Justice Stevens to Retire

[Beemnseven]

If you're a Republican, this is just another friendly reminder of how bad your guys are at picking Supreme Court nominees. Before David Souter retired, 7 of the 9 justices were picked by Republican presidents, yet just about every important decision that came down hung in the balance on a 5-4 vote that could always go either way.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

If you're a Republican, this is just another friendly reminder of how bad your guys are at picking Supreme Court nominees. Before David Souter retired, 7 of the 9 justices were picked by Republican presidents, yet just about every important decision that came down hung in the balance on a 5-4 vote that could always go either way.

Or maybe republican presidents of the old day had a democratic congress which kept either side from being to politically charged. Or maybe republican presidents looked at candidates based on constitutional constructs and not as much on political leanings. Or maybe republican presidents just didn't have a clue.

I vote for all of the above.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

Or maybe republican presidents of the old day had a democratic congress which kept either side from being to politically charged. Or maybe republican presidents looked at candidates based on constitutional constructs and not as much on political leanings. Or maybe republican presidents just didn't have a clue.

I vote for all of the above.

Stevens and Souter were classic bait and switch. Both of them threw everybody for a loop. They were Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush selections, respectively. Bush Sr. has regretted the decision ever since.

O'Connor and Kennedy were Reagan selections, but both were swing votes that came to decisions that the GOP sometimes liked, but sometimes really, really didn't like.

If anyone of these nominees were selected based on their "constitutional constructs" then the Republicans aren't as interested in the Constitution as I thought. Of the three possibilities you mentioned, I'd say it's the latter.

[Beemnseven]

Eleanor Kagan will be Obama's choice.