Posted on 09/25/2005 5:04:57 AM PDT by pookie18
If Edith Jones is nominated for the Supreme Court, at least she'll know what she's in for. The confirmation process for federal judges has deteriorated into "trench warfare," she told The American Enterprise magazine in June. "Every time I think it can't get any worse, it does."
John Roberts's confirmation may be the exception that proves Judge Jones's rule. During his hearings, Sens. Arlen Specter and Dianne Feinstein asked insulting questions about his Catholicism; Ted Kennedy called his Reagan-era writings "mean-spirited"; and several Democrats roughed him up over his views on civil rights. By modern standards, that's a love fest.
But the next confirmation is another matter. In selecting a nominee, one factor the White House must weigh is who would have the best chance of surviving what is sure to be a fight and, probably, a filibuster attempt.
It's all the more interesting since the nominee weathering Ted Kennedy's attacks may be of the same sex as Mary Jo Kopechne. There are 10 or so women whose names come up as possibilities for the Court, including Edith Clement of the Fifth Circuit, whose reported nomination faked everyone out on the day Judge Roberts was named, and appeals-court judges Karen Williams, Diane Sykes and Consuelo Callahan.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
A limited right would be better than an unlimited one, but as you say, with transportaion as easy as it is, the number of abortions would not go now as much and I would wish. Millions of Americans are now persuaded that abortion is, like divorce, an unpleasant but necessary thing.
That is the kind of hardball we have been needing for a long time.
Specter won't do it as passionately as he should though. What would we expect from a RINO.
Post Nuclear could be really interesting.
It would signal all those judges that are with us, but maybe thinking now is a good time to retire! We would then fill the lower ranks with strict constructionists and originalists too!
Yes, I can. And I don't see most of their constituency punishing them for it.
A threat to expansionist Big Brother government...which is a awfully good thing.
Could you all envision a Supreme Court that rules that an entire cabinet of the executive branch is unconstitutional?
I know...I am dreaming!
Sadly it is so true. However, a monolithic block of 80% can be splintered when a successful black woman is attacked by Dick Durbin, Kennedy and ChucktheSchmuck. I'm not greedy. I'd like for only 20-30% of the remaining 80% of the black population to come home to the Republican party.
Owen
My supposition is underpinned more by hope than reason. However, we are in a different place than we were over a decade ago. I think to some degree the black community is realizing they are a reliable pawn of the Democrats-- and a reliable pawn has little leverage.
In my home town of Charlotte, there is rumblings among the black community about this very fact. However the steps are incremental and not readily observable.
This would merely be another step. Again, if the Republicans can splinter the Democrat's assured 80-90% of the black vote...
I nominate this woman:
http://www.thepoliticalteen.net/images/ptb.jpg
sarcasm off.
"Also, Janice Rogers Brown was very well tempered during her first confirmation hearing"
She was a picture of grace, dignity, eloquence, and patience under pressure. She is the Conservatives' favorite...and do not count Miguel Estrada out, he is raring for a fight after withdrawing previously for personal reasons (his late wife was terminally ill and he wanted to spend time with her). Now, both Estrada and Rogers Brown are ready to rumble!
Nominate Janice Rogers Brown right now. Even if the dems stop her it will fire up the base for months !
I love Janice Brown and think she definitely should be the nominee -- but the general consensus on FR is that it isn't going to happen. I don't really understand why.
Since the Dems will filibuster any nominee to the right of Leon Trotsky and treat them like they were Attila the Hun, it makes no sense to send up anyone less than a real conservative. Send up Janice Rogers Brown, and invoke the unclear option to get her confirmed.
Make it clear to the Dems that any bad behavior thereafter will be punished by legislation creating new judicial circuits, leaving the current 9th Circuit with jurisdiction restricted to Alcatraz Island. ;)
I heard this discussed on NPR a few weeks back, probably during the Roberts' hearing. Talk about a runaway court! Blackmun was astonished, but nobody said a word to the general dumb public.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.