Rehnquist confounds speculation over resignation

[lovuian]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ft/20050627/bs_ft/fto062720051206581291

By Patti Waldmeir in Washington
Mon Jun 27,11:55 AM ET



The battle for a new chief justice for the US Supreme Court was put on hold on Monday after William Rehnquist, the court's long-serving chief justice, failed to announce his resignation as the Court went into recess until October.

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Speculation had mounted at the weekend over the possible retirement of the 80-year-old Mr Rehnquist, who is suffering from thyroid cancer. Lobbyist from left and right launched pre-emptive strikes, even though they do not know for sure whether the chief justice intends to resign on Monday, later in the week, or not at all.

People for the American Way, a liberal lobby group, issued a statement saying it had set up a "state-of-the-art war room" to handle the expected battle over a new chief justice. Progress for America, on the conservative side, aired national television commercials urging Democrats not to block a vote on the nominee by using a filibuster.

Political activists care deeply about who sits on the court as it is often called on to resolve important social issues that elected legislators fail to tackle.

Republicans are hoping to mount an ultra-conservative takeover of the court that could transform American social policy for decades to come. If there is a resignation, the battle over the replacement could dominate US politics for months.

Mr Rehnquist has been on the Supreme Court for 33 years, 18 of them as chief justice. His retirement has been rumoured for years, though speculation has been particularly intense since it was announced last autumn that he had cancer.

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Its got to be driving the Republicans Bonkers!!!

[Renew Deal]

1. He will probably do it over the summer

To avoid Bush's nominee getting grilled.

[merh]

3. Are you kidding?

He has been hanging in there to keep the weed from appointing anyone. He is hanging in there for as long as he can, maybe holding out for indictments in Plame and hearings on DSM/impeachment. ;-)

If he wanted to let the weed nominate someone, he would have retired when he was diagnosed. Same with Sandra Day O'Connor, they don't want to let the weed nominate anyone.

[ihelpu2see]

7. I have the same strange feeling..

they feel responsible for putting the prol in 1600 Penn. Ave. so they want to be there to kick him out, or at least not let him appoint some big oil lawyer to the bench.... and to let Scalia be chief would be a disgrace after what he said today in one of the descents on the 10 Commandments.

[merh]

8. They both were to have retired some time ago.

Battling cancer is no picnic, he is hanging in there to keep the weed's nomination out. They know what a mess these people are making of our nation. They see it better than most of us.

Fitzpatrick, get those indictments, get the ball rolling on bringing down the evil demons destroying our nation.

[Orangepeel]

11. I sincerely believe that with O'Connor.

I think she feels guilty because she knows her vote was bullshit. But Renquist? I don't believe it. He might not want to give up power at all, but he's as neo-con as they come and a shrub fan. Crawled out of his hospital bed to swear him in.

[merh]

13. I think if wanted to let the weed have his nomination

he would have quit some time ago. What dirt do they have on him to keep him in line?

History will tell.

[VegasWolf]

2. Bush is now going to have to do something to help Rehnquist's health

along.

[MichiganVote]

4. Gonna be a whole of Bush people 'spending more time w/their families

[Me.]

5. Maybe These People Scare Him Too

and he's hanging on for dear life until there is a new president.

[lovuian]

6. Rehnquist is hanging on just to drive Bush nuts!!!

:tinfoilhat: 33 years is a long time and it looks like its gonna be longer!!!

[Massacure]

9. He's probably waiting to see what happens in 2006.

If he resigns in 2006, then the election is just a couple months away and no one in their right mind would vote for a radical replacement.

[jwirr]

14. OR his replacement will be the carrot

the gop uses in 2006 to keep their right wingers from deserting.

[Massacure]

15. Is the base really the problem? I thought the moderates were...

[Javaman]

10. Title should have read, "moron* pissed at lack of Rehnquists resignation"

[Javaman]

12. I think him not retiring blew a portion of morons* speech tomorrow night..

I bet moron* was getting a woodie just thinking about dropping that bomb on the nation.
"look murka, I have a woodie, I get to be a big boy today!" but alas, morons* moments in the sun seem to have set.

I just have one thing to say to moron*, "tough shit dickhead, those judges are doing penance by staying in after they fucked this country and appointed you, so eat shit, you're a lame duck", followed by a really big belly laugh. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[jobycom]

16. Then again, he could resign tomorrow, just to give W something to say.

That would distract people from Bush's Iraq statements, and probably blow DSM out of the news altogether.

Let's see what the news is by noon on Tuesday.

[CityDem]

17. We are giving Rehnquist way too much credit

He is a conservative rupuke who voted to take away some of our most fundamental rights. The only reason he stays on the court is his thirst for power.