IMO, I think Gorsuch will fold and withdaw.

[CK_John]

I don't believe he has the fighting fire to be known as Trump's toady.

I not sure if he has resigned from his current office as a Federal judge.

[jmg257]

1. Yeah cause he would turn down a guaranteed gig for the next 30-40 years.

Not likely.

[CK_John]

3. I think he still is a federal judge with life tenure.

[jmg257]

13. Ah - good point!

[Hortensis]

21. "Toady"? A Supreme Court Justice can tell both other

branches to go fuck themselves, as groups or individually one by one. Not that any would in public, of course, but they are EXTREMELY POWERFUL AND COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT.

And this judge is supposed to blow off a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land because he doesn't have the guts to attend to the pros coaching his testimony and then sit calmly through a few weeks of irritating and occasionally humiliating questions?

Sorry, but I just can't imagine it. This man would have to be a major, major little weenie, maybe on medication for some emotional problem, the sort in fact who would never have achieved his current position.

IF Gorsuch were to withdraw, it would be because he was requested to by the man who nominated him. That's happened not all that infrequently since Bork.

[CK_John]

49. He is a Federal judge with a lifetime gig.

[Hortensis]

61. Yes. Gorsuch wants a permanent promotion to the

level that overturns his decisions. It's not only more powerful and better paid, but long after he's gone his name would be known by everyone who ever attended high school.

But it's the chance to semipermanently redirect the course of our nation in a very conservative direction. Gorsuch gives every indication of being a strong believer in his own ideology. He is believed to have been nominated to deconstruct decades of progressive policies, and of course much more. Scalia had no problem with judicial activism when it suited him, "interpreting" the Constitution in ways its liberal authors never intended.

Even Scalia endorsed the "Chevron" doctrine that the executive branch charged with carrying out laws should be able to interpret them where ambiguous as long as they are in sympathy with the laws' overall intent. Gorsuch does not. He considers this an abrogation of responsibility by the legislative branch. This alone would be a huge handicap to effective government functioning--and an enormous transfer of power to Big Money. And there's so incredibly much more.

But of course this very hard worker came into this knowing he'd have to work, that he'd have to do a good job, but also knowing the cards were strongly stacked in favor of his approval. I see absolutely nothing to dismay him--except the possibility of losing. But as you say, he has a lifetime appointment to fall back on if he's not confirmed.

[CK_John]

62. My thoughts on a Trump selection.

After Gorsuch he'll get to replace Thomas and Roberts by summer.

They want to get in on some of those big dollars and the wives know that Trump will ruin their career.

Also:

Even the Pope could be on the Supreme Court.

There are no official qualifications for becoming a Supreme Court justice. The Constitution spells out age, citizenship and residency requirements for becoming president of the United
States or a member of Congress but mentions no rules for joining the nation's highest court.

[Hortensis]

63. Gotcha. Funny trying to imagine any situation too nasty for

Last edited Tue Mar 28, 2017, 02:03 PM - Edit history (1)

Ms. Thomas. These times should be right up her alley.

[elfin]

2. Not a chance. The is his DREAM.

Empty suit, but does know how to toady.

[Hamlette]

55. this is any lawyer's dream

truth be told, it is a powerful position and you can set policy/law for the whole country. Who wouldn't want that. Empty suit or no.

[Ilsa]

4. No way. He wants this. nt

[flamingdem]

5. He's power hungry and wants to kick dem ass

Have you seen the micro expressions he's got when being pressured? Guy is a major jerk.

[lsewpershad]

6. It would be the noble thing to do.

If he has any integrity he should withdraw his name especially in light of the latest ruling of the entire supreme court against his judgement. ... a telling blow against his personal world view.

[onenote]

17. The fact that he was part of a panel that was reversed 8-0 is pretty meaningless.

The same thing was true about Sotomayor -- she had a decision she wrote as an appellate judge reversed 8-0 in 2005.
I wouldn't be surprised if it was true about other Justices as well.

What is important is whether he actually will be faithful to precedent as he claims (which would suggest he wouldn't vote to overturn Roe v. Wade or the same sex marriage decision) or whether he's blowing smoke out his ass. I suspect the latter.

[Eliot Rosewater]

27. Meaningless? uh huh

[onenote]

56. Do you think the fact Sotomayor had a decision reversed 8-0 disqualified her for the SCOTUS

I don't.

I think the issue with Gorsuch isn't that he had a decision of his reversed unanimously. As noted, that has happened to other judges who later went on to serve on the SCOTUS. The issue is that I think he's lying through his teeth when he says he respects precedent and doesn't let his personal (and religious) views influence his judicial rulings.

The reversal of his decision is a straw man -- easily knocked down -- and a distraction from the real issues.

[Hortensis]

23. Integrity doesn't fall over at the first little puff.

I mean, really. What kind of honor would that indicate? This is Gorsuch's chance to serve his descendants, his nation and his god, in whatever order, to the best of his ability.

Probably few of us here have worked our way up through many hard challenges to levels of responsibility, stress, and competition that require developing a great deal of skill and real toughness, even from people born on third base. We're not talking your typical applicant for forklift driver at Walmart; but if we were, even that person would probably be of stronger and pissier character than some seem to be imagining Gorsuch is.

[Initech]

7. Merrick Garland should be the only one considered for that job.

The GOP owes us a mulligan on that one.

[GWC58]

16. Yep!

Merrick Garland is the ONLY judge Dems should approve.

[CK_John]

37. Should have been, could have been, won't be.

[Bleacher Creature]

8. Absolutely zero chance of that happening.

He was essentially created in a Federalist Society lab with the sole purpose of being a right wing Supreme Court Justice.

He's not backing down, nor would be be permitted to.

[Baconator]

9. Not a chance...

They are pushing to get everything they can before it all comes tumbling down...

SCOTUS was one of the biggest reasons that people voted for Trump.

[CK_John]

10. I doubt any of his voter were thinking about the supreme court.

[Baconator]

18. No way...

One of the big themes was that if you vote for 'her', she will get to put in the next 2 or even 3 justices and set policy for a generation...

I'm not saying this was top of the list for absolutely everyone but it was there for a significant portion.

[AJT]

60. Yes they were, for the reversal of Row vs Wade.

[yeoman6987]

11. His last vote was 99 votes. I doubt he's concerned.

[CK_John]

12. Don't understand???

[yeoman6987]

14. I don't think he'll get out.

[NYC Liberal]

20. He's likely going to be filibustered,

and from what I've been reading McConnell may not have the votes to "go nuclear".

[onenote]

25. Unfortunately what you've been reading is BS speculation

There is no doubt that the republicans will go nuclear to confirm Gorsuch if that is what it takes. What other options do they have?

[HoneyBadger]

29. Even Schumer said that it was going to be a short filibuster

He wants to appease his base, but not actually have the SCOTUS filibuster eliminated.

[onenote]

15. Not a chance.

And no, he hasn't resigned. Just as Garland didn't resign his position when he was nominated.

[HoneyBadger]

19. Gorsuch clerked for Kennedy

This is a dream for both of them

[Tommy_Carcetti]

22. You happen to think a lot of things.

Unfortunately, most of them don't really pan out.

Not a personal knock against you, just sayin'.

[jalan48]

24. Clarence Thomas was willing to go through it. Lifetime power.

[Hekate]

26. He won't. It's a lifetime appointment with influence beyond his own lifetime...

...and Tinyhands is drawing fire himself, so the media is not paying attention to what's going on in the Senate.

[Warpy]

28. With the rest of the Court united against him, I don't see how he can continue

When even Roberts and Alito are against you, it's time to withdraw in favor of the first nominee (Garland) getting a fair and honest hearing and up/down vote.

Under these circumstances, I don't think Gorsuch could be seated if the GOP did ram the nomination through.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

30. They aren't "united against him." They issued an opinion

in a single case in which they disagreed with his conclusion about the rights of a special ed student. That doesn't mean they object to his appointment to the court - the Supreme Court overturns a majority of the cases they decide to hear (about 68%), so that's really no big deal. It happens a lot. There was a discredited article in the left's version of Breitbart, The Bipartisan Report, which falsely stated that the court had written a "letter" objecting to Gorsuch's appointment. No such thing happened and there is no evidence whatsoever that the court is "united against him."

[Codeine]

32. That was a very misleading headline.

Promoting shit like that makes us all look dumb.

[Codeine]

31. He'll be replaced with a self-driving car?

Seriously, you're never right about anything, but keep reaching for the stars.

[CK_John]

39. Uber renewed testing, since you seemed interested.

[n2doc]

33. No way. His kind lives for that kind of power n/t

[rusty fender]

34. No chance

in hell of this happening

[dalton99a]

35. No. He's very ambitious.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

36. That's ridiculous. The Supreme Court is the pinnacle of a judicial career

and it's a lifetime appointment. Why on earth would he withdraw? He's received a lot of opposition but nothing of the magnitude that faced Harold Carswell and Robert Bork, who did not get the job, or Clarence Thomas, who did.

[CK_John]

38. But he is a Federal judge with a life time job.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

40. Being a Supreme Court justice is an even cooler lifetime job.

Ordinary federal judges do not become famous; Supreme Court justices do.

[CK_John]

42. There will be 2 more before summer when Roberts and Thomas leave.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

44. LOL! Seriously, what are you smokin'?

[CK_John]

46. Don't smoke or drink anything stronger milk.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

47. Then you better check the expiration date on your milk; it seems to have gone off.

[onenote]

57. I'm trying to remember the last time one of your predictions came true.

No such instance comes to mind.

But you're definitely entertaining in a absurdist sort of way.

[CK_John]

58. I wonder what if Trump resigns before Gorsuch is confirmed.

But I glad you keep track since I don't.

[dchill]

41. I hope you're right, but I don't think so...

Why would an insufferable, reactionary, corporatist prick turn down a lifetime gig being an insufferable, reactionary, corporatist prick for bigger bucks and more high profile in-your-face time?

[CK_John]

43. He already has a life time gig, He is a Federal judge.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

45. Federal judges get their opinions overturned. The Supreme Court doesn't.

If you're on the Supreme Court you're at the top of the legal food chain. Why would any judge not want that gig?

[CK_John]

48. For the big money.

[dchill]

50. I know. Not my point.

Supreme Court is the Big Time. It's Broadway. All other courts are dinner theatre in Poughkeepsie. Plus it's more money. And it's IN YOUR FACE. For life.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

51. The Supreme Court is pitching for the Yankees in the World Series.

The federal circuit courts are the Cubs. Everything else is AAA.

[dchill]

52. You have a much better analogy.

Cut it out!

[Dawson Leery]

53. Fascists never give up.

The events since Y2K should have shown you this.

[Sunlei]

54. Republicans have planned this man for several years because they knew President Obama had a good

chance to nominate at least one for supreme court.

President Obama did nominate Garland, who in my book IS STILL FIRST IN LINE for interviews, questions and a yes or no vote. Interviews REPUBLICANS were able to do in 3 days for their man!

Supreme Court has already said republicans nominee was INCORRECT in court decision he wrote. SC should demand Garland be interviewed first.

Because that man refused to state who his backers are, I have to base my opinion that it must be a group of Republicans who planned for MANY years to block President Obamas right to nominate.

[oberliner]

59. Zero chance of that happening

Not sure why you would think such a thing.