Bush narrows Supreme Court selection to 2, sources say

[ECH1969]

WASHINGTON - Rebounding from the failed nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, President Bush is poised to select between two of the nation's leading conservative federal appeals court judges - both experienced jurists with deep backgrounds in constitutional law - for what promises to be a bruising Senate confirmation battle.

With an announcement expected Sunday or Monday, administration officials have narrowed the focus to Judges Samuel Alito of New Jersey and Michael Luttig of Virginia, sources involved in the process said. Both have sterling legal qualifications and solid conservative credentials, and both would set off an explosive fight with Senate Democrats, who are demanding a more moderate nominee to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

The conservative legal community that ardently opposed Miers' nomination - and helped force her withdrawal on Thursday - would embrace either judge, although Luttig is more well-known and would win most enthusiastic support.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/13031689.htm

[IndianaGreen]

1. Will the Democrats filibuster the appointment of an extremist to SCOTUS?

Now that it has become obvious even to a drunkard that the RW wants the most Fascist jurist they can get, it is time for the Democrats to block every Bush appointee until after the 2008 elections.

[malaise]

2. Luttig is as right wing as Attila the Hun

Here comes the filibuster

[Scooter24]

3. But,

will they use that "nuclear option" they claim to have.

[malaise]

5. We shall see

should be fun in this current environment.

[AndyTiedye]

35. Fun?

:nuke:The "nuclear option" is called that for a reason.

Not only would it would be the end of the Democratic party, it would be
the end of the two party system -- effectively the end of our democracy.
It would formalize the permanent transition of our country to one-party government.

The Rubicon would truely have been crossed at that point, and there
would be no way back to democracy after that.

[malaise]

46. That failed visit to Howard U

plus showing up at Rosa parks tribute may be a hint that he's planning to name Condi #2. That's just as bad.
I'm not as pessimistic as youar. The dems better use that filibuster.

[IndianaGreen]

7. A real opposition party would do whatever it takes to block Bush

The question is, are the Democrats such a party? Do they have what it takes to block Bush's efforts to turn SCOTUS into a puppet arm of the Religious Right?

[AndyTiedye]

36. It Is Painfully Obvious that the Dems Have Far Less Power than the Fundies

Bush**'s troubles are only driving him closer to the Fundies.
Just like it's always been for him.

Theocracy creeps closer every day.

[AndyTiedye]

14. They Will Go Nuclear On Us. They Need a Really Big Win Right Now...

...and that would give it to them. They'd get their fire-breathing
Fundie on the court, they'd overturn Roe v. Wade, Lawrence, v. Texas,
and Griswold v. Connecticut, and their base would be ecstatic and
energized to get abortion, birth control, and gay people outlawed everywhere.

And forever after, they'd run the Senate like the House, with the
Democrats relegated to the basement.

[Dudley_DUright]

6. So is Alito

They call him Scalito, as in little Scalia.

[TheDebbieDee]

4. So, which of the two of them is.....

the sheet-wearing, cross-burning rascist!

I think the extreme right-wing will be happy with nothing else.

[msongs]

8. fundies want a battle so they can get lots of $$ from their base... nt

[Selteri]

9. Here I was expecting Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum

I'm not surprised that he chose two males though, even the news pretty much called that they weren't planning on anything more to do with that than choosing some wasp-m(R) (Your guess if that R is for REthug or Rebourn though. ;) )

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

10. Luttig's the one in Richmond, right?

[kikiek]

43. Yes..I believe so. The one I thought sounded like a nightmare.

[UTUSN]

11. We Knew It Was Coming, But This Makes Shrub Look Wimpy-Wussier

Here he is, the avenger of Poppy's being called a wimp, and now he caves to his base. He ain't their Leader, he's their Bitch.

[Inland]

12. Ugh. Not good. He has a dog, and he has a cat. nt

[MarsThe Cat]

13. the true nominee has yet to be revealed-

Harriet was window dressing from the get go.

and this upcoming nomination battle is make or break time for both the Dems and the little fuhrer's second term.

Once again, it's all in the disabled hands of our beloved dysfunctional press- the would-be, could-be should-fucking-be Watchdogs of Democracy...NOT enablers & mouthpieces of corporo-fascism.

oh, well...

[DoyBoy]

15. FwCKIN' A!--nt

[Catfight]

16. The evangelistic bush will pander to the right, I expect nothing less of

from the weakest president ever. I think America is up for the greatest division in American history, BRING IT ON! I'm confident with the million man march, million women march and all the millions opposing so many of bush's religious ideologies in politics that this will be the defining moment of his lame duck presidency anyway. Almost all repugs I know do NOT want anything overturned in law. So let's go Bush....divide this country and cross your fingers, because a SCOTUS is about ALL American's, not just bush's whacked out American taliban religious freaks.

[ninkasi]

18. While what you say is correct...

"a SCOTUS is about ALL American's, not just bush's whacked out American taliban religious freaks.", sadly, being fair to all Americans is not what they care about. They want to ram their beliefs down our throats, and would cheerfully bring back a sort of Fundamentalist Inquisition, if they could.

It baffles me that so many Americans can't seem to grasp the importance of letting a woman make her own choices, and think that preventing gay marriage is more important than easing poverty, educating our children, or providing universal health care.

I am truly worried about the next SCOTUS. There are too many ways for them to ruin America, and make the recovery of our country from years of conservative abuse even more difficult. As far as the Republican's "nuclear option", I still say that we need to stick together and oppose EVERYTHING this administration does from now on. We need to show the American people that we are capable of fighting for the causes we believe in, because if we don't, then people will rightfully say that we are weak.

We don't have to be weak, we can choose strength, and while it might not yet be apparent to our leaders, unless they start paying attention to us, they will be out of a job the next time they run for office.

[texanshatingbush]

17. It's to their benefit to create a two-front war

.....where, of course, Bushco hopes to receive the benefit of having the SCOTUS cannon fire drown out the Plamegate cannon fire.

[The Stranger]

19. I told you we were fucked when Howdy Doody quit.

The question now is whether we want mustard or mayonaise on our shit sandwich.

[CityDem]

20. Either will pass

Both of these guys have been circuit court judges for over 10 years and will look good in front of the judiciary committee. I am afraid the dems in the senate will not have the stones to filibuster either of these potential nominees. Both have the requisite qualifications (unlike Mier) and will not say a thing in their hearings that will jeopardize their confirmation.

This really sucks because both are WAY MORE conservative than O'Connor.

[xyboymil]

21. Breaking: Bushes pick for SC down to these two. May announce tonight..

Didnt see this yet...

Bush sets short list for court
Sources name 2 conservative appeals judges

By Jan Crawford Greenburg
Washington Bureau
Published October 30, 2005

WASHINGTON -- Rebounding from the failed nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, President Bush is poised to select between two of the nation's leading conservative federal appeals court judges--both experienced jurists with deep backgrounds in constitutional law--for what promises to be a bruising Senate confirmation battle.

With an announcement expected Sunday or Monday, administration officials have narrowed the focus to Judges Samuel Alito of New Jersey and J. Michael Luttig of Virginia, sources involved in the process said. Both have sterling legal qualifications and solid conservative credentials, and both would set off an explosive fight with Senate Democrats, who are demanding a more moderate nominee to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Sources close to the process cautioned that Bush still could pick someone else, noting that he had wanted to name a woman to replace O'Connor. He had considered Priscilla Owen of Texas, another federal appeals court judge, before tapping Miers, and Owen remains a distant possibility, administration sources said.

http://www.chicagotribune.com

For the link, you may need to register. WMTJ in Milwaukee annonced that Bush may make his announcement tonight yet...

Does anyone know much about these two? They sound fairly right wing. :eyes:

[givemebackmycountry]

22. Priscilla Owens and Edith Jones will trigger the Nu-Cle-er option...

Immediately.

They are BEYOND right wing.

Please Monkey, do it.

PLEASE?

[Marlie]

24. Jeesh, they really gave this a lot of thought didn't they?

Hope this is just another huge mistake to add to their list.

[still_one]

23. I have no doubt he will pick a radical, to get his treason off the front

page

[ck4829]

25. I'm praying to God hoping the Pro-Miers RW'ers will remember her.

[fooj]

26. The rat bastard's administration is under criminal investigation...

Why the f*ck is HE choosing a Supreme Court nominee? Am I the only one that is pissed about this?

Peace.

[leveymg]

28. No. This should be a top-shelf talking point for the Dems.

No S. Ct. Appn't til Rove/Libby Trial is Over

DailyKos
by leveymg
Thu Jul 21, 2005 at 05:59:02 AM PDT

Karl - If you're reading this: No SCOTUS confirmation until you're in jail with Libby. Here's the deal, and the only one your boss is going to get on the Roberts nomination:


Bush appointees must recuse themselves from cases involving Bush Admin. officials - there is a clear conflict of interest here.


all SCOTUS appointments wait until the Plamegate prosecutions are completed - nobody would have let Richard Nixon appoint a Supreme Court Justice after the Watergate investigation began. This is more serious than Watergate.


That is all - The Real Deal Democrats.

And, here at DU

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[deadparrot]

27. They're all extremists. Democrats have got to stand up on this one.

I know Reid is very anti-Alito. Hopefully, the same goes for Luttig.

[NVMojo]

29. he can't give it a rest, can he?

[xyboymil]

30. Once again, Bush the great "divider" for the USA.....

Nominate a moderate, unite the country, improve his presidential rating?

Oh no! Why would I do that? Asshole! :mad:

[JanusAscending]

31. NOT TONIGHT! Been watching "feau x news"?

I've been listening to it all afternoon ( any news is better than no news) They've kept everybody hanging this afternoon hoping for an announcment. Not gonna happen today folks.

[xyboymil]

32. Wont surprise me if he waits til Monday. That'll replace the headlines ...

from his scandalous Administration. At least for a day.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

33. Is it just me or the most important thing about a Bush SC nominee...

...is the AGE?

Maybe the Dems should accept anyone who is 75 or older, even if it's Fred Phelps.

[rainbow4321]

34. Looks like he is going to try and takeover the airwaves this week

Monday-some predicting SC nominee announcement

Tuesday- per the below article is "Flu" day

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/health/sns-ap-super-flu,0,172565.story?coll=nyc-healthhome-headlines

Bush on Tuesday is visiting the National Institutes of Health to announce his administration's strategy on how to prepare for the next flu pandemic, whether it's caused by the bird flu in Asia or some other super strain of influenza. Federal health officials have spent the last year updating a national plan on how to do that.
-------------------------------
So that leaves Wed, Thurs, and then Friday's bad-news-dump day....

[drfresh]

42. They better not interrupt West Wing -nt

[bettyellen]

37. New Rules: No big deal if they are deprived of an up and down vote right?

If they can pull that shit- so can we.
Fillibuster and most Americans would fucking love it at this point. The blood is in the water. If Dems want to energize their bases, pick up some real support for 2006 they had better start earning it NOW.

[goclark]

39. Democrats, do your duty and earn your pay

The Democrats took a vacation on Miers and the Republicans got rid of her.

I'm not so sure that they had not planned it that way all along, they really don't like George now.

They only wanted him to over turn roe v. Wade and they will have that now with these choices.

And we are left with nothing but a FIGHT.


No guts, no glory Democrats, let's FIGHT!

Am I wrong in thinking that this is really a battle that if we fight it hard enough,we will be fighting the BUSH BASE instead of the entire Republican party?

What percent of the American Public wants to overthrough Roe v. Wade?

[bettyellen]

40. they had better, we're taking names, and only those who show spine on this

are getting any help in 2006. this is too important to many of us.

[goclark]

41. Gonna be like Santa Claus on this issue

We have made a list
We're checking it twice
Gonna find out who is naughty or nice.

Kick butt Democrats or step aside.

[bettyellen]

44. you know it! 2/3 of the political activists i know are women

and they are fucked without us. we're watching closely.

[VegasWolf]

38. Bork or Bork? nt

[EndElectoral]

45. Luttig (another Texan) and Alito

Here's part of Luttig's record (who is only 47):

"Two years ago, he wrote an opinion striking down the Violence Against Women Act on the grounds that Congress had overstepped its authority in establishing the legislation. In 1998, he reversed a lower court ruling and upheld a Virginia ban on partial birth abortion. A year earlier he issued a ruling allowing the state to require parental notification before a teen-ager could obtain an abortion."

Alito is called "Scalito" due to his opinions paralleing Scalia.

"In 1997, Alito authored the majority opinion upholding a city's right to stage a holiday display that included a Nativity scene and a menorah because the city also included secular symbols and a banner emphasizing the importance of diversity. In Planned Parenthood v. Casey, Alito was the sole dissenter on the Third Circuit, which struck a Pennsylvania law that required women seeking abortions to consult their husbands. He argued that many of the potential reasons for an abortion, such as "economic constraints, future plans, or the husbands' previously expressed opposition . . . may be obviated by discussion prior to abortion." The case went on to the Supreme Court, which upheld the lower court's decision 6 to 3."

This is the best we can do? Both these guys would be a big fight by the Dems in the Senate and polarize the Senate and country even more.