If Ginsburg is forced to retire, Obama needs to pick a liberal and not a moderate nominee

[TeamJordan23]

I hear the name Sonia Sotomayor being tossed around as Supreme Court nominee because she is female and a latino. However, she is centrist and was appointed to the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in 1992 by President George H. W. Bush.

I'm all for bi-partisanship and all but I don't think he can risk the well-being of the country by putting a moderate on the Bench when the Bench already tilts right with a liberal Ginsburg. He needs to pick someone who is a liberal. I would prefer someone who is not currently a judge.

[SuperTrouper]

1. Sonia Sotomayor is center-left...she probably would be sponsored by Schumer

She would be a great choice for the Supreme Court. Hopefully, Justice Ginsburg still has quite a few years at the bench

[jgraz]

17. After Mukasey, I've had enough of Schumer-sponsored nominees.

[Wapsie B]

2. I want a Liberal on the Court too.

Nothing wrong with a true lefty sitting there.

[dflprincess]

3. Hopefully he won't have one of his bipartisan attacks if he has to replace Justice Ginsburg.

Maybe he'll remember how the Court treated FDR early on and find someone who will at least be friendly towards his programs.

[BattyDem]

4. I hope the person at least leans left ... and is young!

I'd love a total liberal, but I'll settle for someone who leans left and RESPECTS AND UNDERSTANDS the Constitution.

[T Wolf]

5. Why do so many Democrats think that a moderate balances out a far-right whack-job

like Scalia, Thomas & Roberts?

What would be wrong with having a real liberal on the bench. There isn't one now and hasn't been one for decades (ever?).

[BattyDem]

8. There's nothing wrong with it, but the GOP will filibuster if he tries it.

Unlike the Dems, the GOP are not afraid to use the tools available to them as the minority.

[sharp_stick]

14. They don't have the people to fillibuster

as much as they want to. The New England pukes remaining can and will be leaned on a lot more I think.

[BattyDem]

30. I hope you're right.

:-)

[Better Believe It]

25. Oh the dreaded Republican filibuster. Wave the surrender flag!

Let them filibuster.

ALL filibusters end!

[BattyDem]

31. I'm not afraid of a filibuster, but for some reason ...

the Dems are. I don't get it. All the Repugs have to do is say the damn word and the Dems get scared. :shrug:

I totally agree with you. F*ck 'em - let them filibuster!

[Hippo_Tron]

21. Ginsburg is a liberal but not a liberal like Blackmun or Marshall

[Better Believe It]

24. Because many don't want liberals on the Supreme Court

That's the reason. Nothing complicated about that at all.

Liberals are far too liberal for them!

They prefer "moderate" right-wingers like Roberts over liberals.

[nichomachus]

6. Boy, sure would be nice to have a Dem senator from NH voting on this

I'm guessing the Repub will march in lockstep with the Senate obstructionists

[cascadiance]

7. Erwin Chemerinsky would be the choice for me...

Though if we can find some woman to have as good a credentials as he/Ginsburg and who's liberal, I'm all for considering that person to keep some woman representation on the court. If it were Stevens going first, I'd definitely want Chemerinsky in that case.

Chemerinsky would be a great person who's one of the better constitutional scholars out there, and who's in our corner, just what we need now, especially if we have prosecutions coming up for those that have violated our constitution.

[Frank Booth]

28. He'd be fine, so long as he dropped

that annoying habit of showing off how awesome his memorization skills are.

That would be a bruising confirmation though, and I don't know if he'd give up his commitment to UC Irvine.

[cascadiance]

29. Given that they didn't treat him very well when hiring him, I'm not sure how "obligated' he is...

... to stay with them, if a "higher calling" came.

[mentalsolstice]

9. This is one of my favorite judges

http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=1660&category=Lawmakers&occupation=Federal%20District%20Court%20Judge&name=Judge%20Myron%20H.%20Thompson.

I've had the honor of appearing before him and he is one of the most elegant men I've ever met. Our congressman, Artur Davis, has PBO's ear so hopefully he'll suggest Judge Thompson, should the need arise.

And my thoughts are with Justice Ginsburg.

[jgraz]

10. Here's hoping Rick Warren isn't available...

[dancingme]

11. uh, Sarah Palin may be available

:crazy:

[jgraz]

16. Oh, you betcha.

Maybe she can finally learn about more than one SCOTUS decision.

[hamsterjill]

26. And Joe the Plumber is available, too.

After all, not having a license to plumb didn't keep him from being a plumber.

So why would not having a law degree hold him back?

[sharp_stick]

12. I believe I'd

place Sotomayor as center left and personally I would love to see her nominated but not for a long time. Until we know more about Bader-Ginsburgs condition I'm going to try to back off predictions.

Although if as, was it Patwah?, said we could be so lucky to have Gawd pick off Scalia or Thomas I would be into the predition game in a big way.

[Thrill]

13. He's going to appoint someone much like Ginsberg and Souter

which is what he said he would do

[StopTheNeoCons]

15. Jennifer Granholm

[Mojambo]

18. Don't hold your breath. n/t

[Beetwasher]

19. And Someone YOUNG!!

n/t

[krawhitham]

20. David Boies

[Eryemil]

22. This is THE test for Obama though it is unfortunate it had to come at such a price

For everyone on the left this is his chance to prove that he cares for our concerns.
Picking anything but an established liberal to the Supreme Court would wreak havoc on pretty much any progressive ruling (specially when it comes to gay rights) for a long, long time.

[Better Believe It]

23. But the Republicans won't vote for a liberal!

Maybe not even a moderate .... unless the Democrats fight for their nominations.

But Democrats in Congress can and do vote for right-wingers in the Supreme Court.

Why they even gave up the right to filibuster against Bush's picks unless one of them was a terrorist.

And for that act of kindness and bi-partisanship the Republicans will kick Obama and Democratic Senators in the teeth!

[Mass]

27. Let's just hope it comes in a very long time.\nt

[ShortnFiery]

32. Yes, Obama should appoint a LIBERAL and if the GOP Senators threaten "fillibuster" ...

then follow through with Bill Frist's (R-TN) *NUCLEAR OPTION.* :nuke:

[backscatter712]

33. Jonathan Turley for SCOTUS!!!

Get an actual constitutional law professor in there - maybe he could teach Scalia and co. a few things.

[Dinger]

34. I Agree 100%!

:)

[cooolandrew]

35. He needs to do it so fast their heads spin too.No bi-partisanship on this one either, I couldn't >

excuse him if he did that.

[Hawkeye-X]

36. Obama should force Scalia, Alito, Thomas and Roberts to resign

first before letting Ginsburg retire.

[tsuki]

37. Oh, I'm sure he will pick someone from the GOP bipartisan tablet. nt

[iamthebandfanman]

38. damn straight

he better pick a liberal, as a moderate would be crushed under the right wing slant that exsists.

i understand the point of wanting to be better and more honorable than the last president...
but when it comes to things that alter the country and our laws for decades to come, he didnt give a shit making the court unbalanced so why give a shit correcting it ?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

39. I hope Ginsberg makes a full recovery. We need her on the bench for as long as possible.