A GOP president will appoint first black chief justice, first black woman justice - (Jack Kelly!)

JEWISH WORLD REVIEW.COM ^ | JANUARY 10, 2005 | JACK KELLY

[CHARLITE]

Chief Justice William Rehnquist's health is so poor he likely soon will be called to the Great Appellate Bench in the Sky. On NBC's "Meet the Press" program last month, the new Senate Democratic leader, Sen. Harry Reid, said he could support the elevation of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia to chief justice, but not Thomas.

Angela Onwuachi-Willig, a liberal Democrat and law professor who is black, said Reid's erroneous attack on Thomas appeared to be motivated by racism. "It is the black justice who cannot write opinions, articulate independent thoughts or perform his job well," she said, writing in the Chicago Tribune. "The exact same comments were made about the late Justice Thurgood Marshall."

Democrats are willing to permit President Bush to replace Rehnquist with another white male conservative, but not with a conservative who is non-white.

Even with the support of nearly 90 percent of blacks, Democrats have lost the White House and both houses of Congress. If just one black in five were habitually to vote Republican, the Democratic party could go the way of the Federalists and the Whigs.

[NonValueAdded]

"It will be hard for Democrats to fight Thomas and Brown without appearing racist. That could remind blacks that every segregationist who ever served in Congress was a Democrat."

[clintonh8r]

There would be a very satisfying "in-your-faces, RATs" factor to a Thomas appointment, but a Scalia appointment would be the smart way to go in the long run. Just MHO.

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

Putting party politics aside, from a strictly conservative, constitutional standpoint, J. Scalia would be far better. I wouldn't complain if GW chose J. Thomas, but I could die happy knowing the NYT and their ilk would have to write the words "Chief Justice Antonin Scalia".

[Frank_2001]

Good article.

[Darkwolf377]

You may think I'm a loon, but I think Bush has found the key to creating something the libs have been fighting to do in their wrongheaded way since FDR--a true, deep cementing of white and black in this country, from the top down. When more blacks see that they don't have to be liberal or conservative or play any role someone wants for them (liberals think it's ok to be black as long as you're a liberal black) but that ALL roles are open for them, and are as acceptable as being a white liberal or conservative, the rug will be pulled out from under the libs. I am not for appointing someone based on skin color; I'm merely saying IF black conservative justices are appointed under Bush, it will be the beginning of a much stronger black-white conservative coalition, and blacks will have an alternative to the democratic party. This does NOT mean blacks will become conservative; all it means is they will see they can break from the roles other Americans have forced them into, and that they can be whatever they want. (Yes--they already can. But they don't, politically, by and large; when they start seeing numerous examples who knows?)

I'm not laying this out coherently (long day) but I think black conservatives on the Supreme Court who command respect from all blacks are something the libs are very, very afraid of.

[wmfights]

From a realpolitic view why bother to appoint another black supreme court justice. The hispanics are a growing force in this country and 45% of hispanic men voted for Bush. The GOP has been doing outreach forever in the black community and only has a mouth with no teeth to show for it. I wish no one ill, but I think if conservatives are going to build a lasting majority we must have the hispanic community with us.

[COEXERJ145]

If President Bush does nominate Janice Rogers Brown to the Supreme Court, the collective explosion of Democrat heads in D.C. will be head all the way to California. There is no way they can stand for there to be a black woman (much less a conservative one) on the Supreme Court unless she is liberal and nominated by a Democrat President.

[Soul Seeker]

The black community will have to become competitive in their voting patterns if they wish to be taken seriously, since Hispanics have now surpassed them as the largest minority. In the end I think this competition could hold the key to breaking their Dem block, rather than any one or two high level appointments.

My top two choices for the court are Estrada and Brown.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

She'd make a fine addition to the court.

I think that Mary Ann Glendon and Judge Posner also merit consideration.

[LynnHam]

If President Bush does nominate Janice Rogers Brown to the Supreme Court, the collective explosion of Democrat heads in D.C. will be head all the way to California. There is no way they can stand for there to be a black woman (much less a conservative one) on the Supreme Court unless she is liberal and nominated by a Democrat President

I think thats great I am hopeing he also appoints bork and ken star :)

[Buck W.]

"From a realpolitic view why bother to appoint another black supreme court justice. "

If the black justice is the best choice, make the appointment.

[dangus]

"likely to take him to the great appellate court bench in the sky."

There's no appellate court in Heaven. No need: the peoples' advocate is that good. :^)

[plain talk]

You are right. While I love Thomas as a conservative I think Scalia would be a stronger leader up there and is more deserving.

[scars]

Well said.

[eno_]

Nope. I'd pick Thomas on the merits: Thomas understands that the New Deal was a coup against the Constitution. Scalia, for all his eloquence, wouldn't know an unemumerated right if it bit him on the ass.

[dangus]

I say pick the best, black, white, yellow, brown or red. (Can I still say "yellow?" It's from the song.) Janice Rogers Brown or Miguel Estrada would be wonderful.

It'd be no surprise the GOP picks a racial minority. Great thinkers are going to depart from group think. To the Democrats, that spells disloyalty. They have loads of safer, lesser minorities to promote. Republicans in search of greatness have an untapped wealth of minority candidates; great minds also tend to move to where their uniqueness becomes a peculiar greatness.

[BigSkyFreeper]

On NBC's "Meet the Press" program last month, the new Senate Democratic leader, Sen. Harry Reid, said he could support the elevation of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia to chief justice, but not Thomas.

Harry Reid appeared racist on MTP regarding his racist and denigrating remarks about Judge Thomas.

[dangus]

Ken Starr is a f**king moron! I spent countless months trying to explain to people how whitewater and Lewinski was so much deeper than just all about sex. And after he spends the better part of two years getting played every step of the way by the Clinton administration, he goes and he releases a report about nothing other than sex.

[wmfights]

I agree with your assessment. IMHO however in expanding the conservative base its key to nominate a hispanic from outside the court for chief justice and force the rats into a corner. History has shown that the nomination of a black justice will not bring additional support to conservatives.
If Justice Thomas is nominated the MSM will back the rats, but if a conservative hispanic from outside the court is nominated there is no way to down play it in the news.