The Rumor About John Paul Stevens (possible impending retirement from U.S. Supreme Court)

Human Events ^ | November 4, 2006 | Sean Rushton

[Clintonfatigued]

For weeks, commentators have speculated that significant numbers of conservatives, alienated by over-spending, the Iraq War, and other perceived GOP disappointments, will stay home on Election Day, giving one or both Houses of Congress to Democrats. But for those who care about reforming the Supreme Court, sitting this one out may soon look like a mistake of historic proportions.

For the past several weeks, there has been a rumor circulating among high-level officials in Washington, D.C., that a member of the U.S. Supreme Court has received grave medical news and will announce his or her retirement by year’s end. While such rumors are not unusual in the nation’s capital, this one comes from credible sources. Additionally, a less credible but still noteworthy post last week at the liberal Democratic Underground blog says, “Send your good vibes to Justice Stevens. I just got off the phone with a friend of his family and right now he is very ill and at 86 years old that is not good.”

Normally, this news might be too ghoulish to repeat publicly. Nevertheless, with the election just days away, it is news that should be considered. It points out what could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for the 20-year movement to recast the court with a constitutionalist majority. It would be a cruel twist indeed for conservatives to “teach Republicans a lesson” next Tuesday, only to be taught a lesson themselves within months when new Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D.-Vt.) leads a Democratic majority against the most important Supreme Court nominee in decades. Conservatives whose mantra is “no more Souters” should bear in mind Robert Bork’s fate after the Senate changed from Republican to Democratic hands in 1986.

[Arm_Bears]

Gentlemen, start your engines!

[Clintonfatigued]

This is what's really at stake. Republicans must maintain control of the U.S. Senate even if they don't desesrve it.

[RasterMaster]

The DUmbasses in the lame-stream, has-been, drive-by dinosaur media have to cover Saddam's sentencing tomorrow.

If he's sentenced to DEATH, any further trials are moot and we are again reminded of why our troops are in Iraq - depose Saddam (or REGIME CHANGE as it was referred to when Clinton adopted it as policy, but did nothing more than lip service). DUmocrats wanted the election to be about Iraq, and so it is.

1. Jean-Fraud Kerry infers that soldiers in Iraq are dumb.

2. Soldiers respond

3. NYT admits Saddam had nuke program.

4. Families of fallen visit Iraq (no quagmire)

5. Saddam sentenced (death by wood chipper)

News cycle seems to be working for GOP advantage thus far. DUmocrats today counter with "Rusmsfeld must resign" and "recruiters caugh lying" stories. Wow. That's new....NOT!

In addition to Saddam sentencing, Fox will be running OBSESSION - THE MOVIE, and we get to see the face of the enemy today and tomorrow. Fox is also showing "waterboarding" (Steve Harrigan, a Fox reporter volunteered to show how it is done) all day today.

I don't know what Monday brings, but I've got a good idea about the day after.

[operation clinton cleanup]

Ruth "sleepy" Bader Ginsberg would also announce her retirement if the rats take the Senate.

[Cicero]

Crucial that we don't lose any votes in the Senate.

Also, we can't afford the perception that the Democrats are more popular with the voters than the Republicans, or it will be much harder to lean on them to confirm the next judicial appointees.

Bush succeeded with Roberts and Alito because many Democrats didn't dare be seen as obstructing them purely on the basis that they might vote against abortion.

It the Democrats pick up too many seats, it will change the political dynamics and make court appointments more difficult again.

Let's hope and pray. We need at least one more SCOTUS appointment, and preferably as many as we can get!

[Clintonfatigued]

Hopefully, conservatives thinking of staying at home will read this.

[dennisw]

Ruth Bader Ginsberg is going going gone

[jazusamo]

Don't sit this election out, VOTE REPUBLICAN!

[GraniteStateConservative]

She looks GREAT in black...

[romanesq]

Heavens, Go Kean Jr. go!

[Lurker]

Too bad she's said she isn't interested.

L

[Clintonfatigued]

With what the NJ Supreme Court did, one would think that conservatives there would be turning out.

[sokit2mebb]

This is the reason we all need to get out and vote!

[GraniteStateConservative]

Funny how answers to questions change when you're actually asked by the President to serve.

[nwrep]

Fox will be running OBSESSION - THE MOVIE,

Could you please clarify as to whether it is the Fox broadcast Network or the Fox News Cable channel that will be running this? Thanks.

[COEXERJ145]

Stevens has said he since he was appointed by a Republican President he wants to retire when a Republican is in the White House. He may very well retire at the end of the current Court term.

[RasterMaster]

Fox NEWS RIGHT NOW!

[shield]

Stevens has said he was appointed by a Republican President will resign under a Republican President.

[hunter112]

John Paul Stevens is Gerald Ford's biggest mistake.