Favorites of Left Don't Make Obama's Court List

[steven johnson]

It appears that President Obama is choosing from a list of moderate candidates for the next justice on the SCOTUS.

By PETER BAKER
Published: May 26, 2009
WASHINGTON - Pamela S. Karlan is a champion of gay rights, criminal defendants' rights and voting rights. She is considered brilliant, outspoken and, in her own words, "sort of snarky." To liberal supporters, she is an Antonin Scalia for the left.

But Ms. Karlan does not expect President Obama to appoint her to succeed Justice David H. Souter, who is retiring. "Would I like to be on the Supreme Court?" she asked in graduation remarks a couple of weeks ago at Stanford Law School, where she teaches. "You bet I would. But not enough to have trimmed my sails for half a lifetime."

While there are clear political advantages to Mr. Obama if the perception is that he has avoided an ideological choice, Ms. Karlan's absence from his list of finalists has frustrated part of the president's base, which hungers for a full-throated, unapologetic liberal torchbearer to counter conservatives like Justice Scalia.

The president has narrowed his list to four, according to people close to the White House - two federal appeals judges, Sonia Sotomayor of New York and Diane P. Wood of Chicago, and two members of his administration, Solicitor General Elena Kagan and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/us/politics/26court.html%3Fhp


Text

[jgraz]

1. Obama will get a few more bites at this apple

Let him choose his "coalition builder" this time. Next time, I'm going to be expecting a firebrand.

[Dinger]

9. Fuck That Noise. I Want A Flaming Liberal, Progressive On The Court

No apologies here either.

[spin]

31. If Obama wants a second term...

he'll drift away from the very liberal section of the Democratic Party. I predict his nominee for SCOTUS will be a liberal but not a "flaming liberal" as you would prefer.

Obama is quite possibly the most gifted political strategist of our life time. I base that observation on the fact that he derailed the coronation of Queen Hillary during the primary. She was blindsided by his brilliant campaign.

I'm beginning to see the subtle shift beginning. On issues such as gun control and releasing the torture photos he has moved away from the extremely liberal position of our party.

If I'm right, he'll drive you crazy but he'll win reelection and should preserve or increase the control of Congress that we enjoy.

But remember, eight years of Obama is far better then four years of Obama and four years of someone like Sarah Palin.

[cali]

34. I want someone who's a powerful persuader on the SC

and a powerful intellect on the SC, who's coming from a liberal perspective.

[jenmito]

2. Nobody knows his complete short list. n/t

[ruggerson]

19. let's hope his pick is a pleasant surprise

n/t

[dflprincess]

3. Oh goody. More reaching out to moderates

that's been working so well.

[BluegrassDem]

20. Obama wants a liberal justice who will CONVINCE OTHERS

To come to their side. Picking a flamethrower just to pick one isn't smart. You need someone like a Warren who has the ability to persuade others with their arguments of reason. I'm more interested in having a liberal jurist who has the ability to convince others to their side as opposed to a liberal jurist who is just a flame thrower, like Scalia.

[TeamJordan23]

21. Good luck convincing Thomas, Scalia, Roberts, and Alito. nm

[BluegrassDem]

23. Only need one and Justice Kennedy seems like he could be persuadable

[Uzybone]

4. Another article designed to drive a wedge between Obama and progressives

And some will fall for it everytime.

From that same article

The four said to be on Mr. Obama’s list are known as liberals if not crusaders, and advocates said they would still generate enthusiasm. Judge Wood, in particular, has attracted favorable attention from the left."

"Some liberals said they wished Mr. Obama would be as bold in reshaping the court from the left as Mr. Bush was from the right. "


I m glad President Obama is not a liberal version of Bush.

[Cha]

13. And, of course, they fall for it like

lemmings to the sea.

[Why Syzygy]

5. Of course. Par. nt

[grantcart]

6. A "full throated, unapologetic liberal torchbearer . . . like Justice Scalia"

I certainly hope not. As many commentators have shown that while Scalia's influence on the far right base may be impressive, his ability to form majority opinions is higher only to Thomas', which is nonexistent.

Full throated may be good to raise passion but it undermines getting people who disagree with you to share your point of view. I am hopeful for a progressive that is able to use their power of persuasion and interpersonal skills to get as many justices to share in majority opinions.

[Jane Austin]

16. Well, said, Grantcart! .......n/t

[SuperTrouper]

38. Then your candidate is Sotomayor. She is the true standard-bearer of the Liberals

and the GOP is in spasms of anticipation because they will try to savage her but it will be to no avail. Sotomayor is very impressive and will run circles around the GOP in the hearings if she is nominated. We will see.

[Dinger]

7. Ain't That A Fucking Surprise

What's next? Wait, forget I said that.

[Thrill]

18. Read the article. Its just speculation.

Also using a two week old Karlan quote

[BlooInBloo]

8. *yawn*

[ProSense]

10. Dumb title.

As if some on the left wouldn't be happy with at least one or two on the short list.

Idiotic media.

[Old Hank]

15. And I add: Have any polls been conducted asking the "left" who its favorite is?

Peter Baker is mind-reading us. I think this article lacks in professionalism.

[smalll]

11. What happened to the Granholm grounswell?

It might be useful to have the hottest Supreme Court Justice ever on our side. I could see her converting Alito (think about it, that guy has probably never had a glimmer of attention from a hottie his whole live) or maybe Roberts (if his marriage is in a rut. I think Roberts and Granholm would be so cute together.)

And don't discount her chances with Scalia. Seriously, she could take one for the team and flip a crucial vote permanently.

[spag68]

22. smalll

You have to be an idiot, the supreme court needs intellect and compassion, gender and physical looks should have nothing to do with it. That said, A female might be preferable since balance on the court is important.

[Political Tiger]

12. (pre)OUTRAGE!

n/t

[vaberella]

29. They're getting prepped. To be expected. n/t

[firedupdem]

32. That's exactly it. Driving a wedge has become so easy to do. n/t

[Old Hank]

14. It's unclear to me what the definition of "liberal" is to this NYT writer

The author of this piece says that Clinton appointed two judges that are not too liberal, but these judges are Ginsburg and Breyer. I have no problem with their rulings.

[Thrill]

17. There is nothing from what I read about Wood that makes her a moderate.

Not sure what the purpose of this article is. Its also using a quote from Karlan a few weeks old

[Jennicut]

24. Wood, Kagan and Sotomeyer are not good enough? I thought they were all pretty liberal.

[Sebastian Doyle]

25. Sotomyer was a fucking Poppy Bush appointee.

That and the fact that she was the first name on the lips of the whore media the minute Souter announced his retirement tells me all I need to know about her. She's the LAST one I want nominated.

[Old Hank]

26. So? Souter was appointed by George W. Bush to the SC

It is simplistic to say "X is bad because X was appointed by a conservative President."

[Sebastian Doyle]

27. We have 7 Bush Crime Family appointees on the Supreme Court as it is.

We don't need 8.

[BzaDem]

33. That is incredibly misleading.

She was appointed by George H.W. Bush to the trial court (Federal District Court). Senators from judges' home states often suggest trial judges to the President and have significant influence over who gets nominated. This is because trial court judges have little influence on broader questions of law.

Sotomayor was appointed to the Court of Appeals by President Clinton. This matters much more than who made her a trial judge, since Court of Appeals judges have much more influence over broad questions of law and their appointments are much more ideological.

[Jennicut]

35. Exactly. I look at her record.

[vaberella]

28. I don't get this post. Anyway I want Sustein. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

30. Why even bother to post these speculative articles in where the author

knows no more than us?

All this does is excite the "Nothing is good enough" Crowd here at DU....waiting to pounce on anything and everything, as long as there is an excuse.

[SuperTrouper]

36. It will be Sotomayor. Obama wants to name the first Hispanic Justice

and that will bring him Arizona and Texas in the next election. In addition, Sotomayor has a compelling life story and will send shockwaves in the Republicans because she is the one that they fear the most because Sotomayor is unabashedly liberal and has incredible powers of persuasion...she would be the Scalia of the liberals. I want her in the SCOTUS! it will bring much honor and pride to our community!

[ClarkUSA]

39. AP calls it for Sotomayor. Great news!

[ClarkUSA]

37. Anything to create a storyline... what a load of bullshit meme this reporter is shovelling.

[ecstatic]

40. Sick of articles like this. He chose Sonia Sotomayor so s/he is wrong nt