I know it won't happen but I kinda wish that Obama would nominate Olympia Snowe for Supreme Court

[WI_DEM]

She is a woman and would probably vote pretty similarly to how Souter has voted and she is from New England, the same region as Souter. I don't think the GOP would even attempt to fillibuster her. But more significantly, it would take her out of the senate and allow Democratic Governor Baldacci to appoint a Democrat to her seat. We would then have 60 votes and when Franken comes in it would be 61.

Furthermore Obama is bound to get at least two more chances on appointments to the court in his term. By appointing a Republican slightly left of center moderate the first time he would be able to say on the next appointment that he appointed a republican the first time and now with his next appointment he could appoint a liberal democrat.

[MarianJack]

1. As a Mainer I say...

...that I like your thinking.

I don't think it'll happen though.

PEACE!

[MarianJack]

2. OOOPS, Self-deleted dupe!

A big :spank: to me!

[aquart]

3. Over my dead and bleeding corpse.

No way in fucking HELL will I agree to appointing a lily-livered fence-straddling Republican.

[WI_DEM]

4. Oh I don't know, Souter is a republican so is Stevens and they are pretty liberal and so for

that matter were some of the greats on the court: Earl Warren, Lewis Powell (the author of Roe v Wade) and William Brennan. All great liberals on the court. In fact, some democratic selections turned out to be closet conservatives such as JFK's selection of his old friend Byron White.

[TahitiNut]

6. Yeah... "Whizzer" White (my fraternity brother) was really a bit of a disappointment.

Eisenhower's appointments were surprisingly better than expected - especially Earl Warren.

[mr_liberal]

5. I don't agree with that.

His next appointment could be harder depending on how the 2010 elections go. Its something you cant be certain of; he could have less Dems in the senate. He has 60 NOW. This is the best time to appoint a liberal. And its his first pick, republicans will be more likely to let him basically have who he wants, especially since it'll be a liberal for a liberal.

I doubt he'll have two more nominations. Ginsburg will probably retire before the end of his first term, but I doubt Stevens will.

I like Snowe, but I am uncertain about her views on alot of issues. She is a moderate republican which would make her ... possibly undependable on some issues. She's also "old". Not real old, but she would be older than Bush's two picks. Possibly older than Thomas. Thats the mistake Clinton made in choosing Ginsburg (who I like alot), she's already thinking about retiring. We need someone young; someone that will outlast Alito and Roberts.

Its also important to choose someone that can impact the direction of the court by swaying other members; I really doubt Olympia Snowe could do that.

A senate seat in Maine really is not close to as important as all that.

[WI_DEM]

7. True, but you see I don't necessarily think that it has to be a dem to turn out to be a liberal

justice. I think that Snowe would be surprisingly liberal on the court maybe even more so than Souter. And in the meanwhile we would also add a senate seat. You are correct we could lose a couple in '10, but given the seats up in '10 it seems that the GOP will have a harder time defending there seats than the Dems.

BTW, welcome to DU!

[MiniMe]

8. He has 59 until Franken gets seated

The repubs would probably really fight the obvious powerplay.

[WhiteTara]

9. so he should give it to a republican?

who are you? How about Sheila Jackson Lee. She is Supreme Court material.

[WI_DEM]

10. Who am I?

What party do you think some of the great liberals of the court like Holmes, Cardozza, Warren, Brennan, Powell, Stevens and even Souter belonged to? and it isn't the democratic party.

[Wwagsthedog]

11. So now he should pick Ron Paul? nt

[sampsonblk]

12. What are you thinking, friend?

He can appoint a liberal democrat while he's got the chance. If he gets another chance, he can appoint another one.

I like Olympia Snowe. A lot. But why on earth would Obama need to say he appointed a Republican the first time around? Did they do that when the roles were reversed? And who, in this moment in history, wants more Republicans anywhere near the government?

The GOP does not merit what you are suggesting. Their party is on life support because the sucked when they were in power. The last thing the president needs to do is legitimize the GOP by involving them in this decision in any way.

[Mind_your_head]

13. Does the president/Obama HAVE to nominate someone who is all

"mainstream"/connected/probably corrupted/compromised somehow? Or can the nominee be, like, the most honest, fair, knowledgable person from, say, "Mayberry" that no one has ever heard of thus far?

As long as the nominee is *honest & good & fair*.....that works for me....mebbe it's even "better" than some other SUPPOSEDLY 'top tier' choices.

Peace,
M_Y_H