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It's pretty rare, and yes, its been several decades, but the idea that "RAT presidents NEVER accidentally appoint a conservative-leaning judge" is simply a myth. In fact, "progressive" Woodrow Wilson's pick for SCOTUS was one of the best allies we had AGAINST the massive expansion of government during the FDR years.

There's also the fact that RAT presidents haven't had the opportunity to pick nearly as many SCOTUS judges in recent years. Carter got 0, Clinton and Obama got 2 each. So that's a total of 4 RAT judges in the last 40+ years, and their track record was a perfect 4-0 in getting ideological leftists.

If we looked at lower court federal judges, I'd be willing to bet Obama or Clinton "accidentally" appointed a judge who turned out to be far more conservative than they expected.

Supposedly Illinois Supreme Court justice Anne Burke (wife of a powerful Chicago Democrat alderman) was on Obama's short list. Had she ultimately been his nominee, I think she would have turned out to be a Byron White type judge who issued some pretty good rulings. She's been surprisingly good for a partisan Chicago RAT on the Illinois Supreme Court.

The bottom line is that its impossible for any President to tell how judges will vote after a lifetime appointment to a federal court. All the more reason why I'm in favor of term limits and mandatory retirement ages for federal judges, and vehemently against Senators rubber-stamping ANY judicial nominee the moment the candidate is announced.