WP: GOP Allies Say Bush Is Close to Court Pick ("next few days"?)

[DeepModem Mom]

GOP Allies Say Bush Is Close to Court Pick
Choice May Be Announced This Week
By Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, July 18, 2005; Page A02


President Bush, accelerating his search for a new Supreme Court justice, appears to have narrowed his list of candidates to no more than a few finalists and could announce his decision in the next few days, Republican strategists informed about White House plans said yesterday.

Advisers to Bush had anticipated an announcement closer to the end of the month, but the White House signaled allies over the weekend to be prepared for a nomination this week, according to the strategists, who asked not to be named because the process remains officially confidential. "We've been told to be ready," one strategist said.

The faster pace came after a surprise statement Thursday night by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, who is 80 and battling thyroid cancer, in which he dispelled intense speculation that he intends to retire soon. In disclosing his intentions, Rehnquist clarified the choice facing the president, who can move forward knowing that he has only one seat to fill -- that of retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Laying the groundwork for his nomination, Bush used his weekly radio address Saturday to press the Senate for an expeditious confirmation process. Bush has said he wants to seat the new justice by the time the court begins its next term Oct. 3, although O'Connor agreed in her retirement letter to stay on until her successor is confirmed. In delaying his decision so far, Bush has managed to limit the time before Oct. 3 when his nominee would be vulnerable to attacks from opponents.

As Bush interviews his finalist or finalists, the White House has kept secret his paring-down process. Some advisers said they increasingly believe the president may pick a woman to replace O'Connor, the nation's first female justice, just as first lady Laura Bush publicly urged him to do last week. "There's a lot more focus on a woman," one GOP strategist said....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/18/AR2005071800017.html

[Pirate Smile]

1. We will hear by Friday according to the talking heads on Hardball.

I'm sure they don't want another weekend of shows and focus on the Rove, Libby, etc. CIA leak.

So, will they go for the largest distraction possible and pick a complete RW wingnut?

[wli]

2. filibuster whoever it is

[napi21]

3. With so many reporters hanging out in Washington, why can't someone

watch who comes and goes at the WH?

I'm always amused at the "Pres. has been interviewing candidates" statement. I admit, many interviews will be done via phone, but don't ya think when it gets down to the last 2 or 3, they'd be invited to a personal meeting?

Unless, of course, the decision has already been made, and no interviews or meetings are necessary!!!!

[David Zephyr]

4. Rove to puppet Bush: Nominate to the SCOTUS now to kill Plame coverage.

Rove: Nominate anybody, just do it now. These Plame stories are destroying your presidency.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. There is no doubt that is how it went down! nt

[David Zephyr]

6. Moreover, i think Bush will nominate a rabid anti-abortionist judge now.

And thereby open the gates of hell in political warring over the nominee which would drown out any focus on the Plame story altogether.

It will be a rabid anti-abortionist which will rally the nutcases to his side no matter how heinous his criminal activity of outing a CIA agent may be.

Yep. He needs his base now and this is how he will get it.

[Miss Chybil]

7. A GOP strategist said on CNN today, Pres needs to pick justice to get

Rove out of headlines.

[Boo Boo]

15. Yup. The time table definitely got moved up. Now he just

needs to nominate some paleocon kook that will have the Dems up in arms. Big flap, Nuclear Option, etc. Not sure how much it'll be worth, though; there's blood in the water now.

[meganmonkey]

8. I wonder...they were close to an 'up-or-down' vote on Bolton for so long

...I just don't know if they'll be able to get anything done, ever.

I sure hope not! :P

To get it done quickly, he will have to pick a reasonable nominee. (fingerscrossed)

[Demeter]

17. I Hope and Expect the Same for His Supreme Nominee

Because it's always nice to give the gift of time! We need enough time to impeach some asses.

[opihimoimoi]

9. Letsd not kid ourselves.....Its an AUCTION.....Some group is gonna cough

up BIG BUCKS< FAVORS< etc to Bush or one of his(Advisors) contacts.....

Each Group gonna get to Bush & Crew one way another....

There gatta be ongoing discussions right now.....

The Bush Crew is gonna Cash In....thats my guess.

[deadparrot]

10. Must...divert..attention...nt

[grahamhgreen]

11. Agree. Pick will be highly controversial to get heat off Rove/DSM.

[AlienGirl]

12. Yep, and if anyone tries to filibuster

they'll go nuclear, which will allow them to get whatever whack-job they want in the next time...

Tucker

[radfringe]

13. well, it's either a SCOTUS appointment

or a terra-lert

think they flipped a coin? heh - just got an idea for a new toon -- stay toon'd for tomorrow

[truthisfreedom]

14. fuck bush, fuck his SCOTUS choice. the man has no integrity, no morality,

no ethics, no humanity, and no numbers. nobody trusts him. nobody wants him as president anymore.

it's time to ignore the mofo.

[converted_democrat]

16. Last night on Leno...McCain said he think Bush is going to pick

Fred Thompson. He said it fits the pattern because he asked Thompson to "help" him pick a nominee, and that's what Bush did with Cheney before he picked him for V.P.....I hope McCain is wrong, because Thompson is about as far right as you can go, and he's an asshole.

[robcon]

18. The same writer said the opposite in the WP the day earlier

Don't believe the hype. With only one day between articles, the writer is firmly on both sides of the issue: the nomination will come soon, and the nomination will not come until later. He's bound to be right in one of his articles:

White House Delay On Court Nominee Is Calculated Plan
Stretching Out Time for Selection Intended to Cut Into Senate Debate

By Peter Baker Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, July 17, 2005; Page A04

"... when a seat finally opened in Bush's fifth year, the strategy to fill the vacancy suddenly turned into hurry-up-and-wait.

More than two weeks since Justice Sandra Day O'Connor announced her retirement on July 1, the famously disciplined Bush White House has yet to name a replacement, nor does it look likely to do so for another two weeks. The delay has surprised and dismayed some outside White House advisers concerned that the resulting political vacuum will complicate Bush's selection by allowing a free-for-all interregnum when all sides lobby, advance their candidates and tear down others.

But the delay represents a calculated decision by the president's team that it is better to take slings and arrows on the front end to try to shorten the time the Senate has to consider a nominee on the back end. If Bush names a nominee between July 26 and 28, as many advisers now predict, that would leave fewer than 10 weeks in which his choice would be vulnerable to attack if the Senate votes before the court's term starts Oct. 3.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/16/AR2005071601064.html