Let the fun begin!
Replacing the judge is more important than naming the Chief Justice, although you can do both at once.
Here, Here!
That statement will send the left into apoplexy..
Hah! Chief Justice Thomas!
1) As youngest member of SCOTUS, we'd get 20 years of a Thomas court, vs. 8 years of a Scalia court. Isn't the whole point of getting nominees on the court to prolong your beliefs for many years to come?
2) Thomas is quiet, thoughtful, and persuasive... all skills need for a C.J. to "reach consensus". Scalia is an outspoken intellilectural leader of the court -- traditionally NOT the role of C.J., but the person delegated to write the most opinions on the court (like Oliver Wendell Holms, Louis Brandeis, William O. Douglas, etc.)
3) For the first time ever, a well-qualified CONSERVATIVE black guy in CHARGE of one of three branches of government. He's far more worthy of the position than Martinez was to be Senator or Rice as POTUS. Liberals will burst a blood vessel that Republicans put a "minority" in charge of one of the three branches for the first time ever. Senator Byrd will drop dead of a heart attack.
to hell with Scalia, if he won't support federalism.
Thomas for Chief Justice.
My first time meeting Justice Scalia was at the Italian Store in Arlington, VA where the very Italian staff treated him like a rock star.