The interviews have already begun

June 24, 2005

How sure is the White House that there will soon be a vacancy on the Supreme Court? Bush staffers have already started interviewing potential nominees.

A small group of senior White House and administration officials has quietly interviewed some of the top candidates for any Supreme Court vacancy, said Republican sources with close ties to the White House.

The senior officials are said to include Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, who has been mentioned as a Supreme Court candidate; White House Counsel Harriet Miers, the president’s longtime adviser and former personal attorney; White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr.; and senior adviser Karl Rove.

No one in the administration would confirm or deny officially that top candidates had been interviewed. Nobody in Mr. Gonzales’ office would comment, either.

The Chicago Tribune, citing “a senior administration official,” reported Wednesday that the senior officials who interviewed the candidates had “briefed President Bush, but the president has not made a decision, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.”

Rehnquist’s seat isn’t even cool yet and the Bush gang is talking to his successor. I’m sure the chief justice appreciates this sign of deference and respect.

Also keep in mind, it’s interesting that the White House would include Alberto Gonzales in this review process since he’s often mentioned as a short-list candidate himself. If memory serves, Bush has a habit of letting those who head search committees ultimately select themselves for the job.

And for those who are interested in the parlor game surrounding the process, Slate’s Emily Bazelon and David Newman wrote an excellent review of the judges widely believed to be on the White House shortlist.

How will they decide? Is ir by who gives them the most money to pick the right person or by who they think can deliver the most votes the next election.
No matter what we all know it will be someone who is BAD NEWS

  • I hope Rehnquist is so angered at the reports of his death that he holds on out of spite and doesn’t give up the ghost until March 23, 2008.

  • I remember that during one of the presidential debates in 2004 Bush proudly said that he wouldn’t give a “litmus” test to pick new judges (for whatever courts I gather). I’m sure someone can find that statement.

    I figure the litmus test is like the test the Bush White House uses to seat scientists on the Environmental committees (sample question: “how much do you like Bush W.?”)

  • Speaking of the SCOTUS, I wonder how the “property seizure” decision will play out politically?

    The decision will have little or no effect in states like mine (WA) and a half-dozen others which severely limit the “eminent domain” capabilities of local government. But the West – much of it “red” – has a lot of concern with property rights, often from a libertarian and anti-corporate point of view.

    Unless I’m missing something, it seems like a good topic for the Dems to jump on. Old and poor folks having their home – often their only tangible property – stolen out from under them for the private gain of others was the reality (or fear) during the Great Depression which gave rise to the modern Democratic Party.

    This from the same Republican-appointed court which put ShrubCo in power in the first place.

  • Don’t be so sure it’s Rehnquist. He’s getting better, but the rumor mill says O’Connor’s anxious to retire and Rehnquist won’t if she does.

  • Bob Novak was talking about Gonzales on Inside Politics yesterday…

    http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0506/23/ip.01.html

    But I’ll tell you something else. There’s a rumor around town that if there’s a vacancy this weekend, after this weekend, that he’s going to name Attorney General Gonzales. That will be a disaster with the Republican base because they don’t trust Gonzales.

  • Bob Novak was talking about Gonzales on Inside Politics yesterday…

    http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0506/23/ip.01.html

    But I’ll tell you something else. There’s a rumor around town that if there’s a vacancy this weekend, after this weekend, that he’s going to name Attorney General Gonzales. That will be a disaster with the Republican base because they don’t trust Gonzales.

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