Firstread: SCOTUS shortlist? (6 names)

[usregimechange]

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** The SCOTUS shortlist? According to a couple of sources in the know, there appears to be a working short list of about six names for President Obama’s Supreme Court pick. 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. Obviously, folks can slice this list all they want: Five are women; one’s Hispanic; one’s male; and all are in their late 40s or early 50s, except two (Wood, 58, and Garland, 56). Keep an eye on Napolitano. For this pick, it would be surprising if Obama named someone he didn't either know well or trust personally. Wood, Kagan, and Napolitano all fit this bill (Wood taught at the University of Chicago with Obama, and Kagan and Napolitano already have top slots in the administration). As for Napolitano, remember that she endorsed Obama early on (despite Emily’s List pressure to do otherwise). And from people familiar with the president's thinking, he's been as impressed with Napolitano as anyone in his cabinet. They click. That matters....

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/05/11/1928014.aspx

[Sensitivity]

1. Diane Wood has all the trappings of safe choice -- Husband, children, ideologically moderate

Sorry to say, but that's the way it is. To quote Bob Marley for Barack "I don't need no more troubles .."

From Wiki

Wood was nominated by President Bill Clinton on March 31, 1995, to a seat vacated when William Joseph Bauer took senior status.

She was confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate
and received her commission on June 30, 1995.

[usregimechange]

2. He has been bold on health care, stimulus and at other times, lets hope he continues to be here

[Kaleva]

3. I wouldn't be surprized if Wood is selected

[tkmorris]

4. I like Diane Wood a lot but...

She will be 59 years old in a couple of months. That is really not ideal at all, we need younger people for obvious reasons.