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Friday, March 2, 2007

Noooooooooo!

posted by on March 2 at 9:13 AM

Is liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg—the only woman on the court—seriously ill?

Justice Ginsburg slowly collected her things and carefully left the courtroom. Justice Souter lingered behind at his chair, waiting to walk alongside her—almost as if he wanted to see if she needed assistance.

It was strikingly odd. I was standing next to Jim Vincini of Reuters, and we looked at each other with some alarm. No one could recall seeing Ginsburg in such slow motion, and it immediately begged the question of her health—which of course begs the question of whether any of the justices are going to be leaving the court anytime soon and give George W. Bush his third nomination.

Holy crap—a third Supreme Court pick for George Bush? Fucking hell. I’m off to go say the rosary for Ginsburg.

RSS icon Comments

1

Just when you thought we were almost out of the woods. That bitch needs to hang on NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!!!

How many more days are left in W's reign of errors?

Posted by Mike in MO | March 2, 2007 9:26 AM
2

I would gladly volunteer to donate any of my organs that she may need (as long as I can have them back after the 2008 election).

Posted by Hernandez | March 2, 2007 9:42 AM
3

This makes the news that my husband just got a $95.00 ticket seem good.

Posted by Dianna | March 2, 2007 9:42 AM
4

She had slush between the ears when the idiot Republicans gave her a cakewalk at the beginning of her liberal career on the court. Had she been the least bit Conservatives, the dumbocrats would have roasted her on a spit. Borked her, so to speak. It would be poetic "justice" if she hit the drain and GW had too nominated her replacement.

Posted by Mr. Chalkdust | March 2, 2007 10:01 AM
5

She must live and stay on the court until Hillary is president. (Or Barak -- whichever)

Posted by Mrs. Y | March 2, 2007 10:04 AM
6

I'll get started on the mishaberach...

Posted by golob | March 2, 2007 10:20 AM
7

Shit, I stopped breathing for a second. I think I almost had a heart attack.

Damn this presidency is still soo dangerous in so many ways.

Posted by mirror | March 2, 2007 10:24 AM
8

Another Bush appointee is certainly a horrifying thought.

But it may not be as bad as it sounds. Now with a Democratic majority in the Senate, they can block any of the more egregious nominations Bush might put forward, more-or-less forcing Bush to nominate at least a moderate justice. Or maybe even filibuster the whole thing until after Bush is gone, depending on how long she holds out. Unless the Senator from South Dakota dies or resigns, and the majority shifts to Republican. Or if Lieberman switches parties.

Oh dear Goddess. We're fucked.

Posted by SDA in SEA | March 2, 2007 10:27 AM
9

Oh wouldn't that be rich? Lieberman waits until that momemt to switch parties. The horror. The horror...

Posted by golob | March 2, 2007 10:35 AM
10

Even if Lieberman doesn't switch parties, his ego won't let him just vote with the Dems. He'll drag it out as long as possible, extracting promises and flattery from both sides and the media. And vote with Bush to show what an "independent" he is. He is the biggest narcissist in a legistlative body fueled by shameless narcissism. Hopefully 2008 won't just be the end of Bush's tyranny, but that of Joe L.'s ego too.(and lets throw in Joe Biden's ego, Democratic narcissist runner-up)

Posted by anna | March 2, 2007 10:54 AM
11

Dan --

Wow, I feel isolated in the twin ivory towers of legal practice and DC. But: WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN????!!!!????

It has been common knowledge that Ginsburg has been battling cancer for a while and that her health has been failing. She's not well.

And, if that weren't bad enough, Stevens is at the age where he could die any second. That would give Dubya FOUR Justices.

Posted by Jonathan | March 2, 2007 11:00 AM
12

Excuse me? Bush's picks of Roberts and Alito were readily approved by most Democrats. Roberts even won praise from some Dems, including Chuck Schumer of New York. Relax.

Posted by Chip Chipmunk | March 2, 2007 11:13 AM
13

Jonathan @ 11,

The correct phrase would be "FOUR Injustices," since the far right sociopaths Bush stacks the courts with wouldn't know justice if it bit their asses.

Posted by Original Andrew | March 2, 2007 11:18 AM
14

I hardly think that John Roberts and Samuel Alito are far right sociopaths. In fact, most Senators seemed impressed enough to vote for their confirmation.

Posted by chunkstyle | March 2, 2007 11:35 AM
15

fucking nader.

Posted by malwana | March 2, 2007 11:40 AM
16

Chipmunk & Chunkstyle, the Democrat's approval of Roberts and Alito do not indicate they were thrilled with the choices. It only indicates they didn't have the votes to kill the nominations. True, Roberts and Alito were not far right psychopaths; they were just barely moderate enough to avoid a filibuster, and didn't have anything blatantly incriminating in their records. But they are both loyal conservative ideologues. Since the Dems didn't have the votes to kill the nominations, a 'no' vote or a filibuster vote would have been a completely symbolic gesture. And at the time, the Republicans were fairly successfully labeling the Democrats as obstructionist, and threatening to do away with the power to filibuster. So many of them just shrugged and voted yes, saving their 'no's and filibusters for something that might actually make a difference.

You can argue whether or not that was a good strategy, but do not mistake their votes as enthusiastic endorsements of either of the Bush appointees.

Posted by SDA in SEA | March 2, 2007 12:13 PM
17

Roberts ain't so bad. Alito is a fucker. But it is true that now the Dems can hold him up. It's a tactic that's win/win for both sides. The Dems get to look tough, and the GOoPers get to look like victims. It takes three or four months to get a justice through all the rigamarole. If we can drag out committee hearings, we can get to the point that the Dems can say, "Nope, we're gonna wait til the next administration to fill this seat."

Posted by Gitai | March 2, 2007 12:38 PM
18

PLEASE NO! She has to live ... for TWO MORE YEARS!!!!!

Posted by Will in Seattle | March 2, 2007 2:24 PM
19

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20

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Posted by gwrjtbpzc tkxanrpd | March 4, 2007 7:29 AM
21

Re: Roberts and Alito, even though they were put through, plenty of Republicans still bitch about their confirmation process, saying that the two were beat up on by grandstanding Democratic Senators who were voicing personal criticisms in the guise of questions.

Posted by PG | March 4, 2007 9:58 AM
22

I think if Ginsburg left, Bush really would feel compelled to dig up a woman, but given what he produced last time, I'm worried not just about the candidate's ideology but about his/her actual quality.

Posted by PG | March 4, 2007 10:00 AM

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