Here's a wacky idea: Anthony Kennedy for Chief Justice!

Vanity ^ | Now | Me

[dangus]

With O'Connor already announcing her intention to retire, Rehnquist leaving us with only a question of when, and the strong likelihood of 85-year-old Stevens or Ginsburg retiring by 2008, I propose that Bush should consider nominating Anthony Kennedy to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Don't get me wrong: I'd love to watch Nancy Pelosi's head explode as Clarence Thomas or Antonin Scalia were promoted. But the viscreal thrill of it aside (and yes, I know I'm a junkie when I can refer to the "visceral thrill "of a Supreme Court nomination), it wouldn't do much. "Chief Justice" has become merely an honorary title.

The Democrats are clamoring for nominations in the mold of O'Connor. Kennedy, while having a different focus than O'Connor, is just about exactly as conservative or liberal as O'Connor. And, until a third vacancy occurs, Kennedy will be the swing vote on just about every issue, since Souter, Breyer, Ginsburg and Stevens are all essentially left-wing partisan hacks, and hopefully Renquist's and O'Connor's replacements will join a staunchly conservative bloc with Scalia and Thomas. So, Kennedy will be the de facto chief of the Supreme Court anyway.

Essentially, it buys Bush a perception of centrism at almost zero cost. The public perception will be of a perfectly balanced court being created by Bush: four liberals, four conservatives, and the Chief Justice as the ideological centrist. And yet, Bush will have steered the court as hard to the right as is presently possible.

Comments?

[lilylangtree]

Amen, Blurb! Amen! Judge Roy for SCOTUS!

[LibertarianLiz]

Why do people care about who the Chief Justice is anyway?

I wondered the same thing; but, some time ago heard some talking head saying that the Chief Justice decides what cases they hear.

Now, I'm not positive that is true (and someone here WILL correct me if I'm wrong); but, if it is true then they do hold some power.

[wagglebee]

It's funny that you came up with this. I was thinking this morning that elevating Kennedy to CJ might placate the 'Rats and avert an all out war in the Senate. As far as I am aware, the Chief Justice doesn't have a tremendous amount of power over the other justices, his main duties are largely ceremonial and presidential impeachments. Until recently, Kennedy could be counted on to vote with Rehnquist, Scalia and Thomas a lot of the time.

[BibChr]

"Wacky"? I think you misspelled "Really Stupid."

Dan

[dangus]

Thank you for your intelligent contribution to this discussion.

[BibChr]

Glad to elevate it a notch from the level of the original idea.

Dan

[PhiKapMom]

Let me see if I can find it -- I was getting it from my daughter's Government book she had last semester at OU.

[jwalsh07]

A resounding NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PhiKapMom]

See post #33 -- that is what I found as well on the net.

[RIGHTWING WACKO FROM MASS.]

This is no time to give in to the pinko commies. We have 'em down now it's time to step on their throats. Scalia or Thomas for Chief Justice and let's get a strict Constitutionalist to be our nominee.

[rollo tomasi]

The Chief Justice is the Supreme Overlord of the entire Judicial Branch, not just the court itself. A figure head but has some other duties besides the Supreme Court.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Justice_of_the_United_States

Duties

In addition to the duties of the Associate Justices, the Chief Justice has the following duties:

If the Chief Justice is in the majority on a Supreme Court case, he or she may decide to write the Opinion of the Court, or may assign it to an associate justice of his or her choice.

Presides when the Senate tries impeachments of the President of the United States

Two Chief Justices, Salmon P. Chase and William Rehnquist, have had the duty of presiding over Presidential impeachments and trials--Chase in 1868 over the proceedings of President Andrew Johnson and Rehnquist in 1999 over the proceeding against Bill Clinton.

Presides over the impeachment trial of the Vice President if the Vice President is serving as Acting President (not a Constitutional responsibility but a rule of the Senate).

Officiates at the inauguration of the President of the United States. This is a traditional, not a constitutional, responsibility of the Chief Justice. All federal and state judges, as well as notaries public, are empowered by law to administer oaths and affirmations.

Serves as the Chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution.

Serves as the head of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the chief administrative body of the U.S. federal courts.

The Judicial Conference is empowered by the Rules Enabling Act to promulgate rules to ensure the smooth operation of the federal courts. Major portions of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence have been adopted by most state legislatures and are considered canonical by American law schools.

[savedbygrace]

Thank you, BLL. Good post.

[rollo tomasi]

Whoops, behind liberal lines already posted this.

Let this be a lesson to anyone: Read the entire thread!!!

Also, let this duplicate link post serve to show that Kennedy should stay far away from being named Chief Justice.

[PhiKapMom]

Let me join you in a resounding NO but .... NO!

[kempster]

These are the same points that got us Kennedy, O'Connor and Souter in the first place. Politics out the window. You can't fool the Democrats with a behind the back pass. No matter what he does they will be on the attack. I say, go for the gusto and accept their declaration of war.

[clawrence3]

While the CJ technically only gets one vote, scheduling cases and more importantly assigning WHO writes the opinion is why Kennedy will not be CJ. Besides, you don't want Kennedy sitting on any upcoming Impeachment trial, do you?!

[Dave S]

Leadership and courage don't always mean 'consensus building' -- sometimes it just comes down to saying RIGHT IS RIGHT and WRONG IS WRONG.

Yeah, tell me how courageous it is to stand up for the ten commandments in the deep south when you hope to get elected by conservative Christians. "Leadership" and "courage" would be coming out for gay marriage or some other abomination in Missippi when you are running for office as a conservative Republican.

[Dave S]

Why is it that religious kooks also quote others ad nasuem but cant come up with any thoughts of their? Just curious.

[F16Fighter]

Essentially, it [Kennedy as Chief Justice] buys Bush a perception of centrism at almost zero cost.

THIS is the problem:

Just WHO'S "perception" is so important to impress?

I prefer this "perception": (bird being flipped)

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

"Leadership" and "courage" would be coming out for gay marriage or some other abomination in Missippi when you are running for office as a conservative Republican.

Thanks much for defining your type of hero, I hope you will reconsider. I would more likely consider heroic the calling for capital punishment for pedophiles, murderers and rapists by anyone in--or running for--office.