WP: GOP Plots Court Strategy With Rehnquist in Mind

[Pirate Smile]

GOP Plots Court Strategy With Rehnquist in Mind

By Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 8, 2005; Page A05

A week after Justice Sandra Day O'Connor announced her retirement, the White House and its allies are preparing for the possibility that Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist might soon follow suit, opening up a second vacancy to fill and scrambling the politics of this summer's brewing nomination battle.

Talk of a possible Rehnquist retirement has reached full boil again as Republican strategists mapped out plans for how to tackle a double nomination. Advisers inside and outside the White House are discussing how to select two potential nominees, how they might match or balance each other and how to sequence their confirmation hearings.

"We're prepared for every contingency," said a senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because Rehnquist has made no announcement. "If it's multiple candidates, we'll be ready."

If Rehnquist decides to step down, President Bush will have the opportunity to put a decisive personal stamp on a closely divided Supreme Court that has seen no turnover for the past 11 years. Such a scenario would almost certainly escalate the high-decibel, high-dollar political showdown both sides already expect.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/07/AR2005070701975.html

[dbt]

1. Balance, my shiny metal ass!

Pugs can talk all they want about "balance," but they'll be sending up raving Neocons for the Court positions.

It's conflict of interest for bu$hler to nominate ANYONE to the court that installed him!