Obama's Supreme Court Shortlist (Wood, Sotomayor, Kagan, Granholm, Napolitano, Garland)

[liberalpragmatist]

Take it with a grain of salt, as one would all anonymously sourced rumors...

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro

*** The SCOTUS shortlist? According to a couple of sources in the know, there appears to be a working short list of about six names for President Obama’s Supreme Court pick. The co-frontrunners (in no particular order): Diane Wood of the 7th Circuit, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor of the 2nd Circuit, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Merrick Garland of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. Obviously, folks can slice this list all they want: Five are women; one’s Hispanic; one’s male; and all are in their late 40s or early 50s, except two (Wood, 58, and Garland, 56). Keep an eye on Napolitano. For this pick, it would be surprising if Obama named someone he didn't either know well or trust personally. Wood, Kagan, and Napolitano all fit this bill (Wood taught at the University of Chicago with Obama, and Kagan and Napolitano already have top slots in the administration). As for Napolitano, remember that she endorsed Obama early on (despite Emily’s List pressure to do otherwise). And from people familiar with the president's thinking, he's been as impressed with Napolitano as anyone in his cabinet. They click. That matters....

[deadmessengers]

1. It won't be Napolitano.

It's a shame, because Janet Napolitano is wonderfully qualified for the job, but I don't think the President would want to invite back-to-back confirmation fights - one for the Court, one for her backfill at DHS.

[CTyankee]

2. I heard today from some political reporter that it COULD be Napolitano.

That was on MSNBC. I was surprised.

It seems odd to me, tho. Why would Obama go to the trouble of appointing her to Homeland Security if he secretly wanted her on the Supreme Court? He knew there was a better than average chance he would get to fill a vacancy.

I just don't get it....

[CreekDog]

5. because he needed her for Homeland Security

look at her background in law enforcement matters, border issues as Governor, Attorney General and head of the US Attorney's office in Arizona.

besides, Obama had to know he would get another chance to appoint her to the USSC at some later point. he's likely to get 3 appointments.

[Thrill]

3. Thats not a reason to not nominate her. He would have to do

that for Kagan too. And I think Kagan will get it

[CreekDog]

6. he may have intended Napolitano for the court but not an immediate appointment

but a later one instead.

[Sensitivity]

4. Diane Wood has all the marks of the SAFE CHOICE -- Husband, children, not "activist"

Sorry to say, but that's the way it is. To quote Bob Marley for Barack "I don't need no more troubles .."

From Wiki

Wood was nominated by President Bill Clinton on March 31, 1995, to a seat vacated when William Joseph Bauer took senior status.

She was confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate
and received her commission on June 30, 1995.

[Thrill]

7. I think age is an issue there. They need someone younger than Roberts

in my opinion.

[MiniMe]

8. The RWingnuts are already asking her to resign over the Bush Admin

terrorist watch re: some soldiers could be recruited. I agree with a previous poster that she may be a future pick, but I don't think he wants a big fight over his first pick.

[SamCooke]

9. We need to get a Pamela Karlan petition going

we must get her on

[Sensitivity]

10. Petitioning the Admin is good, even if she does not get on now

[elleng]

11. Not exactly authoritative!

'According to a couple of sources in the know, there appears to be a working short list'

[MasonJar]

12. I am sure that Obama will choose someone qualified but I have a

hard time getting excited about replacing Souter. I want to replace the Felonious Five and that is not going to happen. If Obama gets other chances they will be other reasonable judges like Stevens and Ginsburg.

[Blasphemer]

13. That's the big problem.. I'd be happy if we could just get rid of one of them in the next 8 years nt

[vaberella]

14. I'm still holding out for Sustein. n/t

[WI_DEM]

15. If it's the short list it's a pretty good one. But who knows?