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Source: Obama's pick wasn't pegged to Scalia - looking for someone to win over Justice Kennedy

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jefferson_dem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-27-09 05:33 PM
Original message
Source: Obama's pick wasn't pegged to Scalia - looking for someone to win over Justice Kennedy
Source: Obama's pick wasn't pegged to Scalia

From CNN Senior Political Analyst Gloria Borger

A source tells CNN that President Obama was looking for a nominee with the ability to win over Justice Anthony Kennedy.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Contrary to conventional wisdom, President Obama was not looking for someone to balance the more flamboyant conservative firepower of Justice Antonin Scalia, according to one senior administration official involved in the process of picking, vetting and promoting the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor.

He was looking for someone with the ability to win over Justice Anthony Kennedy, the crucial swing vote.

" was very struck, when he met with her, about how thoughtful she was as a judge," says the source. "He believed she had a precise approach to cases that would be effective in winning over Kennedy when possible."

The president considered Sotomayor's opinions to be "rigorous, precise, not overly flamboyant." Reports have called her more workmanlike than visionary – a precision that impressed Obama, who is looking to turn narrow decisions his way.

As for getting Sotomayor past the Senate: A decision has been made not to go the route of picking an outside lobbyist, as Republicans often do, to play "sherpa" for the nominee. The model instead is the way the late Sen. Pat Moynihan helped shepherd Ruth Bader Ginsburg's nomination through the Senate.

This time, it's another New York senator, Chuck Schumer, who will be Sotomayor's point man. Cynthia Hogan will lead the White House legal team on this effort, making courtesy calls next week. She will joined by Susan Davies and Ron Klain.

How will Sotomayor do at the hearings? This source points out that she's "got the most experience as a judge than anyone who's been nominated for the court in 70 years." Republicans, he said, told the president to nominate someone with judicial experience, and that is what Obama did. "She is very effective face to face, and has been on the bench for 17 years," he says. "She knows how to deal with public advocates."

<SNIP>

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/27/source-obamas-pick-wasnt-pegged-to-scalia/
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frazzled Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-27-09 05:54 PM
Response to Original message
1. That is really, really wise
After all, no liberal is ever going to convince Scalia of anything ... and the composition remains the same. A temperate jurist who can convince Kennedy: now that is a game changer. Brilliant.
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blueclown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-27-09 05:56 PM
Response to Original message
2. Yep. Kennedy is the real key here.
If Justice Sotomayor is somebody who can build relationships with other justices at the Supreme Court, she will influence the court over the next few years much more than a pure liberal ideologue would.
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tekisui Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-27-09 05:57 PM
Response to Original message
3. Beautiful!
Kennedy is the only one of the 5 right leaning that is worth speaking to. He was with the Liberals on Romer v. Evans. He is the current swing vote.

That is a wonderful strategy!
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usregimechange Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-27-09 05:59 PM
Response to Original message
4. Reasonable but if he moves the court to the right I will not be happy
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Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-27-09 06:05 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. No one would happy on
this board except for trolls & lurkers.

Not even something I worry about.
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Thrill Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-27-09 08:11 PM
Response to Reply #4
10. Obama isn't going to be moving any court to the right
Where do people get this? He has a strong pro choice record.
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Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-27-09 06:06 PM
Response to Original message
6. President Obama always
has a plan whether or not some people get it.
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FKA MNChimpH8R Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-27-09 06:10 PM
Response to Original message
7. This has the strong feel of truthiness
and it wouldn't surprise me a bit of this was Obama's intention.
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SpartanDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-27-09 07:30 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. Yup a brilliant move
if true
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Spazito Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-27-09 07:47 PM
Response to Original message
9. Makes perfect sense!
For all the talking heads' certainty Scalia was the focus, it seems, as usual they were dead WRONG. Damn, I love it! Gee, seems like the "expert" Turley was talking out of his ass as well, gosh, quelle surprise!

:rofl:
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mopinko Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-27-09 08:18 PM
Response to Original message
11. hmmm. sounds like that 3D star trek chess thing at work.
ya think?
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pnorman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-28-09 04:05 AM
Response to Reply #11
12. Shhhhh!
There are some critters here on DU, who are "getting sick and tired of hearing about Chessmaster Obama". (But not me, although I don't even play the fucking game!)

pnorman
PS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EADUQWKoVek
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mopinko Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-28-09 09:19 AM
Response to Reply #12
13. do you suppose they sing that to all wandering irishmen that come in there?
saving up for a little heritage trip myself, gonna get my dual citizenship. would they sing for me, then, y'sposse?

and yeah, i made that remark for the ones that are a little tired of that explanation.
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mopinko Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-28-09 09:19 AM
Response to Reply #12
14. oops
Edited on Thu May-28-09 10:11 AM by mopinko
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