Speculation Abounds that Rehnquist will Retire in June

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

The strong expectation, senior administration officials and others said, is that Chief Justice Rehnquist is making his best effort to serve out the remainder of the term that ends in June before resigning. And the only question, they say, is whether the 80-year-old chief justice, who is suffering from thyroid cancer and the effects of his treatment, will be able to do so.

The people who said that this was the assumption in the White House included senior administration officials, senior Congressional officials and people who have been consulted by senior White House officials.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/22/politics/22memo.html

[jean]

1. either that or the man might succumb to his thyroid cancer

[Warpy]

2. You don't get a permanent tracheostomy for thyroid cancer

that is caught early enough to survive. You only get a permanent trach when cancer has spread to the larynx and adjacent structures.

Rehnquist is a very sick man, and an object lesson for smokers.

If you smoke, quit now. Please. We want lefties to live as long as possible with their voices raised against fascism.

[happyslug]

3. Bush wants him to last till June

Think about it, if Rehnquist dies before June, the Senate will be tied up confirming his successor for 1-2 months. They goes SS "Reform", no time. Bush wants him to last. I hate to say anything bad about anyone, and I pray that Rehnquist health improves (and I will do for anyone in his situation) but I also have to look at how Rehnquist's death or resignation will have on what is passed by the Congress in the next six months.

[ProgressiveConn]

4. Hmmm

I wonder if the goal is to get us to filibuster SS privatization as to avoid us from philibustering Ashcroft or Gonzalez for Supreme Court Justice.

[daleo]

6. Ritter said Iran attack was scheduled for June, too. n/t

[Occulus]

28. The exact same thought just crossed my mind.

I don't much like the timing of these two events at all. SCOTUS being set up to approve something extreme, perhaps, when it all goes down, if extremity is needed ?

Hmm.

[mike_c]

5. betcha Bush nominates Askkkroft....

eom

[Sandpiper]

7. That's banking on the fact that he'll live that long

Which is no guarantee at this point.

[maddezmom]

8. kicking

to combine until confirmation link can be found.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

9. MSNBC Chief Justice Renquist is stepping down who will replace him?.......

no link yet...i bet it will be Scalia and Ashcroft will be appointed to Scalia's seat.

[WI_DEM]

10. If they dare nominate Ashcroft, the dems better filibuster

[RT Atlanta]

11. Must be bad off to step down...

He must be close to knocking on a certain door (just not sure which one). Will 'Deep Throat' soon be revealed?

Wonder which wacko * will nominate to replace him? Bork (since he's so fond of renominating judges whose bids have initially failed)?

[unblock]

13. bork is way too liberal for bush

you might think i'm joking, but it's true.

[DU9598]

12. Rather Ashcroft

Than some 40 year old Ashcroft-esque district court judge.

[Ripley]

14. Roy Moore.

Arghugh.

[rawstory]

15. LINK -- haven't seen actual confirmation of this

[meganmonkey]

16. Are you sure?

An article from 7 minutes ago announces he is off for the next 2 weeks
"Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who is battling thyroid cancer, did not attend the arguments and will be absent for the next two weeks. He has not attended arguments since October. "

http://www.forbes.com/business/services/feeds/ap/2005/02/22/ap1841418.html

Not meaning to question you, I am kinda surprised he hasn't stepped down already given hi health, just looking for a link...I'll keep hitting refresh to find one.

[Purveyor]

17. Is this an official announcement or a setup for the current MSNBC topic?

I find nothing, anywhere on the wires.

[PeaceProgProsp]

18. Ted Kennedy was made for times like these.

[sniffa]

21. nominate teddy for supreme court justice

that wouLd be interesting... and if he took it, the pubs wouLd pick up another seat.

[spanone]

19. Asscrack. Bush* said as much in the taped interviews.

[RatRacer]

20. This is all I could find (linkage)

"...The strong expectation, senior administration officials and others said, is that Chief Justice Rehnquist is making his best effort to serve out the remainder of the term that ends in June before resigning. And the only question, they say, is whether the 80-year-old chief justice, who is suffering from thyroid cancer and the effects of his treatment, will be able to do so.

The people who said that this was the assumption in the White House included senior administration officials, senior Congressional officials and people who have been consulted by senior White House officials....

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/22/politics/22memo.html

[LiberalEsto]

22. Jeff Gannon/Guckert

He's so, so qualified. And oh, those long black robes!

[Magleetis]

23. Everything we feared

is coming true, and the fat lady isn't even warming up. How sad for America.

[JanMichael]

24. Nope. Dan Quayle

or however you spell his name.

Or Guiliani--or whatever that crooks name is.

[happyslug]

25. O'Connor

She has always been a GOP hack (Look at her vote in the selection of 2000). I personally believe Bush has promised the Chief Justice Position to BOTH O'Connor and Scala (BEFORE THE 2000 Election, thus when it came up to the court in 2000 BOTH had reasons to vote for Bush).

Now Rehnquist wants Scala to succeed as Chief Justice, but the Democrats will put up a Fight against Scala. Thus if Scala is nominated it will be AFTER Congress has passed Bush's legislative agenda as to Social Security, making the tax cut permanent, "reforming" Bankruptcy, and the Budget. Until these are done nominating Scala will lead to the Senate being tied up for months on his Confirmation.

O'Connor on the other hand will fly through the Senate. She has voted for Abortion rights and other moderate positions. The Democrats could NOT hope to do better than her from Bush, thus she will quickly become Chief Justice.

Now the next question is who will become the next associate Justice of the Supreme Court IF O'Connor or Scalia becomes Chief Justice. Remember what happen when Rehnquist became Chief Justice, the Democrats concentrated on him and asked almost no questions to Rehnquist replacement as an Associate Justice (I.e. SCALIA). Both were appointed at the same time. I see Bush wanting to do the same, with Scalia this time giving cover to some reactionary appointee.

I believe that is what Bush wants, Scalia to run interference to a real right wing Associate Justice appointment. O'Connor can not do that BUT her appointment will NOT tie up the senate for 1-2 months. Thus who Bush appoints as Chief Justice will be up when Rehnquist either resigns from the Office or dies in the office. If either occurs within the next three months the Bush will appoint O'Connor as Chief Justice and some moderate Judge as her replacement as an Associate Justice. This so the confirmation goes through the Senate quickly and not tie up the Senate regarding his Legislative agenda.

On the other hand if Rehnquist lasts till June, Bush's legislative Agenda would have been through the House and Senate and tyeing up the Senate for 2-3 months would be more than acceptable to him and the GOP in the Senate to get Scalia as Chief Justice and a real reactionary as his replacement as an Associate Justice.

[CubsFan1982]

27. Think we're jumping the gun here.

Nothing at all on MSNBC or anywhere that Rehnquist has announced his retirement.

[Megahurtz]

26. Oh great, here we go.

Another :freak: to take his place. We're doomed.