Why didn't Sandra Day O'Connor retire?

[No2W2004]

Remember? In 2000 she wanted to retire under a Republican president?

What happened?

Maybe she got scared shitless by shrubco and now realizes that if she retires that they will install someone who goes beyond conservative, like Scalia.

Bet she wishes Gore would have won.

[AntiCoup2K4]

1. I think she realizes she made a huge mistake siding with Fat Tony..

...and selecting the Idiot Son of an Asshole. And I don't think that lighting rig or what ever it was that narrowly missed hitting her upside the head a few months ago was an accident either. Just like with the attack on Souter last week, the Bush Criminal Empire is trying to "force retirement" on their own appointees who have occasionally voted against their agenda.

[Wapsie B]

2. I think you answered

your own question. I believe she sees the righties appointing another Fat Tony or Uncle Clarence to the court. This is another reason why this election is so vicious. The next president could appoint anywhere from 1 to 3 justices to the SCOTUS.

[jogi1969]

3. did she really say

"oh no!" when she was told that gore may have won?
i thought that statement was overheard at a party on election night
i dont remeber the details --can someone fill me in?

[UTUSN]

4. Here Goes

This article also says what she really wanted was to be the first female Chief Justice. But I don't give her any credit for conscience that other posters do. It's more likely that she knows the dirty deed smeared SCotUS and if she retired under Shrub, it would seal her falsity immediately, not just in the long range of history.

*******QUOTE*******

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2001/010701a.html

.... As I reported on Dec. 11, O'Connor was visibly upset -- indeed furious -- when on Election Night, Nov. 7, the networks predicted that Gore would take Florida.

"This is terrible," she said, as the announcement came from the television in the basement den of former Ambassador Walter Stoessel's widow's Washington home.

When O'Connor angrily left to get her dinner from the buffet table upstairs, O'Connor's husband John explained that she was upset because the couple wanted to retire to Arizona, but that his wife would never vacate her seat if Gore won. She would remain on the court to deny Gore the opportunity of replacing her.

"I thought John was spinning us a bit to protect her since she had been so indiscreet," said a source who was there. The O'Connors' friends say they believe the O'Connors want to remain in Washington even after retirement. ....



********UNQUOTE*******

[farmbo]

5. Don't be so quick to attribute noble motives to the woman...

I'm sure she has been taken aside by the BFEE and instructed not to retire until after the election.

A vacancy on the court in 2004 would be unacceptable, since it would provoke a nasty confirmation fight and mobilize millions of Americans on choice, the environment, free speech,etc.

Better to keep up the friendly facade of "compassionate conservatism" until Bush is re-elected.

Then,with their power consolidated, a lame duck Bush can nominate goony Federalist Society judicial activists who will make Scalia look like a Progressive, and fulfill his goal of taking the country on a hard right turn from which we-- and our liberties-- may never recover.

[Hubert Flottz]

6. She may need to "win" another election if the BBV machines

don't work!

[Hubert Flottz]

7. Because in an election as close as the last one.............

EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

[DaveSZ]

8. We'll lose our nation forever (if we haven't already)

if Bush is allowed to pack the SC.

This is the main reason why I'm behind Kerry.

[Hubert Flottz]

9. People think it couldn't get any worse but they are wrong!

If Bush really does win one the party's OVER!

[Terran]

10. Been wondering that too.

I'm surprised, but then I figured she did actaully have a shred of integrity.

[SoCalDem]

11. Legacy..

If she had retired, stories would have surfaced again about her comments about waiting for a republican president. Had the SCOTUS not "decided" the election, I think she AND Rehnquist would have retired, but they would like to have a "speaking career", and perhaps to write books afterwards.. They are waiting for the taint to go away..

It WON'T...

[proud patriot]

12. Guilty Conscience

IMHO

[Gothmog]

13. Fears about Confirmation Battle

This may be a case of Karl Rove outsmarting himself. There is some good speculation that both Rehnquist and O'Connor would retire last summer but delayed it a year or two so that there would not be a huge confirmation fight before the election. Rove and company were assuming that Bush would be easily re-elected and that it would be best to have nasty and divisive confirmation fight after the election. Now it is possible that Bush may leave office with no picks on the US Supreme court.

[No Mandate Here.]

14. * leaves office without ANY SCOTUS Picks

Wow, is that the most cheerful thought I have heard in days!!!!!