I don't care if Bush nominates a Ferengi, as long as it's a Conservative, in fact a Ferengi would probably have a better understanding of US Property Rights than Anthony Kennedy does.
Seriously, how Conservative is Garza? I know he is against Roe v Wade and is for Gun Rights, but how would he compare to Scalia, Thomas, and Rehnquist? How Strict a Constructionist is he?
What do you think of Garza as a judge?
Is Garza going to be solidly in the Thomas, Scalia, Rehnquist court?
Rules him out for me ... I want someone that the left will truly hate!!! ... I would recommend Ambassador Alan Keyes! Is he even eligible? Probably not ... but that's the "right" sort of candidate that I think Dubya should put in there.
Bush needs to send up Mark Levin first to mete out as much damage as possible on the "good" names of senators like Kennedy, Leahy, Biden, Schumer and Durbin. Then he can send up his real candidate.
How many of the people such as Cornyn, Gonzales, Olsen, ect. would have to recuse themselves from cases after having been in positions advocating one way or the other while in government positions?
May I take the liberty of repeating this. To do so will be a waste of time and energy.
Not now. Not EVER.
I think that Bush can really hurt the Democrats if he hangs tough. My strategy:
Nominate Janice Rogers Brown. The Dems are guaranteed to filibuster. Let 'em, then withdraw the nomination.
Nominate Miguel Estrada. Another filibuster. Again withdraw the nomination.
Nominate Edith Jones. A third filibuster, because all 3 are strong, solid conservatives.
After the 3rd filibuster, announce that he's sent three very well qualified and diverse candidates, yet clearly the Democrats are not operating in good faith. "Three strikes and your out." Because of the extraordinary obstructionism of the Dems, urge the Senate leadership to invoke the constitutional (nuke) option, and renominate Janice Rogers Brown.
She's confirmed, the Dems show their true colors by turning down a Black woman, a Hispanic male, and a white woman. Their less than totally partisan constituents will take notice, already a bit more open to rethink things based on the Kelo decision (I've heard numerous moderate and lowkey Democrats express suprise that the conservatives USSC members voted the way they did, and disappointment that the Dems took the side of the gov't taking homes for profit.)
Very big opportunity to educate more Americans about what the Dems are really about, to let them self-destruct, while still getting a solid conservative onto the bench. Fight the big battle and hurt the Dems now, because there is no guarantee that President Bush will be in a stronger position down the road.
I think Bush should nominate either former MS Governor Ronnie Musgrove or former MS Attorney General Attorney Michael Moore. Yes these guys are Dems, but they are also pro-life and anti-gay adoption. I really would like to see how Ted Kennedy reacts to them.
Garza looks like a solid conservative. He also gives some regional deference as Texas and Arizona aren't that far apart. A 20 year career on the supreme court by a solid conservative is fair return on '04' election, imo.
Notre Dame grads should provide broadbased support and Marine Corp service doesn't hurt. He sounds like the kind of mainstream conservative Sen. McCain could sponsor and demonstrate some leadership by getting him quickly confirmed.
It would be interesting what current senators on both sides of the aisle said about Garza during his nomination and confirmation for 5th circuit.
Oh, but the MSM will thrive upon such speculations!
We know one thing for sure -- this thing is open and the battle is going to be hard fought.
That's a gimme since the "Chappaquiddick Kid" has already subtly denounced any of Dubya's picks before knowing who it is.(and he actually sounded sober and contrite!)
Anymore I would expect the DNC to fight any pick even if it were to be Ramsey Clark!
However, if that were to be the case then they would finally have substantiation in their denouncing of a Dubya' pick.