Interest groups gear up for Supreme Court fight

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 6/24/05 | John Whitesides - Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Dozens of interest groups on the right and left are poised to spend millions of dollars and mobilize thousands of activists in an expected fight over a U.S. Supreme Court vacancy that could tip the court's balance on hot-button social issues like abortion.

With the retirement of ailing Chief Justice William Rehnquist widely anticipated, if far from certain, when the court ends its term next week, advocacy groups are planning for all possibilities and researching a long list of President Bush's potential replacement nominees.

Both sides have extensive battle plans that feature the trappings of a modern political campaign, including war rooms, phone banks, e-mail lists, grass-roots volunteers and paid advertising aimed at shaping public opinion and winning the votes of wavering senators who must confirm Bush's choice.

"Other than a decision to declare war, there is nothing more important in the tenure of a president or a senator than a Supreme Court nomination," said Ralph Neas, president of the liberal People for the American Way and a leader in the last successful fight against a Supreme Court nominee, Robert Bork, in 1987.

"We have literally been preparing every day for possible Supreme Court vacancies since January 2000," Neas said. "Our job is to make sure everyone understands what is at stake and gets involved."

A Supreme Court vacancy would be the first since 1994, when the Senate confirmed Stephen Breyer without a fight. The narrow confirmation of Clarence Thomas in 1991 was the last contested nomination, just four years after the conservative Bork's rejection in a bruising fight.

The battle over a new justice would be the first in the era of competing 24-hour cable news networks, the Internet and an increasingly heated partisan environment, making it possibly "bigger and badder" than ever, said Sean Rushton, executive director of the conservative Committee for Justice.

BALANCE OF POWER

Advocates on both sides promise to defend their interests in a fight that could change the court's balance of power. Aside from the conservative Rehnquist, 80, who has thyroid cancer, several other aging justices could retire at any time. Replacing a more moderate judge with a conservative could change votes on such issues as abortion, civil liberties and gay rights.

"The other side is going to tar and feather our nominee, and it's crucial for us to defend him," said Brian McCabe, president of Progress for America, which heads a conservative coalition pledging to back Bush's nominee, whoever it is.

"We're prepared today to engage in an $18 million campaign with national and in-state television advertising, field operatives in 22 states, aggressive mail and phone campaigns and legal experts on the road," McCabe said.

Neas laughed off suggestions his coalition of 70 liberal groups, who have been meeting weekly for years to plot their strategy, planned to smear Bush's nominee. He said he hoped for a summer without controversy.

"The best thing that could happen would be a national dialogue on the Supreme Court," Neas said. "I would love it if there is not a battle, but if the last four and a half years is a guide, this president more than any other chooses confrontation over collaboration."

Neas has prepared a "war room" equipped with 40 computers to get a quick jump on the debate when Bush names a nominee. "We know how important first impressions are," he said.

Progress for America, which spent heavily to support Bush in last year's presidential campaign, already has spent $3.2 million on advertising this year backing Bush's federal court nominees who were blocked in the Senate by Democrats.

It launched a limited, $700,000 television ad buy on Wednesday titled "Get Ready" that said liberal groups would attack Bush's nominee.

Both sides will target their efforts on states with moderate senators who are swing votes like Democrats Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mark Pryor of Arkansas.

"We want to keep Ben Nelson and Mark Pryor focused on the fact that they can't win re-election from their states if they are tied to Ralph Neas and his group," Rushton said.

In the meantime, both sides will sit and wait.

"We could have spent a lot of time getting prepared for nothing," McCabe said. "That's fine, we'll just take those resources and go back to focusing on tort reform, tax reform and Social Security."

[NormsRevenge]

U.S. Chief Justice William Rehnquist leaves the podium after administering the oath of office to U.S. President George W. Bush at the Capitol in Washington, January 20, 2005. Rehnquist's administrative assistant and top aide, Sally Rider, walks behind him. With the retirement of Chief Justice William Rehnquist widely anticipated, dozens of interest groups on the right and left are poised to spend millions of dollars and mobilize thousands of activists in an expected fight over a U.S. Supreme Court vacancy that could tip the court's balance on hot-button social issues like abortion. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

[NormsRevenge]

Depends undergarments.. preferred by 5 of 9 justices.. :}

After nine years without a change, the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court gather for a group portrait at the Supreme Court Building in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2003. Left to right in front row are: Associates Justice Antonin Scalia, John Paul Stevens, Chief Justice of the United States William H. Rehnquist, Associate Justices Sandra Day O'Connor, and Anthony M. Kennedy. Back row, from left are: Associate Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, David Souter, Clarence Thomas, and Stephen Breyer. Cities may bulldoze people's homes to make way for shopping malls or other private development, a divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday, June 23, 2005, giving local governments broad power to seize private property to generate tax revenue. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

[NormsRevenge]

President Reagan, center, gestures during a news conference at the White House in this June 17, 1986 file photo where he announced the nomination of Antonin Scalia, left, to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice William Rehnquist is at right. Widely regarded as the court's leading intellectual and often described as a gentleman, Scalia also is the court's most provocative, and sometimes petulant, justice. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)

[Right_at_RiceU]

The hippylibs just want to violate our seperation of powers and influence the supreme court. Thank God that Bush is our president.

[traviskicks]

Why does every article on the SCOTUS deal with abortion. Why don't they mention property rights that the thieving justices just threw out the window?

Let's stop the advance of socialism in this country before worrying about these other things.

Petition to impeach justices
http://www.petitiononline.com/lp001/petition.html
(property tyrannies)

[easonc52]

Let's stop the advance of socialism in this country before worrying about these other things.

Just curious, I did read and sign the petition, I'm just wondering if you can give me a summary of who receives these, and the good they do.

[moog]

Why does every article on the SCOTUS deal with abortion. Why don't they mention property rights that the thieving justices just threw out the window?

It's a conspiracy. Scotus is a derivative or contains the same letter as those dreaded scouts.

[Mach9]

"Why does every article on the SCOTUS deal with abortion. Why don't they mention property rights that the thieving justices just threw out the window?"

Because they're of a piece. It's called protecting the rights of (innocent) individuals.

[traviskicks]

I am assuming they will send it to every representative and senator. No info on that, almost 1000 people have signed it and when i first saw the petition a few hours ago there was only like 400ppl who signed it.

But you're right, I'd hate to see effort wasted going down the drain. We'll have to trust the guy who made it to send it off. I'll drop him an email to make sure.

[easonc52]

Thank you. I've signed a couple at that site because they seem to be for good causes. Just wasn't sure how the process works, and imagine more would be contributing if more clear.

[rwfromkansas]

With the court ruling, this may be needed to stand firm on judges. Not many know you can CALL ROVE'S OFFICE DIRECTLY (well, his assistant), bypassing the main switchboard. Tell Rove's office you support standing firm on this matter....and that it is high time to PRESENT A BLISTERING DEFENSE OF IRAQ POLICY and push for true tax reform, SS reform, and staying strong on judges. Tell Bush to be strong on Tuesday's address and to leave the Iraq cliches behind. Just speak strongly. We need a conservative SCOTUS.

Tel for Rove's office: 202-456-5587 or 202-456-2369

Fax for Rove's office: 202-456-2461 (make sure to say it is for him on the cover sheet...seems there is just one big WH fax number that is public).

Timothy Goeglein, WH Public Liaison, at (202) 456-2930

Andrew Card's office, WH Chief of Staff: 202-456-6798

[traviskicks]

The guy wrote me back very promptly:


The petition is addressed to both houses of Congress.

"We the People of the United States, do hereby demand that our duly elected
representatives in both houses of Congress"

When printed, I will hand deliver it to Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tx) to be delivered
to Reps and Senators in both the House and the Senate.

[easonc52]

The petition is addressed to both houses of Congress.

That's great news. Thank you!

Do you know if there is a minimum number of sigs required in order to submit a valid petition?

[traviskicks]

I'd hope not. If congress is regulating the petitions it gets things are worse than we think...

[blueberry12]

But GWB's hands are tied by the democrats who will filibuster everybody. They say they won't, but I know better. Their primary goal is to pack the supreme court with liberals. THAT IS THEIR ONLY HOPE. They all focus on that one thing.