Posted on 07/11/2008 4:15:10 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
Three years ago today the nation was halfway into 18 days of feverish speculation about whom President George W. Bush would name to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court, with high drama and several major false rumors preceding the choice of now-Chief Justice John Roberts.
Next year at this exact time, odds are high that we'll all be doing the same exercise, this time about whom President John McCain or President Barack Obama will choose for the high court. Liberal Justice John Paul Stevens will be 89 by then, and a couple of other justices sometimes seem to be getting tired of the grind.
If judges become a campaign issue, a clear sign as to whom it would benefit lies in Tuesday's column in Politico that notes Obama "has said little from the stump about legal issues," whereas McCain "has recently been more aggressive in offering his views of the law while campaigning."
Even more indicative that Obama's judicial stances are political losers was the odd sight late last month of Obama not just once but twice publicly embracing the legal positions of the conservative justices he has always opposed, while taking issue with the positions of the liberal justices he has held up as ideals.
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
The importance of this issue cannot be overstated.
Which reminds me, has anyone checked Ginsburg for a pulse lately?
“A vote for President is a vote for judges”
Dems control the Senate, dems control the judicial comittee, this issue therefore is a wash.
Certainly not. It’s important to make the case that McCain will appoint judges like Roberts, as he has said.
No, it’s not. The President by nature of the office is the mover on judges. Granted Bush is in a position of unpopularity right now, but that wasn’t the case in the first 5-6 years of his administration. Judges that are nominated will for the mmost part be confirmed, just as those Reagan and Bush I sent up to a democrat congress were almost all ultimately confirmed. There is no political will for four years of judicial emergency.
I'm writing my series on the Constitution, the "Owner's Manual," precisely to meet this need and contribute to the education of the public. It just may be published as a pocket-sized booklet, with the Constitution and the Declaration, of course.
Congressman Billybob
First in the series, "American Government: The Owner's Manual"
I agree with the headline. I simply wish there were a candidate that would pick good judges for me to support.
Since seven of the nine sitting justices were picked by Republicans, and there’s only one who isn’t a legal positivist, Judge Thomas, all I hear when McCain and his cohorts open their mouths to talk about the judiciary is “blah, blah, blah...”
They have no credibility.
“Even if McCain wins he will likely face a Dem Senate, Dem House”
You mean “his friends?” Why would that be a problem for him? I plan to be as loyal to Juan as he has been to the base for the last decade.
“Judges that are nominated will for the mmost part be confirmed”
I believe that will also be the case for your candidate. Only problem is that he will only nominate those judges that “his friends” in the dim party give him the nod on.
McCain has always done what he wants to do. If he said he likes Roberts and will nominate judges like him, I accept that as the truth.
“If he said he likes Roberts and will nominate judges like him, I accept that as the truth.”
Sorry but you will be disappointed. The last thing that McCain will want will be a political fight over judges with “his friends.”
DOES NOT COMPUTE
Do you think McCain wants to nominate judges who would have no problem recognizing his McCain-Feingold legislation as the unconstitutional abomination it is? Since any judge who honors the Constitution will denounce McCain-Feingold, I would be very surprised to see McCain nominate such a person.
The running mate that Senator McCain picks will give me a clue as to what kind of judges he will pick.
“Do you think McCain wants to nominate judges who would have no problem recognizing his McCain-Feingold legislation as the unconstitutional abomination it is?”
Three of the justices who ruled against McCain-Feingold (Thomas, Roberts, & Alito) were justices that McCain voted for.
So far, this is the ONLY reason I have to grudgingly pull the lever for McCain. And then pray that God will guide him in his selections.
The overriding consideration: SCOTUS judges serve for life. We’re talking 30-40 years.
IMHO, our country is at a tipping point. Allowing just one more liberal SCOTUS judge will doom us for sure.
I am very disappointed and pissed off that we’re left with McCain as the “best” the pubs have to offer. But no way I can entrust these decisions to NObama.
If they are blocking his judges they will not be long viewed as “his friends.”
McCain said no litmus test on CFR. Anyway the SC has already looked at it.
How does Romney sound?
When the Dems drag their feet on McCains appointments, he will “reach across the aisle” and name someone Leahy and Schumer find acceptable. That has been his MO in the past; Feingold on CFR; Kennedy on immigration. He always seeks compromise instead of standing on principle.
And how many SCOTUS judges has he ever voted against?
“How does Romney sound?”
I was hoping he would choose Eric Cantor.
“If they are blocking his judges they will not be long viewed as “his friends.”
they won’y do it publicly, he’ll be sent a list of judges acceptable to the dim majority, then being McCain he will just do what he is best known for....bipartisanly screw America again.
It is a sad fact that many or these lower court appointments in "blue states" under W, although technically made by the White House, have been influenced significantly by DEMOCRATS in those states, e.g., Chucky Schumer in NY.
“How does Romney sound?”
I like Gov. Bobby Jindal, Sen. John Thune, Governor Palin, Michael Steele and Rob Portman for VP, and a few others.
Romney is passable, but I have a lot of issues with Romney, like I don’t like his universal health care in MA, he wants a partnership with Red China, and changed his mind on issues JUST BEFORE he wanted to run for office. I hope he was sincere, but I just don’t know.
But if Senator McCain picks a liberal like Charlie Crist, I won’t vote for McCain.
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