Drudge: Thomas, CJ?
From the Drudge Report:
Don't file this as news, obviously more like gossip... Drudge is saying:
President Bush has launched an internal review of the pros and cons of nominating Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as the chief justice if ailing William Rehnquist retires, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
A top White House source familiar with Bush's thinking explains the review of Thomas as chief justice is one of several options currently under serious consideration. But Thomas is Bush's personal favorite to take the position, the source claims.
Read more here.
Don't file this as news, obviously more like gossip... Drudge is saying:
President Bush has launched an internal review of the pros and cons of nominating Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as the chief justice if ailing William Rehnquist retires, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
A top White House source familiar with Bush's thinking explains the review of Thomas as chief justice is one of several options currently under serious consideration. But Thomas is Bush's personal favorite to take the position, the source claims.
Read more here.
posted by Kevin at 11/07/2004 09:06:00 PM
4 Comments:
Personally, I don't think this will happen. First, Scalia also passes Bush's ideological litmus test and would be an easier choice to get confirmed. Many don't like his ideas about the law, but he has too much credibility not to be the Chief. Second, Bush could get the same amount of political gain by promoting O'Connor. Although she is a moderate/conservative, Senate Republicans would have to be insane to block the first female Chief Justice, which Bush could get credit for appointing. Remember, women vote too. Lastly, Thomas getting elevated could backfire politically if it looks like Bush is engaging in tokenism. The message could read like this: "If you're African American, you better be really conservative or you'll get no reward from the GOP. If you're African American and not conservative, you won't vote Republican anyways so there's no reason to help you."
Well, here's the third paragraph from Drudge which I gather is the thinking:
"It would not only be historic, to nominate a minority as chief justice, symbolizing the president's strong belief in hope and optimism, but it would be a sound judicial move.... Justice Thomas simply has an extraordinary record."
I read the entire Drudge article before my posting and I still stand behind what I said. If you're looking at judicial record, a conservative president picks Scalia. For safe political gain, he pick O'Connor, who also has a solid judicial record. Thomas, on the other hand, doesn't have as strong a record as the other two.
Professor Bainbridge suggested:
One possibility, I suppose, is that this is a trial balloon designed to so inflame the left that the eventual real nominee will seem so much less controversial that he/she will just breeze through. I doubt whether such a tactic would work, of course, but at least this theory doesn't require me to believe that Bush and his advisors have taken leave of their good sense.
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