about
Martinez would be weak on immigration, enviornment, and affirmative action issues. Martinez was very moderate before he ran for the senate I think as a judge he would veer to the left.
Schumer mentioned Spector too which is laughable.
Too bad the governor of arizona is a democrat or if I was Bush I would have nominated Kyl and let them reject one of their own.
All lightweights....and unqualified. Just proves that Reid doesn't know how to judge judges....and has no business second-guessing the President's nominees.
As it happens, John Bolton has a law degree.
Not being on Harry's list qualifies as extreme?...NOT
Aren't Souter and Kennedy both what we got listening to Dems?
They actually have the nerve to state in the article that Reid's motive is to seek a consensus choice. When is someone going to stand up to these communists and shove their nonsense back at them? To anyone but a two year old and a left wing journalist, that obviously was not the motive.
15. In a span of just over two months in 1996, you (Jerry Smith) issued two blockbuster opinions: Hopwood v. Texas, 78 F.3d 932 (5th Cir. 1996) (holding that the University of Texas Law School could not use racial preferences in deciding which students to admit); and Castano v. American Tobacco Co., 84 F.3d 734 (5th Cir. 1996) (decertifying the largest class action ever attempted in federal court). What single opinion of yours -- majority, concurring, dissenting, or other -- do you find to be the most memorable?
Hopwood.
16. How do you define the term "judicial activism," and is it ever proper for a federal appellate judge to consider his or her personal preference as to the outcome of a case (other than the preference to decide the case correctly in accordance with the law) in deciding how to rule?
Judicial activism could mean many things, but primarily it is the substitution of the court's view for the policymaker's view, in cases where the decision properly should rest with the policymaker, or substituting the court's view for what the Constitution says, where a constitutional provision is at stake. A judge should not consider his or her personal preference as to outcome, any more than an umpire should call balls and strikes based on which team is his or her favorite.
Actually, Mel Martinez is a good guy and quite conservative. I think he's going to make a really good Senator (this is his first term). However, he's not Supreme Court material.
But if I were Mel, I'd be insulted to be included in any list with Lindsey Graham.
Thanks for the input, but I already have a few good 'ol boys (maybe girls!) in mind. I'm sure you will absolutely flip over the names on my list!
Say "hi" to Howeird for me.
GWB
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