Posted on 05/04/2009 7:05:39 PM PDT by KLT
After talking to President Barack Obama on the phone today, Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch says he believes the White House will move swiftly on its Supreme Court nominee, perhaps making an announcement by the end of this week.
Obama made no timing commitments to the Utah Republican, but the senator, who has been in the middle of several pitched Supreme Court battles, said: “I’d be surprised if it went beyond this week. ... I would think by the end of this week or over the weekend, he’ll nominate somebody. I’m sure they’ve discussed this internally, back and forth for months now.”
White House spokesman Ben LaBolt declined to comment on the president's timeline, but a pick doesn't appear to be imminent.
No names were discussed during the Monday telephone call, but Hatch, a senior Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said Obama promised to get back to him and “will let me know who he thinks ought to be considered. ... Sure I’d like him to chat with me, because I think I could save him a lot of pain.”
Hatch raised concerns initially that Obama was using “buzz words” for a liberal activist justice by suggesting he wanted someone who had “empathy” for the country’s problems. But Obama told Hatch “that was not what he meant, and I take him at his word ... and that he assured me that he would not be picking a radical or an extremist for the court that he was very pragmatic in his approach and that he would pick somebody who would abide by the rule of law.”
LaBolt didn’t challenge Hatch’s account of the call and in his daily briefing, press secretary Robert Gibbs embraced the pragmatist label.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
I’m really looking forward to O Bow Ma reaching out to our side when he nominates Ann Coulter.
Could it be the Hill-da-beast?
Ping
Geeze, what a thought....but then who would take over Secretary OF Jerk, I mean state?
Tactically, it’s a big mistake. The nominee isn’t possibly going to be voted on until late summer. The sooner the pick is in, the longer the opposition has to dig up a paper trail and attack the nominee with it.
The Dems may think there won’t *be* any opposition though so they’ll have nothing to worry about. Certainly, the media will carry the water for whomever Obama chooses.
I know it’s a wild thought, but leak that it’s going to be some left-handed Hispanic lesbian community activist with bad acne, then to with the Hill-da-beast.
She couldn’t say no, where she is now is an all-lose proposition and for the O-bomber, it gets her out of the ball game.
I know, too wild.
I know it’s a wild thought, but leak that it’s going to be some left-handed Hispanic lesbian community activist with bad acne, then go with the Hill-da-beast.
She couldn’t say no, where she is now is an all-lose proposition and for the O-bomber, it gets her out of the ball game.
I know, too wild.
When I knew her back in law school she was a relatively reasonable and moderate person, but on the bench she has moved steadily to the left. And she is not a constitutionalist - definitely legislates from the bench.
Is anybody else wondering why Hatch and Obama would have a phone chat?
They probably figure...get it out early....let all the “dirt” get out....and it’ll die down by summer....the public has such a short memory!
free dixie,sw
How about Donald Trump and his combover?
just the thought of that hate-FILLED CREEP on the federal bench, scares me to death.
free dixie,sw
Somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Orrin Hatch lead the charge to ensure that Ruth “Buzzi” Ginsburg and Stephen “Che” Breyer were confirmed with as little opposition as possible? Said that if Republican senators queried Clinton’s candidates gently and treated them with utmost respect, Democrats would return the courtesy for a Republican president’s candidates?
Yes, I’m fairly certain it was the gentleman Orrin Hatch, the senior senator from the state of Utah, who led that infamous charge and made that fatuous claim.
Doesn’t matter anyway.
Their real pick will be two, maybe three deep.
The first couple are red herrings, sacrificial lambs.
I’d accept Charo over any other Lib whose name is being tossed around.
The news will be bad. The only question is how bad? There was one occasion when a SCOTUS judge appointed by a Democrat didn’t turn out as expected (Byron White, appointed by JFK). I keep hoping that Obama makes a similar slip up.
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