White House Was Ready for Stevens

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/04/09/white_house_was_ready_for_stevens.html


White House Was Ready for Stevens


President Obama's lawyers "had a short list of potential replacements for Justice John Paul Stevens ready long before the Supreme Court Justice officially announced his retirement today," ABC News reports.

A decision on who will replace Stevens will be made "in the coming weeks."

Top candidates: Solicitor General Elena Kagan, Judge Diane Wood and Judge Merrick Garland.

"The crucial calculation that Obama will have to make is what kind of political capital he wants to spend on potentially contentious nomination hearings. Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee have signaled that a candidate with a paper trail on divisive social issues could create a firestorm."

Hopefully, Obama will "welcome that fight".

like Cass Sunstein.


From HUFFPO: Sunstein, a former law professor at Harvard, last year joined the Obama administration as the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within the Office of Management and Budget. Widely revered in academic circles, he is another serious contender for a spot on the Court.

"Sunstein is probably the most creative and influential legal thinker of the last 20 years," says Chicago Law School Professor Geoff Stone. "He's the most cited law professor in the United States, has been a prolific writer and scholar, has a capacious intellect and would bring to bear an extraordinary knowledge of administrative and constitutional law that would enrich the Court in profound ways."

In the context of a Senate confirmation hearing, however, Sunstein's work -- honest and of staggering scope -- could be easily caricatured.

"He's written freely and speculatively, and so there's no doubt that, if taken out of context, could be seen as out of the mainstream," Stone acknowledges. "But that would be true of any first-rate academic."

But, again, I don't know how they stack up, side by side, exceptthat their are bothfrom academia. My impression (arguably not a scientifically based one!) is that he is far more provocative in his progressivism than she...

We absolutely must have another 2 women on the SC, at least. It makes a difference. Women are slightly half of the population and should be equally represented on the Court...

I'm assuming she'll step down while Obama is in office- maybe towards the end of this term, unfortunately.

rooting for her, fyi, though not much makes him happy :hide::

http://www.salon.com/news/the_supreme_court/index.html?story=/opinion/greenwald/2010/04/09/stevens

She was the second choice if Sotomayor said no the first time around and I think first dibs are hers.

regardless of WHO Obama nominates. They showed their hand long ago - if Obama wants it, their job is to say "Hell no!"

So, he should nominate who he wants, and piss on the the Poopy-Pants Party.

It'll be a fight regardless.

pick the most liberal and best qualified.

all over the city about what a wimp he is...can't take getting scolded on the 5-4 Decision to let corporations donate to political campaigns.

And, clarence thomas' wife, virginia, starting up a stupid teabagger.