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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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8

Supreme Wish List: Pragmatist, Easy to Confirm, 'Home Run'

As Obama vetting begins, 4 women lead

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(Newser) – President Obama's choice to replace David Souter on the Supreme Court will be a pragmatist unafraid to challenge conventional wisdom, insiders tell the Washington Post. While Obama will not play it safe, they say, neither does he want a provocative choice that will create another partisan confirmation battle. "He's less eager to send a message than to send a great justice," explained senior adviser David Axelrod.

Axelrod emphasizes that those being vetted are all very different, but observers remain convinced Obama is nearly certain to pick a woman. A source said Obama has narrowed his list to six, and those believed to be the most serious contenders are Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Judge Diane Wood, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, and Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. But "not all the names that are being talked about are out there," Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel cautions.

President Barack Obama, in a unexpected visit to the White House pressroom Friday, May 1, 2009, tells reporters that he just got off the phone with Supreme Court Justice David Souter and they talked about Souter's retirement.
President Barack Obama, in a unexpected visit to the White House pressroom Friday, May 1, 2009, tells reporters that he just got off the phone with Supreme Court Justice David Souter and they talked about...   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
The retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter has launched President Obama's first search for a new Supreme Court justice.
The retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter has launched President Obama's first search for a new Supreme Court justice.   (AP Photo/Jim Cole, File)
This April 2003 photo provided by Harvard University shows Elena Kagan, Harvard University law school dean. The Senate has confirmed Kagan as the first female solicitor general.
This April 2003 photo provided by Harvard University shows Elena Kagan, Harvard University law school dean. The Senate has confirmed Kagan as the first female solicitor general.   (AP Photo/Harvard University, Kathleen Dooher)
In this April 29, 2009, file photo Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm answers questions during a news conference in Lansing, Mich. Granholm is a possible Supreme Court nominee.
In this April 29, 2009, file photo Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm answers questions during a news conference in Lansing, Mich. Granholm is a possible Supreme Court nominee.   (AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)
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The people he's considering have something in common. They're rigorous and well qualified. But they all offer different qualities beyond that...He's not working off a set of specs. - David Axelrod, on Obama's decision

My sense, for a variety of reasons, is that he would want the first one to be a home run. I don't think he will play it safe by picking just a bland nominee on the basis that the person would be easy to confirm. - unnamed democratic official

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8 comments
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ClearSight
May 10, 09 11:17 AM CDT
Great, pulling from the lunatic fringe I see. The whole duty of a judge is to apply the Constitution to each case brought before them. Not "a pragmatist unafraid to challenge conventional wisdom". Conventional wisdom isn't the same thing as applying the Constitution. Who's conventional wisdom? Obama's? Thats laughable. Reply
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-6
IN RESPONSE:
AnnieChrist
May 10, 09 12:31 PM CDT
You've done a great job here of parroting the pox news talking points, but now, since you are the great constitutional scholar, perhaps you can give a few examples where 'activist judges' have misapplied the law. I expect you will cite Bush v Gore, where those activist judges thomas and scalia wrote that GW bush would suffer irreparable harm if Florida's votes were actually counted. Other than that, what other cases can you cite?
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0
Mad
May 10, 09 11:18 AM CDT
Quick, Cons, name four capable, competent, potential nominee, women that could be on that list whom are republican .... .... .... Yeah, didn't think you could Reply
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
ClearSight
May 10, 09 12:01 PM CDT
What? That an Idiot like Obama would place in nomination? See this proves my point . A judges sole purpose should be to the Constitution not to an Ideology. But then again, Congress nor the President upholds the Constitution either, regardless of who's at the helm. Bush ignored it and Obama's just following the same pattern. The Constitution was written to protect us from excessive, heavy handed government. ..... Mad don't be infantile......
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kokuaguy
May 10, 09 12:24 PM CDT
I nominate Dr. Sylvia Law, Elizabeth K. Dollard Chair of Law, Medicine, & Psychiatry at New York University School of Law. She's a prolific author, a MacArthur Genius award winner, a self made woman respected widely respected by folks of every ideological stripe. Reply
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