The more they stay the same,
PS.. There is a way to defeat this nonsense. When the Senate goes into recess for the "Christmas break", the President should appoint Alito [recess appointment]. That would have the Commie-libs fit to be tied.
("Denny Crane: Gun Control? For Communists. She's a liberal. Can't hunt.")
Nuke the RATS now!
If they can delay Alito's hearings, it implies Bush is weak...and they can concentrate on their pet project: driving him out of office. A speedy confirmation would emphasize Bush's strength and take headlines away from the Wilson nonsense. This is all about '06 and '08.
I guess they need more time to find out if he cheated on a math test in junior high school.
So we ought not believe what we hear from Reid.....
Just kidding, I always assume Reid is lying thru his teeth.
We better hurry and get him on the court........something tells me a big case may be moving down the pike, which is the reason for the delay.......
this should solve alot of the problem, he can just make a recess appointment if need be
if repubs don't show some authority soon and take the charge they have been elected to do, it will be a liberal rule after '08
Sandra Day O'Connor filled the vacancy created by the retirement of Potter Stewart. The court's term ended on July 2, 1981. Stewart had announced his plans to retire on June 18. President Reagan nominated O'Connor on July 7. Her first confirmation hearing was Sept. 9, and the Senate confirmed her on Sept. 21.William Rehnquist, who had been named to the Supreme Court by President Nixon in 1972, was elevated to chief justice in 1986 with the retirement of Warren E. Burger. The court's term ended on July 7, 1986. Burger had announced his decision on June 17, and Reagan tapped Rehnquist on the same day. Rehnquist's first confirmation hearing was July 29, and the Senate confirmed him on Sept. 17.
Anthony M. Kennedy was Reagan's second choice after the Senate rejected Robert H. Bork on Oct. 23, 1987. The court term had ended on June 26, and Lewis F. Powell announced his retirement the same day. On July 1, Reagan nominated Bork, but strong opposition in the Senate torpedoed the selection. Reagan nominated Kennedy on Nov. 11, his first hearing was Dec. 14, and the Senate confirmed him on Feb. 3, 1988.
David H. Souter filled the vacancy created by the retirement of William J. Brennan. The court's term ended on June 27, 1990, and Brennan announced his plans on July 21. President George H.W. Bush nominated Souter on July 23. His first hearing was Sept. 13, and the Senate confirmed him on Oct. 2.
Clarence Thomas filled the vacancy created by the retirement of Thurgood Marshall. The court's term ended on June 27, 1991, and Marshall announced his retirement the same day. Bush nominated Thomas on July 1. His first confirmation hearing was Sept. 10, and the Senate confirmed him on Oct. 15.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg filled the vacancy created by Byron White's retirement. The court term ended on June 28, 1993. White had announced his plans to retire on March 19, and President Clinton nominated Ginsburg on June 14. Her first confirmation hearing was July 20, and the Senate confirmed her on Aug. 3.
Stephen Breyer filled the vacancy created by Harry Blackmun's retirement. The court's term ended on June 30, 1994, and Blackmun had announced his plans to retire on April 6. Clinton announced the nomination of Breyer on May 14. Breyer's first hearing was July 12, and the Senate confirmed him on July 29.
FACTS ON SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
The current court had been the longest-serving nine-justice lineup since 1823, when Republican Rutherford B. Hayes was president.
There have been 145 Supreme Court nominees. Of those, 29 have failed to be confirmed. In the 20th century, only seven have failed.
Republican presidents have appointed nine Democratic justices, Democratic presidents have appointed three Republicans.
Why do they want to delay this for so long? Is this like with John Bolton where they are hoping to find something to use against him?
Just recess appoint him.
I guess only the whales and blow hards of the senate are allowed to be heard.
Nuke 'em till they glow!
O'Connor announced her retirement on July 1, 2005. This kept with the tradition of allowing the President and Senate the summer to complete the nomination and confirmation process.
Here is another interesting bit of history, just to dispel some of the angst associated with feeling the urge to have an odd number of Justices on the bench.
Congress determines the number of justices on the Court. There have been nine justices on the Court since 1869. There were originally six until 1807 when a seventh justice was added. In 1837 an eighth and ninth were added with a tenth in 1863. The Judicial Circuits Act of 1866 called for the removal of three seats as justices retired. This act was passed to deny President Andrew Johnson from making any Supreme Court appointments. One seat was removed in 1866 and a second in 1867. Before a third seat was removed, the Congress passed the Circuit Judges Act of 1869 restoring the number of seats to nine. Since 1869, the Court has been kept at nine, both for political reasons as well as practical necessity. Subsequent attempts to change the number of justices have since been rejected.http://www.answers.com/topic/supreme-court-of-the-united-states
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,162989,00.html
On December 31, 1974, while on vacation in the Bahamas, Douglas suffered a debilitating stroke. Severely disabled, Douglas nevertheless insisted on continuing to participate in Supreme Court affairs, despite his obvious incapacity. In one of the most wrenching episodes in Supreme Court history, seven of Douglas's fellow justices voted to put any argued case in which Douglas's vote might make a difference over to the next term. At the urging of his friend and former student Abe Fortas, Douglas finally retired on November 12, 1975, after 36 years of service. While President Gerald Ford was gracious upon Douglas's retirement, the irony is inescapable that his most bitter political enemy was allowed to name his replacement on the Court.
June 18, 1981
Dear Mr. Justice:It is with the deepest regret and appreciation for your long and outstanding service to our Nation that, at your request, I accept your retirement as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, effective July 3, 1981.
http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1981/61881a.htm
June 17, 1986
Dear Mr. Chief Justice:It is with great regret that I today accept your retirement as Chief Justice of the United States, effective at the conclusion of the Court's current Term. Your service on the Court, extending over 17 years, has set a high standard for your successors, and you leave with the gratitude of the Nation you served so well.
http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1986/61786d.htm
June 26, 1987: The departure of Lewis Powell was announced from the bench by Rehnquist on the last day of the term. Powell held a noon press conference. He did not notify the White House.After Justice Lewis Powell retired on June 26, 1987, it took until Feb. 18, 1988 before Kennedy could be sworn in as his successor.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9615429/ <- for 2nd statement only
July 20, 1990: William Brennan announced his immediate retirement in a letter to the president and a statement was released at 7:40 on a Friday night.
Justice Marshall had often said that he did not plan to retire, so his decision at the end of the 1990-91 term took both the Court and the country by surprise.One person familiar with the Court recalled that when Justice Marshall informed his colleagues of his plan, at the Justices' final private conference of the term, even the members of the Court who had clashed with him long and often on matters of law and policy were deeply moved. Exclaiming "Oh, Thurgood!" Chief Justice Rehnquist embraced Justice Marshall in a bear hug. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wept.
Justice Marshall, a few days shy of his 83d birthday, gave health as the reason for his retirement. At a news conference the next day he was asked, "What's wrong with you, sir?"
"What's wrong with me?" Justice Marshall replied. "I'm old. I'm getting old and coming apart."
When he announced his retirement March 19, 1993, effective at the end of term, he was in many respects at the height of his powers and enjoying good health. He could have continued to serve for several more years.
Blackmun announced his plan on April 6, the following year [1994], though he had alerted then-President Bill Clinton the previous New Years Eve.
They want to wait more than two months to START the hearings? The Dems must be slow readers, and are intimidated by the idea of wading through 300 legal opinions that Alito wrote. Biden probably feels that he can read only one a day, and thus the hearings need to be put off for 10 months. Of course, I am sure it has nothing to do with trying to drum up enough opposition to Alito to put pressure on folks, to pick two names at random, such as McCain and Dewine.
Of course they did. They want to keep O'Connor as long as possible. If she died they would prop up her body to keep from filling the seat with a true conservative rather than their suddenly-beloved "swing voter."