Justice Ginsburg: If I Resign, Obama Could Not Appoint ‘Anyone I Would Like To See In The Court’

[kpete]

Justice Ginsburg: If I Resign, Obama Could Not Appoint ‘Anyone I Would Like To See In The Court’


(Weisberg): I’m not sure how to ask this, but a lot of people who admire and respect you wonder if you’ll resign while President Obama is in office.

(Ginsburg): Who do you think President Obama could appoint at this very day, given the boundaries that we have? If I resign any time this year, he could not successfully appoint anyone I would like to see in the court. (The Senate ...) took off the filibuster for lower federal court appointments, but it remains for this court. So anybody who thinks that if I step down, Obama could appoint someone like me, they’re misguided. As long as I can do the job full steam…. I think I’ll recognize when the time comes that I can’t any longer. But now I can.



http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/09/23/3571216/justice-ginsburg-if-i-resign-obama-could-not-appoint-anyone-i-would-like-to-see-in-the-court/

[hifiguy]

1. i hope she lives to be 100+

We NEED Justice Ginsburg.

[PeaceNikki]

11. Amen. And many more like her.

[pnwmom]

14. Not likely, since she's already had two forms of cancer. n/t

[secondwind]

26. AMEN

[AngryAmish]

35. She gets wiser every day.

[randys1]

2. The ugly fact is the right no longer believes in democracy and will not allow the people

to have a voice, this is a proven fact when you look at who they wont allow us to appoint to the supremes and Sandy Hook

The republican party pretty much despises their own base

[calimary]

65. And the only way they consider bipartisanship acceptable is if both sides do it THEIR way.

[MohRokTah]

3. What a brave and tireless woman who is also realistic!

Bravo, Justice Ginsburg.

Bravo!

[Laurian]

4. She's right. The R's wouldn't confirm anyone who

is acceptable to the left. More power to RBG, hang tough!

[riversedge]

6. begs the question of--would they ever??

nope.

[passiveporcupine]

19. Begs the question of

Will enough dems get out and vote in 2014 to make a difference in congress? If we had more power in congress, maybe Obama could do something in his last two years.

That is what this issue is.

She is correct and she is an awesome woman. I too hope she lives long enough to see someone good replace her, and then live a long life in retirement.

Go Ginsberg!

[calimary]

34. THIS ^^^^^^^^

WE have to get off our asses and vote in November. And EVERY November. And EVERY June. And EVERY Election Day - regardless what day of the week it is. This is an absolute MUST. We just simply, basically, and quite urgently have to.

[mopinko]

50. even in february, which is when we vote in chicago.

hmm. why would incumbents schedule elections for the harshest months of winter? in chicago? yeah, that's why.
if there is a runoff, it happens in march, which, since it is wet, is kinda worse than feb.

people need to get it through their heads that it is a DUTY!!

[calimary]

64. It is your right and your civic duty, your obligation as one of the "fees" you pay for citizenship.

It's part of your civic obligation as a loyal patriotic American. It's a right - at least as long as the GOP does NOT hold all the cards - either locally, regionally, OR nationally. If they ever do, many of us will no longer enjoy that right. And I say that as a white woman slowly moving into the older demos. I have two counts against me - advancing age and my gender. Oops - make that THREE. I always vote Dem. I wouldn't put it past them to be looking at a voter like me and trying to figure out how to keep ME from voting in the future. Hell, there ALREADY ARE people on their side of the aisle NOW (including GOP women, forcryingoutloud!!!!) who think women don't deserve, and shouldn't have, the right to vote.

[AndyTiedye]

37. Need almost 100% Turnout for Democrats in the Red States

Even that might not be enough to get a supermajority in the Senate, which is what it takes.

[riqster]

52. We can do a lot with turnout.

Purple states are a lot more realistic, but we need turnout there, too.

[riversedge]

5. You go gal. stay healthy for the sake of the USA

[progressoid]

7. I hope she stays healthy and we make some changes in congress.

[Rowdyboy]

8. She was a hero in the 20th century and now spanning into the twenty first....

One of the few left I deeply admire

[hifiguy]

10. She has become a national treasure.

[morningfog]

9. Never give up!

[SoapBox]

12. Bravo Justice Ginsburg.

We need you.

[pnwmom]

13. Who does she think will be appointed if a Rethug wins in 2016? Thanks a lot, Justice Irreplaceable.

[sulphurdunn]

23. A minority republican senate

would most likely kill any center or left of center nomination made by a democrat. A majority democratic senate would support any right of center candidate a republican president nominated. A democratic minority senate would not kill such a nomination.

[Jim Lane]

46. We might see a stiffening of the Democratic spine.

If the Democrats retain their Senate majority and a Supreme Court vacancy occurs, it's quite possible that the Dems would eliminate the filibuster for Supreme Court seats. I'm not resigned to the prospect you cite, that the Republicans even in the minority would be able to kill an Obama nomination.

You go on to say, "A majority democratic senate would support any right of center candidate a republican president nominated." There I'm afraid you're probably right -- but I'm not giving up entirely. A key is that the calendar in 2016 (which Senate seats are up) greatly favors the Democrats. Consider this scenario: Republicans take the Senate in 2014 and relentlessly obstruct, including blocking Supreme Court nominations. In 2016, a Republican wins the White House but the Democrats take back the Senate. Would the Democrats just roll over and play dead? I see at least some possibility that they'd say, "Okay, President Huckabee, we're going to confirm your judicial nominations at the same pace as the Republican majority confirmed President Obama's." That might include using their majority to reject extreme RWNJ nominees.

[Jerry442]

61. If the Dems had a spine, why didn't they nix SCOTUS filibusters too already? NT

[sulphurdunn]

70. Solid points

[thesquanderer]

28. Who knows, maybe a liberal wins in 2016.

Or 2020, if she can hang on that long.

[pnwmom]

29. Maybe so. But we'd have been better off if she had retired as soon as Obama was elected,

when he was still able to get good people through the Senate.

[Chan790]

55. I don't know that it would have helped.

Even when he could get his choice through (Sotomayor), he nominated a Justice more conservative than the one she replaced. In fact, both of Obama's nominees have been more conservative than the Justice they replaced.

We need the court to stop moving right...even if Obama could get his preferred-choice through (I suspect that would be Goodwin Liu), it would likely still represent a continued right-ward drift of the court. His preferences are more centrist than the current "liberal wing" of the court.

It's easy to blame Senate Republicans, but it's just as much on who this President would nominate. It's part of the reason I'm so staunchly against Hillary who would be more-likely to nominate a more conservative Justice than Ginsburg than even Obama.

(That would be my first and most-important question of Sec. Clinton. "Who would you nominate to your 1st SCOTUS vacancy? A name, not a vague response.&quot

[pnwmom]

60. The three women have been voting as a block. So they're all on the same page.

Earlier in his Presidency Obama could have nominated another good Justice and gotten him or her approved.

It comes down to whether we are better off with Ginsberg, on the theory that we might have a somewhat more progressive Justice for a few more years (or less, if we're unlucky); or with a Justice who could have added a liberal weight to the balance for decades more. It's too late now but I think she made the wrong choice. The country will not be served well if she has to be replaced by someone confirmable by a Repub majority Senate, or nominated by a Repub President.

[TransitJohn]

41. LOL

you're the best.

[Major Hogwash]

15. This is why I will never vote for ANY Republican for ANY office.

All they have done is block and obstruct.
Filibuster, blue slips, and more.

I'm sick of the Republicans that are in office now.
They have no shame, whatsoever.

The status quo to keep Washington in gridlock is fueled by millions of dollars from corporations and the Koch bros.
Even our 3rd branch of government is being held hostage by the minority party.

[Phlem]

16. Well, I guess all that time reaching across the isle was well spent.

[bigdarryl]

17. If Jed Bush or Christie end up winning in 2016

She might be replaced by another right wing nut job making the court.6 to 3 for the next 40 years.Theres no guarantee Hillary will win in 2016

[thesquanderer]

40. No guarantee Hillary will win?

Heck, right now, there's not even any guarantee that Hillary will run.

I'm still hoping for a more liberal candidate on the Dem ticket, but I know that's unlikely.

But a lot can happen over the next 2+ years... whether good or bad...

[bigdarryl]

49. Yeah she might decide being a Grandmother is more important

[CK_John]

18. The Justice is correct, Obama will not be allowed to appoint anyone to the Court.

[pnwmom]

20. I think she's wrong about the filibuster. The Senate changed the rules so they couldn't

be used on judicial appointments.

[former9thward]

21. No, she is correct.

The filibuster rule was changed for court appointments at district level and the appellate level. Supreme Court was specifically exempted.

[pnwmom]

22. Thanks. Well, she's wrong if she thinks that the Repub majority Senate

we'll be likely to get in January will be any better, and she's wrong if she thinks she's going to be alive and productive forever. She's already had two bouts with cancer and she's 81.

[Phlem]

24. I think she's just saying she's in it for the long game.

And is just doing her part.



-p

[pnwmom]

58. Yes, she is. But at her age and with her health, that long game might be very short. n/t

[Phlem]

79. yep I hear ya.

Except I can't help that she's someone so committed she's going to die trying to make things right. There's a soft spot in my heart for people like that.

[rhett o rick]

53. I agree with you completely. Also, I think the rule should be changed.

Democrats don't use it to the effect that the Repubs do, otherwise we wouldn't have Thomas and Scalia on the bench. When I objected to the nominee of one of the Repubs, my Democratic Senator wrote back and said she thought the President (Bushy) should have his appointment

[littlemissmartypants]

25. I love you, Ruth. nt

[littlemissmartypants]

27. Look! 1953...

I am really in love with her!

[woolldog]

30. wow....creepy.....nt

[littlemissmartypants]

32. I know. I am a loon.

I scare myself and get on my own nerves, too.

[woolldog]

48. ...

[dionysus]

45. .

[kpete]

51. thanks for the pic

[VanillaRhapsody]

31. Then lets make sure she gets to go out choosing her replacement.....lets take back Congress!

[Cha]

33. I'm grateful for your Democracy loving heart, Justice Gingburg!

thanks kpete~

[Autumn]

36. She is such a wise woman.

recommended.

[LoisB]

38. She is so right.

[Jamaal510]

39. No shit. eom

[tritsofme]

42. She just doesn't want to retire, there will never be a successful SCOTUS filibuster

It is not a serious concern.

After Reid pushed the nuclear button last year, there is no putting the genie back in the bottle. No future Senate majority leader would sit back and allow his president's nominee to be defeated by a minority.

If Ginsberg were serious about retiring, Obama and Reid could make those assurances.

[indepat]

43. TPTB will not allow any shift in this virulently far right-wing majority court except to the right

[Tommy2Tone]

44. Ginsburg is one tough and smart lady

She is correct. The GOP/Tea Party would Fuzzbuster every progressive candidate Obama would try and get through. In the end, the president as he usually does, would back down and put a centrist in.

Like I said tough and smart.

[Phlem]

47. Love it.

She's got skin in the game.

[EEO]

54. If Obama doesn't get to replace one of the conservative justice before his term ends...

and a Republican wins and replaces Ginsburg or another liberal justice (two of which Obama WAS able to appoint to the court) it is game over for a generation. It will be an unmitigated disaster.

[stevenleser]

56. Just love me some RBG. nt

[OnyxCollie]

57. Renders the "But Think About the SCOTUS!" threat moot.

[DonCoquixote]

69. not really

a President Jeb will have four long years to throw up a bunch of wackos, many of whom will probably make Tony S. look like Thurgood Marshall in comparison.

[OnyxCollie]

71. Woo hoo! Status quo rocks!

Shitty 5-4 decisions are just as bad as shitty 6-3 decisions.

[DonCoquixote]

75. and if tony gets a heart attack

we can see decent 6-5 decisions, unless, of course, you have another way to appoint people to the scotus, while the GOP is in power.

[OnyxCollie]

76. When did the SCOTUS go from 9 Justices to 11?

[MineralMan]

59. Give President Obama a filibuster-proof Senate in November,

and then she can retire.

GOTV 2014 and Beyond!

[AndyTiedye]

83. Everything has to go our Way to Even Hold a Majority in the Senate this Year

No amount of GOTV can get us 60 seats in this election. There aren't enough Democratic voters in those states.

[The Green Manalishi]

62. I want Hillary to appoint Obama (and Bill). EOM

[KamaAina]

63. He could appoint anyone he wanted to

Getting that person confirmed is the problem.

[pnwmom]

66. "Anyone I would like to see" betrays some ego here. It's not all about her.

Sotomayor and Kagan reliably vote with her, and there are other good potential nominees out there. It's too bad Ginsburg didn't retire in Obama's early years, when he was able to get good nominations past the Senate.

But in January, the Rethugs may control the Senate and we'll be even in a worse situation.

Ginsburg better stay on the court another dozen years if she wants to be replaced by someone SHE would find acceptable. Considering her age and two bouts with cancer, that's unlikely.

[Zorra]

67. A simple Senate majority can end the filibuster at any time. nt

[pnwmom]

80. Unfortunately we are likely to lose that in November. Hopefully we won't but it's extremely close.nt

[Historic NY]

68. the only hope is fat Tony chokes on a meatball...

or one of the geezers strokes out.

[NorthCarolina]

72. "Could" not, and probably "would" not...anyway. nt

[YOHABLO]

73. All the speculation about what could and would happen if... is just speculation .. just get out and

V O T E !!

[TBF]

74. I have been saying this for awhile -

the only folks wanting her to step down are the g-d'ed repugs (and they happen to have some stooges on this board).

[RedstDem]

77. she's a smart cookie

Guess thats how she's been so successful

[Dont call me Shirley]

78. Good health and a long life to you Justice Ginsberg!

[Recursion]

81. I take it she's not a fan of Kagan or Sotomayor (nt)

[davidpdx]

82. She is correct

If something, god forbid, should happen before we are able to put another D in the White House, we are screwed. I'd even venture to guess in that sort of a situation that the Republicans would rather there be no replacement if possible so they can use their majority to railroad everything bad they could think of through the court.

[baldguy]

84. Misleading headline: Makes it appear as if Ginsberg distrusts President Obama.