WP: Possible Court Nominees Pose a Quandary for Bush

[Pirate Smile]

Possible Court Nominees Pose a Quandary for Bush
A Conservative Anchor vs. an Ethnic First

By Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 19, 2005; Page A01

President Bush's advisers are focusing their search for a new Supreme Court justice on a trio of candidates who could present the president with a choice that would help shape his legacy -- pick a reliable conservative to anchor the court for decades or go for history by naming the first Hispanic chief justice at the risk of alienating his base.

While the cancer-stricken Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist has not publicly signaled his decision, many in the White House and around Washington expect him to announce his retirement at the end of the court's current term next week, opening the nation's top judicial post for the first time in 19 years and setting up a potentially savage nomination battle.

White House officials have prepared for the prospect by culling long lists of possible candidates, poring through old cases and weighing a variety of factors from judicial philosophy to age. Bush and his inner circle have had tightly held deliberations and no one can say for sure whom he might pick for chief justice, but outside advisers to the White House believe the main candidates are federal appeals Judges John G. Roberts and J. Michael Luttig and possibly Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales.

For a time, many officials and analysts in Washington assumed that Gonzales, a longtime Bush confidant and his first-term White House counsel, had been ruled out as a candidate because he took over the Justice Department in February. But in recent days, several advisers with close ties to the White House said Bush appears to be considering Gonzales, after all.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/18/AR2005061801233.html

[Auntie Bush]

1. This isn't the nomination I worry about. He'll just be replacing one

Conservative judge for another. He'll also replace one Conservative Chief justice with another...so won't wait much difference... so I hope the Democrats won't waste a filibuster on those two appointments.
HOWEVER, the next appointment could make a HUGE difference...if he replaces a Liberal with a Conservative.

THEN WE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT LIKE HELL!

[depakid]

9. So the dems should just punt again?

There are huge reasons to fight tooth and nail on every aspect of the Supreme court- though I expect they'll do just as you suggest- and in fact- I'll go you one worse- they'll approve ANYONE that Bush nominates.

They've already proven thmselves unwilling to stand up and fight on the lst three. They've approved the likes of Owens, Brown and Pryor! It' not possible to get any worse than that!

Until the party is thoroughly purged of its cowards, and mealy mouthed panderers- the Republicans pretty well dictates whatever they want- and Harry Reid dances to the tune....

[geek tragedy]

2. Think the worst possible nominee, and then predict someone even

worse.

My guess is Ted Olson.

[Rowdyboy]

3. James Dobson or Anne Coulter n/t

[geek tragedy]

4. Justice Roy Moore! eom

[Rowdyboy]

7. Welcome to my nightmare...

[aresef]

8. Just watch

Justice Rev. Jerry Falwell

*shudders*

[lyonn]

6. Ouch!

You have probably guessed the worst for sure.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Possible Court Nominees Pose a Quandary for Bush

Possible Court Nominees Pose a Quandary for Bush
A Conservative Anchor vs. an Ethnic First

By Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 19, 2005; Page A01

President Bush's advisers are focusing their search for a new Supreme Court justice on a trio of candidates who could present the president with a choice that would help shape his legacy -- pick a reliable conservative to anchor the court for decades or go for history by naming the first Hispanic chief justice at the risk of alienating his base.

While the cancer-stricken Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist has not publicly signaled his decision, many in the White House and around Washington expect him to announce his retirement at the end of the court's current term next week, opening the nation's top judicial post for the first time in 19 years and setting up a potentially savage nomination battle.

White House officials have prepared for the prospect by culling long lists of possible candidates, poring through old cases and weighing a variety of factors from judicial philosophy to age. Bush and his inner circle have had tightly held deliberations and no one can say for sure whom he might pick for chief justice, but outside advisers to the White House believe the main candidates are federal appeals Judges John G. Roberts and J. Michael Luttig and possibly Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales.

For a time, many officials and analysts in Washington assumed that Gonzales, a longtime Bush confidant and his first-term White House counsel, had been ruled out as a candidate because he took over the Justice Department in February. But in recent days, several advisers with close ties to the White House said Bush appears to be considering Gonzales, after all.
(snip/...)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/18/AR2005061801233.html?nav=rss_politics
(Free registration is required)

http://la-news.cocolog-nifty.com.nyud.net:8090/lanews/041111AlbertoGonzalez.jpg

[pfitz59]

11. "That's my boy!"

I own you........

[Miss Chybil]

10. Ethnicity is always a good indicator of qualifications.

Not. These people are blatant racists trying to pretend they're not. Ethnicity shouldn't even be a factor. And I think Bush's legacy will need a bit bigger boost than any Supreme Court justice could give it, no matter what color he, or she, is.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

12. Ted Olson would be my guess.

He's got the emotional trump card: his wife Barbara was killed in the 9/11 attacks.

Any Dems opposing him would be cast as horribly insensitive to the victims of that day. :eyes:

[Dogmudgeon]

13. But Ted blew it

I think he waited all of a week before he started dating again, and the Washington press corps knows it. And, it's long enough past 9/11/01 that morbid veneration won't enter into the equation.

I think it will be Gonzalez.

--p!