Leahy On Souter: Senators Should Unify Around Souter Replacement
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has released a statement on the news of the retirement of Supreme Court David Souter. In it, he urges In exercising their important roles in the confirmation of the next Supreme Court Justice senators to "unify around the shared constitutional values that will define Justice Souter's legacy on the Court" when they consider Barack Obama's eventual nominee.
Leahy's full statement below the jump. Other than the President himself, he is the person who, most and earliest, will have to deal with any Republican attempts to block Obama's pick.
Justice Souter has served the Nation with distinction for nearly two decades on the Supreme Court. I have admired his commitment to justice, his admiration for the law, and his understanding of the impact of the Court's decisions on the daily lives of ordinary Americans. Throughout his career, he has been committed to the law and not to ideology. New Englanders treasure our strong sense of independence, and Justice Souter fits the independent Yankee mold. He has a first-rate legal mind. I have known him to be an honest and tireless person who has given years of his life in service to this country.Of course, we have all known that his deep love for New Hampshire would take him away from the Court some day. Nonetheless, I am sad to see a gifted jurist, a dedicated public servant and a decent man leave the bench. We have long been neighbors in New England, and I look forward to seeing him at home.
Now more than ever, while the country is in the throes of an economic recession, and fighting to strengthen our economic and national security, Americans are looking to Washington for leadership and cooperation. I know that as President Obama selects a nominee to replace Justice Souter, he will continue to consult with Senators from both sides of the aisle as he has this year with so many nominations. In exercising their important roles in the confirmation of the next Supreme Court Justice, I hope that all Senators will take this opportunity to unify around the shared constitutional values that will define Justice Souter's legacy on the Court.
Josh
Matt
Eric
I'm not holdin' my breath. . .
But, honestly, what do they have to gain by blocking the nomination of any reasonable nominee? They're already shooting themselves in the foot over the stimulus package (we were against it until we were for the money in our districts!), the Cabinet, the OLC, the economy, the budget, EFCA, Obama shaking hands with foreign leaders. . . being obstructionist--as long as the nominee isn't a fire-breathing, baby-killing, gay Socialist/Fascist/Communist--just drives them farther into a hole.
May 1, 2009 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
They're hoping that by re-imagining their party for the new millennium, incessantly invoking an embellished memorgy of Reagan, and by pulling out a win in Minnesota (there are lot of important issues there, they say), they'll be off to a new and stronger beginning. Further making fools over themselves on this issue can form an important part in that exciting, longer-term effort.
Limbaugh will have a leading role to play in embittered denunciations of the totally unacceptable nominee, whoever she or he might be.
May 2, 2009 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Leahy would be perfect to back his fellow senator from VT: Bernie Sanders.
May 1, 2009 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is just absolutely unreasonable and Leahy knows it.
The president's nominee is wrong for the Supreme Court and wrong for America. How can Republicans possibly support such a radical activitist nominee? How can they, in good conscience, not do everything possible to block a nominee who is so clearly out of the great mainstream of judicial thought and so disconnected from the values of main street? This nominee is a radical judicial activitist who will subvert American sovereignty by citing foreign law and possibly even Sharia law.
No, we say, no! Although evey president is entitled to the benefit of the doubt on judicial appointments and obstructionism for its own sake should never be countenenced, conservatives must, sorrowfully and reluctantly, oppose this radical and dangerous pick for our nation's highest court and must do so fully, utilizing every tool and every means at their disposal.
May 1, 2009 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously, Obama should nominate his most liberal choice now because his approval is never likely to be higher and it will get more difficult if he has another pick closer to the election. Americans will cut him some slack with his first appointee so make the most of it.
May 1, 2009 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
And its certainly going to be easier to replace Souter with a liberal than it would be to replace, hypothetically speaking, of course, a Scalia with a liberal. A Scalia, Obama would probably have to replace with a Souter, unless he just happened to find a big pile of political capital under his seat cushions that he didn't have a better use for.
May 1, 2009 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pat Buchanan says he should pick a strong, highly qualified, liberal. No doubt Evan Bayh and Ben Nelson will think otherwise.
May 1, 2009 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink