OK, so I found this in freeperville, so I am cautious but (long)...

[mcctatas]

Minority leader suggests controversial court nods
Sun Herald ^ | 06/30/2005 | Margaret Talev


Posted on 06/29/2005 11:16:35 PM PDT by Keyes2000mt


WASHINGTON - Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday that he is recommending at least three Republican senators, all lawyers with anti-abortion records, as nominees in the event of a Supreme Court vacancy.

Reid's remarks to reporters at the Capitol seemed to catch a wide range of interests off guard, from liberal and conservative social activists preparing to campaign for or against potential nominees, to the senators themselves: Mel Martinez of Florida, Mike DeWine of Ohio and Mike Crapo of Idaho.

While Reid, D-Nev., opposes abortion, he represents a party that supports what it considers a woman's personal choice and aligns itself with activist organizations that have made the upholding of Roe v. Wade a rallying cry when it comes to court nominees.

"There are people who serve in the Senate now, who are Republicans, who I think would be outstanding Supreme Court members," Reid said. "If you want names, I'll give you names." A Reid spokeswoman later confirmed the minority leader was serious about endorsing those candidates.

The White House has not released a short list of potential nominees, but the three senators Reid mentioned are not among a dozen or so that insiders believe the president is considering. Two who are - Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and Jon Kyl of Arizona - are not choices Reid has said he would support. Other potential nominees include sitting judges and private lawyers with government experience.

Martinez and DeWine represent swing states. DeWine took heat from conservatives last month for joining a bipartisan group of 14 senators that preserved Democrats' right to filibuster judicial nominees in "extraordinary" cases in exchange for confirming several contested appellate bench nominees. It was not immediately clear how the senators might handle abortion in a judicial, rather than a political, context.

It also was unclear whether Reid expected the names he floated to get any traction; whether he considers them more ideologically liberal than others Bush might favor; or if he simply was making a gesture to show Democrats want to find a middle ground.

There is no vacancy yet on the nine-member court, but some court watchers expect at least one justice to step down as soon as this summer -- Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who has cancer, or possibly Sandra Day O'Connor or John Paul Stevens. No resignations were announced on Monday, when the court adjourned until October.

"My first reaction is they're known as pretty conservative in their voting records," said Gary Marx of the Judicial Confirmation Network, a conservative group, said of Reid's recommendations. Marx predicted liberal activists would not embrace the senators. "This would be the greatest betrayal of their minority leader to his base, if he would support any of them," he said.

Representatives for two of the leading liberal groups, the Alliance for Justice and People for the American Way, did not immediately respond.

DeWine press secretary Jeff Sadosky said the senator "thoroughly enjoys serving as senator from Ohio and plans to run for re-election, and has no interest in the Supreme Court position whatsoever." A Crapo spokeswoman said the high court was "not something that he has considered" but that he was "honored that Senator Reid would think so highly of him." Martinez's office did not release a statement.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Tuesday he would consider cutting short senators' month-long August recess to expedite confirmation hearings, if a vacancy occurs and the president wants to move quickly. Frist said he's been advised by experts not to allow "a lot of dead time" because it "will be filled either with an attack that can't be defended or by the outside airwaves."


:wtf: Is up with Harry Reid?

[saracat]

1. I hope this isn't true. I have always been concerned

about Harry Reid's position on choice.And while I like some of what he has done as Leader, I will NEVER forgive him for supporting the Bankruptsy Bill. I won't forgive any other Senator who did either. It was that position that gives crdibility to this kind of story.I wish that I could believe there is nothing to this.Is there any info elsewhere?

[WilliamPitt]

2. Scripps link

http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=COURT-06-28-05&cat=PP

[Spider Jerusalem]

3. Reid is a Mormon and anti-abortion...

but even if one of the justices (most likely Rehnquist) steps down, nomination of an anti-abortion replacement isn't likely to result in the overturning of Roe v. Wade; it'd probably maintain the current ideological balance on the Court (besides Rehnquist, I see Scalia and Thomas as the only definite pro-lifers). If Stevens AND Rehnquist step down, and are both replaced by conservative hardliners, though, then I'm a bit less confident on that (but any vote would probably still go 5-4 against overturning the Roe decision).

[saracat]

8. You are correct. But this is still an appalling action by Reid if true.

[punpirate]

4. Perhaps this is just tactical...

... to suggest that some other candidate other than these three would encounter resistance, but why Reid is suggesting three Republicans strikes me as very odd.

The other issue is that senators have not fared well in deliberations for Supreme Court justices--at least not for quite a while. My guess is that this won't have any effect on Bush's nominations--those will be made for him by the Federalist Society. I'm putting bets on Michael McConnell or someone of his ilk. Young enough to be around for a long time and a stealth right-winger.

But, no, it doesn't make any sense for Reid to be making suggestions--especially since there have been no retirements from the court. And, if he's formally recommending staunchly anti-abortion candidates, that can't help his general standing in the party.

Still, maybe he thinks this is the way to co-opt the conservatives, although I can't imagine how this move accomplishes that.

[Selteri]

5. It actually makes a lot of good tactical sense

DeWhiner.. I mean, DeWine, for instance, is going to be having problems with potential Ohio Backlash.

[KharmaTrain]

6. This Is A Smart Move...I Like It

Call it a pre-emptive strike.

Remember, if Rehnquist retires and Scalia is nominated to take his place, that will be two battles for the price of one. Honestly, I don't think there'll be a major fight about Big Tony since he's already on the court...but the person who replaces him will be where the rubber hits the road.

Bunnypants says he wants a "Thomas or Scalia" type...and while this goes great with the fundies and "the base", it flies against the egos and special interests. Orin Hatch has been wet dreaming about that court...but I don't think he's on Junior's short list. Reid, by mentioning him now gets tongues wagging a bit...and I'm sure old Orin's will be heard from. By mentioning DeWine here's getting the hackles up in Ohio to get the moderates and right wingers to eat their own there. Martinez is Cuban...another wedge group that would be pissed if their man got slighted. Lastly Crapo is a free shot at the Independents and moderates in the west. Polls are showing Repugnican approval numbers falling in these once staunch Red areas...the voters have to be going somewhere...methinks Harry wants to shake 'em out.

This will turn into fodder on the hate radio circuit...and it could be fun. Different hosts will champion different names who will then charge that the other names aren't as "American" as theirs and we can have some good laughs because it's all mental masterbation.

The upshot is and remains, the filibuster can and will be used if there's some wingnut like Gonzalez nominated to the court, and that will tie up any nomination into next year's elections...then the turf is set...whoever wins the House and Senate gets the nominee.

[saracat]

7. How willing to take this risk would you be

if it were your rights they were playing with? And no Democrat ought to be supporting ANY anti choice jurists for any reason whatsoever. Period. End of story.

[KharmaTrain]

9. Who Said Supporting? This Is Playing Their Game

The Repugnicans are 5 seats shy of getting the 60 that would get a nominee through. Think I or anyone would want that to happen? Au contrare.

This is playing the famous Repugnican game of "if I were a Repugnican, this is what I think...". Look at the telepunditry, Democrats are being told all the time what we're supposed to be thinking by right wing "know-it-alls". While most ignore this partisan noise, there's some who pick it up and it turns into a political football. This is throwing a stink ball into their tent and seeing if they get repulsed or like the smell.

I'm hoping you get a Rushbo who says he think Hatch would be a great nomineee and then there's an op-ed by O'Reilly taughting DeWine. Now this has nothing to do with Reid or you or me or reality. There isn't a vacancy on the court at the present time...so all this is verbal masturbation that could open a couple more wounds in this splintering tent.

Democrats aren't in the position to dictate the game here. We can only delay and hope the Repugnicans are so splintered by can't agree on one nominee. Or if they do, it's at a big political price. Remember, Clarence Thomas did get on the court...and sad he did, but his circus made possible the first class of women to the Senate to ensure things didn't get that wacked out again.

Reid isn't supporting, just suggesting.

[Moderator]

10. mcctatas

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