Ocasio-Cortez says Breyer should retire from Supreme Court

[Omaha Steve]

Source: The Hill

BY MYCHAEL SCHNELL

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Sunday said she thinks liberal Justice Stephen Breyer should retire at the end of the court's term, which could allow President Biden to nominate his successor and a Democratic Senate to confirm a nominee.

Pressed by Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union” on whether the 82-year-old justice should retire, Ocasio-Cortez said “I’m inclined to say yes.”

“Just to be clear, you do think that Justice Stephen Breyer should retire at the end of this term?” Bash asked.

“You know I, it's something that I’d think about but I, I would probably lean towards yes. But yes, you're asking me this question so I've just, I would give more thought to it but, but I'm inclined to say yes,” Ocasio-Cortez responded.


Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/558193-ocasio-cortez-on-justice-breyer-retiring-at-end-of-term-i-would-probably-lean

[Mysterian]

1. She's correct

I'm still not sure why Ginsburg unwisely chose not to retire during Obama's presidency.

[Renew Deal]

29. She is correct but it was blasphemy when the same thing was said about Ginsburg.

She should have retired in 2013-14.

[SharonAnn]

58. With Ginsburg, it was a Republican Senate majority. They would never have confirmed a Democrat.

[padah513]

2. I understand her sentiment but the better answer would have been no answer at all.

Stop giving right-wing news media soundbites. They'll twist this like a pretzel.

[Voltaire2]

4. What?

It’s a reasonable question and a reasonable answer. Second guessing the right wing noise machine is nonsense.

[NH Ethylene]

37. I agree. This could be seen as pressuring him to resign.

Which is not appropriate.

She should have said something like it is his decision when to retire and she is not going to weigh in on it.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

44. True

But they'll jump at any opportunity.

[marble falls]

3. It's a reasonable idea and a lot of us have already at least considered it. And it isn't as if ...

... screamed it from a roof top, she was specifically answering a specific question. Was this supposed to be a gotcha question?

I wish for 15 more years of Democratic Presidents, but I think we need to plan for the worst. We need to think about safe guarding a seat from the RW. And we need to turn out every election with even more voters than last year. Contest every office down to dog catcher.

[Budi]

5. HUH? 😳

You know I, it's something that I’d think about but I, I would probably lean towards yes. But yes, you're asking me this question so I've just, I would give more thought to it but, but I'm inclined to say yes,” Ocasio-Cortez responded.

Sure. Ok then.

[Me.]

12. All Righty THen

He better get out

[Budi]

13. Yup. Or else. There's plenty more where this came from, mister!

[mahina]

6. I wouldn't be surprised if Justice Sotomayor did as well

And I am a great fan. With her health and the current situation it would be wise.

Thomas, Beerbong, all those on the right too of course, sooner.

[Ford_Prefect]

7. The question was baited and had no good answer except to use as a wedge.

The OP title makes it sound she offered the opinion rather than being led to it. That's not what happened. We need to be aware there are those who want AOC to be too progressive for prime time as a wedge to split the party.

I hear it among some local Dems that we shouldn't move too far too fast. Others are sure we haven't moved nearly quick enough or far enough. The RW has a program running to divide us beyond our own preferences and to split the party by defining the dialogues as toxic and binary.

I saw this during the hate war on progressives when anything Prog Dems said was too socialist or worse. This is NOT how we should do business.

No matter how obvious the question of Breyer's situation seems it is premature to discuss it out of hand. This was a set-up IMO.

[ancianita]

32. +100

[NH Ethylene]

38. A more experienced politician would have known to not answer this.

Another lesson learned by AOC.

[Budi]

8. Did she have a private discussion with Breyer before positioning it to the media?

Just asking.

[Ford_Prefect]

35. It seems she was asked if she had an opinion rather than presenting one ad hoc.

CNN's Dana Bash brought up the subject during an interview on the "State of the Union" program. Bash pursued the issue
during the interview rather than AOC speaking at length.

Earlier in the interview, when Bash asked Ocasio-Cortez if she agreed with Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.), who in April called on Breyer to retire at the end of the term, Ocasio-Cortez said, “I believe Rep. Jones has a point.”

Mondaire in April said that “there’s no question” that Breyer should retire, adding, “My goodness, have we not learned our lesson?”

[NYC Liberal]

9. Ginsburg also should have retired while Obama was president and we had the Senate.

And she'd already had pancreatic cancer at the point. But anyone who even suggested that back then was swarmed with angry criticism.

Yes, Breyer should retire.

[bucolic_frolic]

10. +1

[JohnSJ]

16. also those who should have voted in 2016 instead of not voting, or voting third party

Last edited Sun Jun 13, 2021, 07:11 PM - Edit history (1)

The only thing we have some control over is getting out the vote, and winning at least a two seat majority in the Senate

[Me.]

19. Precisely

coulda, woulda, shoulda

[Earth-shine]

52. I remember that she said Obama would not nominate someone as liberal as she is.

I wish I had a link for that quote. I can offer only my ailing, failing memory.

[summer_in_TX]

11. AOC and every other person who campaigns for Breyer to step down seems to me

to be embracing a risky strategy.

I have a stubborn streak myself, and don't like being told I should do something. (But I also can realize they're right – just depends on temperament and also if they do it in an offensive way.)

[JohnSJ]

17. It could very well have just the opposite effect.

[LudwigPastorius]

26. Saying this kind of thing in public may be more likely to make him...

want to stay on the job.

The Justices, who (in theory) are supposed to be unswayed by political considerations, may take extra steps to avoid that perception when something like this is suggested.

[moose65]

36. She's not "campaigning"

She answered a question, but said she would have to think about it further.

It's not like she's out there screaming that he should retire.

[bucolic_frolic]

14. The courts could be shaken up with a retirement age and a shelf life

23 years or age 84, whichever comes first. Next!

[marie999]

22. It will take an amendment to the Constitution.

[bucolic_frolic]

24. Yes

unless both parties and justices agree to some such. But if even ONE party followed it, that would be us Democrats, it would help hold onto seats appointed by Democrats. If the other party wishes to take their chances by not retiring, that is their privilege.

[Rebl2]

15. Supreme Court

Justices seem to be a stubborn (and a bit selfish) bunch, so save your breath. They will retire when they are good and ready or die on the bench.

[JohnSJ]

18. +++

[empedocles]

20. Not just Justices that seem to be a stubborn, (and a bit selfish) bunch

[ripcord]

21. I absolutely hate this

Decades of outstanding service to our country and now people are encouraging him to step down for political expediency, talk about respecting his service. Thanks for all you have done now don't let the doorknob hit you in the ass on the way out. Not quite as bad as the people who wanted RBG to retire, I thought they were disgusting.

[Lancero]

33. Should they be expected to work until the day they kneel over?

Given the treatment Kennedy got when he retired, I think I sadly know that answer.

Work until you're dead, it seems, is no longer just the Republicans motto.

[ripcord]

41. Beyer deserves the resepect of not having people tell him to get out

[Lancero]

48. Bit of a difference between saying he should retire, and demanding he leave.

But apparently, saying he should retire is anathema to you.

Work till ya die, I guess.

[pnwmom]

34. If they care about the country more than their own self-importance, they would retire

in the tiny window here when the D's are in control of the process.

I hate to see a repeat of what happened with Ginsburg. It was so predictable.

[SunSeeker]

53. Totally agree. nt

[rpannier]

45. While he does deserve the respect for his service, there comes a time when you go

As harsh as that may sound to you, it is a fact.
I know some talented people who were shown the door because it was time -- either because they knew it, or it was best for the organization
I'm 57 and will soon have to accept that fact that it is time to go whether I want to or not
The Courts are part of the political system. So yes, politics does play into this
If he sits there and the republikkans take the WH in 24 and control the senate, the damage will be for another one or two generations (look at the damage Scalia, Thomas, etal have done) and he will share much of that blame
He needs to go for the good of the whole

[cadoman]

51. agreed--don't waste political capital and time swapping a liberal justice for a liberal justice!

Biden always goes back to politics being the art of the possible. Get productive things done, earn credibility, and let the judicial appointments come to you. One of those 9 justices _will_ pass away or retire during Biden's term. They're very old people. Wait for it to happen and make your best move then.

And give Breyer some credit as to his awareness of the political landscape. If he perceives that the country needs him to move on for political reasons he'll do it.

[SunSeeker]

54. Doing what's best for the country is not "political expediency."

Breyer retiring now would be what's best for the country.

[elleng]

23. :-(

[rpannier]

25. Nothing against Breyer, but... prefer not to have another Scalia or RGB situation

[peppertree]

28. +1

There are only 9 of them - and a majority of 5 carries almost as much power as a parallel presidency.

"Despots in robes," as Jefferson so aptly warned.

[BeyondGeography]

27. Obviously

[DonCoquixote]

30. normally this woudl be risky

but we saw Mitch slam dunk Amy before RBG was even buried. We need to rob the trumpkin of a campaign issue, considering they dram, of someone like a Ted Cruz to put the nail in the coffin.

[LudwigPastorius]

31. Would we even have the 51 votes to confirm a good replacement?

You know, after the shit that Manchin and Sinema have been pulling.

[DonCoquixote]

42. we wpul;d havbe a bnetter chance now

than in 2021 if Trump manages to steal the oval office

[LudwigPastorius]

43. Trump is not going to somehow become the president this year.

He is much more likely to be filing appeals to stay out of prison.

[DonCoquixote]

46. famous last words

I never thought he would get elected dogcatcher of Queens, much less President. There are a group of people who would vote for him even if he promoted turning over all affairs to Putin.

[LudwigPastorius]

50. There is no constitutional mechanism for Trump to become president until 2024.

If he is able to somehow illegally seize power in the next 6 months, we all will have much larger problems than a Supreme Court Justice retiring.

[Jose Garcia]

39. Maybe Sotomayor and Kagan should as well

They can be replaced by healthy 25-year old lawyers.

[DonCoquixote]

47. to be fair

I love those two, but if I knew that we coudl get in people who would spend 50 years, I would..this court is set to do damage for a generation or two.

[pnwmom]

55. No, they can't. n/t

[Calista241]

40. IMO, Breyer is less likely to positively respond to this type of call.

He stridently believes that the court is above politics, and that politicians and justices can only delegitimize the court by acting or appearing to act in a partisan manner.

[Blasphemer]

49. I agree with her.

Indeed, Obama felt the same way about RBG and quietly tried to nudge her in that direction. It's not about disrespect and it's not even about political expediency. At this point, I feel that it is a matter of saving our democracy. I fear Breyer thinks that such fears are overblown. I think they are grossly understated. We are in a state of crisis and we need the Biden/Harris administration to be more than just a bandaid. We need a court that will help preserve democracy, not one that will torpedo it.

[alphafemale]

56. Immediately

If Moscow Mitch gets the Senate back he will deny a nomination to Biden from 2022 on.

We know this now.

[BradAllison]

57. She's 100% right

Especially after McConnell's latest threat.

Mind you, it's not like she demanded it as the media and some here will imply.