Posted on 01/24/2009 1:15:39 PM PST by thecodont
Before the election, I wrote two posts (here and here) on likely Democratic nominees to the Supreme Court. It seems an appropriate time for an update. For example, despite my earlier predictions, Elliot Spitzer’s odds now seem lower, and President Obama is unlikely to appoint himself.
Equally important, we can learn something from the President’s initial appointments to other jobs in the government. In my opinion, they seem pragmatic and focused on objective qualifications (including academic appointments) and tend less than did those of Clinton and Bush 43 towards friends of the President. The appointments to date have also involved few totally out of the box and unexpected choices. The appointments have been diverse, but the choices don’t seem race and gender driven.
We also have the benefit of the President’s specific appointment of Elena Kagan to be SG, which elevates her prospects considerably.
In my opinion, if there is an appointment this summer — which principally means that some otherwise serious candidates will not yet have had the time to be appointed to a court of appeals and develop experience there — there are three reasonably clear front runners, and one dark horse candidate. All are women, for the simple reason that there is only one woman on the Court now and I cannot imagine that the President will conclude that he cannot find a highly qualified female nominee.
The three obvious candidates are Elena Kagan (SG), Sonia Sotomajor (CA2), and Diane Wood (CA7). The sleeper candidate is Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.
(Excerpt) Read more at scotusblog.com ...
Stupid stupid stupid. The official offices are filled with wax dummies who could be confirmed quickly and look re-assuring to the masses. They mostly won't be heard from again.
The real government will be by a host of vaguely defined "advisors" and "czars" who will not have to go through public confirmation hearings and can hide out in the White House beyond public scrutiny and beyond accountability. So much for "transparency" and "accountability," the sucker bait for the unwary.
This branch found Social Security, Progressive Income Taxes, Medicare, Medicaid, and other transfer payments to be constitutional.
There is no doubt they will find Obamacare to be Constitutional. That will be the tipping point. It will be over for our republic.
My guess is that Stevens will retire this summer and Obama will need to fill a quota cell, most likely a Hispanic with his first SC nomination.
His second appointment will be a woman for the Ginsberg seat.
A third appointment would be an African American for the Souter seat.
And if he gets a fourth pick he will have to go with the ultimate affirmative action pick, a white male.
Maybe just some sort of Cyber Czar appointment or something, but these two seem pretty tight.
Lessig used to be a decent egg - clerking under Scalia, but academia has ruined him to the point where I consider him a danger.
It’ll go to Billy boy
Wasn't he disbarred from the Arkansas Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court? If so, how could he be seated as an Associate Justice at SCOTUS?
Usually, but not always. In fact, a person does not even have to hold a JD to sit on the High Court.
But what would that matter anyhow...it's the age of Obama, and whom ever he wants he gets...damn the constitution
Clinton will not be appointed to the SCOTUS due to his age. Obama’s appointments to the SCOTUS will consist of people in their 30’s and 40’s.
A law license in not needed to be a Justice on the SCOTUS.
NO QUESTIONS, PEASANT! President Clinton is a God among men, a Democrat. They don't have to answer to commoners like you. Democrats OWN the Constitution. We members of the proletariat are to remain in awe of their mastery of that document, and accept every word they utter about it in amazed worship. Remember that.
She's a sleeper all right. She's been asleep and a complete disaster for Michigan as governor. Supreme Court Justice, my A$$.
Obama will be looking for a female Hispanic who is a Muslim.
Here is a scary guess Laurence Tribe. A teacher of Obama’s at Harvard.
And lesbian.
Not necessarily. How about this scenario:
Palin/Jindal win by a landslide in 2012, including massive loss of Democratic seats in the Senate.
There happens to be a vacancy on the Court.
Obama resigns, Biden succeeds him and nominates Obama to the Court.
The lame-duck Senate approves the nomination.
Obama has a life postition.
Palin/Jindal win by a landslide in 2012, including massive loss of Democratic seats in the Senate.
Bobby Jindal has as of late shown no interest at all in running for President in 2012. I personally believe that he thinks his status as a natural-born citizen is in question (since his parents did not become U.S. citizens before he was born here in Louisiana). If there is any question at all about his natural-born status (approaching it from whatever quadrant; McCain's status was in another quadrant), I do not believe he will run. I believe Bobby Jindal is an honorable man.
Palin, natural-born U.S. citizen of U.S citizen parents, will choose a running mate whose natural-born status is also unquestionable.
Does P.BO have some kind of mesmerizing rays that are emitted from his eyes so he can make people do anything he wants?
Also, thanks to McCain and the gang of 14 all of GWBs appellate judges never got a vote and liberal socialist commie judges will now fill those posts. And I bet McCain will vote with the DIMS.
On a lighter note, I can't wait for the pubbies to filibuster one of P. BOs’s judges. The Dims will change the rules and roll them in a matter of hours. I expect to see many shocked faces.
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