Sandra Day OConnor retires

“let the fun and games begin”

“O well, there goes the Court's middle ground. Retiring at 75 seems like a sane decision - especially since she seemed to work very hard.”

“This is going to be a fun show.”

“I trust Bush will be fair and appoint a moderate.”

“Sure hope not.”

“NoProb, whats wrong with appointing a moderate. You don't like someone who can balance the power struggle between the two sides?
O'Connor was a swing vote (1 of 2) on the court but more often than not she sided with the conservative side. I would take another person like her on the bench. She was at least fair.”

“President Bush needs to appoint a radical right wing anti-abortion sledge hammer to offset the last liberal extreme leftist Jurist that was appointed to the Supreme court.”

““Sure hope not.”
NoProb
1:39:34 PM

“President Bush needs to appoint a radical right wing anti-abortion sledge hammer to offset the last liberal extreme leftist Jurist that was appointed to the Supreme court.”
bbw
2:17:27 PM

And you wonder why you are not taken seriously at times?”

“At times???”

“I nominate Gretta VanSusteren!”

“Greta's too qualified. She actually practiced law.”

“I would hope it wouldn't matter if it's a moderate, a liberal, or a conservative.

The Supreme Court Justices aren't supposed to bring their personal beliefs into this.

They are supposed to use the Constitution of the United States to determine the results.

Anything less IS UNConstitutional.

Yes, I believe that for all sides, left and right.”

“The Dems worst nightmare.
An openning.
LOL

A mod to a lib isn't the same as a mod to a con.

The Dems will not accept anything but 100% support for abortion. ANYTHING less is FAR RIGHT to you peeps.

I support abortion rights but not late term, which will be y'alls litmus test. Sad.”

“There is no guarantee that a Justices' vote will reflect the politics of the nominating President.

If I am correct there are only two sitting Justices nominated by "liberal" Presidents.

I'm more concerned if the Justices are constitutional constructivists or deconstructivists.”

“How did Sardra vote on the eminent domain case? If she was with the majority, good riddance.”

“One thing I think can be gauranteed is that we're not going to have another David Souter. Bush is in a rough spot here, get someone who won't overturn R v. W and the right screams bloody murder. Get someone who will and the Dems filibuster.”

“she got that one right”

“For once, I agree wholeheartedly with Sarge. HPM makes also a good point. The stands the justices take quite often don't reflect the stands of those that appoint them. Sorry, SS, but I think you are over-generalizing here. You're reaching...”

“She wrote the dissent for the eminent domain case. It was fairly scathing.”

“Phae - Kewl for her then.”

“Farewell bill of rights!”

“LOL, nevermind.....
last edited: 7/01/05 1:57:12 PM”

“Only Ginsberg and Breyer were appointed by Clinton. The rest were appointed by Ford, Reagan, and Bush I.

Funny, isn't it, how the Republicans appointed all those liberals?”

“Justice O'Connor spoke at my law school five years ago and answered questions from the students. She was remarkably down to earth and gracious. I think she was a fine jurist and an asset to the court.”

“O'Connor was one of the very pleasant surprises on the court. It often happens, as HPM pointed out, that justices end up having a brain of their own. O'Connor was one of those.

But I'm expecting a party hack to be named.”

“A hack like Ginsburg?”

“Or possibly someone who thinks the Geneva Conventions are outdated and ..."quaint," perhaps... ?”

“I certainly agree with Sarge on the principle here.

I think of Sandra Day as a conservative (if I remember right, she'd been in the State Legislature and was a State prosecutor and had a conservative record Reagan liked a lot when appointed) who worked very hard to fill her constitutional role and did put the constitution first.”

“Priceless !!!”

“cigarette fun facts for kids!

Cigarettes were invented by Christopher Columbus as a neat-o way to relax after exterminating the yucky and Godless native peoples of North America.

- America's first President, George Washington, grew cigarettes in the fields behind of his house "Mount Vernon." Liberal Communists point to "historical evidence" that he also grew other, now-illegal plants that people on food stamps like to smoke. People who say that are liars and deserve to die.

- Boys who start smoking well before puberty can expect to enjoy deeper, manlier voices that will result in higher popularity and lots and lots of pretty girlfriends!

- Girls who have mastered the art of the "French Inhale" by the age of 11 are 65% more likely to have at least 2 pretty babies before high school is over and not bother having to go to college and pay good money to listen to diseased liberal intellectuals spout treasonous verbal diarrhea.

- United States tobacco farmers represent a small but powerful special interest group. Many refuse to accept Federal pork barrel dollars devoted to convincing them to convert to other crops. That's because they believe in their product - and not because they're dumb or too afraid to do something new and different”

“Here comes another one ...

Media on standby after growing reports Supreme Court Chief Justice Rehnquist is handing in his resignation... DEVELOPING...
last edited: 7/08/05 1:56:42 PM”

“I might be the only one to think this, but I think that there is reasonable chance that we will have a more moderate court by next year than now.

The people retiring are on the conservative end of things. Rehnquist's replacement is not likely to be much more conservative than he is. And O'Connor was only moderately progressive.

There is still, even without O'Connor, a block of five moderate to liberal votes. Roe, for instance, is in no immediate danger since Stevens, Ginsberg, Souter, Breyer and Kennedy have all voted to uphold it.

Since Bush's poll numbers right now are so bad, there might be no compelling reason for a Democrat to vote for any of the nominees. And, in fact, it might help the Democrats to gridlock the process. It has helped, for instance, with the social security debate.

So, we could end up with this scenario: Rehnquist is physically unable to adjudicate. O'Connor remains on the court via a frozen nomination. That would create a temporary 6 to 2 vote in favor of Roe.

More likely, Bush will nominate two candidates who will placate religious conservatives, but vote narrowly moderate on the court. If this scenario holds, there might actually be a loss of one vote to uphold Roe.

Republican attempts to stack the court during the past 30 years have been futile. Why should this round of nominations be any different?”

“There's a chance that you're right rl.

[...]
In Texas, legal analysts across the political spectrum said Bush employed an open process that reflected how he presented himself as governor -- a pragmatist willing to build consensus. That approach had the effect of bringing many moderates and minorities to the bench. He made four appointments to the state Supreme Court, and legal observers said that moved the very conservative court closer to the center, appeasing consumer groups.

"My impression was that he kept the hard-line Christian right at bay back then," said Richard Murray, a political science professor at the University of Houston. "He relied heavily on an organization that could get good people identified first and foremost. There wasn't much of an ideological test."
[...]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/07/AR2005070702177.html


Maybe the uniter Bush will emerge again.”

“Violin is hopeful that he can regain that hero-worship he used to have for GW.”

“I want Judge Joe Brown to get it...”

“We'll be lucky if judge wapner and judge judy aren't the first two nominees.”

“



joking aside. I wouldn't mind another person like O'Conner being on the court
last edited: 7/09/05 1:34:41 PM”

“Bush prepared for more Supreme Court vacancies By Steve Holland
33 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush is prepared for additional Supreme Court vacancies should they occur, the White House said on Monday amid speculation that U.S. Chief Justice William Rehnquist will retire and give Bush a second appointment to make to the high court.

Some court experts for days have been anticipating a retirement announcement from Rehnquist, who is 80 and suffering from thyroid cancer.

If Rehnquist does retire, his vacancy would give Bush a second Supreme Court opening to fill, along with that of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who said July 1 she will retire when a replacement is confirmed by the Senate.

"We are prepared for additional vacancies if they should occur. This is something that we have prepared for quite some time at the White House. But I'm not aware of any announcement that's been made on an additional vacancy at this point," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

Bush has been reviewing background material and the legal opinions of more than half a dozen potential candidates to the Supreme Court and appears unlikely to make an announcement on who he wants to replace O'Connor until toward the end of the month.

Bush is to meet with top Republican and Democratic senators at the White House on Tuesday to hear their views on how he should fill the position.

They are Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, and the committee's top Democrat, Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy.

"The president is not prejudging anything. He wants to hear what their views are and hear what they have to say as we move forward on a Supreme Court nominee," McClellan said.

Democrats want Bush to appoint a moderate like O'Connor, who was appointed by Republican President Ronald Reagan and was often a swing vote between the court's conservative and liberal wings.

"From the range of choices the White House is currently considering, America and the Constitution would be best served if President Bush chooses a nominee in the mold of Sandra Day O'Connor," said Massachusetts Democratic Sen. John Kerry.

Reid, who has been tough on Bush, called Tuesday's meeting a "good opportunity for us all to work together."

Noting fights with the White House over Social Security and judicial nominees, he said, "We don't need a protracted battle" over a Supreme Court nominee and said it would be good if Bush nominated someone "just like" O'Connor.

Whether there is a battle over the nominee is "up to him (Bush), Reid told reporters.

Conservatives want Bush to use the opportunity to shift the court's majority firmly to the right.

"In many ways, the heart and soul of the battle over traditional values centers on the U.S. Supreme Court -- and right now the Court hangs in the balance," said the Christian Coalition of America.

Democrats and Republicans alike urged Bush to consult more over his judicial nominees after a bipartisan deal in May broke a logjam on court appointments.

McClellan said Bush and top White House officials have been consulting.

"The president welcomes people suggesting names. That's part of the consultation process. But not only are we going to consult before the nomination is made, but we'll continue to consult once the nomination is made," McClellan said.

Bush last week called on conservatives to stop criticizing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who is considered a top contender for the Supreme Court opening. Conservatives fear he is soft on abortion and would not pursue their agenda with vigor.

At a speech on the war on terrorism in Quantico, Virginia, Bush posed for pictures with Gonzales in what looked like a show of support for his long-time friend.”

“The libs in congress are gonna scream no matter who he nominates. Well I guess they might be ok with Hilary, then they wouldn't have to fight her for the nomination.
last edited: 7/11/05 4:19:39 PM”

“NoProb, guess you didn't read what I posted so I will repost part of it

"Democrats want Bush to appoint a moderate like O'Connor, who was appointed by Republican President Ronald Reagan and was often a swing vote between the court's conservative and liberal wings."

Seems most Reps and Dems could live with that”

“I didn't miss it. I just disagree.”

“then it is you (the Rep) screaming about it not the Dems =)”

“Not screaming, just pointing out what I think will happen. Although if he nominates anybody the dems in the senate like, I will be screaming.”

“so if he appoints another person like O'Connor you won't like it even though most people will. I hate to see what happens if he appoints Gonzales then. It seems a few Reps don't like him either”

“Unlike you, I can't speak for MOST people. I can, however, speak for me. I want a Supreme Court that uses the constitution (and laws) as they are written, not as they wish it was written. And I don't care what European law is.

Judges, including Supreme Court justices, should not be rewriting laws to suit their point of view.”

“Judges, including Supreme Court justices, should not be rewriting laws to suit their point of view.”
NoProb
1:19:37 PM
7/12/05

what you are saying is that the Supreme Court should support your views and no one else's.”

“Sen. McCain [R-AZ] Strong Words On Supreme Ct Nomination at Dallas Fundraiser: 'During the campaign, President Bush said he will appoint judges who will strictly interpret the constitution... thinking anything else is either amnesia or ignorance... elections have consequences... whomever he nominates deserves an up or down vote and no filibuster... and an up or down vote is what we will have'...


I agree, this is what SHOULD happen, but will not. ANYONE Bush calls on to serve will be fought tooth and nail by the MoveOn majority of the Dems.”

“SS, what do you think will happen if Bush nominates Gonzales. It seems Bush is getting a little pissed at the far right conservatives who don't like Gonzales. Is it becasue he is a moderate and the far right doesn't want a moderate on the Supreme Court.

If you read anything about it most Dems would welcome another person like O'Connor. Now I don't know if Gonzales is like her or not but based on the ruckus the far right is doing is seems like he is.”