Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Rush Limbaugh confused on Supreme Court balance. Still will be 5-4, same as before. Not 6-3.

Posted on 01/16/2006 5:03:13 PM PST by motife

Rush said several times last week that confirming Alito changes the balance of the court from 5-4 to 6-3.

Alito is replacing Sandra Day O'Connor one of the 5-4 majority. The balance is not changing.

We can only hope Stevens and/or Ginsberg retire in the next 2 and 1/2 years. I would not be surprised though that as partisan as they are, they will not.

Here are the ages of the current court, including Alito, how long they've served, and who appointed them :

Liberals :

John Paul Stevens, appointed by Gerald Ford, court term began 12/19/1975. Born Chicago, IL 4/20/1920. Confirmed by 99-0 vote. Probably most liberal member of the court. Particularly bitter opinion in Bush v. Gore. Aged 85. Has been on the court 30 years.

David Souter, appointed by George H.W. Bush, court term began 10/9/1990. Born Melrose, MA 9/17/1939. Confirmed by 90-9 vote. MOST disappointing choice for Republicans. Aged 66. Has been on the court 15 years.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, appointed by Clinton, court term began 8/10/1993. Born Brooklyn, NY 3/15/1933. Confirmed by 97-3 vote. Aged 72. Has been on the court 12 years.

Stephen Breyer, appointed by Clinton, court term began 8/2/1994. Born San Francisco, CA 8/15/1938. Confirmed by 87-9 vote. Aged 67. Has been on the court 11 years.

Conservatives :

Antonin Scalia, appointed by Reagan, court term began 9/26/1986. Born Trenton, NJ 3/11/1936. Without question the best Supreme Court Justice, among the best ever. Has started a multi-generational movement in law not unlike Reagan has in the GOP. One of Reagan's great legacies to the nation. Confirmed by 98-0 vote. Aged 69. Has been on the court 19 years.

Anthony Kennedy, appointed by Reagan, court term began 2/11/1988. Born Sacramento, CA 7/23/1936. Could have had Robert Bork who along with Scalia and Rehnquist would have made a epic court. Kennedy has been by and large a conservative vote, although not 100% reliable. Confirmed by 97-0 vote. Aged 69. Has been on the court 17 years.

Clarence Thomas, appointed by G.H.W. Bush, court term began 10/23/1991. Born near Savannah, GA 6/23/1948. Taciturn, but rock solid for the right. Confirmed by razor thin 52-48 vote. Aged 57. Has been on the court 14 years.

John Roberts, appointed by G.W. Bush, court term began 9/29/2005. Born Buffalo, NY 1/27/1955. Confirmed by 78-22 vote. Aged (next week) 51 years. Chief Justice.

Samuel Alito, appointed by G.W. Bush. Born, like Scalia, Trenton, NJ 4/1/1950. Appears like Roberts to be an excellent choice for the right and youthful for a justice. Aged 55.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dhpl; rush; scotus; talkradio
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-150 next last

1 posted on 01/16/2006 5:03:16 PM PST by motife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: motife

maybe he is useing again


2 posted on 01/16/2006 5:05:42 PM PST by al baby (Father of the Beeber)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: motife

I heard him predict that Bush will have one more appointment to make, and THAT -- not Alito -- will change the balance. Any other listeners recall it this way?


3 posted on 01/16/2006 5:06:18 PM PST by T'wit (Brokeback Mountain: the sin that dare not yippee-kai-yay-kai-yea its name.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: motife

I think that Chief Justice Roberts will administer the US Supreme Court far more activly and more US Constitutionally than either Berger of Rehnquist did.


4 posted on 01/16/2006 5:07:18 PM PST by zzen01
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: motife

Thank you for this info


5 posted on 01/16/2006 5:08:30 PM PST by Kimmers
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: T'wit

Maybe he said it backwards.


6 posted on 01/16/2006 5:08:57 PM PST by Brilliant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: motife
By the way, Roberts and Alito are the first vacancies since Stephen Breyer, 11 years ago. That was a long time for the court to be unchanged.
7 posted on 01/16/2006 5:09:21 PM PST by motife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: motife
Was: 4 1/2-to-4 1/2

Now: 5-to-4

8 posted on 01/16/2006 5:09:45 PM PST by Sooth2222
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: al baby
I wasn't able to hear his show today, so I don't know exactly what he said.

But I'm guessing his rationale is that O'Connor (on the big issues) might just as well be a liberal.

And, as usual, I think he'd be right.

10 posted on 01/16/2006 5:10:20 PM PST by daler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: motife

6-3 on Roe.


11 posted on 01/16/2006 5:10:35 PM PST by saveliberty (Proud to be Head Snowflake, Bushbot and a new member of Sam's Club)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: motife

I think we're actually going from a 3-6 court to a 4-5 court. Could that be what he meant?


12 posted on 01/16/2006 5:11:09 PM PST by The Old Hoosier (Right makes might.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: motife

Please note only one of the justices were born in a RED state. Think we should start pushing for balance!


13 posted on 01/16/2006 5:11:14 PM PST by georgiarat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: motife

I had no idea that ACLU lawyer RBG was so old.


14 posted on 01/16/2006 5:11:22 PM PST by Sometimes A River (Today is the Highest Holy Day in the Church of Multiculturalism and Diversity)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: al baby

It will be 5-4 on Roe once Alito is confirmed


15 posted on 01/16/2006 5:11:29 PM PST by saveliberty (Proud to be Head Snowflake, Bushbot and a new member of Sam's Club)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: motife

Roberts replacing Rehnquist was essentially a wash, although it wouldn't surprise me if the new Chief Justice turned out to be less conservative than his predecessor. Alito replacing O'Connor is definitely an improvement, but the overall balance of the court hasn't changed much. Replacing Stevens or Ginsburg with a conservative would do the trick.


16 posted on 01/16/2006 5:11:33 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: saveliberty

Right on. That's the issue.


17 posted on 01/16/2006 5:11:45 PM PST by johniegrad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: motife

o'conner often votes with the 4 libs to make a 5-4 liberal majority, that's what rush was refering too.


18 posted on 01/16/2006 5:12:06 PM PST by conservative physics
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: motife
Clarence Thomas, appointed by G.H.W. Bush, court term began 10/23/1991. Born near Savannah, GA 6/23/1948. Taciturn, but rock solid for the right. Confirmed by razor thin 52-48 vote. Aged 57. Has been on the court 14 years.

Why "taciturn"?


This is a ch__ch. What's missing?

19 posted on 01/16/2006 5:13:09 PM PST by rdb3 (What it is is what it was.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: al baby
useing

whatever that is, it sounds bad

20 posted on 01/16/2006 5:13:12 PM PST by wardaddy (Alito is Clapton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-150 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson