When is Justice Ginsburgh going to step down?

[LeftyAndProud60]

She does know it needs to be soon right? I thought for sure she would do it this yr or even last yr.

[Claire Beth]

1. Sometimes they don't seem to know when .....

it's time to go... I hope she retires in the next couple of years.

[Hekate]

2. When she's good and ready. Do you think she's not still doing a good job?

I know she's ill, but she's hanging in there, and this job probably gives her a reason to go on living. Only if she falters should anyone talk about Justice Ginsberg stepping down this year. I think both she and Justice Stevens (age 90) will decide to retire during President Obama's term, but why this year and not next?

Hekate

[pnwmom]

13. I sure hope neither of them delays enough so that Obama can't appoint.

She has pancreatic cancer, so I'm also surprised she hasn't stepped down.

[Hekate]

30. I don't think they are likely to wait until his second term, because that would be leaving too much

... to Fate, you know? Secretly, I hope everything can go in an orderly process, and Obama will really have a chance to make his mark on this Court. Fingers crossed that Congress concurs.

Hekate

[harun]

40. Steven's already stated he's going to step down while Obama

is still President. I expect him to do so within a month.

[elleng]

3. Please pardon me, but you guys are really obnoxious.

And if you're looking forward to fights over S. Ct. nominees, you're just nuts.

[Drunken Irishman]

9. What's better, fighting those fights now or running the risk of fighting them with a Repub prez?

[elleng]

10. My point is that its EARLY,

and thoroughly wrong to suggest Justice Ginsburg is 'over the hill,' when she's NOT, in any way. And I hope that she (and Breyer, oh no!) await Prez O's last year of first term before they decide to decide. I'm CERTAINLY NOT suggesting that anyone take a chance on a repug prez.

[Drunken Irishman]

12. Well I don't think she is over the hill...

I don't think she needs to step down now. But I'm glad we're in agreement the older ones probably should step down before the 2012 election. Just to be safe. Unless, of course, it looks like Pres. Obama will walk to re-election (something we new the year Clinton was elected).

[pnwmom]

14. She has pancreatic cancer, which is a very tough, very fast cancer in most cases.

[elleng]

19. She's not in 'the most cases' category.

'Most patients are already inoperable when pancreatic cancer is found.

For those whose tumor is still small enough for surgery, there are a couple of “binary” possibilities, he says. The surgery could cure Ginsburg. Or the tumor could return, which, if it happens, usually occurs between one and three years afterward. Once pancreatic cancer recurs, the patient usually dies within a year.

For most patients, the cancer does come back, Hecht says. But based on the limited information the Supreme Court put out, Hecht says her situation sounds good and “she has a reasonable chance for cure.” Patients in whom the cancer is found before symptoms begin typically do best, he explains.'

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/02/05/understanding-justice-ginsburgs-pancreatic-cancer/tab/article/

[pnwmom]

32. "Based on the limited information the Supreme Court put out"

we know very little.

But the likelihood, according to your link, is that even among those in her situation, cancer will come back within a few years; and that cancer usually kills within a year. A "reasonable chance" is not the same as a "probable" outcome.

[elleng]

34. Understanding Justice Ginsburg’s Pancreatic Cancer

Ginsburg, 75 years old, had no symptoms before a CT scan found a small tumor — about one centimeter across — in the center of her pancreas during a routine annual check-up at the National Institutes of Health late last month. Ginsburg was treated for colon cancer in 1999. . .

Most patients are already inoperable when pancreatic cancer is found.

For those whose tumor is still small enough for surgery, there are a couple of “binary” possibilities, he says. The surgery could cure Ginsburg. Or the tumor could return, which, if it happens, usually occurs between one and three years afterward. Once pancreatic cancer recurs, the patient usually dies within a year.

For most patients, the cancer does come back, Hecht says. But based on the limited information the Supreme Court put out, Hecht says her situation sounds good and “she has a reasonable chance for cure.” Patients in whom the cancer is found before symptoms begin typically do best, he explains.

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/02/05/understanding-justice-ginsburgs-pancreatic-cancer/tab/article/

[pnwmom]

36. As I said, a "reasonable chance" does not mean that a patient will

"probably" survive a particular cancer. For "most patients, the cancer does come back." We can all hope that she will be one of the exceptions. But if Obama isn't reelected in 2012 -- and anything could happen -- it would be disastrous if a President Rethug was able to appoint her replacement.

[kestrel91316]

46. She HAD pancreatic cancer that was found, serendipitously, while it was

tiny enough to remove. She may very well have been cured by that surgery.

[onehandle]

4. When she's good and ready. If it's within Obama's time, she has nearly seven years. nt

[pnwmom]

15. I hope no one acts on that assumption. If Obama didn't get reelected,

I'd hate to see a Rethug appointing the next few members.

[totodeinhere]

27. Or even if Obama gets reelected, the GOP could retake control of the Senate and block any...

progressive nominee. That's why we need these vacancies now while we still have 59 votes in the Senate.

[Xipe Totec]

5. Interpret my silence nt

[elfin]

6. After Stevens get his moment of acclaim

That "moment" has already started via various articles and retrospectives. I predict she will wait until the newest appointment is made and let that person be given due attention. Then and only then will she step aside, unless her health speeds things up. There is a snail's pace in that institution for good reason. Too much political turbulence especially in these heated times is very unsettling to the republic.

[LiberalFighter]

7. I would suggest that Scalia is the main one that needs to step down.

Barring they find him dead in a closet or someplace else.

[totodeinhere]

28. They will be carrying that SOB in on a stretcher if they have to.

He will certainly try to out wait Obama and hope for a GOP prez in either 2012 or 2016.

[LiberalFighter]

39. Most likely true. All the more important to help Scalia think his value is useless.

Solidify our votes on the court with younger justices so we have 5 more likely to vote the right way.

My vision is that after Scalia dies while still on the court during Obama's term that one or more of the other 3 resign early. As happened during FDR's presidency a justice retired because he felt his contribution was fruitless after he went from majority to minority.

When a person is old enough and relegated to a minor position they tend to get jaded and give up.

[saltpoint]

8. I kind of like her just fine. She is a pretty reliable liberal vote.

What's the problem?

[elleng]

11. A VERY reliable 'liberal' vote!

[madinmaryland]

22. Two things struck me when I saw her last year when I got to see a case

argued in front of the SCOTUS.

One, she is a very tiny woman. Two, she is a very bright lady with very liberal credentials. My sister who was one of the lead attorney arguing the case cringed with the case she was arguing fearing that Ginsberg would ask a pointed question to them (she did several times), but my sister's team was prepared.

[elleng]

26. GREAT that you had the opportunity!

And good that you heard her 'pointed questions.' What was the case, if you don't mind?

[pnwmom]

16. I think she's great. But she's also seriously ill.

Pancreatic cancer is very serious.

[saltpoint]

17. HI, pnwmom. Yes. It is very serious, agree. I just don't see a

good reason for her to step down until she wishes to. Just this past week she asserted that she was still in the ball game.

[elleng]

20. Which suggests that the cancer has not recurred since EARLY surgery.

Read about it here:

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/02/05/understanding-justice-ginsburgs-pancreatic-cancer/tab/article/

[pnwmom]

31. Even early surgery doesn't do much for pancreatic cancer in most cases.

But hopefully she will be one of the exceptions.

[ClarkUSA]

18. She'll stay as long as she enjoys how much Pres. Obama sounds like an economist. n/t

[elleng]

21. ???

[madinmaryland]

23. Huh??...

[Jakes Progress]

24. It's a political question.

I love Justice Ginsburgh. I think Stevens is a fine judge also. Both have fought the good fight and seem to be able to continue for some time.

But as a strictly political consideration, the sooner the better. This is nothing against either of these two honorable jurists. But political reality is that the longer into the first term we go, the less likely Obama will be able to put in a truly progressive justice. I know a lot of people here love the rosy scenarios, but I don't think we should risk another scalia or roberts just because we love positive thinking. Chances are we will lose seats in the mid-terms. Every seat that goes to the other side is a notch further right any justice will need to be to be seated.

I loves me some Ginsburgh, but political facts are tough masters.

[LeftyAndProud60]

25. I thought it would be obvious to all that it was a political question. Definitely overestimated

a few people. SMH

[elleng]

29. Really no need to dump on those of us like me

who find it objectionable to suggest that Justice Ginsburg should step aside soon. No 'rosy scenarios' here, or 'positive thinking,' either, after what we've been thru with health care. There is NO easy path to what we may want.

Actually I think we're WAY ahead of ourselves, just considering the length of time it will likely take to fill Justice Stevens' spot, given the s.o.b.s we have to deal with.

[pnwmom]

35. I have seen too many liberal Justices in the past cling to their positions well past

the age of a reasonable retirement, only to die or retire during a Republican President's term. Justices who aren't likely to live for another ten years or so would do the country a favor if they retired now, while there is a President like Obama to replace them. If they wait till 2012 it could well be too late. I expect Obama to be a two-term President, but I wouldn't want to stake the Supreme Court on it.

[Jakes Progress]

41. Way too touchy.

The post was not a dig at you and certainly not at Justice Ginsburg. You make my point again by taking a political decision and discussion and making it personal. I laud your support for to good Justice's feelings, but I suspect that a person like her who has worked in law and politics for so many years, always making the decisions based on getting the best things done would take not offense at looking at the political ramifications of retiring now or a year from now. These are the kinds of decisions and weighty issues she handles so well. If she feels like she can and wants to do the job for the next 10 or 12 years, I cheer for her. But if she is contemplating retirement in the next few years, a consideration of the possible effects of delaying the act must be weighed.

[elleng]

42. And you, undeclared, ought to 'thought' more,

rather than dumping BACK on people you don't know. GOOD that I don't REALLY know you, and CAN'T get personal.

[Jakes Progress]

44. How are you being dumped on?

Where are you finding all this? What the hell does the title of your post mean? Can you find some way to actually comment on the content or the intent of my post? Can you possibly remove your feelings about yourself and your imagined slights to discuss the merits of the concept of deciding about retirement based on political reality? How about a discussion about whether we have a better shot at seating a progressive justice now or two years from now? Can you discuss anything without imagining someone attacking you?

I don't know you. I have no idea where you came from? I don't know what possessed you to have the ego to think that my post was about you. I was talking about Justice Ginsburg. Unless you are she using a screen alias on DU, you have no reason to carry on like this. (I seriously doubt that Justice Ginsburg would misread and personalize anything in this thread in this way.) Golly.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

33. I'm hoping she will do it next year after Stevens. I realize it's her choice, but I hope she does.

Flame me all you want.

I'm more concerned with our country than I am the feelings of an individual who needs to retire while we have a Dem President.

[pnwmom]

37. I do, too. I'm tired of older liberal Justices in declining health who think

they're indispensable.

[boppers]

38. My grandfather is 97.

His hips are shot, as are his knees, but if you try to play chess with him, you will lose.

She'll step down when she's ready to. She's just a kid, less than 90.

[craigmatic]

43. It's gonna kill the democratic agenda when he does. He ought to do it now while they still have 59.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

45. You seem concerned again. nt