2008 Woodie Awards
Think!
Duck, duck, Supreme Court
Issue date: 11/2/05 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Adam Henson
Editor-in-Chief
President Bush is at it again, playing another round of duck, duck, Supreme Court nominee, and hoping this time that his candidate will not be tripped up while chasing the prize around the circle.
Of course the last nominee, Harriett Miers, was doomed because of two words that came directly from the president's own mouth - "Trust me." It seems that trust isn't quite enough for the staunchest conservatives when it comes to the Supreme Court. But thinking about the conservative track record on the court, in the case of O'Connor if nothing else, there may be good reason behind that.
Even though Miers is a practicing Episcopal it seems there was doubt she wouldn't become another O'Connor or Ginsburg - casting swing votes in the wrong direction, on major issues. The conservatives moved in on her like turtles with fangs, dealing with most problems by ducking their heads back into their shells, but once they did decide to do something, they morphed into piranhas, smelling blood in the water.
So now W. has got to pick another - my how that political capital burns a hole in one's pocket.
Of course as long as he did not happen to hear Ann Coulter on C-SPAN over the weekend, who suggested that he nominate someone as tough as Scalia or Bork so that Scalia could retire and run for president in 2008 and save America, then maybe not all hope is lost.
So now it's Alito who is up to bat. I do hope that Ted Kennedy isn't very disappointed - he mentioned after Miers' demise that Bush needed to ignore the wishes of his constituency and nominate someone that everyone could agree on. Maybe since the Republicans couldn't agree on Miers, the Democrats had already made up their mind that they couldn't either. Of course if the Republicans are fighting the president over his nominees that makes everything much easier for the Dems.
Of all the people President Bush could have tapped for the chair, Alito is a good choice, if for no other reason his 13 years on the bench as an appeals judge. There is a battle already brewing in the capitol with this nomination, though - it seems that Mr. Kennedy is terribly disappointed - talks of a democrat filibuster in the senate denying a yes-no vote are already circulating in major media circles.
It seems the rainy day the president has been saving that political capital for is upon him. Even though he didn't want to fight his own party to push a nominee through, lets hope he will show a little more backbone against the opposition. Maybe if he equates Kennedy and the Democrats with foreign terrorists he can get something done.
Editor-in-Chief
President Bush is at it again, playing another round of duck, duck, Supreme Court nominee, and hoping this time that his candidate will not be tripped up while chasing the prize around the circle.
Of course the last nominee, Harriett Miers, was doomed because of two words that came directly from the president's own mouth - "Trust me." It seems that trust isn't quite enough for the staunchest conservatives when it comes to the Supreme Court. But thinking about the conservative track record on the court, in the case of O'Connor if nothing else, there may be good reason behind that.
Even though Miers is a practicing Episcopal it seems there was doubt she wouldn't become another O'Connor or Ginsburg - casting swing votes in the wrong direction, on major issues. The conservatives moved in on her like turtles with fangs, dealing with most problems by ducking their heads back into their shells, but once they did decide to do something, they morphed into piranhas, smelling blood in the water.
So now W. has got to pick another - my how that political capital burns a hole in one's pocket.
Of course as long as he did not happen to hear Ann Coulter on C-SPAN over the weekend, who suggested that he nominate someone as tough as Scalia or Bork so that Scalia could retire and run for president in 2008 and save America, then maybe not all hope is lost.
So now it's Alito who is up to bat. I do hope that Ted Kennedy isn't very disappointed - he mentioned after Miers' demise that Bush needed to ignore the wishes of his constituency and nominate someone that everyone could agree on. Maybe since the Republicans couldn't agree on Miers, the Democrats had already made up their mind that they couldn't either. Of course if the Republicans are fighting the president over his nominees that makes everything much easier for the Dems.
Of all the people President Bush could have tapped for the chair, Alito is a good choice, if for no other reason his 13 years on the bench as an appeals judge. There is a battle already brewing in the capitol with this nomination, though - it seems that Mr. Kennedy is terribly disappointed - talks of a democrat filibuster in the senate denying a yes-no vote are already circulating in major media circles.
It seems the rainy day the president has been saving that political capital for is upon him. Even though he didn't want to fight his own party to push a nominee through, lets hope he will show a little more backbone against the opposition. Maybe if he equates Kennedy and the Democrats with foreign terrorists he can get something done.