Antonin Scalia, U.S. Supreme Court justice, dead at 79

[james_davis_nicoll]

Antonin Scalia, U.S. Supreme Court justice, dead at 79

Comments

[bruce munro (from livejournal.com)]

No, Michael Moore. :)

[dewline.livejournal.com]

I suppose either Mrs. Knowles-Carter or Mr. Moore would be sufficient to trigger more than a few cerebral hemorrhages.

[graydon saunders (from livejournal.com)]

Sixty-something white guy, no?

You want someone in their forties or fifties, traditionally, so they can have a lasting influence. You totally don't want to appoint any men until there are at least five women on the court.

I'm sure Obama can think of a learned black woman or six with a prestigious law degree and no older than mid-forties, but I can also imagine wanting to gift the Republicans with an opportunity for election year PR suicide.

[bruce munro (from livejournal.com)]

True, but we're talking cerebral hemorrhages here, not practicality. :)

[graydon saunders (from livejournal.com)]

Part of what drives the cerebral hemorrhage is the sense that it could be for serious.

If it absolutely has to be a man, how about Ta-nehisi Coates? Eloquent, seriously concerned for justice, willing to think hard about the issues; what's not to like?

[sean o'hara (from livejournal.com)]

He has no judicial experience or even a law degree, which makes him even less experienced than Harriet Meiers, whose nomination was laughed out of the Senate by Republicans and Democrats alike. Coates would have no chance at confirmation, and rightly so because appointing someone solely for their views and not experience is precisely what the confirmation process is supposed to stop.

Right now the smart money seems to be pooling on Sri Srinivasan -- he's a moderate who was approved to the DC Circuit by unanimous vote, making it likely that the more principled Republicans in the Senate would break with the hardliners on the issue.

[graydon saunders (from livejournal.com)]

If there's a serious chance of getting someone passed, absolutely.

If the republicans wouldn't pass Moses returned in glory and Harvard Law tenure, it might be time to go a bit political on them.

[w. dow rieder (from livejournal.com)]

The best way to get political about it is to put forward a choice that, if rejected, makes it very clear that they are refusing to do their job as senators--then draw attention to this during the campaign. There are Senate elections this fall, too.

[nathan helfinstine (from livejournal.com)]

The fact that Sri was approved unanimously is a political point. Republican senators could expect their next re-election campaigns to feature accusations of flip-flopping for voting to approve the guy in 2013 and then shit-talking him in 2016.

[goljerp]

Also, Sri Srinivasan would add some diversity to the Supreme Court -- he is from India (moved to the US as a young child) so would be first Indian-American on the court. His law degree is not from Harvard or Yale -- which is probably a plus as well.

making it likely that the more principled Republicans in the Senate would break with the hardliners on the issue.

I'm not holding my breath on that, though...

[stevendj.livejournal.com]

I'd consider appointing a reasonable moderate in their sixties, and getting them confirmed, a big win. Having a functional Supreme Court with five votes for "not crazy" would be a huge improvement over the last couple of decades.

I think it's very likely that the Democrats will win the next 2-3 presidential elections, which means we'll get more chances to replace arch-conservatives, against what will probably be less strident opposition. And if President Warren in 2027 gets to replace Obama appointee Moderate McOldiepants, well, I'll be pretty content with that outcome.

[dbdatvic]

> I think it's very likely that the Democrats will win the next 2-3 presidential elections

Phonecall from 2019: we are in the most surreal timeline.

--Dave, swirliest ever, people are saying

[anton-p-nym.livejournal.com]

I saw at least one semi-serious proposal that Pres. Obama appoint Anita Hill...

-- Steve thinks that'd trigger a few TIAs.

[elusis.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's good.

Except that forcing a woman to work with her harasser is kind of not so awesome.

[anton-p-nym.livejournal.com]

Ooh, quite; forgot he's still on the bench.

-- Steve felt it was from another era, and kinda almost is.

[elusis.livejournal.com]

Oh it's all just so tawdry.