Obama gets first Supreme Court pick

[Kuya]

It looks like the right is getting ready for a massive smear campaign against any nominee that isn't "center" enough.

Phone lines around Washington began burning this morning as conservative organizations kicked off preparations for the fight over President Obama's eventual Supreme Court nominee.

Associate Justice David Souter's decision to step down at the end of this term has awakened a long-dormant network of conservative organizations that will do their best to augment — and at times pressure — Senate Republican efforts to frame Obama's eventual choice.

"You're already having chatter between conservatives on who is going to be the nominee, what type of nominee is going to be put forward by President Obama," said Brian Darling, the Heritage Foundation's Senate director and a former top Judiciary Committee staffer.

Groups like the American Center for Law & Justice, the Coalition for a Fair Judiciary and the Committee for Justice will all prepare background research on potential nominees, setting up the eventual, inevitable attacks on the nominee as a left-wing extremist.

Though the new nominee is still unnamed, several top Republican operatives are already sending background documents to reporters, questioning oft-mentioned candidates' fitness for the highest court in the nation.

"Part of our strategy was already done," said Curt Levey, executive director of the Committee for Justice. "We have all our research memos done on all the top people."

Early front-runners for the bogeyman nod have cropped up: Darling mentioned Yale University Law School Dean Harold Koh, whom he called "very extreme." Sekulow specifically called out 2nd Circuit Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor, an early favorite for the nod, as "to the left of David Souter."

By the way, has anyone noticed that the word center is having a very peculiar re-definition? If it even meant anything specific at all? Digby has commented on this already, but it seems some people would like to believe that center means white, anti-minorities, anti-choice. I find these calls for "centrists" as of late to be extremely peculiar.

[Vuitton]

You're either a radical left/liberal wine drinking cheese eating sodomite or you're a wholesome centrist with 2.5 children none of whom are gay or will marry outside their race.

[Conformity]

My cousin called me yesterday at 2am and was so upset her favorite justice is leaving. So sad, my wonderful prelaw cousin better get her dreams of another liberally minded justice in scotus. I am of the belief though that there is no political leanings with these people, just differentials in the way the interpret the law.

[Kuya]

Lieberman Welcomes "Another Independent Minded Democrat" To The Caucus | TPMDC

Arlen understands that we get things accomplished when we listen to the vital center of American politics

Since when is the fucking center synonymous with conservative in the Democratic party, lieberman you fucking piece of shit.

[pohibaba]

I find it funny that Senator Specter made it much easier for the Republicans to block any SCOTUS appointee by switching parties. By current rules, there has to be at least one minority vote to get a candidate out of the Judiciary Committee, that vote would most likely have been Specter's. Of course, the Democrats could change the rules, but that would be a horrible precedent to set and could upset many in their own party, including Specter who has has been known to be very set on traditition.

[archibaldcrane]

Somehow I don't think they're going to have a huge problem getting their woman appointed in the current system.

[Daimen-G]

I honestly think Specter switching parties was worse for the Democrats than the Republicans.

Agreeing with archibald ^ btw, whoever Obama nominates is probably going to get through, but not with out two weeks of the Republicans raising a stink about it for no reason other than to waste Obama's time.

[Maxxthepenguin]

Lieberman Welcomes "Another Independent Minded Democrat" To The Caucus | TPMDC

Since when is the fucking center synonymous with conservative in the Democratic party, lieberman you fucking piece of shit.

Lieberman really isn't very conservative. Politically, he plays some stupid fucking games, but in the end he usually sides with the Democrats.

[Kuya]

I hope they pick Sotomayor, even if just for the "A Puerto Rican woman in the SC!" factor.

[Olo401]

Of the names that have been mentioned so far I think it's gonna be Sotomayor. I doubt he'd nominate Elena Kagan since she was just picked to be Solicitor General and there was already a pissing fight over her confirmation there..

[0ni0n]

there're alot of speculation that the pick will be a woman, possibly non-white as well.

[Daimen-G]

Maybe if Puerto Rico gets one of its own on the SCOTUS then it will decide it wants to become a state!


no this wont happen ever

[ZarakiKujata]

As much as I hate scalia's decisions(for the most part) he is incredibly entertaining so I want him on the court as long as possible. Hopefully Uncle Clarence Thomas is the next one to go.

[Rhinox]

I rather have a dick cheney on the scotus then a dirty porkchop.

[Cantih]

Motherfucker, I was hoping the Minnesota thing would finally finish up soonish what with Dean's fundraising thing to incentivise Coleman's legal fund backers to pull out.

But now the GOP is going to drag this shit out to bitter end to stop Franken getting seated, so they can exercise more influence over the SCOTUS pick.

[Teffy]

Gotta be a woman, since bush fucked up the last pick.

[Kuya]

Sotomayor, Consolation Prize - Mark Krikorian - The Corner on National Review Online

I'm sure Mark H. is right about Sotomayor's being dumb and obnoxious, just as Derb is right about her being female and Hispanic is all the matters.

[Rhinox]

Tell me kuya. Your support for Sotomayor a product of her views or of her ethnicity?

[Kuya]

Definitely her ethnicity. Unless there's some candidate that is a conjoined twin and his/her vote/decision actually counts as two, in which case, bring on the two headed judge!

[Correction]

It's official: Obama names Sotomayor as Supreme Court nominee - CNN.com