Battle looms as Obama nears Supreme Court pick

[BlueJessamine]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama hopes to tone down the partisan warfare that often surrounds selections to the Supreme Court, but that won't be easy with interest groups bracing for a fight over issues like abortion.

Obama has been weighing a short list of mostly women for a seat on the nine-member high court that decides such issues as abortion and the death penalty as well as business and property rights cases. The court's members are appointed for life but require Senate confirmation.

The pick, expected to be announced later this month, is unlikely to change the court's ideological makeup since Obama, a Democrat, is expected to pick a liberal in the mold of retiring justice David Souter.

Some experts think Obama, a former lecturer in constitutional law, may seek someone with the intellectual firepower and personality to go to toe-to-toe with two of the court's most conservative members, Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito. Though well regarded for his intellect, Souter is relatively low-key


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE54G26F20090517

[blue_onyx]

1. I hope Obama is ready for the battle

He must not back down and give in to bipartisanship to get 2-3 Republican votes. Obama should just pick who he wants to be the nominee and not the let Republican talking points go unchallenged. I wish the nominee would be announced this week but it probably won't be until later, as the article indicated.

[Hawaii Hiker]

3. I'm almost losing sleep over who he'll pick to replace Souter

I hope President Obama does not cave in to the right & picks a solid LIBERAL 40-something year old justice...

We need a real liberal just to keep some balance on the court...

[blue_onyx]

4. I hate the "who will he pick" game

That's why I would prefer he pick soon. That and the fact that the GOP will drag this out as long as they can. The Dems want to have the person approved by the August recess so they need to get on with the approval process.

I don't know much about the potential nominees that have been mentioned in the media other than Granholm. They all seem like good picks, at least from the little I've read. The GOP will make who ever is picked seem like a "far-left, extremist who will be an activist judge and legislate from the bench." Obama will pick a liberal and he needs to be ready to defend the pick from the BS Republican attacks.

[JerseygirlCT]

7. And the thing is - whether he picks a liberal or a moderate, his

pick will still be CALLED a raging liberal by the right and treated as such. (In the way they've taken to calling him the most liberal president ever, or the most "pro-abortion" (?) president ever...)

Since it doesn't matter to them WHO he picks - the pick will be treated as someone on a par with Marx - he should pick who he wants and to hell with the squeaking GOP.

[Faygo Kid]

8. Blue_onyx, I think he will pick your governor.

I really do, and even more so after his speech today. She is perfect: 50, thoroughly vetted, a governor, credentialed. Not Hispanic and born in Canada (so what). I think Jennifer Granholm would be a great choice, and a great justice.

If she would be half the justice Frank Murphy was, she would do Michigan proud.

[harmonicon]

11. I kind of hope he doesn't

Granted, I've voted for Granholm multiple times, but I'm just not crazy about her. Perhaps she'd be a better justice than a governor, which she's not all that great at doing. Of course she could do much worse, and has totally been pinned down in what she can do for economic reasons, etc., but ultimately I don't think that she's an intellectual and I would like to see hard-core intellectuals on the court.

[blue_onyx]

15. What's with all the Dems turning on Granholm?

It seems so many have finally given in to the GOP talking points calling her a bad governor. Yes, our economy is doing poorly but thanks to her, MI is set on a path to a better future. She has brought the film industry to Michigan which has pumped million and millions into our economy and created hundreds of jobs. There will be even more jobs to come once the numerous film studios get up and going. Her focus on green energy is also paying off, with billions having been invested during her 6 years as governor. In fact, last week Dow announced that they would open a new $665 million advanced battery facility bringing 885 new jobs to the state.

MI problems started long before Granholm came into office. Surely, she has not been perfect. I, however, can't understand the negativity I've seen on the progressive websites toward her. I hope she gets picked because being governor of MI seems to be the most thankless job in the country.

[harmonicon]

17. I don't think I've "turned on" her

I think she's capable, but that others could do a better job. For one, I think she could have lobbied hard since her first day in office to make single-payer health-care a national priority, as it would have done wonders for the auto industry. As far as green energy goes, I think she could do more - regulations should be changed, making it easier for communities and individuals both to take green energy production into their own hands.

Why would you like her on the court? I just don't get it. I don't see anything in her that makes me think that she's the one for the job. It doesn't mean that I hate her or think she's a moron. I just think that being a Supreme Court justice is an incredibly demanding thing that very very few are cut out for (a majority on the court now, for instance, probably aren't cut out for it).

[blue_onyx]

19. I want her on the court

because she is, indeed, "intellectual." Whether she's your favorite choice isn't an issue since everyone is entitled to like other candidates. I do find it odd that you question her intelligence. Even people that hate her don't really question how intelligent she is. What makes you think she is not "intellectual" enough to make it on the Supreme Court?


"she could have lobbied hard since her first day in office to make single-payer health-care a national priority"

Why? She should waste her time pushing for a national single-payer health care system while Bush was in office? Obama doesn't even seem to be pursuing that and you think she would get anywhere with Bush? I wish we could get a single payer system but I don't see it happening anytime soon. She did speak on numerous tv programs, particularly around the time of the bailout, about the need for universal health care. She pointed out that more cars are made across the Detroit River in Canada than are made in Michigan because of health care.


"I think she could do more - regulations should be changed, making it easier for communities and individuals both to take green energy production into their own hands."

Well, with the GOP in control of the Senate(both house in the first term), it's a little difficult to get everything passed. It took years to get the RPS passed. Unfortunately, the MI GOP would rather see MI languish than to work with Granholm and have her come off looking good. I won't punish her because Mike Bishop would rather play political games than to better Michigan. Obama should be careful because I think he will be treated very similarly to the way Granholm has been. The Republicans will say no, obstruct everything, and offer no new ideas. Then, when things aren't better, the Bush economic mess will suddenly become the Obama economic mess (just like Engler's mess become Granholm's mess)....just in time for the 2010 election.

[blue_onyx]

14. At first, I didn't think she would be picked

but now, I really do think it will be her. She and Obama seem to have a good relationship despite her support for Hillary. She played Palin in the practice VP debate, she was personally invited to the last Presidential debate, and she was on Obama's economic advisory board where she was prominently seated next to Biden (who was next to Obama). Relationships play an important role in being hired for a job, whether it's a presidential appointment or a job at an accounting firm. This, in addition to Obama's description of what he's looking for make me think it will be her.

There's not much more the Republicans can throw at her that the MI GOP hasn't already tried so that may be good for the approval process. I would be sad to lose her during this difficult time in MI. It would be nice to give the Lieutenant Governor John Cherry the power of incumbency going into the 2010 election though.

I hope she gets picked and she would do a great job.

[imdjh]

2. The intellectual "firepower" needed to go up against Scalia? nt

[JerseygirlCT]

6. Yeah, for real?

I imagine you just have to be an even nastier person. It's likely got little to do with intellect.

[Lucky Luciano]

9. Scalia is actually quite smart according to a very bright liberal

friend of mine who clerked for the 9th circuit. The fact that he is bright and simultaneously evil is the real problem.

[imdjh]

10. I would call that "lucid interval".

He can indeed make impressive observations and comments. He can then turn around and say something that makes you wonder how he managed the impressive part.

[DarthDem]

13. No, I Couldn't Disagree More

In fact Scalia is quite intelligent - - although I think his faculties have declined in recent years. Alito is of average intelligence, maybe even below. Thomas, of course, is quite stupid.

The best pick of those mentioned is Sotomayor. I really hope she gets it. She definitely fills the "intellectual firepower" quotient.

[JerseygirlCT]

5. You know, if he picks a woman (and I do hope that he does)

and the right wingers attempt to filibuster her... let's play the sex card. Let's go all out like that unqualified jerk Thomas did - when he played on white guilt with his "high-tech lynching" crap.

They just don't like women!

[santamargarita]

12. This is the fight those right-wing assholes have been waiting for that...

they will never win! There will be teeth gnashing and the Christan Fascists on television will be, once again, praying for the death of the Liberal side of the court...and on it goes. Fuck these American Hating Bastards!

[indypaul]

16. No appointment or consideration of an appointee

should be made until the Minnesota race is settled.
This matter should be taken up by the Senate and resolved
at once. Unless there is complete representation of all states
in that body they should NOT consider an appointment to any
other branch of government. There is no excuse for the Senate
not to act in this matter when they have complete jurisdiction
of who shall be a member of that body.

[bemildred]

18. Oh bullshit.

Congress can kiss their professional asses goodbye if they don't support Obama's appointments, and I will help can their asses.