Posted on 10/29/2005 3:23:40 PM PDT by etradervic
The short list of potential nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court suddenly appeared much shorter Friday as 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. quickly emerged as perhaps the most likely second choice to fill Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's seat.
In the wake of Harriet Miers' withdrawal of her nomination, the New York Times reported Friday that Alito was one of three "finalists" three weeks ago when Miers was chosen. The other, according to the Times, was 4th Circuit Judge J. Michael Luttig. Hours later, on the popular law blog, SCOTUSblog.com, attorney Tom Goldstein was predicting that Alito would be picked -- and soon.
"Judge Alito would energize the president's conservative supporters. But he would not be as much of a fight as the others. Luttig and [5th Circuit Judge Priscilla] Owen, in particular, raise the serious prospect of a filibuster and it seems unlikely in the current environment that the administration is anxious to have that fight," Goldstein wrote.
"It seems to me that the pressure to nominate a woman is considerably lessened now, and the focus is on getting someone confirmed. Judge Alito will be grudgingly confirmable to many Democrats once they look at his record," Goldstein wrote.
Goldstein's political calculus could prove to be dead on, especially if the White House is intent on moving quickly and avoiding an ugly confirmation battle.
(Excerpt) Read more at law.com ...
Tom Goldstein, quoted in this column, correctly predicted the Roberts nomination and very early in the process, Oct 3, correctly predicted that Meirs would not be confirmed.
Is it just me, or since Alito's the new "favorite" that means he will not be the pick.
No one predicted Roberts, and few, if any, predicted Miers.
Isn't Alito Roman Catholic?
If so, try to imagine the fall out were FIVE Catholic MALES to overturn abortion on demand.
No, I doubt this nominee will be Catholic.
Searching as hard as I can, I still have never found anyone named "some".
I hope it works out that way.
No, no, no, if that was the case Miers would be on the court in a few days.
I read this carefully out of curiosity as to why Alito would be more confirmable by the Democrats, but couldn't find anything. He strikes me as an excellent candidate. Does anyone have any idea why he would be more confirmable than, say, Luttig?
Huh?
The more I read the more I like this man. Sure, he's a Catholic, but along with a judicial fight we also, IMO, need a religious one. Hearing democrats turn on a nominee because of his religion may turn a few more Catholics our way.
OK, who's in charge of putting the tinfoil on Dubya's head; they obviously have slacked off.
I'm pretty sure that Alito's dissenting opinion in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, supported the PA law that require a husband be notified before a wife got an abortion. Alito's dissenting opinion was later cited by Chief Justice Rehnquist's dissenting opinion.
I better check with Frum and Coulter and ask them if they approve.
Do you--or anyone else, for that matter, have any idea how he stands on the Second Amendment?
Luttig helped Clarence Thomas during his nomination. At the time of the nomination Luttig had been confirmed by the senate for the 4th circuit and stayed on to help thomas until he was seated on the bench. The dems have said they would fillabuster Luttig. He was on Reid's fillabuster list.
I think Bush should pick a non-white person now. I want to see the lily white Democrat Senators whining about a Hispanic judge.
"I read this carefully out of curiosity as to why Alito would be more confirmable by the Democrats, but couldn't find anything. He strikes me as an excellent candidate. Does anyone have any idea why he would be more confirmable than, say, Luttig?"
For one he was confirmed by a 100-0 vote and 19 of the 44 democrats voted for him. Second, Specter likes him. Not because of his views, but because he sits on a Pennsylvania court.
A perfect nominee. He'd be the strong conservative we are looking for and he'd make 19 democrats look like real hypocrites if they oppose him.
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