Reply #107: This is federal court

[H2O Man]

hence the geographic concerns are of far less significance than the individual attorney's belief system. For example, the 2000 Florida conflict: when it was in the state (Supreme) court, the geographic influence was involved. That court had a history of "liberal" rulings that consistently favored counting all votes possible, and respecting the intention of the voters. (Likewise, in the 1960s, 70s, and even 80s, the New Jersey Supreme Court was respected as being perhaps the single best court in the country.)

But when the 2000 election was "decided" by the US Supreme Court, it made no difference whatsoever WHERE the individual justices lived or learned their trade. Their belief systems decided the case.

When the White House has applied all of the pressures --national security, the good of the country, etc -- it is fair to say that Fitzgerald recognizes he has been selected to play an important role in our nation's history. He's a smart man: the idea of these snakes crying "national security" when they blew the cover of Plame's work must strike him as deeply offensive.