Republicans say Obama's Supreme Court pick must be mainstream [View All]

Source: WP

Senate Republican leaders declined to rule out a filibuster of President Obama's nominee to succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, if they think the pick falls outside the judicial mainstream.

While calling each of the most commonly mentioned candidates to succeed Stevens "nominally qualified," Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) would not take the filibuster off the table. But he said Sunday on ABC's "This Week" that it is "unlikely" Republicans will use the procedural move to block the nominee except under "extraordinary circumstances."

Among those widely believed to be under consideration for the nomination are Solicitor General Elena Kagan, federal judges Diane Wood and Merrick Garland, and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Stevens announced Friday that he plans to retire at the end of the court's current term. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), predicted Sunday that Obama's nominee will be confirmed before the new court session begins in the fall.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) didn't rule out a filibuster if the president chooses someone from "the fringe instead of the middle" or someone who would "apply their feelings" instead of the law. Asked if he would support a filibuster of any of the potential nominees said to be on Obama's shortlist, Alexander said on "Fox News Sunday" that he is "not about to start picking nominees I would reject before the president even makes one." He said he believes that qualified nominees should receive an up-or-down vote, pointing to his vote to confirm Obama's first choice for the high court, Justice Sonia Sotomayor.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/11/AR2010041103342.html?hpid=moreheadlines

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Email the WH and tell them.....

WE WANT A LIBERAL TO REPLACE A LIBERAL!

WE DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WANT A MODERATE OR A CENTRIST!

DO NOT MOVE THE COURT TO THE RIGHT! DO NOT DO IT!

THE BACKLASH FROM THE BASE WILL BE BRUTAL!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact