I used to feel kind of down when I thought about the Supreme Court

[eleny]

But not today. :D

[Enthusiast]

1. Just maybe we can get

some non-fascists on the court. :woohoo:

[No Elephants]

2. Why? Are you a fan of Justice Kagan? Cass Sunstein?

[Enthusiast]

3. I don't yet know if I'm a Kagan fan.

We shall see.

[Octafish]

4. She's the one who helped send Gov. Don Siegelman back to prison.

Weird how quick she was to side with the crowd approved by Karl Rove in Alabama.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021318070

[Divine Discontent]

6. signed the petition, thanks n/t

[No Elephants]

8. Kagan seems to have gone out of her way all her life not to leave many fingerprints, certainly not

many that would be controversial or that either side could use against her in any judicial confirmation hearing, state or federal.

Even when she weighed in as Soclitor General on behalf of Monsanto and against organic farmers, she did so ostensibly on administrative law grounds (though there was no reason for her to choose the FDA over the EPA, even on admin law grounds).

I would never have chosen her for the Supreme Court bench. That Obama did saddened and disappointed me, but did not surprise me.

[No Elephants]

9. She voted with the Republicans against the expansion of Medicaid provisions of

Obamacare, but against the Republicans and for the individual mandate of Obamacare.


That leaves the people least able to afford health insurance up the creek without a paddle. Or a canoe, for that matter.

[eleny]

5. Only because of the choices Romney might have made

[No Elephants]

7. Are you aware that over half of Romney's judicial picks were either Democrats or indies?

Given Kagan and Sunstein, and maybe even Sotomayor--not sure about her yet-- I see no reason to be any more sanguine about the picks that I imagine Obama might make, assuming he has an opportunity to make any at all, than about the picks I imagine Romney might make.

Everyone assumes Ruth Ginsberg will retire or die. I wish her a long life on the bench. As best I can tell, she's the only real leftie on it right now.

That said, I am glad Romney did not win, though my reasons have nothing whatever to do with the Supreme Court.

[eleny]

10. What else was he going to do in Massachusettes?

Not the best argument, NE. But thanks for your reply.

I stand by my relief.

[No Elephants]

12. ? Appoint judges of his own party, like every other Rep. Governor of Mass.

Seems self evident?

That's what Governors do. That's what happens when you elect a Republian Governor-- and Massachusetts has elected plenty of Republican Governors.


By that reasoning, Obama will appoint Republicans to the Court because what else would a Democratic President do with a stubborn Senate minority?


I am relieved that Romney lost, but that does not automatically mean that I am confident about Obama's appointments. I have not been comfortable about Obama's appointments since he appointed Rahm.

Then again, I am a classic Democra. I am not a Republican or a Third Way Democrat; and all of Obama's appointments have been of Republicans, former Republicans or Third Way Democrats.

However, I am getting more hopeful in geneal because I think I am seeing more steel in Democrats since the election. I think the election chastened Republicans and I am hoping that Democrats will take full advantage of that.

[rpannier]

11. Scalia has made it clear he is not retiring unless he's sure the person replacing him shares his

archaic interpretations.
So unless he dies, he's not leaving the bench
And since Thomas is joined at the hip, they either stay together or die together