CNN

Simmy May 3rd, 2009 10:34 am ET
The first of three appointments that President Obama makes . . . The third will be an alternate lifestyle American……
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So you think Blarney Frank will get in????????????

I guess that I don't understand. If it's okay to appoint openly conservative or right-wing judges, then why not an openly left-wing or liberal one? It's something that I've been wondering about for years and I'd love an honest answer from some of our Republican law-makers.

They readily admit that Scalia, Thomas and Roberts are conservative. And that political, ideological lean sits just fine. But these same law-makers will scream bloody murder if anyone even suggested putting an unabashed liberal on the court.

Why can't the court have both sides of the ideological divide?

A lot of hate coming from republicans, being so INSIGNIFICANT these days will make you say those words. One thing for sure, Republicans will never be a majority party anymore, in fact they will be stuck like their 50's thinking as a regional player. Can't win the country if you don't have help with the independents.

Sage has lied – George Bush vetoed less bills than any other POTUS. Even when the alliance of Fascists gained control of Congress two years ago.

So Lori, are you telling us Bill in the Bayou is incorrect ? Honestly ? Anytime the TRUTH is stuck in the face of an Obamist they squeal RACISM . Lori – you, as well as your god king Obama, are a threat to the stability of this country.

"I’m not a payback type guy," he told John King on State of the Union.

But by his previous statements and his reactionary statements and actions toward the stimulus and support of people with teabags on their heads he has proved that he is an " ignorant type of guy".

Simmy – you offend me. And in your Obamaland that means you have committed a crime, worth, say, $10,000,000 dollars. Drop it in the mail soon.

Simmy – looks like you been drinking the kool-aid. No doubt you were edgeubacated in a government school by union employees. Fool.

Mr Obama could really send the republicans into a tailspin if he were to find a qualified gay, Hispanic, single mom in a wheelchair.

It would be interesting to see whose head would explode first.

I hope Obama picks a Black, Hispanic, Gay, Female. This will drive the REPUGNUTS crazy....They will all run to Crawford, Texas to meet with their Grand Imperial Wizzard and whine... Then they will dance all around his firey cross and cry....This is what Republians do a lot...CRY....Then daddy Bush will sprinkle them with Holy Water and they will come back to Washington and vote NO........

That's more GOP B.S. Shelby has only voted "no" so far, why would we expect anything different?

Republicans admit every time they appoint a judge they want them to be a conservative.

Because the truth is, a conservative judge upholds the rule of law with less of a political agenda then his liberal counterpart. And do I need to point out that a Republican president appointed a few judges that turned liberal!

Yet these Republicans lived with it even when a ruling would not go in the favor.

Sorry to point out but you Democrats would not as respectful of your appointee if they turned out to be a conservative!

WHY???? Should Obama meet with the leaders of BOTH parties...We already know the Republicans are going to put on their white sheets amd vote NO...So why waste the time talking to the Republican LUGNUTS????

"I'm not a payback kinda guy BUT I'm an old school Dixi-can and will stab America in the back and lower taxes for the rich whenever I can"...

"But if he will appoint a pragmatist, someone who is not an ideologue, that someone is not just going to light all the lightbulbs in America on the left, I think that would be good for the country."

Why? The GOP has deliberately placed four relatively-young reactionary ideologogues on the court - Scalia, Thomas, Roberts and Allito – to try to build a hard-right institution. Can someone tell me why, with the country overwhelming approving Obama and his change agenda, Obama should not move to rebalance the court with a leftist, liberal, Progressive - whatever the current term for it is?

Why are "conservatives" OK but "liberals" not? Why was Obama called the "most liberal Senator" (as if that is a disqualification) and no one was called the "most conservative Senator?" - there must be one by definition.

Obama, America voted for change. Change the court composition to reflect America 2009, not America 1980! - or 1880!

@ Bill from Bilge-Water Bayou:

That's what inbreeding and bad water will produce ... got your hood and white sheets back from the cleaners?

For the person that believes the law should not be black and white but gray better read some books.

The law is black and white it is the ruling of said law by a liberal judge that allow it to become gray.

I judge has the job of following the law of the land not changing the law to fit his political perception of it.

If a liberal judge bases his judgment on his own political view he is seen as a wise and profound judge.

But if a conservative judge rules based on his political perception then every one on the left calls him every name in the book and feel that judge is taking away liberties of the American people.

You Democrats are just as bad as any Republican you bad mouth on this forum.

Judges should turn in their ruling based on the black and white of law! Keep the gray out because that is not what they are there to do.

Great thanks:Fordy and Gl Pittsburgh posts on this website. CNN is Fox junior with 'smiling face" on opposition to this President and his administration: Look at the majority on CNN carried political ticker are republican related stories, take listen to the following reporters: John king , Ed Henry, W. Blitzer, Anderson cooper, Lou Dobs. The majority of their pundits are X republicans who are always critical of the President and Democratic party: Bill Benet , the lady from Home land security, Ed Rolins, Mary Mad.., (James C's wife), Steven Hays, Dave Gargin, Jasica y., The ony objective reporters at CNN towards this administration are: Susan Mal.., Solidat and Roland Martin. CNN reporters who are critical of the President and pro Republican tend to hide their opinions in question form..while at Fox their reporters don't hide their dislike for the President. to proof my observation, you don't see many X republicans as pundit at MSNBC. CNN want to be between Fox and MSNBC when it come to this administration..but right now they are the home of the Republicans who want critisize this administration.

@ co-peck-nee:

Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? What a FOUL, UNTRUE thing to say! BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!

Somehow two of the most extreme right wing ideologues in Roberts and Alito are fine to destroy the constitution but to balance that with one liberal is a crime. Shelby is one of the most vile blow hard fools in the senate – who is one of the key people that has destroyed this country and continues to try at every turn. Your white hood was too tight you have brain damage – retire!

I agree with the poster who said that we are beyond race and ethnicity. Assuming Pres. Obama picks a Latina.

It seem the issue many Republicans are facing is their emotional attachment to a 'party' and those who 'tell' them what to think, and being 'stuck' trying to defend bad choices of 'other' people who they did or did not support.

Just listening to the many comments, it sounds like parents who are called to school, that try to defend the negative actions of their child that are against school policy. Instead of admitting the truth of the wrong doing, the parent then becomes a bigger problem than the child, and the child only get's worse and starts to decline. Does this sound familiar???

The more Republicans stick their heads in the sand, deny the truth and try to find ways to 'defend' the negative behavior of their party leaders, it only empowers them to do even more harm to their followers.

Their words mean little....look at their actions.

If anybody cares, I just figured it out, "it" being why Sen. Specter switched now to the Democratic party.

The Supreme Court nomination–obviously, he can play a much more influential role during the "picking" process & squelch the debate. This crap about "if he picks a pragmatist, not an ideologue," in direct contrast to how the GOP has been packing the bench since the time of Reagan, is irrelevant. Anyway, that's my theory.

Peace.

Mike – what legislation, SPECIFICALLY, drawn up by Democrats between 2006-2008 and signed by President Bush do you blame for causing this crisis?

Without an answer to that question, you are nothing but a bag of wind.

Nothing could be less careful than the GOP picks of Thomas, Alito, Scalia, or more dogmatic. Enough with the Republicans calling for mercy from the Democrats to whom they have never showed a shred of tolerance or respect when they controlled the reins of government. Naturally the Obama administration will choose wise replacements when needed on the Court, but they will not be dictated to by a bunch of foolish hypocrites on the fringe right...or left for that matter.

"But if he will appoint a pragmatist, someone who is not an ideologue, that someone is not just going to light all the lightbulbs in America on the left, I think that would be good for the country."

Gee, what a concept – appoint someone who is NOT an ideologue. That certainly would have made a significant difference in the Justice Dept, in the rebuilding of Iraq, etc...

Funny how BushCo hired everyone based on personal beliefs and ideology but they hate the thought of the Dems doing the same.

Can you spell hypocrisy? Oops, I forgot; that's a core value of the Republican Party. I think it comes right after greed.

Mike, you are so full of it! Clinton left our country with a budget surplus, that Cheney/Bush spent into oblivion with their naive fiscal and foreign policies.

I'm no fan of Bill Clinton – a man of his intellect and charisma, and he totally squandered a tremendous opportunity for the sake of a little fun with an intern. And he should have been a man and not lied about it. But the whole impeachment process was an excuse by the Republicans to try to derail his policies. Given the hypocrisy of the GOP and all of its scandals, calling Clinton out on infidelity was certainly the pot calling the kettle black.

Also, the economy in 2005 was not at its strongest in 50 years – the stock market was high, but we've all since learned the hard way that its value was over-inflated and based on investments "instruments" that were no more solid than a house of cards.

Finally, the day you can engage in public debate about the President of the United States and his policies without calling him "Osama" is the day I may give a second of serious thought to your arguments.

Until then, you're just another dittohead.

Scream all you want. The republican are now know as the party which will not denounce torture, war of aggression, assualt weapons, politics over science, fail moral courage….

Republican need to clean their house and stop trying to defend a fail record of leadership for the past 8 years. Republican need to get back to basics but it requires the courage to speak out against the failure of the last administration.

To Mike:

Wow, do you really believe all that?

Why don't you turn off Fox Noise, read a few books and talk to an economist or two.

I suppose the Dems are also responsible for Bush and Cheney not being able to find WMD's or a link to Al Qaeda in Iraq???

people stop fighting, obama is just another president he`s no messiah or anything, if he is he should already fix the problem just without anybody`s advice... i would say obama is learning as he go.....

Barack Obama is so stupid and he's lying yet ya ll defend him to the death claiming he has eight years of bull crap to pick up. You forget that the president before Bush was clinton and he should've gotten impeach but did bush use that as an excuse. No. he took what he was given and improved the ecomony which in 2005 was at highest levels in the last 50 years. What from 2006-2008 you say it was the democratic congress that drove us to this brink not the president. and guess who was part of that congress was in his words a strong and imporant member of congress. BARACK HUSSEIN OSAMA/OBAMA

@ Bill ~ Down on the Bayou

I expect obama will be looking for some mixed Negro-Caucasian woman to fill the sear of retiring justice Souter, and it would help if she was in this country illegally and on welfare

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You are the type of an old and obsolete ideology Americans represent (narrow minded, negative, racist minority)
We live in 21 century where new ideas, open-minded, smart and intelligent person is excepted around the world without caring about his or her skin color or ethnic
Ever heard the word “ Color is only skin deep”

Yours type of ideology is so yesterday, and is should remain yesterday.
Yours type of people disgusted me and I am not even an Americans

Refresh my memory, wasn't Sen. Shelby a Democrate before
he switched parties in midterm?

CGR – Did you forget that the stock market was at its highest levels because it was being artificially inflated by bad investments? There were nothing backing these securities but IOUs. This is a deeper problem then "the democrats got control of congress in 2006". In case you didn't remember, even though they were in control they really didn't get anything done.

Interesting that the Republicans admit to the appointment of specifically conservative judges; when they are supposed to be appointed for their pragmatism and jurisprudence.

Sarge, the world laws are not the governing document for the USA, the Constitution is! If the law needs to be changed, the legislature does that not the Courts! Any judge who sites anything (WORLD LAW)but the constitution and USA laws is not worthy of being a judge in the USA.

I think for this first pick, B. Hussein will be smart and not go too far left. He's still got Stevens (OLD) and Ginsburg (cancer) who will give him two more picks. They will likely both go during his first (and only) term, and so I predict Barry will go for the far lefties then.

To CGR: The democrat may have controlled congress for the last 2 years but we had a Idiot for a president who Vetoed just about everything they passed....remember also that the republicans controlled the congress for 13 years before that last two. Study your history before you false statements.

When are the IDIOT Republicans going to ever step into the 21st century? Alito and Roberts lied their butts off during their hearings. When need a judge who understands that the WORLD is changing and with that change a new breed of Judges need to be appointed. Not the good old boys who continuously want to go back in time. I hope they lose even more seat next year. The public that has the brains, already know what a bunch of lies that the party has told. And when I hear that crook Tom Delay take down about Obama he needs to be tried for his crimes.....Another Idiot born in Texas. I wish they would drop from the union this way Cheney, Rove, Vitter and the rest of the idiots can run Texas...

To GuyInVA May 3rd, 2009 12:05 pm ET: Pay back or not, it doesn't matter. The republicans can do nothing about it. Because of this, look for an extreme leftist. You know, the kind that can be sympathetic to those less fortunate. You know, the normal qualifications for a judge.

No, those are not the normal qualifications for a judge. A judge is supposed to be impartial and uphold the law, regardless. Per your interpretation, if a poor person from a broken home commits murder, the judge should be sympathetic because they grew up less fortunte and they should walk free? But, if a middle class kid from a 2 parent home commits murder, the book should be thrown at them because they grew up more fortunate? They are both equally guilty and should both be equally sentenced.

It is not the job of the SCOTUS to write law. That is the job of state and federal legislatures. If the legislatures don't like the way the laws are being upheld by the SCOTUS, it's up to the legislatures to change those laws.

To C W –

Good points. But you forgot to mention that the 2 of 8 years the GOP didn't totally control government (2006 – 2008/present Dem-controlled congress), are the years where the U.S. started taking a decline economically and socially.

No one complained when the stock market was high as ever, unemployment was way down, and consumer products were cheap due to those terrible Republicans; and anyone with a part-time job could buy a $500K house thanks to the Clinton-era "help the poor" mortgage policies.

And Alito and Roberts are not conservative ideologues? – Please!
Time to balance out those two picks!

Here is a trivia question.

What subject, when being discussed, causes the rational part of the brain to shut down and the emotional side to take over?

Answer: Politics.

Just reading these posts and watching and/or listening to all these political pundits proves this.

Food for thought.

all shelby wants is a good old boy that will keep tobaco industries owned by slave owners. and rights of americans will be subject to the food chain and shelby is at the top and you and I are way down the chain

Pay back or not, it doesn't matter. The republicans can do nothing about it. Because of this, look for an extreme leftist. You know, the kind that can be sympathetic to those less fortunate. You know, the normal qualifications for a judge.

its so apparent that each side thinks their guys walk on water while the other side is full of liars, cheats and thieves. This is the partisan divide- it's not in the chambers of congress but right here in normal Americans. We can send our elected officials a message, set them an example of open-mindedness and fair dialogue that seeks to open debate to all sides. There is good in each argument as long as it comes from a place of selflessness and betterment for the common good, not for the rich and powerful or huge corporations. Make life better for individual Americans! This should be any elected official's prime directive. You might call that socialist but I call it humanity. If you could make everyone poor just so you could be rich would you do it????

I don't not and will not watch John King. He interview way to many Republicans. John King do not stop them from being so cricitial toward the President.

If I want to watch fox news, I will turn to fox news. CNN have become Fox news on Suday so why watch it on Sundays.

To GOP: First of all, you spelled your reference to "cool aid" incorrectly.
I'd tell you here how to spell it, but given your obvious ignorance of history, I think it'd be better for you to do some research and learn something in the process.

Second of all, the reason why so many people continue to point out that the GOP is the party that got us into our current mess is because the GOP had complete control of all three branches of government for 6 of the last 8 years. Not only that, but for 30 years, we've been practicing Reagan-style tinkle-down, voodoo economics – something that we've all learned the hard way just doesn't work. So the GOP is to blame!

This doesn't mean the Democrats are perfect; what we're talking about here is countering all the lies, misinformation and re-writing of history that the Republicans employ as a strategy.

Since the Republicans are completely devoid of new ideas and have nothing to offer except failed policies and a circus cast of ridiculous characters, all they can do is repeat the same lies over and over again, hoping that through sheer repetition someone will believe them.

I, among others, will not sit idly by – we will continue to point out the GOP's responsibility and the role it has played in bringing our country to this point of crisis.

I bought a used rice burning car from Mr. Shelby too.He said it didnt need gas,just a bag of rice everyday.He and Rush Limbaugh are my idols.

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To: co-peck-nee,

I resent your remarks......Give President Obama the respect due him.....He is no 'Marxist thug.' He is quickly becoming one of the greatest presidents we have ever had....How long will you, and others like you, fester on hatred and contempt? Were you expecting McCain and Palin to be in control at this critical time in history? Truth is, you're a non-thinker....You've allowed Right Wing media to become your god.....They've converted you, now the chip doesn't fall far from the blocks.....I have much sympathy for you, and the millions like you....
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To: Bill – Down on the Bayou,
I expect obama will be looking for some mixed Negro-Caucasian woman to fill the sear of retiring justice Souter, and it would help if she was in this country illegally and on welfare.
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I'm offended by your comments. I suggest you, and un-thinkers like you, go back to sites like Drudge, TownHall, FOX (Hannity, etc.); and continue to listen to nuts like Limbaugh, where your type language is encouraged....President Obama's choice will be better than any that would have been made, had your non-dynamic duo been chosen.....I am happy that the positive comments on this blog site, more than not, out number the negative shrills......I pray that the LIGHT of the world shine some LOVE in your heart.....PEACE...

Republicans are the party of "do as I say, not as I do". None of Bush's Supreme Court appointees were in the least moderate. The are all ultra-conservative idealogs. But now they whine – can't appoint a liberal – it's not fair! It's going to take alot more than 1 supreme court appointment to get that court even close to moderate!

Will someone please explain to me this "activist judge" nonsense? The Constitution is pretty clear that all citizens should have equal rights. So when the courts rule that discrimination violates the Constitution, how is that trying to write laws? If ensuring that our country lives up to its ideals of democracy and freedom for all is being "activist", then sign me up for some more of that.

If you look at how hard Republicans are against the unnamed choice of President Obama, I'm sure you can imagine how much they will protest a named selection. Republicans say they are not the Party of NO but you tell me what it is when they oppose an unnamed nomination to the Supreme Court.

Is State of the Union a CNN and Fox news simulcast? Why am I forced to watch Fox news on CNN every Sunday morning 9:00 AM ET to 1:00 PM ET? Thank God for intermission(Reliable Sources)!!

No payback from Republicans?

Yeah...Right...

The supreme court selection of George Bush for President in 2000 was illegal and unconstitutional. The 5 Judges who made that decision should be asked to resign. And Obama should apoint 5 Liberal/Progressives in their place. Then perhaps there would be a hope in hell that the USA can recover from the last 30 years of Republican lies, theft, cheating, murder, torture and treason.

the courty is too heavily weighted to the right

You can bet your life on it. It will not be a "Caucasian/White."l

You people need to understand things like Republicans do. They may have lost control of both chambers but they only need one Republican in the House and one Republican in the Senate to be able to control the White House. If you people were able to understand things and see them as Republicans see them you would understand how they can continue to control without having a majority.

Now if you people ever come to understand how Republicans see things I will then teach you all how Republicans make pigs fly with or without lip stick.

If the candidate is as far left as Judge Bork was to the right, "BORK" her or him! The democrats deserve it.

Typical of the Republican membership to say they are open and then state they are open only to someone that shares their views. Shelby is manure.

To state that Alito, Roberts or Scalia are objective is a lie. They vote as a block along Republican Party lines. Scalia goes bird hunting with those party to suits the Supreme Court is considering. These are three very sleazy hard liners. The court deserves better and the Constitution is to be supported no matter the appointees loyalties.
I do hope we can do better NOW than someone that is identified by party allegiance.

No Matter who the President Picks The Republicans will BASH Him some are already Bashing his Pick and He hasnt even Picked yet So President Obama you are the President its your Choice!

Jane, you really are a dope! Why in heavens name would President Obama pick a Republican for the Supreme Court? The majority of Americans who elected OUR President voted for him because he is NOT a Republican. You Rethugs think that everything will be OK as long President Obama thinks and reacts like a Republican. That will never happen.
What business is it of yours how much Michelle Obama pays for her tennis shoes. She did not pay for them with taxpayer money. Keep your eye on the ball Jane and you just might learn something.
I don't believe for a second that the party of NO won't try to obstruct whoever the President picks. The court is already far to the right and we need some balance there. I hope the President gets to select at least 3 judges in his 8 year as our leader..

President Obama's opportunities to nominate Justices to the Supreme Court is a huge threat to the Republican agenda. For years, the GOP has been has been attacking our country's judicial branch, from their labeling of any judge who disagrees with their agenda as "activist" to requiring political ideological litmus tests of Justice Department employees.

We are a nation of laws – something that Karl Rove and Grover Norquist understand. Which is why the GOP has been making such a concerted effort to undermine our country from the inside out in their effort to gain complete control.

Senator Richard Shelby have already told us he will not be voting on the person that the preident pick for the SCJ what ashame that these people can not work together and help my this country once again better. Payback …..just another example of the juvenile behavior of the republicans in congress.

No one cares who Richard Shelby wants. Loser!

I love you liberals. You've had the right to complain for years and did so, and now you complain anytime the GOP says a word that they are whining. GOP ignored you the last 8 years, so why don't you do the same now that you have the power? If it's because you're trying to distract the public from the terrible job your Congress and the President's staff is doing, you're doing well.

105 days: $35 billion bailout; 30K jobs lost; company sold to Italy...just an example of how these change policies have helped one industry...

John King the Republican enabler should try asking some tough questions of the Repubs every now and then

Richard Shelby has no credibility. He continues to imply that President Obama is not a U.S. citizen, proving he is a typical Republican, intent on bringing down our country by promoting fear and ignorance.

Why people give him air time is beyond me.

The republicans are so funny. They had no problem putting in conservative idealogues but then say Obama should put in a "pragmatic" justice (ie. moderate to conservative). And of course he isn't a payback type of guy. They don't have enough votes to fillibuster an Obama pick.

Noam Chomksy!!

I am sure whom ever Obama picks the GOP will NOT like. That is pretty much a given. But we know how the game is played. Obama should pick an ultra liberal judge to balance out the ultra conservative judges. The GOP simply doesn't get it. They are NO longer in power. They act as if they are relevant and think Obama should pick one from there team.. They are really funny.

ActivistJudge..how did the GOP put rightwingers on for 20 years when Clinton was in there for 8 of those? BTW all of this arguing over Republican payback or obstructionism is stupid...they can't do it! They only hold 40 Senate seats...they might as well just stay at home. Let the Dems drive the car of the cliff

President Obama, unlike the previous occupant of the White House, actually knows and understand the Constitution, having taught Constitutional Law. I trust his judgment in nominating to the Supreme Court someone equally capable in interpreting this foundational document.

Payback for what? Payback for being elected the president of the United States by the majority of people? This is all so silly because regardless of how petty and obstructionistic the Republicans want to be, at the end of the day Obama will put a Democrat in there. I still can't believe that Clarence Thomas made it through after his despicable behavior.

Its hypocritical that the GOP who picks only conservative idealogues, would try to dictate the same to President Obama. Alito, Scalia, Thomas and Roberts are as far right as can be and they were all nominees of Repub presidents

If you beleive that then i bet you think the gop had nothing to do with the mess were in now. Irag war for oil, wall street mess thanks to republican graham. How dumb are the american people to ever vote for a republican again. They stole our country in Florida(2000) and in (ohio) in 2004. Nothing but lie after lie from then evil corporate prostitutes. Rep. care about money and the people they can fonicate. to get more money. Nothing will change until we can destroy the republican party once and for all. I doubt if CNN will publish this because there as bad as the other corporations.

@ Bill- Down at the Bayou: I expect obama will be looking for some mixed Negro-Caucasian woman to fill the sear of retiring justice Souter, and it would help if she was in this country illegally and on welfare.
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Ladies and gentlemen, Bill is officially what is left of the Republican party. Enough said.

It was interesting to see Pres. Obama's views on picking a judge. And Richard shelby says that "jude should be one who administers and not invent the law and should abide by the consistitution". I think that a judge should be one who explains the law and the consititution and administers it as it should be applied to a specific case in hand while upholding the fundamental rights of both the perpetrator of the crime and their victims.

Law cannot be black or white BUT should be gray to be fair to all parties involved. I hope that the President and the lawmakers leave aside their partisan views on this issue in the interest of delivering justice in all its fairness to all and pick a person who can deliver on that.

The Democrats won the election in 2008. As the gop likes to say, elections have consequences. I am hoping that one of those consequences is the nomination of a young, strong liberal woman who will make what's left of Scalia's hair stand on end and make Roberts sit whimpering in the corner.

Sen. Shelby is just like all the other right-wing republicans. They want judges like Roberts that lean all the way to right, but democrats cannot have a left-leaning judge. The country needs more balance on the courts, and that means more left-leaning judges or all of our rights will be taken away. The GOP is waiting in line to reverse Roe.

Don't forget that Shelby led the ridiculous and divisive"Obama isn't a citizen campaign". He is taming his rhetoric but carries nothing but contempt for the Democratic party and President Obama.

I don't even know what to say anymore. The GOP playbook is this...

When they are in power they do not care one bit about bipartisanship. They do what they want and they do not care at all if the Dems don't agree.

When they are not in power they constantly complain about how the Dems are doing what they did when they were in office.

It is sad to think that Republicans in general are stupid enough to buy these arguments and not see how ridiculous it is for the GOP to complain about anyone not being bipartisan.

I believe everything Shelby says.Hes such a nice guy.

So Shelby says. He cannot speak for the others.

Suck it up Goopers. If anyone is getting payback it's us on the left. You spent the last 20+ years stacking the SCOTUS with right wing idiologues and now you whine and cry when we finally get a chance to start balancing out the high court. Grow a pair.

Actions speak louder than words. Until now it has been nothing but payback for having won the election.

Kathleen Sullivan would make a great Justice of the Supreme Court

I am and have been Independent for some time. I like what I see in Obama and don't give a rat's rear what ANY Republican has to say. It is clear they ALL belong in the funny farm for not facing up to the fact THEY caused this mess and for 8 years DID NOTHING so to paraphrase others ......GO WAY AND SHUT UP.

Jane – I got news for you Michelle spend her own money not like weak nutting Sara Palin who juse the RNC money to travel and buy her
$150,000 worth of clothes. Michelle Obama have class and style. You nutting Republicans tried to sale to the American People Sara Palin better know as the Jerry Springer Family. So if you want to talk about anybody, why not Sara Palin on a Reality Show.

Mark, B'ham., Al. – The courts did not make gay marriage or abortion "law". They merely said banning them violated state and the US Constitution, respectively. The US supreme court found abortion was protected by the US Constitution through a persons right to privacy. Read the 9th Amendment to the US Constitution. There are many good books out there which explain the difference between striking down a law as violating a constitution versus making something law.

since the Democrats have been using payback methods for years
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Yes, darn those Democrats for voting against the invasion of Iraq, and for voting against tax cuts for the extremely wealth and for voting for more corporate oversight. It's time the RNC paid them back all-right. And we, the people, will continue to pay back the RNC as we have done in 2006 and 2008.

Anyone selected should set aside their politcal leanings and address the case before them based on existing United States laws.

I do not think laws should be made by the courts only interpreted by them.

The potential appointee should be looking at US laws not laws from other countries.

Hey dittohead – forign car manufacturing employees in the U.S. are making big bucks. They are buying nice homes, sending their kids to college, eating well and living the AMERICAN dream. Tell us about GM and Chrysler and other Obamist insitutions. Tell us about the fascist UAW. You are a supreme fool.

We will see if the Party of No will do something different.
My guess is they will all be in lock step with the big NO.

In addition, since the Democrats have been using payback methods for years I agree it is time for the GOP to give them a taste of it for a change. What goes around comes around and hits you in the face.

I do get a kick out of you here that put down the GOP every chance you get because you have been drinking too much cool-aid from the Democrat party for years.

You can only see the wrongs of the GOP and believe your party never does anything wrong even when they are caught with their fat hands in the cookie jar.

I think the Democrat party should now be called the party of the blind. So with Obama you can indeed have the blind leading the blind!!

Seattle Sue has it right. The Republican party has moved so far to the right that their definition of a "pragmatist ... not an idealogue" would be someone significantly right of center. Basically what Shelby is saying is they'll be willing to confirm someone right of Bush the Elder (whom they considered to be borderline liberal) and left of Ann Coulter. Anyone else will fail the litmus tests the Republicans are so fond of using (but don't want the Dems to use).

There's a word for this: hypocrisy.

"...Republicans still have this delusion that if they are nice to Democrats, the Democrats will start being to Republicans...

********************** News flash for those living in a parallel universe – it is the GOP that treated the Democrats badly for the past 8 years: like not even telling committee members when and where the committee meetings were held – or locking the doors!

President Obama started and has continued to work with the Republicans but they are already swearing to vote 'no" to any candidate he picks for the Court – before anyone has even been asked or announced... no – its the GOP who counted on their "permanent majority" and felt free to be as nasty as they could possible be.

Obama doesn' t really need the Republicans to push through his nominee. Just nominate someone and ram them through. I hope we won't have to suffer through months of fighting over a Supreme Court nominee that will get through anyway! Get you guy or girl in there and be done with it.

No payback from Shelby?. Sure, and pigs can fly. It is a rarity when a Republican strays from the party line especially now that Limbaugh is the party leader.

Shelby is the ultimate redneck.He is a liar.He is owned by foreign car companies that now own and run his State.

Maybe he should just appoint his personal lawyer like Bush did.

It is so nice of you left wing Democrats to rant about “judicial activism” when every Democrat appointee has been just that. They never look at what is written in our constitution and judge accordingly.

They try to reinterpret our constitution and I believe that is not their job. The conservative judges uphold our rights as free Americans.

It is only because these left wing judges rule in the most liberal way do you on the left agree with their rulings no matter how much freedom they take away from us all.

Whoever Obama picks, I just hope they pay thier taxes.

As the country moves center left it is imperative that a liberal leaning justice be appointed so that the court can intrepret the constitution in a manner that will not thwart th ewill of the people without trampling minority rights.It is obviously a fine line to walk but BuSH'S appointments ,while legitimate legal scholars,are predictable in everyone of their votes.This doesnt bode wel when a country needs to address massive problems with out of the box solutions with a court that has some members who cant see beyond 1776.
In any event the court lost most of its legitimacy when it decided Gore v Bush , a decison which certainly protected minority rights...except the minority that was protected were the repubicans.

The GOP could lie down and let Barney Frank have his was with their butts and you CNN folk would scream "obstructionists". A pox on the Democrackpipe party, Barry the toker man, and the CNN schills.

I think its cute how the gop act like they actually matter in this decision. Obama does not care what they think. They have done nothing but try to undermind him, lie about him, and constantly vote every thing down that he proposes. They can continue to be the party of whine and fear, but Obama will put whoever he wants in there, and they cant do a thing about it. They need to stop acting like they have a choice in this.

Don't kid yourselves. The right is terrified of the implications of Obama's choice and it's great to watch 'em squirm!

hey Jane@ 10:54am–you sound like someone sucking on sour grapes and a jacka$$. Why are you so concerned about how much M Obama's shoes cost?...huh? The chic probably paid for them herself. And even if she didn't, you need to remind us of the cost to make youreself feel better or score political points. Yeah...big girl Jane...keep it up. Secondly, he also said publicly that democrats dont hold the monopoly on good ideas and policy. He has made the biggest effort in terms of outreach to the republicans in recent history.
The problem with republicans is that everyone knows you guys are hypocrites and everything you do is so bad for the country. Conversely, seemingly everything Obama does is good for the country. I think that you guys are on the wrong side of history with this one!

Obama became a "constitutional scholar" so that he could subvert and destroy the Constitution of the United States. A lot of his actions to date prove that. The GOP shouldn't "pay back", they should attack this Marxist thug with every breath they have.

lieNoMore and Seattle Sue, I'm with you....

Shelby seems to be setting the stage for his usual NO.....What's really amazing, are their warnings (McConnell, and those to come) to President Obama, about the significance of his choice....So far, the president has been a careful, thoughtful thinker....The ultimate decision will be his, not that of the Right Wing....I have total confidence in President Obama....He did not vote for Roberts....That revealed the wisdom in the man.....Roberts is very Right Wing.....

I watched the hearings on Justice Clarence Thomas, and believed the accounts of his character given by Anita Hill....But Republicans (in
control) were determined to vote him (another Republican) in,
no matter how shady his personal resume appeared to be....

Seattle Sue shows her bigotry and intolerance once more

I expect obama will be looking for some mixed Negro-Caucasian woman to fill the sear of retiring justice Souter, and it would help if she was in this country illegally and on welfare.

NOW the GOP expects pragmatic.....The folks DO make me chuckle on a farily regular basis.

He is a liar. He is very evil lilke the rest of the Repulbicans.

Gee, all of a sudden the Republicans are wanting to meet with Obama? What happened to No,No,No? Oh, I forgot. Selecting a Justice doesn't involve analyzing financial numbers and coming up with a plan...

Once again republicans show their true colors - the BIGGEST hypocrisy perpetrated on the American people when it comes to the court happened when Clarence Thomas was pushed down our throats. Remember him?????? Yeah, right, republicans only want someone to "interpret the law"!!!! Remember Bush v. Gore?????? And look at what has happened to our country as a result of their "interpretation" of the law!!!! SHAME ON THEM.

Right. No payback. Of course, we already know he'll vote no, but certainly not for partisan reasons. It will only be because he'll have "serious reservations" about the qualifications and ability to "strictly interpret the Constitution" of Obama's choice – no matter who it is.

Hey look, the Republicans are changing their image. No paybacks from Shelby ? That's great ! Now if we could get all of the congressional Republicans to change their images and just disappear. Now that would be a Republican make over I could wholeheartedly support.

lol... the republicans telling someone to NOT nominate an ideologue ? after putting borderline nazi scallia on the bench ! and clarence "the groper" thomas ! obama's supreme court nominations will be as important as anything he does during his presidency. he should start by looking at the iowa supreme court justices who were clear-minded enough to recognize that iowa's ban on gay marriage went against its own constitution. he should consider justices who recognize that torture is illegal, and those who made it government policy, should be in jail for it.

I'm sorry to say that abortion and gay marriage were both made law by the Court Systems whether federal or state until recently when Vermont did it the right way even if I do not agree by legislation. Picking someone on the courts, even the Supreme Court because of race, sex, religion, or life choices is wrong. The best qualified should be the choice and yes I do not think laws should be made by the courts only interpreted. If the judge wants a new law they should use the legislative system like everyone else!

Why would any Republican vote for any one he picked. He openly admitted that he would never, ever, vote for a Republican or any thing the Republicans stood for in his book "Audicity of Hope". Make him pay Republicans – he needs a dose of his own medicine or maybe Michelle needs another pair of $540.00 tennis shoes which the news media would not report.

Payback .....just another example of the juvenile behavior of the republicans in congress. Instead of focusing on trying to correct bush's mess (and their approval) of what he made of this country all they want to do is obstruct and deny anything the democrats propose.

We see whose fault it is that things aren't getting done as quickly as they should be in congress...republicans idiotic actions.

The GOP is BSing. They will be protesting the nomination no matter what. Knowing the GOP they can't be trusted on this issue.

I hope Obama picks a liberal, just to balance off what GW BUSH did. Bush's decisions have done nothing but destroy the fabric of the middle class. The party of NO is ending up where they belong..in the trash can!!

So let me get this straight: It's OK for a Republican to put a hard right Conservative ideologue on the court, but the only acceptable thing from a Democrat is to pick a non-ideological pragmatist. Shelby, like most unfair, bullying Republicans, is so seeminlgy unaware of his gross double standard that I don't even know what to say.

Please,

It is definitely time for some payback.

Unlike liberals, conservatives understand that terrorists are not going to start being nice to us just because we start being nice to them. But at the same time Republicans still have this delusion that if they are nice to Democrats, the Democrats will start being to Republicans.

Reality check!

Grow a backbone Shelby. The Democrats are going to accuse you of being an obstructionist no matter how much you try to "get along".

No payback from the GOP? Yeah, right!! We'll see...we'll see...

Whoever he nominates this repub (shelby) WILL NOT SUPPORT – I have read the article and there is a long way from words to deeds – Shel by has be a lockstep repub for his career – he was once a democrat who for political reasons changed his party affilation – He is a conservative without consoious who only follows the party rules. Maybe those who suggest that others have not read or do not understand where this man comes from should do a little reading themselves.

Dan and Steve B. maybe you should realize that reading requires more than just parsing the words and relying on glib deliveries.

Seattle Sue IMO is referring to the ideological preconditions Shelby is setting out and this is clear –albeit subtle. You guys should learn to read AND THINK.

I doubt that Leahy and the "leaders of both parties" will have much say in President Obama's pick. He knows they are all political hacks with their own agenda.

As the President of Harvard Law School and President Obama's former teacher stated on CNN: Pres. Obama has an excellent understanding of constitutional law and will make a thoughtful choice on his own.

Wouldn't it be funny if President Obama put a female conservative on the bench? How would the Republicans react to that? Maybe that would quiet them down a little bit but probably not because the seemingly can only find fault in everything that he does. The GOP needs to smarten up.

I always laugh at conservatives ranting about 'judicial activism' when they're the ones who are the guiltiest of this crime. They'd love to rule against abortion, civil rights, gay marriage, tax breaks for the middle class and a whole litany of other issues. I'm just so sick of Republican hypocrites.

"I’m not a payback type guy,"

Right, and the GOP is not a "payback" party as demonstrated by becoming the Party of NO.

The Republican's openly admit that Bush appointed *Conservatives*...obviously with their conservative agenda....but then hopes that Obama will appoint a pragmatist instead of a liberal with an agenda *FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY*....You mean like Bush did in HIS appointments??? You're such hypocrites! Its only right when you're getting your way...no pun intended.

Seattle Sue – have you actually read the article you're commenting on? If so, you seem to have completely misunderstood it.

(Seattle Sue)

I think you missed the point of the article, please read again and try to comprehend. What he said is quite the opposite.

Right like all those Bush appointed weren't "lighting lightbulbs" for the far right ... we probably need a far left appointee to outweigh the damage Bush did!!!!

So, idealogues are only okay when they are republican?

The first of three appointments that President Obama makes (there are two more to come) should be a Latina or African American female. His second should be an anti-Clarence Thomas male. The third will be an alternate lifestyle American......

Senator Richard Shelby aka Dr. No. from the party of No. Shelby is already explaining why he will not vote for Obama's choice for Supreme Court Justice, before he even knows who the person is. What a wonderful man!