Another Name on President Obama’s Supreme Court Short List

Realistically, even if the president wants bipartisanship, you can expect that any choice would be held up for a few months, if not outright filibustered by republicans, purely on a party politics basis.
With the 41 Republicans in the Senate they could hold up any candidate they wanted to, but more than likely they wouldo only hold up the choice if he/she is far left of Stevens.
This is mostly academic though. The choice must be moderate enough to suit Scott Brown, John McCain, Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins, which won’t be too difficult.
Sotomayor was approved with a 68/31 margin. I would think that if Obama doesn’t want a fight he should look for a “Sotomayor-ish” choice.

Finally an African American

leah ward sears JAN

Let’s get the Obama facts straight. We don’t know how he got into Columbia or Harvard law as he refuses to release his transcripts. We do know that he was never on the Columbia Honor Roll so he did not graduate with a GPA higher than 3.3 – hardly good enough for most folks to get into any Ivy Law School. Also – genius – editor and chief of Harvard Law Review is an election – not by merit. In short, a popularity contest. Interesting that for the many years in private practice he was never promoted up the firm to partner. Also interesting he has never released his law school paper or ever had anything law related published. As for being an author- there seems to be serious doubt that he authored those books as he has demonstrated off the teleprompter that his speaking and thinking skills are suspect. The fact is that he has been promoted along because of something other than talent and intelligence. Any ideas? Think hard moron.

Ari Hinkelberger…Obama..top of his class? The last I heard Obama’s transcripts were still being held “top secret.”

When are we going to be just “Americans”?
Enough with the mindless hyphenated political correctness already.
If she’s the best person for the job, so be it. I don’t give a martians green arse if she’s a one eye, one horned, flying purple people eater.
Anyway, she can’t be all bad if Zell Miller picked her.

I don’t care who she is, it’s way to far-left of mainstream American…

The BEST nominee – Chuck. Norris.

Ellen O’Day, no one was created by God to be useless.Be carfeul of what you call with your mouth, whatever you call returns back as good or bad.Remember therefore “there is wideness in God’s mercy.” Repent.

Walt:
“Was [affirmative action] the same thing that made him editor and chief of the Harvard Law Review?”
There is no position of “editor and chief” of the Harvard Law Review, it’s a law journal, not a country. And, for your information, the editor of the Harvard law review is selected by a vote of the members. It’s less an academic achievement and more of a popularity contest.
You also wrote “Same thing that allowed Obama to graduate at the top of his class?” Barack Obama DID NOT GRADUATE TOP of his class. That’s just a fact.

Yeah, what happened to that “post-racial” America you kept yakkin’ about, Mr. president?…another broken campaign promise? Hyphenated Americans and this president need to man up, and stop hiding behind ethnicity as a means of political expediency.

If President Obama nominated Chuck Norris this arguing would cease.

As as aside on Obama’s law degree from Harvard (mentioned above), I have actually met 2 folks (one male, one female–both long-time Democrats) who say they were at Harvard Law the same time Obama was. The date on their law degrees support their claims. As for Obama’s “academic performance,” they both agreed that, based on what they saw and heard from him in classes, they could never vote for him for ANY responsible office. Both actually declined to vote for either candidate in the 2008 presidential election. I would suggest that stories like this will likely begin to surface.

I think we need a handicapped black, gay, atheist, liberal, muslim justice

I vote for Mark Levin for the supreme court. I also vote for a hyphenated Obama — “ex-usurper”

I’m not saying that the article one has to write to make law review is published. My artile to make law review was not published. However, to make law review, a law student must be in the top tier of his class (at my school it was top 25% just to apply), and then write an article worthy of being a member of law review. That’s all I’m saying.

The Majority of American citizens are WASP and soon they will not be represented by the Supreme Court if the court keeps getting stacked. Is that what you call Democracy? Sounds to me like the Majority will be dictated and ruled by a Minority

Mike: Finally an African American?
What is Clarence Thomas? Oh, because he is conservative, he doesn’t count? Got to be a liberal to be truly a black person?
Thurgood Marshall?

The WSJ mentioned Sears last week in its list. Why is ABC so late?

I read the article about Ms. Sears being upset about someone mistaking her for being for being a waitress. I have a better one than that. Many years ago in Washington someone mistook a friend of mine for a waiter. He was in full “mess” dress and was an Admiral. He has told that story many times with laughter.

The Majority of American citizens are WASP and soon they will not be represented by the Supreme Court if the court keeps getting stacked. Is that what you call Democracy? Sounds to me like the Majority will be dictated and ruled by a Minority
Dr Barry | Apr 12, 2010 9:37:59 AM
According to the 2000 census, 47.9% of America is White. Yet 78% of the court is White (and it was 89% white at the end of the last Republican administration). I suppose to a WASP conservative, that is just not fair to the oppressed 40% WASP Majority (of the 47.9% who state white on the 2000 census, many of them are not ASP’s).

Obama wants this country to shift to the far left, and that’s all he’s focused on.
Mike Garcia | Apr 12, 2010 9:47:25 AM
Can you provide any verifiable supporting evidence for that assertion? I would argue that is a centrist who has actually quite disappointed the left fringe. A few verifiable FACTS supporting my contention are:
Obama did not nationalize the banks as many called for, but continued the Bush administration’s TARP program to keep them private.
Obama did not push for a public option in healthcare, even though such an option would have had a good chance if Democrats had rammed it through the reconciliation process quickly (in the first few months, how Bush pushed through his first surplus-busting trickle down tax cuts).
Obama has cut taxes, not raised them. It’s not coincidence that this year’s tax refund numbers are setting records.
Obama’s Race to the Top education program has done more to promote charter schools and merit based teacher evaluation than any program seen in a century (and he’s taking heavy fire from the teacher unions because of it).

I am quite familiar with Justice Sears and would be quite comfortable with her selection, she would in all likelihood be far more palatable than many other choices to liberals and conservatives alike.

Christ, the stupidity around here is astonishing. Being chosen President of the Harvard Law review is somewhat of a popularity contest, in so far as the members of the previous executive board decide who the next President of the review will be. Getting on the law review in the first place is most certainly not a popularity contest. You are ONLY considered if you have really high grades. Even if you try to write yourself on you need good grades.
He would have to have first gotten in to the law review for his second year and then he became President of it the next. It’s not student body president; it’s not homecoming king. The student body of Harvard did not elect Obama and the administration had nothing to do with it. He first earned a spot on the law reivew and then he was chosen President of it. Given that he graduated manga cum laude (top 10%) it isn’t surprising that he made the law review.
Second, it isn’t significant that he wasn’t published. Every year you have several Student Note Candidates and only a few of them get published. The Editor in Chief of my law reivew didn’t get published, neither did the second in command for that matter. I got published but I can honestly tell you that those two gentlemen were much smarter than I am. I just happened to write a note that people liked; not that much of an accomplishment to be totally honest.
Finally, Dreams of My Father was published in 1995. It was set to publish BEFORE Obama met Ayers through the Annenberg Challenge, later in 1995. Only very silly and profoundly stupid people make the charge that Obama’s book was ghostwritten by Ayers. First of all there is absolutely no proof that the book was ghostwritten at all. Second of all writing styles are like fingerprints. Ayers writing style is nothing like Dreams from My Father or Tenacity of Hope. There is no reason to even be suspicious. I have no idea if he had a ghostwriter or not. The style of the book mirrors the style of much of his speeches so if they are ghostwritten he has kept that writer around. But one thing I can state with certainty is that Bill Ayers did NOT write either of Obama’s books. That is a ridiculously stupid argument that is not only unsupported but it contradicts all available evidence.

it was because they needed someone of his race to be in the top 10% to ensure they were fair anyhow so his ranking is meaningless to me.
jabusse | Apr 12, 2010 9:51:51 AM
Good to know – solely because Obama’s skin is dark you will dismiss any achievement he ever has and assume he is stupid and incompetent.

Jeff, he’s not going to nominate Sears. I do love the conservatives who are tripping over themselves to lambast her as being on the short list because of her race. The irony is she would be the best they could ever hope for. Sears is far too conservative, but you better believe that there will be a few conservative jurists on the list just to make it seem like they considered it. A liberal Justice will be nominated to replace Stevens, you can count on that.

Anyone ever heard of a ghost writer?

Arguing about Mr. Obama’s college career is pointless. There are no public records, transcripts or any other documentation to examine.

There are no public records, transcripts or any other documentation to examine.
Mason | Apr 12, 2010 10:10:26 AM
His Magna cum Laude is part of his degree title and the requirements to achieve that (be in the top 89-99% of the class) are likewise public. There is no question he was NOT #1 in his class. There is also no question that he was in the top 11% of his class.

@moj 3. Let me guess, if we disagree with Obama, we are racist, homophobe bigots. Liberals need to get past their simple minded responses to everything.
mack9 | Apr 12, 2010 10:11:35 AM
Perhaps a recap is in order:
“The Majority of American citizens are WASP and soon they will not be represented by the Supreme Court if the court keeps getting stacked.
Dr Barry | Apr 12, 2010 9:37:59 AM”
“…it [Obama's Magna cum Laude honors] was because they needed someone of his race to be in the top 10% to ensure they were fair anyhow so his ranking is meaningless to me.
jabusse | Apr 12, 2010 9:51:51 AM”
“Another Obama affirmative action appointment.
IUT | Apr 12, 2010 9:20:02 AM”
“First, its SodaCan mayor, your hispanic female social activist appointee, and now it will be a African American female social activist appointee.
Less1leg | Apr 12, 2010 9:17:43 AM”
“we are talking here about affirmative action – the same thing that got useless Obama to Harvard and the presidency.
Ellen O’Day | Apr 12, 2010 9:01:41 AM”

Anybody who actually thinks that the American Constitution Society is left leaning really needs to revisit the definition of “left.” ACS is a group of liberals, not leftists at all. This is a group lead by former Attorney General Janet Reno, for crying out loud.

And to the idiot who says that you can write onto law review and still need good grades. There are two ways to get onto law review. You either write on OR grade on. If you DON’T have the grades, then you write on.

Sonia Sotomayor said she is a “Wise Negrita”.

This may be a bit off topic, but one of the biggest problems with affirmative action and policies like it is that it casts a “shadow of doubt” over a minority who may have rightly earned something. One will never be 100% certain that the person wasn’t selected, at least in part, because of their race.
It just breeds contempt.
The bosses son may have worked his way up from the mailroom, but the day that he is selected for promotion everyone will say that it was because he was the bosses son.

I’m just surprised a Democrat is appointing a minority to a high post.

Justice Sears is bright, articulate, and even when I disagreed with her rulings (not infrequently) I was pleased that she did not equivocate.
She is a believer in (among other things) lawyers writing in English rather than lawyerese. That might give the securities industry, the insurance industry, and the IRS and its minions in the Congress dispepsia.
She is also a believer that grownups ought to act like grownups. Take note, Congress and bureaucrats.
She may fit all of 44′s categories of quota for the High Court, but that ought not disqualify her any more than it ought to qualify her.
She would not be one of Senator Hruska’s “mediocre” jurists. [And if you don't know what that means, you can look it up.]

I think the current conservative Catholics on the Court are representing WASPs fairly well. Do you really have to be exactly the same ethnically, religously, etc. to represent others?
I think our whole system is based on the idea that you don’t.
If this woman is more conservative than Stevens it is an improvement. If she is friends with Thomas maybe he can bring her to the conservative side of the arguments… I hope not the other way… But Clarence is his own man, I don’t think he follows anyone.
Hillary is being thrown out this morning.
Now there is an interesting thought.
OH yeah she is a WASP. Sort of.

If she and Justice Thomas are close friends, she can’t be that bad of a choice. We do not want Napolitano in there.
Let’s just hope Soto doesn’t ask others, “How do you feel about this nomination?”

wow………look at the liberal’s racism

Oh God NOT AGAIN!!
Appointing someone BECAUSE of their race is TOTALLY RACIST.
ERIC HOLDER wasn’t the BEST person for Attorney General, he was just the BLACKEST.
Look, Obama just appoint the BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB, not the BLACKEST person for the job.
We already chose a PRESIDENT simply on blackness, with hilarious results.

Shoe: you are missing the point completely. The Supreme Court reviews laws to see if they are within the Constitution….the problem the left has is they look at the Constitution and read what they wish it said instead of what it actually says.

This was expected. While I didn’t know how was likely, I did expect it would be a black woman. Obama had to pick a black woman so that he could generate some fodder for the moronic media. It was a given that whoever he picked would be attacked by the republicans, and if he had picked a white male there would be no way of saying the republicans were bigots or racists… but put a black woman in there and you can ignore the fact that the republicans don’t like the candidates views and just say they are racist bigots.

Sears is a fair choice. She was appointed by Zell Miller, and she doesn’t wear her assigned identity on her sleeve. She is her own person, and would probably fall idealogically near O’Connor or Kennedy.
Two thumbs up.

Calling your opponent racist every time they disagree with you may be change, but it sure as heck isn’t hope. America is tired of the race bating. The Party of hope has become the Party of “your a racist”. Go work on a new logo and a new saying for 2012. Try not to refer to race!

Hard to believe a friend of Clarence Thomas would be nominated by this president, regardless of her political beliefs.

Affirmative action has never earned anyone a law degree. Considering the fact that the justice she is replacing is a liberal, it is fitting that she be one.

Wake up America!comments on this article seem to be racially charged. I think some “folks” here are up to a rude awakening when the Census results come out. While you guys are busy taking vacations, “the other guys” are busy multiplying, you will wake up as minorities. So stop looking at everything on color lines and focus on merit! you are not going to be calling shots for a long time–this is a new generation!

How a Democrat President nominating a white guy for a change? I mean if the Dems are all about quotas then they should look at Jews, Asian Americans and let’s not forget Native Amercians or Indians as they used to be called. Race doesn’t mean anything…my eye! Racial politics are demeaning and condescending!

“Former Dem” or so you say. Point where it says in the constitution that the first amendment extends to corporations allowing them to spend unlimited money in elections? How about where it says that equal pay laws are against the constitution? Can you? You see Former Dem, the right wingers on the court are the most activist we have ever had.

blacks are only 13% of the population. that would put two blacks on a board of 12 which would not reflective of our society. this is reverse racism.

I, for one, am impressed by the president’s governance to date–far from being hilarious, it has struck me as even-keeled, gracious, and effective. I am still amazed that he was able to resurrect health care reform from nearly certain failure. I appreciate what the president has accomplished with Russia and the subtle approach the administration has taken towards dealing with China. Count me as not enraged and, yes, very hopeful. I have great confidence that President Obama will nominate someone of competence and wisdom for the high court. Could that someone be Black or Asian or female? Perhaps. What they will definitely be, though, is highly accomplished, even distinguished in their field.

I bet if Stevens was up for nomination today, people would bash him as they are trying to bash the certain candidates now. The point of SC nominees is that if the person is qualified, then they should go on to serve…that’s one of the biggest privileges that a president actually hold. Really there should be nothing that should stop his appointment unless it’s a choice like Harriet Myers. Stevens was a good choice b/c he was qualified and (in my opinion) if the person meets the criteria then appoint them. If people don’t want Obama to appoint certain judges, then they should’ve worked harder to not get him elected.

Affirmative action president appoints affirmative action judge.
Shocker!!

The White House and its dem’s are always screaming “racial” and we all see they scream raciest because they know all about it! No shock hear!

it will be a black woman. No racism here. I think it’ll be great. But it is expected and kind of shallow. Its like he is picking his friends and the popular kids on a basketball court in 6th grade. I mean seriously, do we really think Hillary Clinton should be our Sec of Defense? Her military background makes her perfect for… oh, wait, she was the husband of a president, yeah, okay, whatever. See? Its just “you scratch my back, I will scratch yours” in DC now, and really always has been. So why appoint a judge who will follow the constitution to the letter when you can use this opportunity to appoint someone who would sit at the lunch table with you in high school? Hey! Look! I am appointing a black woman! Talk about racism. Now if she is fully qualified, bring her on, but something about this administration tells me he isn’t going to appoint a white male. He will appoint someone because of their color… which was NOT Martin Luther King Jrs dream. Unfortunately, so many on the left can’t see past people’s color.

As to poopulation % are there Jews on the supreme court

Since liberals oppose the US Constitution and the ideology of americanism, they are not (or should not be) qualified to sit on the SCOTUS.

As a conservative who has been appalled by Obama’s appointments to date, I would say: 1) I am shocked by how racist the comments on this article are. These offensive bigots do not represent mainstream conservatives. 2) I have practiced law for many years in Georgia, and even though I am a conservative and a defense attorney, I have always respected Judge Sears and found her to be a fair and intelligent woman. She does have a pro-plaintiff/anti-tort reform bent, but we could do much, much worse.

blacks are only 13% of the population. that would put two blacks on a board of 12 which would not reflective of our society. this is reverse racism.
fred | Apr 12, 2010 11:14:11 AM
About 10% of Obama’s shortlist is black – exactly what you’d expect if applicants were being chosen from a population that is 10% black based on ability not skin tone. When did the right wing suddenly become such zealous advocates of a strict skin-color based quota system for Justices?
And there are 9 justices on the supreme court, not 12.

@GetReal; not only has SCOTUS taken several opportunities to rule that corporations, you strongly benefit from that because otherwise they would escape the law. Also, equal pay laws are banned by the Constitution. There is a clause called the Contract Clause that states in no uncertain terms that Congress cannot make a law interfering with the freedom to contract. Arguably, and for several years it was the case, minimum wage laws are unconstitutional.

hey plainoldamerican, u need a remedial math course — 2 of 12 is 16% — almost exactly proportional to the racial ratio.

@mmiller “racial charged” how dare you!!? We live in “post racial” America! Didnt you listen to The One’s campaign rhetoric? There is no more racism, he said so. He told us that he would “heal” the wounds.
Give us a break. Stop trying to shut people down with the charge of racism! Who is this really mmiller; Jesse? Al? Rev Wright? is that you?

How many years was the Supreme court completely male and completely white?
So to say that having 2 African Americans on the Supreme Courtwould NOW not be reflective of our society is pretty stupid.

Get Real – you really should read the court cases you comment on rather than just listening to Bill Maher or John Stewart. Example: The equal pay case wasn’t about whether or not she SHOULD have gotten back pay, it was about whether the law ALLOWED her to claim it. The conservative justices stuck to interpretation of the LAW and the liberals tried to change it. They shouldn’t have the option to change laws. The fact that she lost her case is on Congress for writing a bad law.

Maybe someone needs to remind Obama that the Blacks make up about 12% of the population, I mean since he is so dead set on having everything fair and equal.

Filibuster till the Nov. elections. Furthermore this should be a GOP pick being this is Steven’s replacement. This nut belongs to a left-leaning American Constitution Society and that makes her DOA
We’re in control now. The Tea party (mainstream Americans)from here on will decide who or who doesn’t get on the court.
We’ve had enough of these radical Obama, Barry, et al whatever name he goes by today anti Americans dictating policy and it stops NOW and you’ll lime it!
Do I make myself clear?
Chevy

I’m from Ga. and She is a liberal through and through.. This must have been Zell before he saw the light…..

This would be great pick for America, people of color, woman and the public in general. Throughout our 200+ year history, we continue to strive to the ideals of the constitution. “Never”, has this American experiment been closer to those ideals. Remember, taken “literally” the US Constitution & most state Constituitions, in the beginning into the 1900′s only applied to a specific race, legislative intent was clear, “All men & women were not created equal, all men and women didn’t have inalienable rights under God to the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This nominee is a past Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Ct… she is more than qualified.

Jennifer says Sears has a pro-plaintiff/anti-tort reform bent. Sorry, Jennifer, but we do not need a Justice on the SC who exhibits those traits. We need Justices who are pro constitution and who will not change law which she seems in favor of. Obama needs to go!

With the current balance on the court, lifetime appointments (which needs to be changed) and knowing that whoever Obama nominates will have an open ended view of the Constitution…the future of Moderate to Conservative rule of law with the Constitution as our foundation…is in serious peril.
Whoever there may be in Congress who value what our Founding Fathers established for us…better have the guts to protest, filabuster and Vote NO.

@jhw539
Obama is a CENTRIST?!?!!
Maybe in the former Soviet union he would have been a centrist, but the entire world has rejected that vapid and destructive ideology — well, except for spoiled liberals in America who’ve never had to live under that regime.

unreal, you need a remedial supreme court course. There are nine justices not 12.

Obama is a CENTRIST?!?!!
Maybe in the former Soviet union he would have been a centrist, but the entire world has rejected that vapid and destructive ideology –
TJ | Apr 12, 2010 11:55:07 AM
Can you provide any verifiable supporting evidence for your assertion beyond strident capitalization? I argue that Obama is a centrist who has actually quite disappointed the left fringe. A few verifiable FACTS supporting my contention are:
Obama did not nationalize the banks as many called for, but continued the Bush administration’s TARP program to keep them private.
Obama did not push for a public option in healthcare, even though such an option would have had a good chance if Democrats had rammed it through the reconciliation process quickly (in the first few months, how Bush pushed through his first surplus-busting trickle down tax cuts). The left wing was actually quite unhappy that Obama never made any real push for a public option.
Obama has cut taxes, not raised them. It’s not coincidence that this year’s tax refund numbers are setting records.
Obama’s Race to the Top education program has done more to promote charter schools and merit based teacher evaluation than any program seen in a century (and he’s taking heavy fire from the teacher unions because of it).

@Dave
“Maybe in the former Soviet union he would have been a centrist, but the entire world has rejected that vapid and destructive ideology — well, except for spoiled liberals in America who’ve never had to live under that regime.”
Ha! In pretty much every significant way, America is less socialistic than every other developed country in the world. Our policies on things like health care and capital punishment are closer to those of third-world banana republics than industrialized democracies. It’s amazing how little Obama’s detractors seem to know about the actual world.

Skip said, “Tough Doc. We’re not going to let people like you define what “americanism” is. And with the usual right-wing hypocrisy discriminating against people because of their political ideology is unconstitutional of course.”
Well, Skip, I do not lean on any political party since both would rather quelch freedom and liberty than uphold it. They do what they can to ensure their party’s survival. That is the reason George Washington (btw only president that was unanimously elected) was not affiliated with any political party and asked people in his farewell address to refrain from political parties.
The bottom line is the Constitution is a Living Document. It is meant to be changed. If it isn’t changed, then it is required to be taken verbatim. There is no room for interpretation in regards to the rights it outlines for the federal government. Look at all the founding father’s letters and writings. They state it very clear on their intentions. Americanism is exactly that. What you refer to as the “right-wing”. The extreme right wing is a total republic, where all people have a say and the federal government has none. The extreme left wing is a total facism, where the federal government has all the say and the people have none. Your idol Obama has stated before “we do this because it is best for the people, even if they do not find it popular”. Now let’s break that statement down, since no one in the mainstream media caught it.
“We”, meaning the federal government are doing this because they feel it is best. The people did not want it, thus the “not find it popular”. The federal government under Obama (and yes, past presidents since Herbert Hoover) do things against the will of the people because THEY feel it is best for us. We have become a country for over 70 years where the federal government mandates and privileges us with rights, instead of us demanding our rights and ensuring that our SERVANTS are upholding and protecting them.
Welcome to the Empirical State of America. And you protect it. That is un-American. Call it as you will, but that’s the truth.

All Supreme Court Judges are American trained lawyers, just like Miami ambulance chasers. And this one is no difference.

” The extreme left wing is a total facism, where the federal government has all the say and the people have none.”
Also, black is white and war is peace and day is night!
Do you have any idea what the terms “left” and “right” mean? My god. People get dumber every day.

Hey, Bob;
Your illogical comments about the constitution are followed by a bad paraphrase of a founding document. However, that document is the Declaration of Independence. Not the constitution. Read the document sometime. We have rules. A Judge isn’t supposed to write them, just be the referree.

Two words come to mind with this “nominee”, NO WAY.
She was nominated to the GA Supreme Court by Zell Miller. She is a close friend of Clarence Thomas.
NO WAY is BamBam gonna nominate her. No way in hell is that gonna happen. If she does wind up getting the nod, then people in CA get ready for the BIG ONE!!

It’s called “white guilt” is what got Obama into the White House along with the liberal press that loves him like they love Jesse Jackson. Let’s call it like it is, if Obama was white he would have never got pass Iowa. America is becoming a third world country…and by the way I am an black American conservative

to JHW539:
The Constitution only “lives” through the Constitutional Amendment process. That’s why the authors put it there. It does not “live” by interpreting it through the lens of current social trends and values. If those change, then the Amendment process should be called upon, to ensure the rights and representation of the people and the states are justly and duly recognized.

WOW what a political move made by the White House….A FEMALE and BLACK American Judge who leans WAY left. Hmmmmm I am guessing when the Reps. say NO they will be labeled as sexist and racist when they try to keep her from going to the high court…..WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!

How many times did you vote for George Bush? If not then you’re probably a Libertarian, and I have a standing policy of not excessively debating with Libertarians.
Skip | Apr 12, 2010 12:10:28 PM
Libertarians will never matter until they’re willing to cost Republicans an election (sort of like the far left was complete ignored until they Nader’d Gore in 2000). Until they put up their own candidate someday and show muscle behind him, they’re just a noise machine for Republicans at the end of the day.

Yes, clearly Obama should appoint a conservative strict-constructionist and/or orginalist judge. He should futher skew the court in favor of conservatives and conservative viewpoints, because that is surely what all of us liberals that voted for him were hoping he would do. He should definitely do this because of all of the conservatives that helped him get through the stimulus bill and the health care bill. He’s owes them bigtime.

Let’s cut to the chase and just ask her, “have you ever read the Constitution”?

to JHW539:
The reason how those individuals were sent to the US Congress as Senators was because they were elected by the state legislatures. Each state sent two delegates to the Senate. The state legislatures were comprised of people who personally knew the individuals from their states, meaning that each one had a civic responsibility to the people that they typically farmed with and such. The US Senate only conveined the first few years a handful of times each year, which means that they were working next to the people on a daily basis that elected them. They had a true responsibility to serve them. Nowadays, the US Senators probably couldn’t name the neighbors of their parents without asking their parents first; or for that matter, their children’s neighbors. Their children probably don’t even know their own neighbors.
So your point is pretty mute, considering that the second lowest tier of government, one that has the most power outside of local communities, elected those people during the infancy of our country.

“It would take a lot of guts to go against strong beliefs and core values in order to cooperate with this left demo administration”
That’s what compromise is all about Noz. It’s what our whole government is based on. Now Republicans on the other hand don’t like government anyway so they’re much more comfortable constantly disrupting it. If getting nothing done is better than not having it all your way…there you have it.

Skip,
I am a libertarian, yes. So I guess the discussion is closed.
Democrats did at one point have good principles of taking care of those that needed it the most, but they tended towards some semblance of fiscal responsibility. Both parties now have none. Republicans give the most idealism towards personal and civil liberties, which is the reason why I will vote more on Republicans, but it is more based upon the issues. Third/Fourth/Fifth parties I vote for when their issues are leaned more towards libertarian values when they are on the ballot. And sometimes, Democrats get my vote. Typically, though, Democrats have such skewed issues that they kill themselves.

I wonder why conservatives have never accused Clarence Thomas of “playing the race card” when he declared that tough questions about his character were the equivalent of a lynching?
Hmmmmm?

So your point is pretty mute, considering that the second lowest tier of government, one that has the most power outside of local communities, elected those people during the infancy of our country.
Jeremy | Apr 12, 2010 12:26:26 PM
You were absolutely no where near my point, which was the original poster’s rage about the government not following today’s polls about ‘the will of the people’ was anger at the government functioning exactly as intended.

“I am a libertarian, yes. So I guess the discussion is closed”
We can discuss it at length another time. My charge is that you guys are fighting on the wrong side. Unchecked corporate America is just as much a threat to your liberties as the government. The government is protecting you.

Unfortunately middle class working folks aren’t considered “the community” when handing out OUR money to buy votes for the left.
Jaimo | Apr 12, 2010 12:26:16 PM
Can you provide a citation for that please? Or at least a definition of “middle class” (which Obama rather absurdly insinuated includes families earning $249k a year – when the top 5% starts at about $170k/year!).

For once, I would just like to see the President appoints someone that most everybody can agree is a good selection, rather than the bruising partisan fight that is probably going to happen.
Virturally every appointment since Robert Bork has become a right/left or left/right firefight.
Surely there is a qualified jurist out there somewhere that both Democrats and Republicans would just look at and and say; “Oh yeah, They’d be really good.”
The previous President didn’t do that, I doubt the current one will either.
***

“..the “community” as you put it is now made up of only 50% taxpayers”
“Half of americans do not pay taxes”
OK which right-wing media loudmouth have you been listening to?

Jake, make that “Sears, who will turn 55 in June, was the first female African-American STATE chief justice in US history”
My initial quick-read thought you were saying she was already chief justice of SCOTUS, a second read clarified it…

Noz, very cute, joking about pedophilia, where you place yourself as the pedophile. That work well with the ladies?

“Brett, half of Americans don’t pay FEDERAL INCOME TAXES.” – Jeff
WHAT! ! ! ! ! !
There are people out there so anti-american that they don’t contribute financially to our Federal Government? ! ? !
How is this possible?
Everyone one should have skin in the game.
This is totally unacceptable.
Obama needs to do something about it, maybe impose a minimum 5% no matter how little you make.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention Jeff.
You are a true American.

an activist court is not a matter of opinion but a matter of what is written in the US Constitution. For example Kelo vs New London the Court applied ” Public Good” where the Constitution clearly states ” Public Use” for emimnent domain.
Obviously, an activist court is in the eye of the beholder since we now a right leaning activist court. The court has been 5-4 on certain key issues for a long time. The Bill of Rights are the amendments that get the most interest to partisans. Guns, Free Speech, States Rights, Abortion, Search & Seizure, Etc. The direction since the 80s has been to the right and what was in the middle is now considered the left. So 35 years back when Judge Stevens was chosen he was right of center. Now the media calls him a Liberal. Go figure?

SteveO are you still humping that dead horse? All the Supreme Court did was stop the attempted theft of a national election by the Florida Democrats. So sorry if that annoys you. Actually I don’t care if that annoys you.
The states may have the right to run their own elections they do not have the right to hold up the process of electing a president for months while the various factions in that state wrangle for advantage. The fact that the election of the president is of great national interest gave the Supreme Court the right to step in.
All this because Democrats are easily distracted by shiny things in the voting booth.

There are 148 other minority groups in this country….I wonder when Obama is going to tap on someone from one of those groups? NEVER!

I would keep a close eye on anyone who uses the phrase “the will of the people”. Such a person surely is intemperate and does not understand the world is a complicated place.

Noz, you are so skilled at taking phrases out of context. I suppose it doesn’t matter to you that nearly a third of the average american’s income income goes to federal taxes other than the federal income tax. Whatever, facts have no power here. Keep parroting your Hannitys and Limbaughs – it is funny how you guys can’t even escape their catchphrases for a moment. You idolize college dropouts with good radio voices. We used to call those guys actors. You call them leaders. But hey, they could be experts on economics and theology and meteorology and medicine, all at the same time, i suppose. I mean, they have their own radio shows, they don’t just give those to people talking out of their arses, do they?

Justice Thomas has a lot of liberal friends…a conservative Black is a rarity. Don’t be dragging this candidate along on the tails of a constitutional Justice by association. I want to know whether she will (a) judge cases based on the law, or (b) judge them on what she thinks the law ought to be (the definition of a judicial activist) — I don’t care who she’s friends with!

OMG! Thomas is friends with her! IMPEACH THE GUY WITH THE RADICAL “FRIENDS”! IMPEACH! IMPEACH!

“Obama is a CENTRIST?!?!!
Maybe in the former Soviet union he would have been a centrist, but the entire world has rejected that vapid and destructive ideology –
TJ | Apr 12, 2010 11:55:07 AM
Can you provide any verifiable supporting evidence for your assertion beyond strident capitalization? I argue that Obama is a centrist who has actually quite disappointed the left fringe.”
Why, yes actually I can….the Federal gummint now control 51% of the American economy. He just raised taxes using the ObamaNation Let’s Kill Health Care package.
Controlling the means of production is classic Communism. Sugar-coating his takeover with meaningless platitudinous actions is just to distract people using “shiny things”. Worked on you.

RE: Jeff
“Noz, you are so skilled at taking phrases out of context. I suppose it doesn’t matter to you that nearly a third of the average american’s income income goes to federal taxes other than the federal income tax. Whatever, facts have no power here. Keep parroting your Hannitys and Limbaughs – it is funny how you guys can’t even escape their catchphrases for a moment. You idolize college dropouts with good radio voices. We used to call those guys actors. You call them leaders. But hey, they could be experts on economics and theology and meteorology and medicine, all at the same time, i suppose. I mean, they have their own radio shows, they don’t just give those to people talking out of their arses, do they? ”
Posted by: Jeff | Apr 12, 2010 1:02:14 PM
————————————–
Jeff,
Don’t be just another mindless myrmidom. A college dropout with half a brain could outdo the empty suit warming the seat right now. Did peebo actually graduate from college? High School? Has he EVER done anything that shows a documented record of achievement? Libs can’t even say he is the smartest president EVAH because he won’t allow his records to be seen.
I don’t want to see his birth certificate. I want to see his transcripts. I want to see the bills he wrote in the IL senate and US Senate. He applied for a job and was selected based on his record of achievement. But there is no record. Where did he get HIS experience with nuclear weapons, economics, energy…or anything? Community Organizer?
So hows that hopeychangey stuff working for you? Talk about amateur hour.

The notion that you can just take your business elsewhere is such a crock. Try doing a full run to the grocery without buying anything owned by or containing ingredients made by Altria, Kraft, General Mills, Colgate-Palmolive, or Cargill. That’s just five big conglomerates, but the percentage of what they control in your grocery store is astonishing. That’s just one example. Unless you’re living on an unelectrified farm growing your own foods, you have to give your money to these big corporations for something. You, literally, have no choice. How’s that freedom workin’ out for you?

Uh, it’s no harder than knowing if the best qualified white guy got picked….
It doesn’t sound like any white guys – no matter how well-qualified – are going to be considered. I’m not complaining about it – it’s just the way it is.
It seems like these SCOTUS nominations are seen as opportunities for afirmative action – – so I say, pick some asian guy – better yet, pick a female asian lesbian in a wheelchair – no reason not to rack up as many points as possible.

Posted by: Carlo | Apr 12, 2010 1:24:00 PM
Perhaps if you posted a reasoned argument . . .

you have to give your money to these big corporations for something. You, literally, have no choice. How’s that freedom workin’ out for you?
policywank | Apr 12, 2010 1:19:39 PM
Says someone posting on the government-created internet, probably while sitting in the most prosperous free nation mankind has ever seen.

the court has 2 women, not 1. to the poster below, sotomayor and ginsburg.

Does she have a family,other than anamals. Just searching for somthing normal, please.

What an amazing coincidence that the only people qualified to become Supreme Court Justices are Minority Women…weird.
Posted by: Fredd | Apr 12, 2010 1:36:08 PM
___________________________________
What an amazing coincidence – a poster uninformed enough not to now Judge Merrick Garland is a white guy . . .

Meant to say “all is not meet…”

Does she have a family, other than anamals. Just looking for somthing normal,please

Responding to…
Why, yes actually I can….the Federal gummint now control 51% of the American economy. He just raised taxes using the ObamaNation Let’s Kill Health Care package.
———–
So, and you think that happened in the past 12 months?! LOL… what an idiotic statement.
What were the Republicans doing from 2000-2006 when they controlled all branches of govt? Bush and the REPs increased govt spending; added new programs; cut taxes w/o cutting spenidng which brought back deficit spending — going from a surplus to a deficit of $1 trillion in 8 years, and ruining our economy… oh yeah, let’s have more of that!

How will she feel about separation of body and state? I don’t want the government to control the health care of my body! Repeal health reform, instate free market solutions!

Democrats have had COMPLETE control of the US Congress for the last 38 months.
How do you like what they’ve accomplished so far in terms of the economy?

tierra says:
“The only tactic the Republicans appear to have is to attack and demonize the Democrats and the President.”
If by “demonize” you mean expressing concerns based on the blatantly anti-constitutional ingredients of the Democrat “agenda”; expressing concerns based on the ineptitude of Obama who literally kowtows to the rest of the world while sticking it to Americans and American interests; expressing concerns about horrendously irresponsible policy that cannot be paid for — Pelosi and Obama and Reid and their cronies would fail a basic economics course let alone basic grade-school arithmetic, if they actually think these “policies” are feasible and fiscally realistic; the list goes on … and on … and on.
If that’s what you mean by “demonize,” — if expressing valid concerns about what is obviously a radical reconfiguring of a once-prosperous nation; if speaking out against this bureaucratic nightmare is “demonizing” to you — then you are just another lying propaganda-recycling lib, telling others not to believe their own eyes and ears in the hopes that all will become brainwashed zombies implicitly buying into the fallacious “hope and change” slogan put out by your false idol.
Good luck with that.

Obama who literally kowtows to the rest of the world
______________________________________
You seem ignorant of things real. It was under Bush the Republican that North Korea tested its first nuclear weapon. It was under Bush the Republican that Iran developed its secret nuclear facility. It was under Bush the Republican that Bin Laden and al Qaeda escaped in Afghanistan. It was under Bush the Republican that the Taliban regrouped in Afghanistan.
From where I sit this President hasn’t had anywhere nearly the failures of the previous – despite the hogwash Republican bravado and false accusations.

The only four things I know about this woman is that:
1) She is reletively young
2) She’s friends with Clarence Thomas
3) She was appointed by Zell Miller, and
4) She’s being considered by Obama.
Given facts 1-3, I am much more optomistic that she will be a good jurist than anybody else Obama might pick…

Each side of a polarized nation blames the other for almost identical tactics. Recently it seems the Reds are much worse with the falsehoods than the blues ever were but that comes from an Obama supporter. Until this equal polarization ends in the country the politics will remain where they are now. On to the Supreme Court: Women make up 1/2 of the country. It is not a crisis if they make up about 1/2 of the court. That would be a great symbol for our nation to see parity here even though it is a long way off for most of society. Women also bring a different welcome perspective which I believe Obama believes and why we will see him appoint more women to the court.

along with his existing his entire life in an unrealistic, far-left, academic echo chamber.
Brian | Apr 12, 2010 2:07:40 PM
The Illinois state senate is now a far-left academic echo chamber? While it’s not really a very compelling comparision, Obama had more years experience in government than George W Bush when elected.

This President is going to try to do as much damage as he can before we boot him out of office.

You can be sure the nominee from Progressive Socialist dictator Obama will believe the constitution is a living document, the declaration ‘is not law’, and rights can be collective. This person will favor allowing international law to override our sovereignty. This nominee will use feelings and wisdom and gray rights and wrong. This person will be a rat vermin progressive socialist government lover like Stevens. The nominee will side with big government over individuals and do nothing to prevent the massive tsunami of government control over every aspect of our lives. The new judge should wear red robes because he will be a communist rat that hates America like President for Life Chairman Obama.

Leah Ward Sears is an extremely thoughtful, intellectual, and fairminded individual who is exactly the type of person who should be on the Supreme Court. As a former professor of hers in law school, and a former judge myself, I can attest to her judicial talent and demeanor, and, while I don’t agree with every decision she’s rendered, I can rest easy with the certainty that it was based on thoughtful and objective research and consideration for the positions of all parties. She would be a tremendous asset to the Supreme Court — and to our country.

The notion that you can just take your business elsewhere is such a crock. Try doing a full run to the grocery without buying anything owned by or containing ingredients made by Altria, Kraft, General Mills, Colgate-Palmolive, or Cargill. That’s just five big conglomerates, but the percentage of what they control in your grocery store is astonishing. That’s just one example. Unless you’re living on an unelectrified farm growing your own foods, you have to give your money to these big corporations for something. You, literally, have no choice. How’s that freedom workin’ out for you?
Posted by: policywank | Apr 12, 2010 1:19:39 PM
_______
Exactly. And I LOVE “how’s that freedom workin’ out for you”? Nice quip.

“You can be sure the nominee from Progressive Socialist dictator Obama will believe the constitution is a living document,”
It is. The founders were smart enough to provide a framework that would stand the test of time and could adapt itself to changing times while retaining its core values.
“the declaration ‘is not law’,
The Declaration of Independence (which I assume is what this reference is to) is not law.
“and rights can be collective.”
Rights can be certainly collective such as the freedom to peaceably assemble or the right to bear arms as part of a militia or the 9th and 10th amendments.

I guess 8 years as governor of the 2nd most populace state in the US doesn’t count.
“It’s better to be silent and be thought a fool than speak and remove all doubt”
Posted by: tankrtrash | Apr 12, 2010 2:27:35 PM
____________________________________
Posting inaccurate information does not reflect well on your opinions. “Better to be silent”.
Bush did not serve 8 years as governor; he served six. Within a year of being re-elected (in his 5th year as governor) he began running for President.

“You can be sure the nominee from Progressive Socialist dictator Obama will believe the constitution is a living document,”
It is. The founders were smart enough to provide a framework that would stand the test of time and could adapt itself to changing times while retaining its core values.
It is not. The way to change the Constitution is limited to TWO specific ways
The first method is for a bill to pass both houses of the legislature, by a two-thirds majority in each. Once the bill has passed both houses, it goes on to the states. This is the route taken by all current amendments.
The second method prescribed is for a Constitutional Convention to be called by two-thirds of the legislatures of the States, and for that Convention to propose one or more amendments. These amendments are then sent to the states to be approved by three-fourths of the legislatures or conventions. This route has never been taken, and there is discussion in political science circles about just how such a convention would be convened, and what kind of changes it would bring about.
What you speak of, and what progressives have been doing, is to alter the Constitution using activist judges.

Poor kenny lasko “hates”people that dont agree with his regime..oh,what a typical Liberal cry-baby..well Kenny you aint seen nothing yet,wait till your “boy” goes down……as if he could sink any further than he has…hey Ken his rating is an all time low..even lower than Carter if you can believe it..arent you really hating right now kenny boy..enjoy your welfare chek buddy.

Ryan C
The Constitution is not a living document except through the mechanism of Amendments as laid out within its text. Law should not be adjudicated through the Supreme Court, neither through executive orders- only by majority vote in both houses of congress shall laws be established or altered. Plus, the federal government has clearly enumerated powers and all others are by default within the jurisdiction of the states themselves.

“What you speak of, and what progressives have been doing, is to alter the Constitution using activist judges.”
Activist judges?
You mean like Scalia, Alito, Roberts & Thomas?
Who have been overturning precedent to conform to their political views?
Oh wait right wingers are still miffed about Brown v Board of Ed and those “activist” judges.

Welcome to 1982. Obama is changing this country in a manner (not in comtent) in a Reaganesque way. His presidency is transformitive. Look at what Reagan’s poll numbers were in 1982. Look what happened to the Republicans during Reagan’s first midterm election in 1982. Keep demonizing Obama in your petty, insilting manner to your own peril.
He already will have appointed 2 SCOTUS justices in less than 2 years. What’s the over/under on total SCOTUS appointments by the time he’s done–I’d say 4, 4/9, that’s influence, alone, that will span a generation. Seriously, Scalia does not live healthfully, Ginsburg (w/ cancer) will retire w/ Obama in power, and there is at least a 50/50 chance that Kennedy (the last swing-vote) will retire.
You all are walking right into Obama’s trap. He’s laughing his ass off at the focus on the birth certificate, and the fawning over Palin. Did you see how he incited more Palin-mania by belittling her qualifications on the nuclear arms treaty? You think he didn’t know how to answer that question to get the result he wants??
As for 2012, all politically-savvy conservatives know that, as of now, Romney is really both the favorite, and best hope, for the GOP. However, politically savvy observers also know how fraught w/ peril a Romeny led ticket truly is. If any decent percentage of tea-partiers reject Romney (and thus stick to their principles), due to Romney-care, flip-flops on abortion, and so many other issues, he doesn’t stand a chance. Furthermore, if a decent percentage of evangelicals and other ‘christian-conservatives’ reject Romney due to his Mormonism, this also creates an almost untenable electoral scenario for victory.
Obama is right where he wants to be. He planned to follow Reagan’s trajectory all along. The economy is improving, and 600,000!! employees are about to get hired at $18/ hr. to conduct the census taking mandated by the constitution. Yes, the economy could collapse, but don’t bet on it (and honestly do you really want to).
Obama is on-track to be a transformative president. Yes, the health-care reform maintained, even promotes, our current American system of private coverage. However, it also transfers vast wealth away from the richest of the rich, and was thus the fight that it was (a fight Obama won).
Best,
Skunknuts

bullmktman: Jeez…where the heck have you been. You are just seeing this now?!

“The Constitution is not a living document except through the mechanism of Amendments as laid out within its text.”
History has demonstrated otherwise from the very founding of our country, the Constitution has been a living document.
From the scope of the power of the Supreme Court to expansion of the country to the Civil war etc etc etc.

Justice Leah Ward Sears has been the pride of Atlanta, GA for her entire career. Her recent opinon page in the WSJ on “What about the tomatos..” was so sad to read. She clearly has been taught to always see herself as a victim of the darkness of her skin. This beautiful and smart woman thinks that going to one of GA’s most stuck-up rude vacation designations, the Closter near St. Simons Island experiences somehow all came because she was black.
She wrote about rudeness due to blackness, except ask anyone who has been to the Cloisters and they will tell you they treat most people in a stuck up and rude manner there. We left after two days as I couldn’t stand the snooty rudeness. So said to see one of our great judges condition to being a victim for life, even after all she has achieved. Guess it makes life easier to have someone else to blame.

“Roberts and Alito, Scalia and Thomas are activist judges on behalf of right-wing ideology”
Exactly.
The right wing is incredibly hypocritical.
No judicial activism joins fiscal responsibility as two values the right wing claims to hold in high value yet completely ignores when it suits them.

Please – Obama had ZERO executive experience, President Bush was a successful two-term Governor of one of our largest and most prosperous states.
Brian | Apr 12, 2010 2:17:57 PM
Texas has a weak governorship (the Lieutenant Governor of Texas has greater personal power to shape policy) – not a personal opinion, that’s the technical assessment of the powers given to the office. Can you cite three verifiable achievements of Bush during his tenures as Governor of Texas? I can cite such achievements of Obama during his decade in office (the bill requiring videotaping of confessions and serious crime interrogations was particularly impressive work).

Ken, how much is acorn paying you to spew those lies? NOTHING Barry touches is worth two cents 24 hours later! Starting in 2006 when the Dems had the upper hand America has dropped in every aspect of positive growth!..YOU LIE KEN PASCO, YOU LIE!!

“I don’t want to see his birth certificate. I want to see his transcripts. I want to see the bills he wrote in the IL senate and US Senate. He applied for a job and was selected based on his record of achievement. But there is no record. ”
I want to see any articles he wrote while he was a professor. Academics write articles. He was the only president of the Harvard Law Review to write nothing. There is no record of anything he wrote in a professional capacity except his vaunted memoirs, which even the recent best-seller about the campaign (Game Change?) admits Bill Ayers helped him with.
“I’m sorry Tierra, were you a professor at one of the top law schools for over a decade at the University of Chicago? Have you ever attended Harvard Law school?”
He was never a professor, he was an adjunct lecturer at U of Chicago, and not for a decade. One more thing he embellished. Harvard is not hard to get into if you are an affirmative action pick. Why can’t we see his grades? No other president has hidden them.

“Obama is doing a great job” …Really? Last I checked the state of this nation is a disaster, with a worse economy than when he took over along with much more national debt. Instead of getting national insurance for all, now we will fine the poor who can’t afford it unless they enrich an insurance company. We gave a trillion to the fat cat banks, bailed out corporate American… At least whatever liberal he chooses for the court will be no worse than the one leaving….wait…he is considering Napolitano, who destroyed my home state before bailing on us.

“Starting in 2006 when the Dems had the upper hand America has dropped in every aspect of positive growth”
The Democrats took over in 2007.
Can you name any law they passed and Bush signed which stopped our positive growth?

progressive mama, you have the wrong idea as to what judicial activism means to us conservatives. We believe that the foundation for all law in the United States should be the Constitution of the United States of America, informed by the views of the Founders. We do not believe that the laws from any other country should inform interpretation of our laws, and we do not believe that new rights should be manufactured by the Federal Government out of whole cloth. The Constitution was designed to define both the extent and the limits of the sphere of authority of the Federal Government; we conservatives think the Government has strayed far outside that defined sphere.
Somebody below mentioned Brown v. Board of Education — that’s exactly the kind of law which us conservative enthusiatically support, because it comes right out of the 14th Amendment — which makes the Federal Government the final guarantor of rights of every person in the USA, and which decision is in complete accord with the intent of the framers and ratifiers of the 14th Amendment.
There is no Constitutional backing for things like Social Security or healthcare. The moment Government begins providing charity by taxation, it opens the way to all sorts of corruption, of the type which is rampant in our Government today.
Google “Representative Davy Crockett” to get the drift: “We have rights, as individuals, to give as much of our own money as we please to charity; but as members of Congress we have no right so to appropriate a dollar of public money.”

Starting in 2006 when the Dems had the upper hand America has dropped in every aspect of positive growth!
________________________________________
The Republicans had control of the presidency and congress for 6 years straight. Six years to establish a stable, strong ‘Republican’ economy – what was the result?
It collapsed like a house of cards spinning the country into the biggest economic collapse since the Great Depression.
So much for Republicans building a stable, strong economy.

Harvard is not hard to get into if you are an affirmative action pick. Why can’t we see his grades?
“No other president has hidden them.”
Did we see McCain’s transcripts?
Nope.
Want to know why?
Because of privacy laws.
Gore, Bush and Kerry had their records published by media outlets who went digging. They did not provide that materials.
But privacy laws have changed since then.
So according to McCain he finished low in his Naval Class because of demerits but we never found out how many, what they were for, or what classes he took.
Nor does it really matter to me.
He graduated from the Naval Academy.
Obama graduated from Columbia and then Havard Law (gaining honors at Harvard).
Obama will be judged on his presidency not his college transcript.

Hillary would make a much better Supreme Court justice than a Secretary of State. She is a brilliant attorney, a centrist, and could have real impact.

“Sarah Palin served the same amount of time as governor of Alaska, but she wasn’t spending her tenure running for office”
Let’s see, she took office in Dec 2007 and was running for VP in Aug 2008, got bored and quit her job in July of 2009.
Obama took office in Jan 2005 and began his run in Jan 2007.
” Plus she had been a mayor for I believe two terms. In both offices she actively governed and enacted policies that benefited her state”
ROFLMAO!
She left Wasilla as the rape and meth capital of Alaska in debt to the tune of millions for a town of 10K people.

Wouldn’t it be nice if Obama picked anyone who would do the one thing they swear to do. UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION. That’s all I ask for. Not for them to try and figure out what they think the Constitution says, but Judge the Law by WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS! IT’S THE LAW LIBS!

“There is no Constitutional backing for things like Social Security or healthcare.”
General welfare clause.
And Social Security was found to be constitutional in 1937.

Come on Everyone…Cant we all just get along? You all forget about the Sucessful Beer Summit that Obama had at the White House and also the…. and the… Well anyway, it was a great beer summit. Would anyone like to contribute to the Obama Presidential Library? I am sure it will be grand….

If only obumer could pick someone based on their merit rather than the color of their skin.
But then again, he did not become president based on his merit, but rather the color of his skin,

“In other words, pay no attention to the 10% unemployment”
What was the unemployment rate when Reagan TOOK office? What was the rate after his first year? After his second year? After his third year? Where were interest rates?

“Obama’s only previous experience was State senator, where he voted present like he did in the US Senate.”
You cannot vote present in the US Senate.
You can tell the right wing has nothing…they’re recycling debunked election material.

WHERE is the birth certificate? And why is it hidden? ANd why is Obama spending milliions to keep it hidden? And where are the college records? The health records? Why is EVERYTHING about Obama secret?

I see ABC is hard at work DELETING anything that might question their LORD and MASTER… Teleprompter Jesus !!

“And why is it that if blacks are 12% of the population (way behind the Hispanics), then then are most all of Obama’s pick’s black”
The tea partiers are not racist so stop saying that!

> The GOP on the other hand will try to
> appeal the worst human instincts so
> they can climb back into power and
> ignore their principles…again.
You can’t ignore your own principles if you have none.

“Why is it OK for OTW’s (Other Than White) to make selections for”
Again and again the racism on the right wing is there for all to see.

I wonder if she’s a Communist. Obama seems to have a lot of those as friends. Just one more step towards a very different future.
Funny parody of Obama’s “New America:”

OK fine. I’m a racist. If criticizing the President automatically makes me a racist well then I’ll adjust. Wait…., still feel the same so I guess being a racist isn’t so bad after all!
The race card is obsolete. Every time it is used you just cheapen those who truly do suffer from legitimate racism. No matter what color they happen to be.

Obamas numbers are in the tank. He better pick a moderate if he plans on getting them thru the senate. As for the economy my husbands in the construction trades there is no recovery as of yet.

I bet if Stevens was up for nomination today, people would bash him as they are trying to bash the certain candidates now. The point of SC nominees is that if the person is qualified, then they should go on to serve…that’s one of the biggest privileges that a president actually hold. Really there should be nothing that should stop his appointment unless it’s a choice like Harriet Myers. Stevens was a good choice b/c he was qualified and (in my opinion) if the person meets the criteria then appoint them. If people don’t want Obama to appoint certain judges, then they should’ve worked harder to not get him elected.

Just what we need another “Hate and Get Even With Whites”, Black who has not idea what freedom is and is more suited for a seat on the court in Zimbabwe, with a Progressive style of government.

For those of you who are so concerned about conservatives being racist, why is it so important for Mr Obama to only choose people of color, women, or a combination of the two? Shouldn’t he, as President, sworn to uphold and defend the constitution, be looking for nominees who will do the same? Shouldn’t that be his primary goal, rather than trying to choose people whose views only represent those of liberals and minorities?
The biggest question in my mind is why is Mr Obama racing his administration headlong at the wall? I can’t understand how he thinks that insulting and enraging the American people will ever get him re-elected. What in God’s name is his underlying agenda?

Clarence Thomas only had 1.5 years of of experience as a judge? And Marshall had none. So what?

“he point is a follows: Obama appoints racist van jones to a position he does not deserve-he just so happens to be black.”
Van Jones was appointed as special advisor for Green Jobs.
Van Jones is an expert in Green Economies with an NYT besteseller and his NGO.
Your racism is appalling.
“Obama puts an UNDER QUALIFIED black female as surgeon general-there were WAY MORE Qualified individuals for the position-why did he give it it a black woman?”
Because she was extremely qualified.
USAT “Former surgeon general David Satcher, who was one of Benjamin’s medical school professors and who attended this week’s commissioning ceremony, says he is proud of her accomplished career and dedication to those in need.”
“Sotomayor-again, Puerto Rican woman appointed to SC when there were way more qualified and less controversial individuals ”
Sotomayor had as many years on the Fed Bench as Alito and far more than either Roberts or Thomas.
She was very qualified.

I have no faith in obama therefore I have no faith in whoever he picks!

“For those of you who are so concerned about conservatives being racist, why is it so important for Mr Obama to only choose people of color, women, or a combination of the two?”
Hmmmm just last summer, right wingers were taunting Obama for not appointing as many women or people of color as Bush had.
I guess they’ve gone back to the embracing racism tactic.

Of course, Obama would never consider a more-qualifited white male would he? That would be racist….how deep does the rabbit hole go?

I think one might want to take a step back and ask is it Steele that is the issue”
You tell me.
Fundraising scandals including a visit to a not so family friendly venue.
“I’m picked on because I’m black”.
Oh and perhaps his biggest “crime”: The RNC is losing the fundraising battle to the DNC and is in less of a position to help the NRSC or NRCC in an election where they should have a strong showing.

“What about Asian Americans? Everyone seems to forget about them because they’re generally go with the flow. I’m sure there are several qualified Asian Americans that Obama could pick.”
Obama currently has 3 Asian Americans serving in his cabinet.

She must be a wise african-american woman that will reach a better conclusion than a white male.

Is she an activist judge like Scalia, Thomas, and Roberts who will seek any and all of the thinnest arguments to overturn a century of case law and statutory law?

“Clarence Thomas only had 1.5 years of of experience as a judge? And Marshall had none. So what?”
Thurgood Marshall sat on the 2nd Circuit for 4 years then served as Solicitor General for two.
That was in addition to his having argued many cases before the Supreme Court.
Thurgood Marshall was extremely well qualified and proved it with his juriprudence.
Clarence Thomas still willfully toils in the shadow of Scalia.

There’s a double standard. Fact is, Obamas picks were all qualified, but republicans didn’t like them because of their political stands. Of the list in this article, 3 whites 1 black, 3 women, one man. All very qualified.
the problem with picking minorities is not that they shouldn’t be picked, but they frustrate the opposition party, particularly republicans. when the right tried to stop Sotomayor, they were called racists, likewise with this healthcare stuff now.
but a liberal saying something racist is usually overlooked, because the people who would normally call that out are buddies with the offender.
example: Clarence Thomas. He was viciously ripped apart by the left like no justice has before. Ted Kennedy in particular was hateful, and frankly, if he had been a republican, would have been accused of blatant racism. but nope, he’s a dem. and JKF’s brother so he can say anything he wants about Clarence and be fine.
However, any republican who said half of what Ted said would see his career ending before his eyes. minority picks are frustrating b/c there is plenty of material to bash them for, but you gotta do it with an arm tied behind your back. whereas with a white man, republicans can rip him apart like the N64 kid on Christmas day, and the chances of blocking him are that much more better.

It would be nice to have an AA woman on the Supreme court. Also though, since the Republicans have been so adamant about using abortion as a litmus test, there is a large number of Catholics on the court (President Obama added another in Sotomyer). We really need to have a good representation. I would hope he would chose a non-Catholic, minority, female or (second choice for me) male. But I think he needs to pick someone who is more liberal and would help balance the Supreme court justices. When its too out of balance, we get disastrous results. I think I’d like to avoid a totalitarian regime like we were headed towards in 2006.
And btw-ABC news–you really need to report what an activist just is and not let that be defined by the radical right. An activist judge is one who uses the court to make new law. The radical right seems to think it means someone who doesn’t agree with them.
Too bad in this country we can’t have a clear-headed, intelligent discussion of politics anymore with out the negativity and belligerence of the tea party folks acting all whackadoodle. It makes me fear for our countries future to hear them go off on their anti-American, anti-democracy screed.

Tim | Apr 12, 2010 4:34:46 PM
The only job he ever had for any time was that of a community organizer. All this required was that he gets communities together and riled up about some thing that was inconvenient.
A community organizer/agitator was all he ever was and that is what he is and has been doing from the time he stepped into the Oval Office, but on a vastly larger scale.

@ProAmerica
They tried to call her a racist, didn’t work did it?
Read some of the old transcripts from when old white men, from either party, were vetted for the SC position. The attacks are brutal. Sotomayor was treated with kid gloves in comparison.

“The only job he ever had for any time was that of a community organizer.”
Except for those 11 years as State Senator.
“All this required was that he gets communities together and riled up about some thing that was inconvenient”
Yeah how dare he attempts to organize communities to improve their education and surroundings.

What about Harold Koh? Isn’t it about time for an Asian American on the Supremem Court? Koh is brilliant, experienced, well-known and well-liked, with fans among liberals and conservatives.

Hey Ryan C, why don’t you stop blathering on and on. Catholic Smasholic. I was a Catholic. It’s all about ritual and feel-good religion. It means little when speaking about abortion. Pelosi is Catholic as is Biden. Both pro-choice. Being Catholic does not satisfy any litmus test for pro-life positions

Ryan C | Apr 12, 2010 5:39:17 PM
Yeah, and how dare the Tea Party members organize??? No, you don’t like it when someone organizes for what is right like the Tea Party Express does but only when more subsidies are wanted. Gimme, Gimme, Gimme! The money tree is dead because the people who work and pay taxes…NO, they do not pay, it is taken from them to pay for all this have had enough.

“Koh shouldn’t be on the supreme court. his talents are much more valuable elsewhere. it would be a waste to stick him there for the rest of his career just to improve a statistic.”
He’s still petty young.

Obama was a state senator for 7 years not 11, during which period illinois’s economy went down the toilet. He was a US senator for less than 3 years. He is way too inexperienced to be president of the united states and he is not particularly bright. If he wasn’t black he wouldn’t be president. After 2012 he will no longer be.

Ethan | Apr 12, 2010 5:27:10 PM
If Ted was a republican the press would have hounded him until he was tried and convicted in the death of that young woman.

” If he wasn’t black he wouldn’t be president.”
Is this what right wingers tell themselves to console the sting of 2008 rejection of your party’s principles?
Apparently it had nothing to do with Obama out campaigning McCain or McCain throwing away his experience advantage for a pretty prop.

Ryan C | Apr 12, 2010 5:55:57 PM
With all the slime balls in the demwit party right now, do you really want to jump on one farmer?
Barney Frank
Dump Dodd
Stretch the truth Pelosi
on and on and on and on.

“With all the slime balls in the demwit party right now, do you really want to jump on one farmer?”
So you think railing against subsidies while collecting millions of dollars in subsidies is a good thing?
I guess the tea party principles are quite shallow or at least your’s are.
How about passing around racist emails?
Is that a value you also hold?

It must not be happy hour yet because Ryan C, is still harping away at the keyboard and admitting he gets his news from family guy.

Dear Posters:
I have news for you: WOMEN ARE NOT MINORITIES. We are more than 50% of the population of this country — and FAR more women than men are now in college in the U.S.
Also — here in San Francisco, NO ethnic group has been the majority for more than ten years. Dublin, Ireland is now some 20% POLISH. the world is migrating at historic levels — and there is no stopping it.
So — may I suggest that thinking in terms of “us” vs. “them” and “minorities” isn’t very helpful — and in fact, leads to the kind of paranoia and xenophobia that kicked off Hitlerism and WWII.

ethan, THANK YOU for responding in a polite intelligent manner! I miss the days were people of divergent opinions could disagree without being nasty. I mostly agree with you. I do think however that judges do have to look at the world today and re-evaluate how the laws of yesterday apply. They’ve got to use common sense and not a rigid ideology. I think we need to STOP picking judges who follow strict ideologies and pick judges who can fairly and logically apply the law as written and only overwrite when it seems like they have no other recourse.

“Libs going nuts because their numbers are tanking:
NEW ORLEANS — she suffered in a Friday night altercation with a group of people in the French Quarter.”
A little quick on the draw there Ashley Todd.
Hopefully this young woman is ok.
Apparently the fundraiser (the event not the person) itself was quite sleazy
NOLA “Gov. Bobby Jindal is barred by state law from raising campaign cash during the ongoing legislative session. But that isn’t stopping him from headlining a fundraising reception for the state Republican Party next week.”

Ryan C, do you just spew stuff out no matter if there is truth to it or not. Brennan’s Restaurant is a very nice place to dine by reservation only and has been in the French Quarter since the 1940s.
And who ever this Ashley Todd is I would like to congratulate her. She obviously put you in your place at some time or other.

And who ever this Ashley Todd is I would like to congratulate her. She obviously put you in your place at some time or other.
Posted by: ProAmerica | Apr 12, 2010 6:30:38 PM
Oh…my.
Talk about just spewing stuff, no matter what…

It would be nice if Obama nominated somebody with a brain,but I guess he will nominate another bigoted leftwingnut.

“Talk about just spewing stuff, no matter what…”
This should be good.

This should be good.
Posted by: Ryan C | Apr 12, 2010 6:40:54 PM
Crickets… interesting. LOL.

“Crickets… interesting. LOL.”
In all fairness, it is not necessarily a sign of defeat or slinking away.
After all Drudge’s headline has changed so the sheep have a new site to bombard. ;-)

“She’s just like me!”
Posted by: Ryan C | Apr 12, 2010 6:55:40 PM
Yep.
And speaking of Palin, it was fun seeing Tina Fey take on her caricature of Palin again… so on point. LOL.

what do you think about the “frontrunner” status of Kagan?
_____________
She’s very intelligent and has a range of experience– and Republicans would have no viable reason NOT to support her as she’s said to be more conservative than Stevens and not very controversial.
I don’t know though. I’m not really excited by any of the names on the short list so far (I know the names of seven of the alleged ten but haven’t yet read much about a few of them, including the dude from Montana and Sears — the pragmatic and progressive side of me are often in battle. LOL.

Hmmm… although now I see that that Bill Kristol was on Fox News saying that while Kagan would be a respectable choice, Republicans should still obstruct and oppose.

you people thought that SNL was funny this week?
________
I only watched the Tina Fey clips because I am a fan. I’m taking it you were upset that she dissed Bombshell McGee without also dissing Jesse James. I agree she should have taken some shots at him too.

Let’s see, the Republicans lost the hispanic vote with their vitriol against Sotomayor.They have no chance at the African American vote for their racist tawnts against Obama. It will be intersting which one of their feet they plan to take aim at when the next nominee emerges.They pretty much have played out the race issue, unless it’s an Asian nominee.

My money is whoever turns out to be a mirror image of our “Chosen One”

My money is whoever turns out to be a mirror image of our “Chosen One”
Posted by: IraqVet | Apr 12, 2010 8:38:42 PM
______________________________________
Sad when the Republican right is so resentful of the Democratic process.

I wish Obama would “progress” beyond the sex and skin color of his appointees.
Posted by: ConstiutionGirl | Apr 12, 2010 9:37:18 PM
_________________________________
The Republican right are so shocked and offended someone other than a white male might be nominated . . . cute.

Ok, Let’s see how this lady has handled herself on the Georgia Supreme Court. If it’s all a racist routine forgewtit. If she is going to treat the American people in abalanced way and if she is a Constitutional Judge I’ll go with her…………… She wioll come in way too hard. Obama seems to have a habit of tainting he puts his hands on .

Why is it when a conservative states an objection to a BHO nominee the “liberals” want to make it an issue of race not substance. The libs are the “touchy feely warm and fuzzy” party only when it suits them. You want to sing Kum By Ya until someone doesn’t agree with you then the mud slinging begins. A person has the ability to disagree with another and it not be about race, sexual orientation, religion, etc. Folks, the race card is worn out. But when you can’t argue substance it’s your easy crutch.

….let’s see…which color and gender are we on now? We don’t have any transgenders yet. Orange? have we had any orange??
Here’s an idea, why don’t we look at the highest qualified Americans and choose the most qualified. What a concept!
It’s nice to see that the racists and segregationist still dominate the Democratic party.

I wish Obama would “progress” beyond the sex and skin color of his appointees.
Posted by: ConstiutionGirl | Apr 12, 2010 9:37:18 PM
_________________________________
The Republican right are so shocked and offended someone other than a white male might be nominated . . . cute.

This woman was the chief justice of the supreme court of the State of Georgia. And she was nominated by Dem-turncoat Zel Miller, no less! How can anybody say she isn’t qualified? Seriously, unless you can prove that she is not qualified to sit as a supreme court justice, then your comments have no basis in reality.
O ya, and the fact that she is black does not make her unqualified.

A member of the left-leaning American Constitution Society…
I don’t know this woman and don’t know anything of this group but I do like the
name -American Constitution Society.
I will wait for more info…
P.S, Glen Beck is GREAT!

The Supreme Court is suppose to be a representation of the vast legal and judicial experiences of this nation. I believe Whites, Blacks, Hispanics and Asian comprise the majority of the people in this country. I find nothing wrong in appointing a diverse racial spread in our Supreme Court to reflect the multicultural aspects that make our country greater than any other country in the world. Read your history books and you will find that all sitting Presidents have chosen their judges based on their own agendas. Bush Did why not Obama .

Leah Ward Sears, “What a beautifull” name,read your list of accomplishments they are Impressive!Ok here’s the scoop…Thurgood Marshall was the real deal,Sotomyere or Sotomeye!” whatever” is a tok–, If major league baseball ever has another strike she’ll come in handy. Justice Clearence Thomas probably came from area 51.I believe the US SUPREME COURT use a touch of morality,enlightment and knowledge.

leave the boys alone and let them saing there songs,smiling is catching, it won’t hurt the nation of missfits to wait a while and then do it all over again. we are doing pretty good don’t you folks thank so. i didn’t vote for oboma howerever he is doing a good job, a.

Some states even cut schools to 4 days a week to “save money”. How the hell the government is going to afford anything else like the healthcare!!!
Liberals, whoever is still on Obama side! People! Be realistic! He kept saying he would put in billions toward education. Where does it come from? Where is the money to save these schools from cutting off one school day.

Folks, there is no ‘best’ pick for Supreme Court Justice, just as there is no best pick for any other job. As long as the President is choosing from a list of the 10 – 20 most qualified, who he chooses is immaterial. When someone makes it into a list of top 20 for any job, the differences between any two on the list are negligible. We are a nation of over 300 million people, so the pool of qualified folks in any career is huge.
To those folks who are disturbed by the thought of a black woman being a Supreme Court Justice, think very carefully if this is indicating some latent (or not!) racism. And if a bit of racism is lurking, gets some help from a professional in therapy, or a pastor, but get help. When a person hates without knowing the individual but just hates anyone in a certain group, that is illogical, unhealthy and leads to unhappiness. Get help!

Why is it that when white men are appointed to positions of eminence no one questions whether they are “qualified” for the job. Fact is, many are not. I’m reminded of FEMA’s former head, “Brownie” who was exposed after the Katrina response debacle? Justice Sears is probably more qualified than some of the other jurists were, when they were appointed. I wish her the best and if she gets the position, I won’t hold it against her that she’s a friend of Clarence Thomas….. Oops, now that I think of it, “he” probably WAS a token appointment.

Last time I checked, President Obama does not even mention race. I am glad my President is color blind, but is not ignorant about racism in his own country! The “real” racist that’s been hiding for decades and “denying” their stupidity is finally proven to All. LOL. And the world moves on. It has little tolerance for ignorance and stupidity.

Sara,
The mere fact that the woman knows and is friends with Justice Thomas does not make her scary. If you spend 5 minutes reading how she has decided her cases, you will quickly realize that she and Justice Thomas do not share the same ideology. She for one supports individual liberties, is against the death penalty (at least the electric chair)and supports due process rights for prisoners. Read up and re-think your statements.

Former Georgia Supreme Court chief justice Leah Ward Sears is also on the short list, a senior White House official tells ABC News.‬‪