The Kavanaugh Pick: Lamenting an Opportunity Lost

National Review ^ | 07/10/2018 | David French

[changeitback440]

he’s very pro 2A …… without guns, we have nothing

[MichaelCorleone]

“Did Barrett even want the job at this point in her life?”

Nice. I bet not one in a hundred thousand ever considered this a possibility.

I know I didn’t.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Kavanaugh worked in George W. Bush's presidential campaign, was a member of his administration and was nominated to the DC Court of Appeals by Bush.

Those don't look like the earmarks of a surefire conservative vote on the SC to me. We've been burned repeatedly by "moderate" or "safe" conservative judges who turn out to be big disappointments once confirmed. Sandra Day O'Connor, Anthony Kennedy, David Souter - hopefully Kavanaugh will not be another one.

[CodeToad]

NR would pick another liberal Kagan if they could.

[VOR78]

Maybe I’m missing something, but I just never got the hype around Barrett. I still have no idea where she stands on much of anything outside of abortion.

[SeekAndFind]

Don’t forget that aside from Roberts, GW Bush gave us Sam Alito, an outstanding justice the way I see it ( of course he did it after there was big conservative stink on his first nomination, Harriet Meyers, who fortunately, withdrew her nomination ).

[goldstategop]

I can just imagine Frenchy whining if it had been Amy Barrett Comey, how Trump would have stupid to nominate someone who had no chance of being confirmed.

You just can’t win with the Never Trumper crowd. This conservative has no regrets about last night’s pick.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

RGB isn't going anywhere. 85, yes, but by appearances physically stable and energetic -- popping up all,over the place giving lectures, accepting awards, etc.

I don't expect that Trump will be the one to nominate her successor.

[Obadiah]

Yep, that’s what I’m thinking. Trump is playing the long game. If Kavanagh turns out to be solid and not a Souter, Kennedy, or an O’Connor, the Trump presidency will go down as transformational.

[9YearLurker]

And I am so tired of this “any Republican president would have” argument from the Never Trumpers. They claim that re: the economy and world affairs and deregulation and now SC Justices.

While W tried to slip Harriet in on us, to go along with Roberts, Poppy gave us Thomas, but also Souter. And even Reagan had an uneven record, with both O’Connor and Kennedy to go along with Scalia.

God help us even pondering whom McCain or Romney would have named.

It is looking like Trump is going to go 2-2 in his first two years as president.

[Alberta's Child]

The hype around Barrett is based on the hateful bilge she got at her appellate court confirmation hearing from the likes of such vile mutants as Diane Feinstein and Dick Durbin.

I think she'd be a great U.S. Supreme Court justice. There's a reason why she was added to President Trump's list of 25 potential nominees shortly after the outrage you saw from Feinstein and Durbin. It's just that now may not be the right time for her. Give her time to build a Federal court track record.

[Jeff Chandler]

The president will pick a total of 5 To the Supremes before leaving office.

From your keyboard to God's monitor.

[Zathras]

The GOP-e plays checkers and tells the opposition their next move way ahead.
Trump plays 4d Chess.

[Avalon Memories]

I also see it as an opportunity lost but for a different reason. When will we have a president break the stranglehold the Harvard-Yale-DC elite has on the court? I long for some fresh voices and perspectives from elsewhere in our vast, wonderful country to serve on SCOTUS.

[irishjuggler]

1. Did Barrett even want the job at this point in her life?

Well, she did show up for the interview with DJT, so my guess would be that she wanted the gig.

I agree with French here. Barrett would have been a more Trump-ish sorta pick. Kavanaugh is okay, but he's a DC establishment, Yale, Bush admin kinda guy--pretty much not Trump's base. Barrett, on the other hand, is Louisiana, Rhodes College, Notre Dame, midwest mom. I hope she gets RBG's seat when it opens up.

[Trumpisourlastchance]

They will keep RBG alive as long as is possible with current medical science.

[TexasM1A]

He probably lost a bet.

[exnavy]

From the book, The Trump Prophesies.

[Nifster]

A Never Trumper still griping and moaning

This gets old

[Sir Napsalot]

BINGO!

French would lose very badly if he ever plays a thinking game (any game) with Trump.