ConfirmThem

Does everyone have a life this weekend? (I do to--two glorious days in the Twins Cities with my bride of over 10 years--celebrating our anniversary, as well as a new denominational hq).

Or does everyone agree with Pryor or have no comments on this post?

Time for an open thread?

Pryor wrote a similarly brilliant WSJ editorial on this topic a few months ago. Are we sure he's not a Hispanic female? ;)

I can't imagine how he'd ever get on SCOTUS, but he turns just 45 on 4/26, so there's still hope.

This speech examplifies the point I've continually made in my concerns over Sykes & Williams. Is there any evidence from either that they have spoken and written so consistently, eloquently and publicly on controversial topics as Pryor & JRB have?

The historical record on SCOTUS judges without strong paper trails or executive and/or DC experience; who were nominated for diversity, confirmability, or "team player" reasons is just awful.

furthermore, she was at Chicago for at least 1 and maybe 2 years while Scalia taught there. maybe she had him for a class? if he and the Chief put in a good word for her with W, she may be the way to go. she'd turn our STAR court into the SMART court (I like STAR a bit better, but I like 5 better than 4)

ultimately, anyone to the right of Kennedy, or at least to the right of Kennedy on the issues where he's weak (foreign law, abortion, gay marriage(? don't know if Tony would go there, but Lawrence isn't a source of hope)) should be considered a successful pick. if she appears moderate (and even in some cases is) and makes the public feel better about her so as to make it more likely for a Republican to win again in 08 to continue shaping the court(s), so much the better.

as I've said, if aff. action is her only weak point (which, as I've also said, I'm in no position to ascertain, and so am still very hesitant), I'd make that deal in a heartbeat. I do think she's one of if not the most likely candidates though, along with Edith Clement. I'd also say there's a small chance of Sykes or maybe Corrigan, and a very, very remote chance of Brown or Owen despite almost certain defeat, since Bush likes them. otherwise, its likely to be someone from outside the bench (perhaps someone from the AG or SG's office, a law professor, etc) or maybe a state supreme court, though considering Bush has already plucked some of the best fruit from those branches (Owen, Brown, Cook, Sykes, etc), and the only other one I know (Eid) is too young and possibly controversial quite apart from that, I think that's probably relatively unlikely.