A visual reminder of why 2012 is so important:

[RedSpartan]

[Skink]

1. I want Obama to be appointed.

[Lindsey]

2. Great post. Sometimes folks forget how truly important the

Supreme Court Justices are.

[Pab Sungenis]

3. It would not be unprecedented.

William Howard Taft was named Chief Justice eight years after he left the White House.

Obama will be 56 in 2017, which is a reasonable age for a Supreme Court Justice. If we get a Democratic President elected in 2016, Obama would be a natural choice for the Court...if he wants it.

[verges]

12. And the compositin of the Senate. nt

[Lucky Luciano]

21. Not sure how easily he can give 1 hour speeches at $100,000 a pop if he is a justice. Just saying..

[dragonlady]

4. He should join Justice Feingold on the bench n/t

[Tarheel_Dem]

10. I'm sure the last thing this energetic president would want is to be tied down

to a seat on this court. I'm almost certain he'll be doing something globally, perhaps an ambassadorship. But something that allows him the freedom to travel the world.

[toddwv]

11. That would make some heads explode.

Excellent idea for the most part.

[renaissanceguy]

5. Great post.

Sometimes we forget how important the SCOTUS is... it has a huge impact on the next couple decades and has enormous, lasting power. Imagine what that picture would've looked like under a McCain/Palin administration... I disagree with Obama on his tactics and some of his policies, but I am thankful that he is the one appointing justices to our courts.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/7821535

[RedSpartan]

6. Agreed.

We're still feeling the effects of Reagan and Bush 41 loading up the federal courts with their young appointees for 12 straight years -- shoring up the minor leagues, as it were. A smart strategy for them, espoused by the Federalist Society (which Scalia, among others, helped found). A win in 2012 will mean that for at least 16 out of the last 24 years we'd have a Democratic President filling vacancies to the courts, which will offset that in a big way and have a huge imact for many years to come. Perhaps nothing affects us long term as this, in my opinion.

[veganlush]

7. Exactly. this is the most important point.

We cannot afford for the court to tilt more to the right. We need Obama in 2012, and we'd better start thinking about who we're gonna have in 2016....

[kickysnana]

8. The Dems could have prevented this and they did not. n/t

[Ikonoklast]

23. That is a sad fact.

The Democrats need to play hardball, and by that I mean throwing at their opponents chin, when it comes to SC appointments, and they let the most radical activist court ever to be formed right under their noses.

If I was Harry Reid I would have shot down every candidate Bush sent up the Hill, until one that wasn't a wholly-owned creature of the corporate world got nominated.


It's what the Republicans do, every damn time, and the Democrats want to make nice instead.

[FailureToCommunicate]

9. Justice Ginsberg wasn't looking so well at Harvard yesterday...

[leftynyc]

13. Why I ALWAYS vote Democratic

for President. Most important legacy as far as I'm concerned. Everything else can get undone.

[Pirate Smile]

16. It is always disheartening to hear or read left-leaning political junkie types not recognize that

point.

When they start chattering about how there is no difference between Obama and Bush or a potential Republican President OR that they don't care about the potential damage and weakening of an incumbent President by promoting a primary challenge which would greatly increase the chance of the Presidency flipping to the other party. It matters ... A.LOT.

[Wait Wut]

14. HA!!

Who pissed in Thomas' Cheerios? Looks like he wants to strangle the photographer!

[HughBeaumont]

15. Those four front row fucks that Ginsberg seems removed from.

Three of them are to thank for the shitmess we're in, along with disgraces Rehnquist and O'Connor.

Vafanculo, Tony Bologna!

[FailureToCommunicate]

17. And this favorite one...

Citizens United

[davidpdx]

18. I keep hoping Scalia and Thomas will drop dead any day now

[rury]

22. LOL and +1!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :applause:

[blueclown]

19. Goodwin Liu vs. Antoninn Scalia

You decide..

[oberliner]

20. Wow, Thomas looks really pissed!

Nice to see a bit more gender balance than in years past.

[RedSpartan]

24. Self K&R

For those who need reminding.

[RedSpartan]

25. Self-kick

because its importance cannot be understated.