AP source: Obama has more than 6 people for court

[Faygo Kid]

Source: AP (via Yahoo)

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is considering a list of more than six contenders for the Supreme Court that is dominated by women and Hispanics, one that includes judges and leaders from own his administration who have never donned a judicial robe.

Among those under consideration are Solicitor General Elena Kagan, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Appeals Court judges Sonia Sotomayor and Diane Pamela Wood. California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno is also under review by Obama.

Sources familiar with Obama's deliberations confirmed the names to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no candidates have been revealed by the White House. The confirmation amounts to the first time any name has been directly tied to Obama.

One official cautioned that Obama is considering other people who have not been publicly mentioned. And more names may be added as the administration considers a replacement for retiring Justice David Souter. . .

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090513/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_o...

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I have a feeling we may see Granholm get it. She's credentialed, only 50, a governor (Obama is a big admirer of Earl Warren), thoroughly vetted, empathetic with solid experience, and doesn't have a judicial record to pick apart.

I for one would be for it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Dang. I was so hoping he'd pick me.

[Faygo Kid]

2. Associate Justice Velveteen Ocelot may just be too much.

Although otherwise, I am sure you would be first choice.

[DURHAM D]

3. It will be the guy. n/t

[knitter4democracy]

4. It won't be Granholm.

She messed up the primary here in Michigan (with help from the MI GOP, granted) and did it to give the state to Hilary. Obama's since acted like Michigan either doesn't exist or shouldn't. All that crap about the car companies but tons of free money to the banks? Granholm's come out against all that double-standard stuff, and I just don't think Obama's going to put her in there.

I'm hoping she'll replace Stabenow in the Senate for us. She'd be better there, though I'll give her this: she's a great lawyer.

[Faygo Kid]

6. "she's a great lawyer" - yep. She would be a strong choice. Probably won't happen, but . . .

Don't underestimate Obama's wish to put somebody with public experience on the Court. She would handle the Senate hearings easily, and maybe be the kind of consensus builder who could occasionally split the Roberts-Souter-Alito-Thomas iron grip. Occasionally.

[knitter4democracy]

14. She's a moderate and pro-business, but the GOP hates her.

I mean, rabid, frothing at the mouth, crazy hates her. My dad's gone right-wing in his old age, and he says that craziest stuff about her that he's heard on the radio--and he actually liked her at first.

[Bozita]

9. Det FP headline online: Granholm reported among 6 considered for U.S. Supreme Court seat

You've got to see the comments below the story.

http://www.freep.com/article/20090513/NEWS06/90513101/R...

[knitter4democracy]

15. Sounds like the stuff my family says about her.

I have no idea why they're so crazy in their hatred. She's a moderate. Still, it's not like she's been the governor we really needed--we needed someone who could strongarm all the powers in Michigan and figure out a new way for our state to survive. She just hasn't done it.

[blue_onyx]

18. She's been a good governor

I think a lot of what has held the state back has been because of the GOP. They went from having control of everything to suddenly having to answer to a Democratic governor. So I think they decided to do to Granholm what the Republicans are now doing to Obama. Just say no and obstruct everything while offering no new ideas. The GOP would rather let the MI languish than to have Granholm look good. I don't see how she could "strongarm" people into doing something they don't want to do. Why doesn't Obama just strongarm the GOP into supporting his policies? It's unfortunate that Granholm didn't have control of both houses in large enough majorities so she could've made the most of her term.

[knitter4democracy]

21. Oh, I agree that the MI GOP's been ruining the state. That's definite.

At least, that's what I call messing with every single budget and getting crazier and crazier right-wingers as party higher-ups.

I was just thinking that she's worked so hard for consensus when sometimes she's needed to play hardball.

[blue_onyx]

24. I see Obama walking down this same road.

Granholm, I believe , thought that everyone would work together to build a better Michigan when she was first elected. By the time she was in her second term, I think she had figured the GOP out and with the House in Democratic control got more done. For example, I'm happy she fought for the 2007 tax increase. She didn't get her original plan but she knew we needed a tax increase and got her way. Also, the RPS and the film incentives were Granholm ideas that she pushed for and was able to get through Congress.

Obama's need for bipartisanship is similar to Granholm's desire to work for a "consensus." I hope Obama wises up because the GOP will oppose him no matter what, including the Supreme Court appointee.

[blue_onyx]

17. She did not try to give MI to Hillary

There had been talk of Michigan moving up before, including in 2004. The idea that this was done just to help Hillary is absurd. That being said, it was a mistake to move to an early primary.

[knitter4democracy]

22. There had been talk before, but nothing came of it.

My personal theory is that the MI GOP were the real bad guys, and I have no idea why our party leaders thought that the GOP agreeing with them on this was a good idea. The MI GOP saw that they'd only lose half their delegates but we'd lose all of ours and were the ones who put the bill forward in the House. Why our party leaders, including Granholm, didn't see through that crap, I'll never know.

Granholm and Stabenow were firmly in Hilary's camp, and they were trying to swing the state her way. Why else were the rank and file completely ignored (no one at any of the county meetings ever heard anyone telling Mark that it was a good idea or agreeing to it)? The entire thing backfired, and Obama's been very dismissive of our state and its needs since.

[blue_onyx]

25. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree

I don't believe moving MI's primary was a way to help Hillary. Hillary probably would've won Michigan and moving risked losing our delegates at the convention. Why would anyone want to risk losing ALL of their Michigan delegates just to move to a primary a few weeks earlier? I just don't see the move benefiting Hillary enough to make her supporters take such risks.

Levin has been pushing to take away Iowa and New Hampshire's unfair influence in the primary process for years. I believe enough people, including Granholm, agreed and finally decide to go for it.

[tomm2thumbs]

5. I bet he'll 'go hybrid' with Diane Pamela Wood - hispanic woman without hispanic name

just my guess - early bets pay higher <g>

[Metta]

7. How will Obama give away the store with this as he's done with torture and the banks?

Stay tuned.

[downindixie]

8. If they don't have a law degree

I'm not for them.

[Faygo Kid]

13. No problem. They all do.

And distinguished academic records in the law. Some are federal judges; Granholm is a former Wayne County prosecutor and Michigan attorney general. She clerked in law school for federal Judge Damon Keith, one of the very best.

[OwnedByFerrets]

10. I am prepared to be disappointed.

[defendandprotect]

11. All 6 should be FEMALE . . . we need a bunch of women on the court . . .

PROGRESSIVE, LIBERAL WOMEN . . .

[DCKit]

12. Would it be just too rude for President Obama to ask Scalia and Thomas to retire...

in order to make room for the more qualified applicants on his list? I mean, he's gone to all that trouble to make a list and shit, no sense wasting the effort.

[Romulox]

16. Perhaps Granholm's silence on the gutting of the Big 3 is the quid pro quo for this appointment

Because based on what's happened thusfar, it would not otherwise appear that Granholm has much influence with the Obama administration.

[blue_onyx]

19. I think she's been pretty vocal regarding the auto industry

I've seen her on the news numerous times speaking on the developments coming out of the industry. Several times, you could tell she was quite angry. Whether she has enough pull with Obama to influence his decisions is unknown. I would hope he listens to Granholm but considering that MI is usually ignored in Washington (except at election time), I'm pretty skeptical.

[Romulox]

20. She was for a time. But she's shut her mouth since the Chrysler BK. nt

[No Elephants]

23. The youngest one.

[Optical.Catalyst]

26. I hope he gets all six appointed to the Supreme Court

President Obama has seven years left in the White House.

Justices Stevens, Scalia, Kennedy, Souter, Ginsburg, and Breyer were all born in the 1930's.

Is six really too many to ask for?