Specter: No Gonzales
Interesting that "moderate" Republican and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter has counseled against the President nominating Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to the Supreme Court.
He bases his advice on the "tough hearing" that Gonzales just completed to become attorney general. It's the right advice for the wrong reason.
The President has nothing to fear from a "tough" confirmation fight for a good candidate -- one who can help the country understand the importance of placing a constitutionalist on the Court, rather than another judge who believes in an activist and elitist "living Constitution".
If there is anything of which the President should be wary, it would be breaking his pledge, made as recently as last September:
"I will continue to appoint federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law."
We're counting on you, Mr. President.
He bases his advice on the "tough hearing" that Gonzales just completed to become attorney general. It's the right advice for the wrong reason.
The President has nothing to fear from a "tough" confirmation fight for a good candidate -- one who can help the country understand the importance of placing a constitutionalist on the Court, rather than another judge who believes in an activist and elitist "living Constitution".
If there is anything of which the President should be wary, it would be breaking his pledge, made as recently as last September:
"I will continue to appoint federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law."
We're counting on you, Mr. President.
posted by LadybugUSA at 6:17 PM
1 Comments:
Well reasoned and written, as usual, Carol! Bravo!
Here's my two cents worth on things. I believe Judge Roberts will be confirmed as Chief Justice in time for the Court's opening session in October.
Next, I'm guessing that President Bush will nominate Edith Jones as O'Connor's replacement. Ms. Jones currently resides in New Orleans, serving on the 5th Circuit Court. Nominating a New Orleans resident in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina helps from a political spin point-of-view.
Lastly, I expect Associate Justice John Paul Stevens to be replaced on the Supreme Court prior to Bush's term expiring in January, 2009. Knowing Stevens is the most reliably liberal Justice on the Court, the confirmation hearings for his replacement will be extremely acrimonious - the Democrats will know "the jig is up" and the Court's judicial philosophy will no longer lean towards that of Earl Warren's Court!
Peter
p.s. Maybe Carol can blog on how O'Connor's replacement will assume the seat. I'm not quite clear on whether an Associate Justice may join the court mid-term. Very unusual - not sure that has ever happened in the Court's history. Again, maybe Carol can expand on that and inform us all.
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