Well, Obama better nominate a moderate, we wouldn't want someone to say something mean

[usregimechange]

which they will damn well say anyway.

My advise to Obama, nominate the best person to do the job. Nominate who you want. Tell your political advisers to take a hike.

You have at least 61 votes in the Senate for cloture (Snowe and Collins won't regard being liberal as an "extraordinary circumstance") and plenty more than 50 for confirmation. They didn't with Judge David Hamilton this year when cloture on his nomination passed easily.

The only thing that can lead to failure here is picking the next Justice, for the wrong reasons.

[Ozymanithrax]

1. In an election year, Snowe and Collins are not a sure thing..

After all, Obama and Reid thought they could be courted for health care.

I agree that he should nominae who he wants.

But this will be a thunderous process with the Right hoping to "Bork" his nomination.

[usregimechange]

3. Bork received an up or down vote

[Ozymanithrax]

9. Bork was eviscerated in the Senate investigation.

His name became a term that defined the process.

He got his up or down vote, but was defeated by 42 Senators. Republicans have 41 Seantors, all they need to stop any nomination. Whoever is nominated will be Borked by what is known as the liberal press.

The only advantage we have is that the person will not have been involved in the Saturday Night Masacre.

It is going ot be uggly and there in this partisan atmosphere, no republican votes are a sure thing.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Obama needs to go to Maine and tell Mainers how Snowe completely dissed him & how it will hurt Maine

[Ozymanithrax]

10. Obama whining about Snowe dissing him won't help...even with Mainers.

This, being a midterm, is going to make this a particularly ugly episode. Anyone Obama nominates is going to be roundly savaged in the media, and among the Teaparty leaning Senators. Republicans will feel pressure to deny anyone because their vocal radical fringe can turn on them in a heartbeat.

[Captain Hilts]

12. They need to understand that their senator is a shit who dissed the Prez.

So, for the next 7 years, they'll be on the outside looking in.

[donco6]

2. I'm hoping for Thurgood Marshall.

And we'll get another Thomas.

[Fire1]

5. No, he doesn't "better" do anything. He will indeed nominate

who HE wants, so all this hand wringing and discussion about it is futile. But if one doesn't have anything better to do.....:shrug:

[usregimechange]

6. I trust him on this, I was more being critical of all the speculation

and those who would have him make the decision based on what would produce the smoothest confirmation.

[Toasterlad]

15. Yeah, Cause His Nomination Won't Effect Whether People Will Vote From Him Again.

:eyes:

[Fire1]

18. I seriously doubt if that will have any effect on his decision. n/t

[Toasterlad]

19. I'm Sure You're Right.

I'm not saying that Obama gives a shit about what his base thinks. Quite the contrary. I'm simply saying that if he doesn't appoint a progressive, it will cost him.

[Fire1]

20. Cost him what? The price can't be any higher than what he's

already paid and for that reason, I'm confident he'll choose someone effective, moreso than 'popular.'

[msongs]

7. repubs all over the radio this AM telling obama he better cave in again lol nt

[whistler162]

8. President Obama will nominate who he nominates....

the nomination will outrage some on the right it will outrage some on the left and outrage some moderate.

So it will likely be a good choice!

[Golden Raisin]

11. President Obama could nominate

someone with the combined attributes and brain-power of Socrates, Einstein, Jesus, King Solomon, Mozart and Shakespeare. Republicans will obstruct ANY candidate he puts forth. That is what they do. They stand united and obstruct, deny, negate. And the f-ing media is already salivating at the ratings boosts and endless opportunities to have their "pundits" spew forth more of their propaganda to stir up the haters (TeaParty types) they will get all summer long or whenever this process gets started in earnest. When asked about the nomination process and Obama's choice, every Republican will be tossed a softball and Democrats will be ignored, mocked and shouted down. Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes already have boners. The Republicans shamefacedly put forth bonafide, unmistakeable conservatives like Alito and Roberts, assuring the Committees and the American people that these jurists would be impartial. My ass! Obama should do the same and nominate a bigtime liberal. If Ronald Reagan were still alive and nominated by Obama, Republicans today would vote him down just because Obama nominated him.

[usregimechange]

14. Very true

[stray cat]

13. Agree with you completely - the left or right will never be happy with a choice anyway

[Toasterlad]

16. Time For an Openly Gay Justice.

Let's see Mr. Fierce Advocate find the balls to do that.

[tigereye]

17. that's funny, that's what my husband just said!

It's sad that there is always a fight about the SCOTUS nominees.

[Hubert Flottz]

21. Right, not upsetting Mitch and St. Orin and Huckelberry Sessions

is far more important than doing what is best for our country, for years to come...

I didn't think the GOP won very big in 2008.