Schumer Suggests Arlen Specter's Nomination to the US Supreme Court

Associated Press ^ | 6/10/03 | DEVLIN BARRETT

[GeneralHavoc]

Schumer writes White House with suggestions for Supreme Court

By DEVLIN BARRETT The Associated Press 6/10/2003, 8:30 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Charles Schumer, currently leading the Democrats' filibuster of two judicial nominees, sent a letter to President Bush Tuesday suggesting nominees for possible Supreme Court vacancies — including Republican Sen. Arlen Specter.

Schumer, D-N.Y., made his recommendations in case a sitting justice should leave the nine-member Supreme Court in the near future. Supreme Court-watchers say one or two resignations among the aging justices are more likely than in recent years.

Schumer's suggested list of five candidates includes Specter and Michael Mukasey, a Ronald Reagan appointee now serving as chief judge of the federal court in Manhattan. He also recommends judges Anne Williams, Edward Prado and Stanley Marcus, all current federal appeals court judges nominated by Republican presidents.

Schumer's effort to block the nominations of lawyer Miguel Estrada and Texas Supreme Court Judge Priscilla Owens has angered Republicans, who have suggested redrafting Senate rules to prevent filibusters of judicial nominees.

Schumer's letter also offers a fair dose of criticism of Bush's judicial nomination process so far. Critics have said Bush is trying to load the courts with ultraconservative judges. Should a vacancy occur on the Supreme Court, Bush has pledged to pick a firm ideological conservative in the mold of justices Antonin Scalia or Clarence Thomas.

"You, more than any other president in history, have chosen judges through an ideological prism," Schumer wrote in the letter. The Estrada-Owens conflict "has frustrated both of us," he wrote. "If you were to select a mainstream nominee, you would do the process, the judiciary and the nation a real service."

Specter said in a statement: "I appreciate Sen. Schumer's recommendation, but I am sure that the president already has his short list if a vacancy arises." A White House spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for comment.

Schumer suggests the White House discuss possible nominees with the Senate before a seat on the bench is even vacant.

The senator argues in the letter that both sides should try to come up with a candidate who will receive universal support in the closely divided Senate.

"The White House needs to find someone who all 100 Senators can support, not just 51 Republicans," Schumer said. "Look, we don't have to have a big fight about this, we don't want to have a big fight about this, but that means some real consultation."

[GeneralHavoc]

Hmmm, I wonder why Chuck Schumer thinks Arlen Specter would make a good Supreme Court Justice?

Hmmm....

[GeneralHavoc]

http://www.politicspa.com/ states:

Toomey campaign manager Moorie Pulley: “Liberal New York Senator Chuck Schumer’s choice for the Supreme Court is Arlen Specter. It’s no wonder, Senator Specter votes with Schumer and the liberals time after time. We look forward to Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy’s endorsement of Specter soon.” (06/11/03)

[bvw]

Does a Schumer soiree include a course of chopped-up fetus soup?

[Miss Marple]

Hmmmm, how interesting that he would support a Republican for the position. Hmmmm. Gee, I wonder why he did this. I will bet President Bush is puzzled as well.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Dear Senator Schumer, We didn't fall off that turnip truck yesterday. Nice try.

[lilylangtree]

Having Shumer want Specter as a court judge is a real good reason for Pubbies not to vote for Specter and a good reason for Bush not to nominate him.

[Prince Charles]

Sen. Charles Schumer, currently leading the Democrats' filibuster of two judicial nominees, sent a letter to President Bush Tuesday suggesting nominees for possible Supreme Court vacancies -- including Republican Sen. Arlen Specter.

What does Scottish law have to say on this?

[TRY ONE]

"Hmmm, I wonder why Chuck Schumer thinks Arlen Specter would make a good Supreme Court Justice?"

Hmmm....Specter = Scotish Law = David Suttor = The Left

[thoughtomator]

Over my dead body... Specter is demonstrably everything you don't want in a judge.

[Miss Marple]

Whos is Governor of Pennsylvania? Who would support Spector's replacement? Hmmmmm. I think I see a plan here.

[GeneralHavoc]

If Arlen were nominated, he wouldn't have to worry about the beating Pat Toomey is about to administer in the PA primary...

http://www.pattoomey.org

[deport]

A Yorker giving his advice to the President...... bet it got a couple of laughs

[Miss Marple]

Correction: Who would APPOINT Spector's replacement?

[7 x 77]

No, no, no, no, no!

[GeneralHavoc]

Correction: Who would APPOINT Spector's replacement?



President Hillary Clinton of course

[Murtyo]

"Advise and Consent" is getting turned on it's head here. Schummer wants to Advise the Prez then have the Prez. nominate then Schummer and his pals can vote in the guy they suggested!!!

[Ohioan]

If I were a Senator, I believe that I would personally filibuster any nominee who had the prior approval of Charles Schumer. If Specter had any sense, he would treat this as an insult.

Schumer is about as close to a real Nazi as we have in a Senate, largely full of sheep. I don't want to see his type of Judge on the Federal Bench. (Remember, he was the one Member of the House, who vociferously defended the Waco massacre.)

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[BlueNgold]

I'm sorry, I thought the President was responsible for nominations. The nerve of this guy is just amazing. Since when did advice and consent on nominations presented translate into the justification for making suggestions prior to the fact? His egomania knows no bounds!

[deport]

Correction: Who would APPOINT Spector's replacement?

---

Another correction..... Where is Spector going? I'm sure he's not even on the radar screen at it farthest point of reception as being a Nominee to the SCOTUS by President Bush.... JMO.

The Senators both R/D are good for a laugh every once in a while......

[B Knotts]

The Court of Session, Scotland's supreme civil court

[Miss Marple]

Spector would be replaced with the person chosen by the current Governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell...DEMOCRAT.

The Senate would then switch to 50-50, and probably Daschle could get McCain or Chafee to switch. Then we would get to enjoy all the investigations that the democrats could muster for the media's enjoyment, and you could say good-bye to any further tax cuts until 2004. We might not get the seat back in 2004, either.

Schumer thinks we are idiots.