CNN-Senate Judiciary Members Suggest Imminent SCOTUS Retirement Coming..Possibly today

The Hotline / National Journal and CNN ^ | June 26, 2003 | Ted Barrett

[ewing]

Speculation here in Washington is at a fever pitch at this point about whether there will be an announcement today.

If one believes the relationship between the Senate Majority Leader and the White House is as close as been rumoured, then the release by Sen. Frist of his guidelines for handing a SCOTUS nomination may actually signal something in the next 48 hours.

CNN's 'Morning Grind' reports that Senate Judiciary Members whispering about increased chatter suggesting an 'imminent retirement' possibly as soon as today; the reports are described as 'specific' and 'credible.'

They sound like intelligence officers debating whether the threat level should be raised to Orange.

Asked if he's heard about a retirement, Chief Justice Rehnquist said with a smile, 'No, I havent heard anyhing.'

[ewing]

Looks like it is going to happen in the next 48 hours.. Gonzales has told Daschle he would like to speak with him

[Bill Davis FR]

i predict Chief Justice Rehnquist

[AntiGuv]

If anyone, I'm betting on O'Connor but I won't be surprised if I'm surprised...

[Constitution Day]

My bets are also on O'Connor.

[1stFreedom]

O'connor please O'connor

Gonna be a fight to get a conservative in, we can't lose one of them now! Must replace a moderate !!

[The Old Hoosier]

Please let it be Stevens!

[1stFreedom]

Yea.

Between not stopping the H1b and L1 visa problems and The SC, he will lose my vote in '04.

Might as well elect Dean instead.

[ModernDayCato]

I predict our pal, the conservative (no really, he is) GW Bush's next move will ignite a rocket on the back of the streaking jet plane that is our culture and history speeding down the crapper.

[Pubbie]

What about Justice Stevens???

How old is he, 314?

The old bastard can't live forever!

[sinkspur]

Gonzales has told Daschle he would like to speak with him

Gonzales will be the nominee.

[HatSteel]

Will there be a trade?

Will Rove backchannel a deal that has O'Conner retiring first AND Bush nominating a replacement who is agreed upon as a SWING VOTE.....someone with feet planted firmly in the middle squishy ground where Sandra Day live?

In return for Bush's willingness to deal, he will ask for an identical strict constructionist to replace Rehnquist + Agreement on the next Chief Justice.

The point would be to have a court that ends up looking exactly as it does now. 4 left, 4 right and 1 middle.

Personally, I'd prefer the nuclear option and ramming through strict constructionists.

[Arkinsaw]

What Bush needs to do:
Appoint a "moderate conservative". The Democrats will go crazy and reject. Then appoint a slightly more conservative nominee. The Democrats will go crazy and reject. Then appoint a slightly more conservative nominee. Pretty soon the country will get very tired of the rejections.

[Republican Wildcat]

Stevens would be better.

[conservativefromGa]

Why does GW Bush feel that he has to nominate a latino?

[TomGuy]

Dems probably have a noon meeting to discuss who will do the filibuster of the SC nominee. After all, they are pretty good at it.

[Cold Heat]

CNN who?

[Cold Heat]

He is 83.

[Bikers4Bush]

Because he want to appease the hispanics in an attempt to get their votes.