Bush-Stacked Supreme Court?

[1969912 0]

There have been claims made that one or both of the Bush presidents have "stacked" the court by nominating judges for open positions.

Currently there are two judges who were nominated by GHW Bush, and two nominated by GW Bush.

Opinions?

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[quade 4]

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Currently there are two judges who were nominated by GHW Bush, and two nominated by GW Bush.

Opinions?

When one family has appointed over 40% of the sitting judges, yeah, I'd say that a little on the high side. Not that those judges will necessarily share every opinion of those that appointed them, but the reason they were nominated to begin with was the President agreed with their positions on certain topics.

I really hate the dual-monarchy our politics have become.

Let's assume Hilary actually wins both of the next two elections; that would mean 24 years of Presidency held by TWO families.

Sad really and that wouldn't necessarily be the end of it either.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[1969912 0]

Quade. Thanks for moving here. The Heller thread that you started probably holds the gun-thread a record for saying on-topic for so long, and yes, I take some responsibility for the slight drift that it took today. Thanks.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[1969912 0]

First, I'd like to quickly describe the process by which SC judges are put on the court because there are people from all over the world here.

SC judges, once confirmed and on the court serve for life or until they resign.

The US Constitution (Art. II) gives the president the power to nominate judges when there's an empty seat. A president may never ned to nominate a potential judge. It's also possible that a president coud be in a position to nominate all judges. The president can nominate anyone he/she chooses. Obviously, a president will nominate someone he/she likes, that is has a judicial record in lower courts that the president agrees with. That's pretty much the extent of the president's power.

Once nominated, the prospective judge must be confirmed by the US Senate (full senate vote). the confirmation proces is pasted below:

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nThe Senate Judiciary Committee conducts hearings, questioning nominees to determine their suitability. At the close of confirmation hearings, the Committee votes on whether the nomination should go to the full Senate with a positive, negative or neutral report. Once the committee reports out the nomination, the whole Senate considers it; a simple majority vote is required to confirm or to reject a nominee.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States
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"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[1969912 0]

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Currently there are two judges who were nominated by GHW Bush, and two nominated by GW Bush.

Opinions?

When one family has appointed over 40% of the sitting judges, yeah, I'd say that a little on the high side. Not that those judges will necessarily share every opinion of those that appointed them, but the reason they were nominated to begin with was the President agreed with their positions on certain topics.

I really hate the dual-monarchy our politics have become.

Let's assume Hilary actually wins both of the next two elections; that would mean 24 years of Presidency held by TWO families.

Sad really and that wouldn't necessarily be the end of it either.

First, the president doesn't "appoint" SC judges. He has the athority only to nominate a potential judge for Senate review and confirmation. A president has no control over how many empty seats he/she may need to nominate to fill empty seats. The current court has 9 judges. One was nominated by Pres. Ford, two by Pres. Regan, two by Pres. Clinton, two by GHW Bush, and two by GW Bush. By chance, the last four presidents have had two current judges nominated/confirmed each.

My response to your (note that I'm also responding to kelpdiver) feeling that having 4 out of 9 judges confirmed under the two Bush presidents (over 40%) is on the high side (one called it Bush-Stacking) is that neither president had a choice in the matter. If, say Pres. Clinton had to nominate judges for four seats during the time he was in office, that's the way it goes. We just happened to have two Bush's that each had two empty seat open up duing their terms. As you said, the same thing could happen if HR Clinton were to be elected.

Do judges follow the party line of the pres? that nominated them? I sure as hell hope not. They are probably the most powerful group of people in the country. As a kid I thought they were something really special, but in reality they're just highly experienced judges that the pres. is willing to nominate and the Senate approves by a majority. If the nominee has a radical judicial record he/she will likely not ever be nominated, and if nominatedby the pres., won't make it through the Senate review/confirmation process. There are 9 of them, though, and with lifetime terms their start dates tend to be spread out.

Re: 24 years under two families, I hadn't thought of it that way, but it does sound like a monarchy, and it could be (may have already been) problematic.

I had never thought about the father/son Bush terms as they related to the composition of the Supremes. I didn't even know how many judges began their terms under which president until today. Does the father/son Bush family situation matter beyond the fact that they're both Republicans? I can't see how, and think of it the same way I would if the Bush Family were just two Republican presidents.

What are your thoughts?

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[quade 4]

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Does the father/son Bush family situation matter beyond the fact that they're both Republicans? I can't see how, and think of it the same way I would if the Bush Family were just two Republican presidents.

What are your thoughts?

The Bush family, starting with Ambassador Prescott Bush, is a political legacy family . . . same as the Kennedys only Republican.

Mark my words, GWB will not be the last Bush family member to hold that office.

Now, the Clintons are attempting to do the same thing with Hillary.

After her, there are plenty of other Bushes and after them . . . maybe Chelsea . . . who knows?

This is only one reason I don't want to see Hillary win. I'd like the cycle to end. I would have preferred it end 7 years ago, but ya can't go back and change that.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[1969912 0]

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Does the father/son Bush family situation matter beyond the fact that they're both Republicans? I can't see how, and think of it the same way I would if the Bush Family were just two Republican presidents.

What are your thoughts?

The Bush family, starting with Ambassador Prescott Bush, is a political legacy family . . . same as the Kennedys only Republican.

Mark my words, GWB will not be the last Bush family member to hold that office.

Now, the Clintons are attempting to do the same thing with Hillary.

After her, there are plenty of other Bushes and after them . . . maybe Chelsea . . . who knows?

This is only one reason I don't want to see Hillary win. I'd like the cycle to end. I would have preferred it end 7 years ago, but ya can't go back and change that.

Yeah, I hadn't thought much of it until reading your posts today. Over the years there have been a few cases where two presidents were related, but this is different because they're so close together. If Mrs. Clinton is elected, it would be Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton, right? That's probably not quite what they had in mind when setting up this country. Thank for the infio.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[tonyhays 86]

If Hillary does wind up winning the nomination, you can bet that the republican candidate will use that idea in his campaign. It will probably appeal to quite a few undecided voters.

“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”

[TheAnvil 0]

I think Jeb is probably the best of the Bush bunch. Unfortunately, the taint of his older brother's presidency will haunt him should he ever choose to run for president.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[Amazon 7]

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I think Jeb is probably the best of the Bush bunch.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhttttttt

Great choice

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/1992/09/bushboys.html

[TheAnvil 0]

There's an unbiased source - NOT. You really should let go of your hate someday.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[Amazon 7]

Aww poor Vinnie.. you cant handle ANYTHING that would tear down your heroes.....All that is written there is TRUE... all the dirty dealing.. the adultery.. you name it.... they have done far more than the Clintons EVER thought about doing.. and who they have associated with.. where is your vaunted moral outrage....against the Bush Boys. Fuck man.. if the Clintons did 1/20th of the stuff the Bush Brothers have ACTUALLY done you would be calling for a public execution.

I just love your moral relativism........NOT

[TheAnvil 0]

Jeb Bush isn't my hero. And Mother Jones is the antithesis of unbiased. If you held the same standard of evidence for the transgressions of the Clintonistas as for the Bushes then you'd be calling for their indictment.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[Amazon 7]

I do.. remember all the WASTED money that Ken Star spent... OUR Tax dollars.....all came to naught...But I guess in your mind... that getting blow jobs is worthy of Jail too.


Face it Vinnie.. PAST PERFORMANCE is indicative of how a politician will perform once he is in office..

In the case of the Bush Family.. I think we have seen that being dirty in their business dealings.. SHOULD have let a few of you who diefy them.... that voting for them will bring the same incompetence they showed in business....to the White House.

You rail on and on and on.. about the SOURCE.....

DUH.... VINNIE GET A GRIP.. the truth is the truth... whether yhou like it or not... otherwise the news source would have to retract the story...

PLEASE notice... there have been no such retractions.. about ANYTHING that has pointed out the SLEAZE these people have used in their business dealings.... much of it based on influence.. and cronyism.... but I guess you are good with that.... what up dude.. ... looking to get in on the action????

[akarunway 1]

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I think Jeb is probably the best of the Bush bunch. Unfortunately, the taint of his older brother's presidency will haunt him should he ever choose to run for president.

Yeah right. He took Floridas' black ink and turned it red just like GWB did to this country. Gimme a break

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[Amazon 7]

The wholoe family is severly fucked up

DRUNK with power in FL so they think they can get away with anything...

http://www.pigdog.org/auto/Bush_Family_Hi_Jinx/link/2429.html

Hmm a whole lot of bribery.. of a private company by a state government????? WTF talk about some corporate welfare..

http://www.progress.org/2003/corpw33.htm


A VERY Golden Parachute .. based on influence .. yet again...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shelley-lewis/jeb-bush-lands-huge-paych_b_48191.html

[TheAnvil 0]

Get a grip yourself. Perhaps you fail to realize that to many of us, voting for President is making a choice between the lesser of two evils, and we find the alternate candidate so disgusting that we vote for their opponent who has the greatest chance of victory.

Mother Jones associates Jeb Bush with Messrs. Houston, Paderna, et al. If such associations bother you, then why don't the associations of bigots $harpton, Jack$on, and Farrakhan with Democratic party presidential candidates bother you more? After all, the malign influence those three bastards have had on the nation and its culture are FAR greater than anything Houston, Paderna, et al ever did with Jeb Bush (if what MJ stated is true, which I doubt).

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[TheAnvil 0]

I lived in FL during much of his time in office and thought he did a great job. If you don't - that's your opinion and you're welcome to it.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[akarunway 1]

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I lived in FL during much of his time in office and thought he did a great job. If you don't - that's your opinion and you're welcome to it.

I lived there the majority of my life. Here's a little read about yor new found hero.> http://www.oldamericancentury.org/jeb_bush.htm

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[Amazon 7]

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If such associations bother you, then why don't the associations of bigots $harpton, Jack$on, and Farrakhan with Democratic party presidential candidates bother you more?

As Ronnie said....."There you go again"

How come you are not trumpeting Haley Barbours and OTHER republican legislators support from BIGOTS in the C oc CC...you know... the Uptown Klan boys.

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/758.html

Barbour, who is white, appears to be doing everything possible to exacerbate the divisions in his state. As part of his gubernatorial campaign, Barbour has railed against affirmative action and what he calls “quotas.” Moreover, he has endorsed the state using its 1894 flag, despite the opposition of Mississippi’s African American population.

Far worse, he’s also been hanging out with the Council of Conservative Citizens.

Daily Kos has a picture of Barbour hanging out with CCC members at the Black Hawk Barbecue and Political Rally in July, which the CCC helped co-sponsor.

What’s the big deal? Well, the Council of Conservative Citizens is a transparently racist organization that grew out of the “White Citizens Councils” of the old, strictly segregated, South.



Balance my height challenged friend... balance...

Again.. more MORAL RELATIVISM.... tsk tsk tsk.

[Andy9o8 2]

All presidents stack the courts as much as possible. Most people don't stop and think about this when the vote for president, but they should. I always do.

[TheAnvil 0]

Ahhh...no denial. So when Jeb Bush - who is not my hero - associates with certain people it's apropos to malign him as unfit for office. When racists and bigots associate with candidates of YOUR persuasion, it's OK to consider them fit for office. I see.... There you go again, as our nation's greatest president once stated.

Why is it you insist on bringing up Mr. Barbour's color? I consider it irrelevant. Then again, Messrs. $harpton, Farrakhan, and Jack$on certainly consider it relevant, all three being racially prejudiced bigots of the lowest order, and they DO associate with politicians of your persuasion, so perhaps that's the reason.

I LAUD Mr. Barbour's opposition to racial discrimination under the guise of affirmative action. Anyone who supports race based affirmative action and refuses to state that they support racial discrimination is a coward who cannot state what they support and has absolutely ZERO credibility when discussing civil rights with anyone.

Again, notice the hypocrisy. Jeb Bush associates with possibly crooked businessmen - bad. Mr. Barbor associates with CCC members - he's bad too. The ENTIRE DEMOCRATIC PARTY at the national level associates with racially prejudiced bigots during EVERY ELECTION CYCLE FOR THE PAST DECADE AND BEYONE - no problem. Hunky dory.

LMFAO. Balance indeed.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[Amazon 7]

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Jeb Bush associates with possibly crooked businessmen

BWAHAHAHAHAHA.. you are the one who brought him up

Best of the Bunch???? QUE?????

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3023302#3023302

I just brought up the past that is well documented in a whole bunch of crooked shit... gloss over it if you will..

And Barbour.. yeah.. he opposes any affirmative action because that is the status quo for anyone of the CCC ILK.....seems an awful common theme between the Uptown Klan of the CCC and the low life Klan of the dumb as dirt and proud of it and thinking America owes them something because they are white.

So go ahead and support these lowlifes if you want...goes to show you why the country is so fucked over in the last 7 years

[TheAnvil 0]

I gloss over nothing. Jeb is the best of the Bush bunch in my opinion. If you disagree - that's your opinion.

i find it most odd you associate opposition to racial discrimination under any guise to KKK membership. In contrast, I associate SUPPORT of racial discrimination for any purpose other than law enforcement with KKK membership. How do you explain that, out of curiosity?

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[Amazon 7]

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i find it most odd you associate opposition to racial discrimination under any guise to KKK membership. In contrast, I associate SUPPORT of racial discrimination for any purpose other than law enforcement with KKK membership. How do you explain that, out of curiosity?

I equate it to misdirection.... those who support discrimination want to remain in the shadows.. the light of day sends them scurrying trying desparately to deny....unless they are rabid members of the old white robe clubs. The Invisible Empire is alive and weel among conservatives who fled the Dixiecrats in the 60's.. now they call themselves something else...but they ARE WHAT THEY ARE.

Your boy Jeb has been known to go to CCC political events.. I guess we should just move along.. there is nothing to see here.. this is not the racist you are looking for...