Who is your pick for Scotus?

[DonCoquixote]

I know there has been a lot of debate, but I just want to stick to the question. If you were Obama, who would YOU replace Stevens with, and why?

I would also ask that if you have references/weblinks, post them, because I would probably love to read up on the people you mention; so might others.

[jobycom]

1. An overqualified young gay dude.

First, it's time to start chopping away at that bigotry with a two handed Paul Bunyan size ax.

Second, Obama needs to think outside of the usual political lines, as he did with Sotomayor. If he just nominates a liberal, the Republicans will go all filiblustery over it. If he nominates a liberal who is also a step forward in human rights, then the Republicans will have more trouble attacking him. They'll attack him as "too liberal," but people will quickly accuse them of hating him for being gay, too, and we can rely on Limbaugh and Beck and such ilk to make a few horrendously bigoted statements, and can turn opposition of the candidate into a civil rights issue. That gives the Republicans less focus for their usual diversionary tactics, and more fear of upsetting the moderates in their own party just before an election.

He needs someone highly qualified, experienced, and with a good record of being judicial and not too many printed controversial opinions on the touchstone issues (abortion, mainly), so the Republicans have nothing to grab hold of. Might also be interesting if he found someone with both academic and bench experience. I'd really love to raise the IQ on the Bench by a lot, and with Stevens going, it's going to need a boost.

Wouldn't be an easy fight, but well worth it for the win, and just as worth it for the battle even if we lose. IMHO.

Anyone know such a candidate?

[renko]

38. Glenn Greenwald for the Court

[rucky]

2. someone I've never heard of before.

If they're of interest to/in the media, I don't want 'em for a judge.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Jonathan Turley? Pamela Karlan?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Turley

Pamela Karlan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamela_S._Karlan

[cali]

31. Turley??? There's someone I'd resolutely oppose.

[murray hill farm]

4. I like...

Jennifer Grandholm...although i probably did not spell her name correctly!

[blue_onyx]

37. No, you didn't

There's no d. It's Granholm. She's my pick too.

[WeDidIt]

5. Elena Kagan n/t

[Cronus Protagonist]

6. Bill Clinton

He'd be more popular than herpes.

[Tx4obama]

23. Clinton is too old & has heart problems.

Obama needs to and will pick someone in their 50s, so that they will be on the SCOTUS for 20-30 years.

[theophilus]

7. Hillary Clinton. n/t

[hlthe2b]

8. Fat Scalia!

Oh, thought you meant who did I want to see leave next. :evilgrin:

[Lyric]

9. Pamela Karlan.

She's extremely qualified, she's liberal, she's brilliant, and she has the bonus benefit of being gay. The Republicans would spend enormous amounts of political and actual capital on trying to defeat her, but they'd lose in the end (because she really IS very qualified) and go into the 2010 elections much weaker.

[BrklynLiberal]

11. She's got my vote as well.

If she was black, we would have a trifecta!!!! It would sure make my day to see the repukes trying to fight her nomination.

[ruggerson]

12. +2

[Sebastian Doyle]

14. +3

Doesn't hurt that she's from the West Coast either (although not a native, but she's been at Stanford since 1998) The Left Coast needs some representation on the Supreme Court.

[mr_liberal]

19. -1

Woudl damage Obama politically (because she's in your face gay and very outspoken) and probably would not be much of a leader or consensus builder on the court.

if you want someone with the same philosophy but could also get alogn and lead the liberal wing of the court, Kathleen Sullivan woudl be a much smarter choice. She's gay and liberal, but much more respected and I think her demeanor would make her more acceptable to voters.

both woudl help to define Obama as a liberal though and therefore would hurt him politically. They are better for a second term pick when he doesn't have to worry abotu being reelected.

[ruggerson]

22. "in your face gay"?

is that kinda like if a gay person told you (hypothetically) to go fuck yourself, you piece of bigoted garbage.

In your face like that?

[mr_liberal]

25. Exactly.

Thats the kind of attitude that loses elections.

Although I don't think even she would be THAT bad. lol

[ruggerson]

26. yes we must be careful of that

can't have gay people vocally standing up for themselves.

It will cause the seas to rise, the San Andreas fault to shift and most hetero women to become sterile.

All at once.

[mr_liberal]

28. I think I was wrong about her.

Ive read more about her and watched video of her and Im impressed. She holds strong opinions, but she seems reasonable and likable.

Im now open to her being the nominee, but I still need to know more about her.

[Bluebear]

39. "IN YOUR FACE GAY"??? You didn't possibly say that?

[madrchsod]

10. glen beck

[DonCoquixote]

13. I do hope that was humor

please

[madrchsod]

15. yes.........

[DonCoquixote]

17. I only asked that

Because I have some in my family who really really think that. And they wonder why I do not eat with them, namely because I do not want to watch Glenn beck when I eat! It could have a nice diet though.

[madrchsod]

32. wow..eating while watching glen beck....

i guess there is always a silver lining....

[mr_liberal]

16. Randy Barnett, Johnathon Turley.....

Cant think of any others off hand.

Off Obama's short list:

Best - Diane Wood, although I need to know more about her.

Undecided - Kagan and Garland.

Bad - Granholm, Cass Sunstein, Klobuchar.

[Skink]

18. Katrina Vandahuevel

she might be able to induce some right wing heart attacks.

[demwing]

20. Hillary Clinton

Primarily because I think she would do a good job, but also because I like to fuck with Republicans

[Tx4obama]

21. Harold Koh

Some of the PROs:

He's more than qualified.
He has a great back story: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Koh and still has limp from childhood polio which makes him semi-disabled.
He's Asian, so if Obama were to pick a 'male' the pick wouldn't be another 'white male', and it's time we had an Asian on the bench.
He has never been a judge and that IS something folks have been calling for.
And he's been a prominent advocate of human rights and civil rights

[FrenchieCat]

24. I still like Leah Sears

More info on her....as she was on the last list,
although she's not being mentioned on this one,
for whatever the reason.

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8400007&mesg_id=8400188

[sandnsea]

27. Kathleen Sullivan or Diane Wood n/t

[Blue_Tires]

29. Ron Kuby

[Tx4obama]

30. Here's a link to a list that has PROs & CONs listed for some potential nominees

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20100411/us-supreme-court-possible-nominees/

[underpants]

33. *Ahem* HELLO! I am in the room!!

:evilgrin:

[BrklynLiberal]

35. How COULD WE HAVE OVERLOOKED YOU!!!????????????????

:grouphug:

[AnArmyVeteran]

34. Judge Judy

[Bluebear]

40. I think she would shut Scalia et al up, actually :)

[blue_onyx]

36. Jennifer Granholm

She's a very intelligent Harvard Law graduate who has been Attorney General and Governor of Michigan. I like the idea of nominating someone from outside the judicial system.