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Bush aide likely high court nominee
LOS ANGELES TIMES ^ | 1/31/02 | DAVID G. SAVAGE

Posted on 12/31/2002 6:39:08 AM PST by Afronaut

Edited on 07/06/2004 6:38:33 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

WASHINGTON -- White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales, the soft- spoken son of migrant farm workers, has emerged as the overwhelming favorite for a Supreme Court nomination in the months ahead, a move that would give President Bush a historic and politically powerful chance to name the first Latino to the nation's highest court.


(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: itsrinonotrhino; rhino; rhinoisananimal; supremecourt; whitehouse
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To: NittanyLion
FWIW, I also believe a court should give greater weight to statute than prior rulings, but of course less weight than the Constitution is accorded.

Each branch has spent decades usurping their current level of power, they're not about to throw it out overnight by actually following the Constitution...

121 posted on 12/31/2002 9:31:34 AM PST by dirtboy
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To: mwl1
As long as we control the Senate, Gonzales should have no problem being confirmed. He'd probably take some abuse from some Senators for writing a legal opinion to Bush which stated that the President had sufficient authority under previous resolutions to move against Iraq (without going to Congress again in late summer), but it wouldn't prevent confirmation.

In fact, some criticism of the appointment from the misinformed social conservatives would probably help in getting some Democrat votes for his confirmation.

122 posted on 12/31/2002 9:32:30 AM PST by Dog Gone
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To: RnMomof7
You are seeing shadows where none exist. Why do you want to make the perfect the enemy of the good? Gonzales would be an outstanding appointment to the USSC.

Or would you have preferred a Supreme Court nominee from President Gore?

123 posted on 12/31/2002 9:34:59 AM PST by mwl1
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To: Dog Gone
Astute point, as usual.
124 posted on 12/31/2002 9:35:50 AM PST by mwl1
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To: dirtboy
What's ironic about some of the conservative posters on this thread, complaining about a single constructionist ruling by Gonzales, is that the left is absolutely terrified of the concept of strict constructionism. So these few posters are playing into their hands by demanding that Gonzales states his personal views on issues, which will give the libs ammo to shoot at him.

Exactly. In my view, if enough strict constructionists are on the bench - regardless of their personal views - the country will shift toward a more limited government. Judicial activism benefits liberals to such an extent that a strict reading would inevitably help conservatives. To insist on judicial activism toward conservative ends is not only unconstitutional - it will harm the conservative cause itself by promoting more activist rulings and further diluting the Founders' original intent.

125 posted on 12/31/2002 9:37:03 AM PST by NittanyLion
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To: Dog Gone
You know, if we can get Rehnquist and O'Connor to retire, and have Stevens drop dead, we could really be on our way to change the judicial landscape for a generation.
126 posted on 12/31/2002 9:38:19 AM PST by mwl1
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To: dirtboy
Each branch has spent decades usurping their current level of power, they're not about to throw it out overnight by actually following the Constitution...

I know. And there's little hope in the near-term for the legislative or executive branches, since the American public appears to want more government. The largest strides we can hope for are reducing the rate of government growth - not reducing its absolute size.

The judiciary is likely where conservatives can gain considerable ground.

127 posted on 12/31/2002 9:39:58 AM PST by NittanyLion
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To: Spiff
BTTT
128 posted on 12/31/2002 9:42:13 AM PST by wardaddy
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To: TLBSHOW
Ban abortion man PB abortion or lose the religious right

Unless the ban is based on a violation of the civil rights of the fetus, do you understand that if Roe vs. Wade is overturned, a PBA ban would probably die with it?

Overturning Roe wouldn't outlaw abortion, it would defederalize it, returning the matter to the States.
Each State would then need to pass it's own PBA ban.

I favor this, by the way. I'm pro-life and pro-Constitution. Abortion should not be a federal matter at all.




129 posted on 12/31/2002 9:42:32 AM PST by Sabertooth
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To: Wait4Truth
The one-issue abortion voters probably didn't vote for him in the first place since he stated early on he would have no abortion litmus test on his judges.

I love Dubya. But if he nomninates a single pro-Roe judge, my wife and I stay home. I will tolerate him going left on business, economy, education, size of government, etc. I WILL NOT tolerate him going left on guns or abortion. Call me names if you wish, but that's two votes he loses.

130 posted on 12/31/2002 9:42:34 AM PST by Timmy
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To: dirtboy
Each branch has spent decades usurping their current level of power, they're not about to throw it out overnight by actually following the Constitution...

Agreed, but anyone going along with the accumulated FedCreep to date falls short of the mark of a "strict constructionist."

Perhaps "light constructionist" is a better term?




131 posted on 12/31/2002 9:47:32 AM PST by Sabertooth
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To: Sabertooth
Agreed, but anyone going along with the accumulated FedCreep to date falls short of the mark of a "strict constructionist." Perhaps "light constructionist" is a better term?

Are we talkin' about judges or salad dressings? :^)

I think light constructionist is probably what we would get in the short term, as someone adhering to even that limited viewpoint would be considered as some kind of right-wing neanderthal by the press and a goodly quantity of the American electorate. Face it, folks with our views just ain't that common anymore, so if I had to venture a guess, a light constructionist is what we would get. However, if we get six of them on the bench, methinks they could gain weight in a hurry...

132 posted on 12/31/2002 9:50:46 AM PST by dirtboy
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To: Timmy
Bush is not going to nominate a single pro-Roe judge to the US Supreme Court; he would face political death in 2004 were he to do so.

His political capital will also have to be spent on enacting a legislative ban on partial birth abortion by spring 2004.
133 posted on 12/31/2002 9:51:31 AM PST by mwl1
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To: Timmy
Don't forget he is the President of all the peopled democrats included. Democrats are his buddies.
134 posted on 12/31/2002 9:52:22 AM PST by TLBSHOW
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To: mwl1
Rehnquist has been generally quite good and we will miss him. Stevens does need to drop dead, because I don't think he'll retire as long as Bush is President.

Ginsburg is my sleeper vacancy. She may have beaten colon cancer, but she still looks unhealthy to me.

I want to start replacing the four on the far left of the court, although I'd have to believe that none of them will be the first to step down.

135 posted on 12/31/2002 9:55:56 AM PST by Dog Gone
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To: mwl1
I really think it would make no difference at this point..Bush acts more like a democrat than some democrats...

A New World Order ends America..it does not matter who oversees it..

136 posted on 12/31/2002 9:58:16 AM PST by RnMomof7
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To: dirtboy
ST: Is it "activist" to throw out activist ruliings?

DB: Great question, and IMO the answer is "it depends on how you do it."

I understand what you're getting at, but I believe we need more clarity, or we will lose this debate with the Left.

Judicial activism occurs when legislation is conducted from the bench, in violation of the Separation of Powers.

Throwing out such activist, judicial legislation, is never "activist" itself, regardless of the magnitude of the consequences.

If the Right doesn't get clear on that and consistently make that case, the debate will be framed by the Left as one set of activists against another. The Separation of Powers is the device that balances our democratic republic. Violating the Separation erodes both our our democratic (small "d") and republican (small "r") traditions, to the detriment of all.




137 posted on 12/31/2002 9:59:16 AM PST by Sabertooth
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To: Sabertooth
The Constitution doesn't provide for the Judiciary to rule that a piece of legislation is unconstitutional. I assume that you believe that violates the Separation of Powers, right?
138 posted on 12/31/2002 10:06:11 AM PST by Dog Gone
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To: Dog Gone
I want to start replacing the four on the far left of the court, although I'd have to believe that none of them will be the first to step down.

Exactly. Which is why the President must be re-elected, because one or more of the leftists is not going to make it until January 2009.

139 posted on 12/31/2002 10:15:20 AM PST by mwl1
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To: RnMomof7
If you believe that President Bush is part of the New World Order, then you must be hallucinating. Clinton yes, Bush no.
140 posted on 12/31/2002 10:17:06 AM PST by mwl1
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