Ken Starr: Obama's Supreme Court picks will face trouble

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Kenneth W. Starr has a warning for the Obama administration: what goes around comes around.

During a speech yesterday in Boston, Starr told a group of attorneys that President Barack Obama could face an uphill battle over his Supreme Court nominees because as a senator he opposed two of George W. Bush's Supreme Court picks, Samuel Alito and John Roberts.

Starr's message: elephants don't forget.

The former independent counsel during Bill Clinton's Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky scandals, Starr said an aging Supreme Court meant that Obama could be able to name perhaps two or more nominees to the high court. And that could lead to a showdown with Senate Republicans who were livid with Democrats like Obama who filibustered and voted against the Bush picks.

Starr pointed out that Obama enters office with healthy Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, however, he said "the salience of this very enviable position, politically, for our president is brought home by the president's own approach to the high court during his years of service as a United States senator."

He continued, "There is one historical factoid of note: He is the first president of the United States ever in our history to have participated in a Senate filibuster of a judicial nominee. Never before has that happened."

Starr quoted from a November article in The Washington Times by my colleague S.A. Miller about the problems Obama faces.

"'Senate Republicans say the president-elect's voting record and long simmering resentments over Democrats' treatment of President Bush's nominees will leave Mr. Obama hard-pressed to call for bipartisan help confirming judges or even an up-or-down vote,'" he quoted.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/pol...-will-face-tro/

[luckytxn 2,265]

Yes and as Starr knows both nominees were eventually chosen and sit on the court. Of course they are going to give any a hard time as was done with them. Turnabout is fair play but unless the bum has a lot of baggage then he/she will be on the court who he nominates.

[Yoink 7]

fight away... dems have essentially 59 votes in the senate

[Danno 1,228]

Ken Star is rather dealing in fantasy... or at best wishful thinking.

The Republicans typically don't play these "Payback" games with the Supreme Court. (and why that is.. is beyond me)

Once a nominee makes it to the vote, seems the only question that they judge on "is this person qualified?"

Even Justice Ginsburg ( a Clinton nominee) who is liberal has hell, (ACLU Litigator) not only got confirmed,

but I think it was Orin Hatch ® who through his support behind her. Her conformation was a slam dunk.

Sure it would be sweet if politics could be put aside during this serious exercise in government but

for the last several decades, Democrats obsession with abortion

has turned every nomination for them into a "pass or fail" test. Obama being a main player in this game the last go-around.

Will it come back to haunt him?

Nope... but it would be sweet if the Republicans finally got a backbone.

One thing we can be certain of, the Nominee WILL BE BLACK OR FEMALE, (probably both).

Anyone wanna bet?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Ken Star is rather dealing in fantasy... or at best wishful thinking.

The Republicans typically don't play these "Payback" games with the Supreme Court. (and why that is.. is beyond me)

Once a nominee makes it to the vote, seems the only question that they judge on "is this person qualified?"

Even Justice Ginsburg ( a Clinton nominee) who is liberal has hell, (ACLU Litigator) not only got confirmed,

but I think it was Orin Hatch ® who through his support behind her. Her conformation was a slam dunk.

Sure it would be sweet if politics could be put aside during this serious exercise in government but

for the last several decades, Democrats obsession with abortion

has turned every nomination for them into a "pass or fail" test. Obama being a main player in this game the last go-around.

Will it come back to haunt him?

Nope... but it would be sweet if the Republicans finally got a backbone.

One thing we can be certain of, the Nominee WILL BE BLACK OR FEMALE, (probably both).

Anyone wanna bet?

Condoleezza Rice?

[Danno 1,228]

Ken Star is rather dealing in fantasy... or at best wishful thinking.

The Republicans typically don't play these "Payback" games with the Supreme Court. (and why that is.. is beyond me)

Once a nominee makes it to the vote, seems the only question that they judge on "is this person qualified?"

Even Justice Ginsburg ( a Clinton nominee) who is liberal has hell, (ACLU Litigator) not only got confirmed,

but I think it was Orin Hatch ® who through his support behind her. Her conformation was a slam dunk.

Sure it would be sweet if politics could be put aside during this serious exercise in government but

for the last several decades, Democrats obsession with abortion

has turned every nomination for them into a "pass or fail" test. Obama being a main player in this game the last go-around.

Will it come back to haunt him?

Nope... but it would be sweet if the Republicans finally got a backbone.

One thing we can be certain of, the Nominee WILL BE BLACK OR FEMALE, (probably both).

Anyone wanna bet?

Condoleezza Rice?

Are you suggesting Obama would pick Rice for the S.C.?

Forgive me, I should have stated the obvious.

His pick will be a VERY LIBERAL Black or woman.

[dalegg 143]

This does seem to be the year of the "no" for Republicans. I wouldn't be suprised if they say no to anyone they don't like.

Were going to start calling ourselves Republican-nots.

Edited February 15, 2009 by dalegg