Just what we need, Obama reported to be feeling liberated by the realization no matter who he chooses for the Supreme Court, his pick will be met with opposition by Republicans in the Senate. This is "freeing" him to choose a candidate that might otherwise seem a counterintuitive choice in the face of midterm elections and a polarized nation. In other words, he is free to choose someone from his neck of the liberal woods, far far from center:
President Obama thinks Republicans will engage in a full battle over his Supreme Court nominee regardless of the person's ideological leanings, and in some ways "that realization is liberating for the president" to choose whomever he pleases, an administration official told TPMDC.
In comments that are at odds with the conventional wisdom about what Obama needs to do to make sure the Senate confirms his nominee to replace John Paul Stevens, a White House official involved in the confirmation process tells TPMDC that the President isn't taking a cautious approach to selecting a nominee. Despite having one less Democrat in the Senate than when Sonia Sotomayor was confirmed last year, the administration isn't limiting itself to reviewing only centrist candidates for the court vacancy, the official said.
He is counting on Senate Republicans to roll over in the end because Democrats were so agreeable to Bush nominees according to the TPM report. Hello anyone remember Miguel Estrada? Some conservative groups are cautioning Obama shouldn't be so quick to dismiss the possibility of a filibuster:
Case in point: Tom Fitton of the conservative Judicial Watch group told me in an interview that all of the names on Obama's so-called short list so far are unacceptable and seem to be reliable liberal votes.
Fitton's theory is that progressive groups bemoaning the potential shift in the court makeup are doing so in a "strategic" fashion. "Most progressives will be perfectly happy with who he nominates," Fitton said.
Fitton also thinks that Obama is walking on dangerous ground when it comes to the filibuster -- and said the president took a "very radical" approach to health care.
"If he approaches the judicial pick like he approached health care he can expect a filibuster," Fitton said.
There seems to be no end to the pain and misery Obama is willing to inflict on the majorities he holds in Congress before November. Considering the fact many were willing to walk their political careers off the plank with health care, I wouldn't put it past Obama to ask them to take another walk for an ultra liberal nominee as well. The only thing stopping Obama may just be a filibuster. Come November there needs to be way more that stands in the way of Obama and his liberal agenda, namely a GOP controlled House and a split Senate.
That sense of "liberation" won't stop with the Supreme Court nominee. He'll use the same excuse to ram through anything he can between now and January.
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