So, naturally, speculation has turned to Ginsburg's replacement on the Court, and, wouldn't you know it, identity politics is already driving early speculation:
If Ginsburg is the next justice to retire, we'll no doubt hear a lot of nonsense about how her replacement should be the "best-qualified person" for the job, as if that concept were meaningful. It isn't, because there are thousands of people who would be fine SCOTUS justices, and whether any one of them in particular ought to be chosen depends on a myriad of factors, including the (in my view correct) judgment that it's not acceptable to have an all-male SCOTUS, any more than it would be acceptable to have an all-female one.Okay, the Court is already down one "girl" seat with Alito's replacement of Sandra Day O'Connor in 2006, so the pressure is on. But, seriously, is identity politics and HOTNESS more important than merit? I guess so, since Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm's is already leading the list of possible replacements for Ginsburg (via Memeorandum).
Now that would be fun (see Jennifer Granholm as Sarah Palin?"). Having run Michigan into the ground, it would defy reason for President Obama to appoint the the former "Miss San Carlos." But hey, if Representative Hilda Solis can make the grade for Labor Secretary after 16 years of unpaid tax liens, anything's possible.
3 comments:
What do you think of Clarence Thomas's appointment to the bench? Was he "the best" candidate? George H.W. Bush, who solidly opposed affirmative action, couldn't possibly have been a hypocrite in appointing him to the SCOTUS?
Boy would that be a blessing for Michigan! And it would be one liberal for another so the balance would remain the same.
Thomas was very qualified to sit on SCOTUS, try reading his autobiography.
It is poor taste to single out Justice Ginsburg as being replaced. A general speculation on Barry's short list for SCOTUS would be interesting. Souter, Ginsburg and Stevens are all possible retirees. Personally, I thought it would be 2 years before a vacancy occurred and that Hillary would be pulled from State and put on the court.
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