THE SUPREMES

[wertz]

Since David Souter announced his resignation from the Supreme Court, speculation has been rampant about who President Obama might nominate as his replacement.

For those who might wish to discuss the potential candidates a bit more intelligently (and, really, who wouldn't?), the following are among contenders mentioned so far:

Merrick Garland (

Comments

[zulfiqar_rgh]

Well, I think we now know why they've waited. It's so not to kill the news cycle on the Health Care news they're announcing today. Krugman is happy; Ezra Klein is nervous. The numbers are big. These factors probably mean a pretty big news cycle. I bet they don't want to step on it. I bet we get the pick next Monday. Chuck Todd says he has the leaked "short list" on his "First Read" blog today. The names? These 6:

The co-frontrunners (in no particular order): Diane Wood of the 7th Circuit, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor of the 2nd Circuit, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Merrick Garland of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals.

Disappointing the GLBT names didn't make the cut. Not surprised, though. There's no way that they'll get in the way of this Health Care stuff that's coming in June. A big SCOTUS fight would do just that. Looks like he will go as liberal as he can - without a fight. I'm okay with waiting - for now. But if he gets three picks, then I would want one of them to be openly out. I really do love pragmatism as a philosophy, but it does struggle to include political/minority issues. To some extent, I think we're seeing the disadvantage of pragmatism in action with this pick. On the other hand, I don't really dislike any of those picks, either. I'm pretty sure they would all do what liberals would want them to do with their votes.

[wertz]

Hmmn... Pity about Leah Ward Sears, too.