Supreme Court Scramble! Both Sides Prepping For Possible Stevens Retirement

One name I'd like to see added to the mix -- a longshot, obviously, but potentially a brilliant choice -- is Maryland State Senator Jamie Raskin, who is also a nationally-respected professor of constitutional law at American University and who has been outspoken in his criticism of Citizens' United. He has a sharp and creative mind, combined with a personable, outgoing nature and his remarkable success in the Maryland General Assembly -- as a freshman -- suggests an impressive ability to engage and persuade colleagues. Actually, he reminds me a lot of Paul Wellstone, albeit as a constitutional law expert.

In response to the idea that a "big fight" might be something to avoid in choosing a nominee, the patent fact that GOP opposition is utterly devoid of principle (unless implacable opposition is a principle) needs to be put front and center.

There is no nominee that will avoid this "big fight." No calculation that assumes that previous statements or votes by GOPers will not be jettisoned in the pursuit of blind partisan obstruction is valid.

So if we are to get a fight no matter what, why not get something worth the effort? someone as uncompromising as her (I hope) predecessor.

Mvilla,

I totally agree. Why not a minority? I'd like to see another Latino, Asian, Arab, Muslim or a Black woman?

Obama is likely to have more political flexibility in nominating a male justice

He shouldn't. Women make up more than half the population but have less than a third of the representation on the SCOTUS.

I think the military experience bit may be a point to note and that having someone with military experience replace Stevens is probably important.

But, frankly, more of the justices need to be female. This is simply a fact.

Hillary Clinton would be fantastic. She has served ably as a senator and while it is too early to judge her as secretary of state, she hasn't screwed it up. She knows politics and how to talk to people, and has a lot of friends on both sides of the Senate. Finally, she has one of the best qualifcations: she's never been a judge. A downside is (I don't think) she's ever tried a case or represented a private litigant in one of life's real life legal squabbles.

If they can get Alito, Scalia and Thomas, then we should be able to get Karlan forgodsake! Why is it that Dems shoot for the middle when Repubs shoot for the extreme right? Face it, they will fight against ANYONE!!! Look what they tried to do with Sotomayor. I say float 3 LEFTIES as potential nominees and pick the BEST ONE!

If we're going to go for some balance, how about finally nominating an agnostic to oppose all the catholics on the court?

How about an Asian lesbian atheist constitutional scholar - anyone? It'd be great to have another woman though. I could live with Kagan, Wood, Napolitano, or Granholm.

Hopefully President Obama will remember for SCOTUS, as the abortion spin continues, that is was all Democrats (especially those pro-life before birth with those pro-life after birth) that enabled HCR to pass.

During the recommit debate, it was stated:

It is the Democrats who have stood up for the principle of no public funding for abortions. It is Democrats through the President's executive order that ensures the sanctity of life is protected because all life is precious and all life should be honored.

Democrats guarantee all life of the unborn to the last breath of a senior citizen is respected, for the unborn child and his or her mother will finally have pre- and postnatal care under this bill…

We stand for the American people! We stand up for life! Vote no on this motion to recommit…

Action speaks louder than spin. Time will tell.

From Obama, we'll get either Kagan, Garland or Harold Koh over at State.

I'd love to have Karlan, Cass Sunstein or Diane Wood. But, I'm not going to hold my breath.

Here is a good rundown from electoral vote:

http://www.electoral-vote.com/

Patricia Williams FTW!

Damn that would be awesome.

I would have said Derrick Bell, but he's 80 years old. Jack Balkin would be great. I'm not going to be happy unless Obama nominates someone explicitly liberal or left-wing. But I will settle for not-crazy.

I'm not qualified to judge the respective merits of any particular candidate over another. For me there are only three relevant qualifications: smart, liberal and young.

If liberals don't demand the nomination of an unabashed, agressive liberal this time, liberalism has ceased to exist as an influential force in this country and those who truly believe in those principles should end their association with a party that now quite openly pays only lip service to their principles -- even, or especially, if another right wing lunatic is elected as a result. At least democrats pretend to be outraged over Executive criminality when they are out of power.

Geoff Stone FTW!

Harold Koh, please. And mvilla's suggestion of Elizabeth Warren is interesting, although she is 60.

Absolutely not Cass Sunstein, who never encountered an expansion of executive power he didn't like.

He could nominate Jesus and they would vote no. So he might as well nominate a liberal, it really does not matter to the likes of Mitch McConnell.

whoever they pick I just hope they wear a bowtie. He is my favorite SC Justice becuase he always wears a red little bowtie.

Elena Kagan? I can hear the GOP anti-semitism machine gearing up now.

Obama should nominate Karlan. When the Republicans start to scream, let 'em scream for a good long while, then "concede" and nominate someone even more liberal.

If they scream twice in a row, even the politically inattentive will recognize their automatic obstructionism for what it is.

Establish that every time the Repubs scream, the next "compromise" will be even more liberal. They'll learn.

(Karl Rove is pure evil, but some of his cynical tactics could be politically effective.)

"Will Obama go with a safer centrist choice and avoid a protracted fight with elections on the horizon?"

Do you think Vegas would post odds on this question? 'Cause it's hard to see anybody betting on 'no'.

#1 priority is getting a true blue liberal on there.

Just like when replacing a woman, you want to find another woman, when a liberal retires, find a liberal replacement.