Posted on 10/30/2005 4:47:36 PM PST by Ol' Sparky
According to sources in both the White House and Senate leadership, the President is poised to nominate Federal Appeals Court Judge Samuel Alito on Monday morning.
No official phone calls have been made to those Republicans who need to be in the know: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Deputy Leader Mitch McConnell and Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, but ongoing conversations among senior staff at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue lead our sources to believe Alito is it.
"Ever since the President returned from Camp David, the buzz has gotten clearer and more focused on Alito," says a Capitol Hill source. "What we have to remember, is that it was like this when we all thought it was Edith Clement, and that didn't work out the way we all expected."
The other major name in play is Judge Michael Luttig. He became more actively mentioned mid-day Friday, and has remained with Alito at the top of the list. Other potential nominees that the President looked over at Camp David read like the short lists of rumors past: Sykes, Williams, Corrigan and Jones.
According to White House sources, if Alito does beat out Luttig it will be based on the White House quest for what they are calling "consistency." Those who have evaluated the potential nominees believe Alito is more likely to remain a consistent, conservative judge on the Supreme Court bench than Luttig, who some inside the White House believe would have the potential to "grow" on the bench. As one White House staffer told us earlier in the weekend, "We're not talking about much of a difference. The President could go either way."
Posted By: The Washington Prowler
Yeah? I have $10 that says Bush will pick another no-name, unqualified stealth candidate.
Works for me since I read the article they consider him like Scalia. I am so glad they are going to name the best person instead of someone because of gender. Before Gingsberg, O'Connor was the lone woman on the court and I think it is time to return to that. You don't nominate someone because of their gender IMHO.
I have $10 to say he won't!
You're ON!!!
Loser sends a check to their fav charity???
Unqualified stealth candidate is not as scary as "well qualified" stealth candidate. Miers nomination failed not only because of her being unknown, but also her being unqualified for SCOTUS. Conservatives will be in big trouble if Bush nominates an Ivy League graduate, top law school, smart, but nobody knows where the nominee's position is on conservative issues.
"Those who have evaluated the potential nominees believe Alito is more likely to remain a consistent, conservative judge on the Supreme Court bench than Luttig, who some inside the White House believe would have the potential to "grow" on the bench."
I believe the word should be swell rather than grow. That is a process not uncommon with Grandees.
Hello Mr Alito?? This is President Bush, we have a vacnacy in front of the Firing Squad and...click...Hello??
Pray for W and Our Troops
You'd lose that bet. If a names a stealth nominee, it will be a qualified one like quota queen Maureen Mahoney.
All the building enthusiasm from the base would be deflated and Bush would have permanently alienated himself from his base.
I can't imagine Bush doing something that stupid, though.
A current news report I heard said three names were floated in front of a conservative group today. Two of the three finalists were women.
Agreed. We're gonna get the real deal this time.
NONSENSE. Luttig has been on the federal appellate bench for 14 years and is solid as a rock. I have known him for over 25 years. He's outstanding. (I've known Alito for 20 years, and he's outstanding as well.)
Luttig or Alito would make a fine choice and would definitely move the SC to the right.
What do you think of Ms. Sykes?
How about their sex? Should that be a factor?
If you say Luttig and Alito are solid, then I'll take that to the bank.
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