Posted on 07/04/2005 9:20:24 PM PDT by GOPGuide
[SNIP]
On Friday, with the announced retirement of Sandra Day O'Connor from the Supreme Court, It took a few minutes for the news to set in on Capitol Hill, among Republicans and Democrats alike. After all, even the White House in briefing Republican leadership on the Hill spoke in the belief that it would be Chief Justice William Rehnquist who is retiring.
"The White House seemed to be expecting Rehnquist first, that was what my boss was getting briefed on," says a staffer for a Senator sitting on the Judiciary Committee. "We were told Rehnquist in July, possibly later this year."
Rumors are already swirling about a possible third retirement after November. The most likely would be Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who according to former Supreme Court clerks may be in poorer health than Justice Rehnquist.
"That's the seat for [Albert] Gonzales, that third seat if it opens up," says Department of Justice staffer. "All of this depends on how the first nomination goes, but the assumption here is that this is not the time for Gonzales."
As of this writing federal Judge Emilio Garza is the frontrunner to replace O'Conner. There are several indicators, which may all be red herrings, but that is half the fun.
First, Texas Sen. John Cornyn met with the President, as well as Chief of Staff Andrew Card and several members of the White House Counsel office early Friday. Up on Capitol Hill, rumors were quickly swirling that Cornyn had been offered the Supreme Court nomination. Those rumors were fueled when his senior staff essentially went underground for several hours.
But later in the day, Cornyn was making television appearances to discuss the nominations process, as well as placing an op-ed about the process.
Cornyn is now believed to be the President's point person in the Senate to help measure the level of support for potential nominees. "He's the President's 'consultation' guy," says a Senate leadership source. "That's how we're proceeding. If he is the nominee, we will be surprised again. But that's nothing new with this White House."
Cornyn and Garza know each other from their days in Texas and other legal circles.
Another indicator of Garza's status is that several senior Republican staffers on the Judiciary Committee have begun poring over court rulings from the period of 1987 through 1990, a period when Garza served as a U.S. district judge before his elevation to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
That research, though, could just as well apply to Judge Edith Hollan Jones, who has been sitting on the Fifth Circuit since 1985. Jones was considered for possible Supreme Court nominations by President George H.W. Bush.
Also Bush will be under pressure to leave at least one woman on SCOTUS since replacing Ginsburg with a man will leave a 9-0 man dominated court.
If Ginsburg goes look for Edith Jones and Janice Rogers Brown.
*Ping*
If she really is headed out...well...
Don't let the door hit her where.....well, ya know.
No freakin' way is that harridan retiring until she can be replaced by a lib. I don't buy it. This is a floating balloon to make the libs think if they shoot their wad on O'Connor they'll have lost the SCOTUS for good and conservatives think they still have a shot if the Prez appoints a squishy moderate.
There is no way that fans of original intent are going to be happy with mushy sorta-right wing appointees. Not gonna happen. We won't get fooled again.
Yeah, that's right, Rove, I'm on to you. 8^)
if only i could kick the door close as she was walking out.(smiles)
Oh sure, he'll replace O'Connor and Rehnquist, but he technically *could* shrink the SCOTUS for a year or two when a liberal retires.
It's just an *option* mind you, but a Conservative Majority on SCOTUS can be accomplished in more than one way...in fact, in a way that bypasses the Senate entirely by simply shrinking the Court for a couple of years.
Janice Rogers Brown might just replace Sandra O'Connor.
If she is in worse health then Rehnquist .. then she will retire before November
On most issues, I think Rehnquist is a fine Justice. But if Ginsburg retires... boy we'll start sealing that SCOTUS.
I'm sure she'll try to hold out as long as she can, at least until Bush's term is over.
no he names bork and let them fillibuster and then find someone more conservative and let them fillibuster and then even more conservative than that and let them fillibuster (oh in an ideal world)
"a Conservative Majority on SCOTUS can be accomplished in more than one way...in fact, in a way that bypasses the Senate entirely by simply shrinking the Court for a couple of years."
[salivating at the idea]
Shrink the Court AND shrink the Court's liberals?
[wipes drool from chin]
What a great idea. As long as we can get the next one to resign without the Sandy "f-you clause," you know, the one that says "I'll serve until you replace me." That battleaxe...I hope she lives to 200 and hates every minute of being out of power.
You're absolutely right. The dems would try to find a look-a-like before they let Ginsburg retire at least until '08 is decided.
"harridan" - LOL!
I have always thought of her as a shrew or crone, but harridan works ju-u-u-ust fine.
I thought her liver was conking out a few years back. Seems that was the scuttlebut in the 2000 cycle. Oh well, she's just skin, bones and hate now so I don't suppose she'll fatten up before she buys the farm. Being thin and small will be a plus in hell - she'll handle the heat better.
I will jump for joy the day Ginsburg retires.
Therefore, the delicious choice would be Janice Rogers Brown. She will have only a half year on the D.C. Circuit Court (because the Democrats held her out for two years). But that will be enough. So, I wager that Brown will be the appointment to replace Ginsburg when G goes. How terrific will that be? LOL.
Congressman Billybob
He needs to appoint at least one, maybe 2 women. A female Chief Justice would we a good idea, but take them where we can get them, Bush has been very good at appointing "minorities" to high positions, expect the trend to continue. Getting Ginsberg out of there and replacing her with a strong conservative would be too good to be true.
I also think that there is no way Ginsberg would go to let a conservative be appointed unless she had to go.
LOL, it's a clever idea. these Justices will usually resign after a new nominee is confirmed, so either that or we'll have to deal with a dead body in the court room :(.
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