Posted on 12/07/2004 5:46:03 AM PST by alessandrofiaschi
Reid Says He Could Back Scalia for Chief Justice Comments Anger Liberals And Thomas Supporters
By Michael A. Fletcher Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, December 7, 2004; Page A04
Partisans on both sides of the debate over judicial nominees voiced displeasure yesterday with incoming Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid's comments indicating that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia could make an acceptable nominee for chief justice.
In an interview Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," the Nevada Democrat said that although he often disagrees with Scalia, he could support him to be chief justice of the United States because he is "one smart guy." Reid qualified his statement, however, saying Scalia first would have to overcome "ethics problems," including his refusal to recuse himself from a case involving the Office of the Vice President after accompanying Vice President Cheney on a duck-hunting trip to Louisiana in January.
Reid's comments startled lobbying groups preparing for the battles sure to come with the likely turnover in the Supreme Court in the near future. Eight of the nine justices are age 65 or older. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, 80, is fighting thyroid cancer and has missed the court's public sessions in recent weeks, generating speculation about who would replace him should he step down.
Members of several liberal activist groups called Reid's office yesterday to seek an explanation of the Democratic leader's comments and to say they would oppose the elevation of Scalia, one of the court's most conservative justices. "We would strongly oppose the nomination of Justice Scalia to chief justice," said Ralph G. Neas, president of People for the American Way. Nan Aron, president of the Alliance for Justice, added that "ethics issues alone" should keep Scalia from becoming chief justice.
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(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I'll try to find my link to Scalia's speech where he described his and Thomas' intellectual relationship.
That was simply awesome! Thank you so very much for posting this. I'm more impressed than ever by Justice Thomas. All conservatives, strict constructionists, 2nd Amendment afficionados, 1st Amendment devotees, and business people should read this marvelous, marvelous analysis of his opinions!
I am constantly amazed at Nat Hentoff, aren't you?
These were all wonderful links. Thanks.
You're most welcome! Hentoff is a principled liberal, rather than a raving leftist. It takes guts to be pro-life when you work at the Village Voice, LOL!
His grandfather believed in hard work and self-reliance. In 1975, when Thomas read Race and Economics by economist Thomas Sowell, he found an intellectual foundation for this philosophy. The book criticized social reforms by government and instead argued for individual action to overcome circumstances and adversity. Thomas later said the book changed his life.
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