Sen. Sam Brownback has been offering crowds six reasons a Republican needs to win the presidency: the justices on the U.S. Supreme Court who are older than 70. When he delivered the line to a Topeka caucus crowd Saturday, he added: “If Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama are elected in the fall — how about a few more boos! — what direction do you think they’re going to take the Supreme Court? It’s going to a more leftist court.â€
The guy Brownback thinks can best fill any vacancies on the high court — with Brownback’s counsel, of course — is John McCain.
Given that McCain would be 72 when elected and sworn in, though, Brownback should exercise caution when suggesting being over 70 puts you in God’s waiting room.
Can bloggers name the six justices Brownback is talking about? (John Paul Stevens is 87. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 74. Anthony Kennedy and Antonin Scalia are 71. And Brownback is rushing Stephen Breyer and David Souter, who turn 70 in August and in 2009, respectively.)
11 Comments
Actually, Brownback just gave the best reason why a Democratic pesident is absolutely necessary. We have an imbalance in the Supreme Court now.
Also, note the Republican faithful are starting to gather around their probably nominee. Also, we are starting to see the preview of the attack against Obama, the attempt to really continue to make the “l” word dirty and to hang it on him.
I am hoping that my impression is correct, that the swing voters and foul weather voters disgust with both Bush and the CR excesses after 2004 have made the “c” word an even bigger liability.
Even if no Supreme needs to be appointed during the term of the next president, the opportunity to load up on judges at the federal level will be there. Those Supremes can be very important but a case has to get to the Supreme Court before those Justices come into play.
Brownback has decided the best way to force his morals on everyone is through the judiciary. He hasn’t met with the success he wanted in legislating morality so needs to get another branch of government on board to get his agenda completed.
JUDGES is the big hidden topic we all should pay careful attention to. Their terms last much longer than any presidency.
“Given that McCain would be 72 when elected and sworn in, though, Brownback should exercise caution when suggesting being over 70 puts you in God’s waiting room.”
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You don’t have to die, Rhonda, to get off the Supreme Court. You can stepdown/retire.
Having the right judges on the court is huge. That’s why conservatives should unite behind McCain.
I don’t see how this matters, since McCain will not be able to win the general election. His party is barely supporting him, and he has not been able to motivate the Republicans to get out and vote for him the way our candidates have motivated the Democrats to get out and vote for them. Plus, I think we’re going to end up with a Clinton/Obama ticket, and that will be unbeatable!!
75 may be the new 65… but 87 is still the old 87.
Seventy is only ten in dog years. If the dog still hunts…
isn’t the “liberal” justice Kennedy a Reagan appointee, and so was O’Connor. so it would seem that the presidents aren’t very good at predicting how justices would serve
It would be wonderful to see President Obama appoint six Justices to the Supreme Court!
Tom Paine, not to mention how Earl Warren turned out to be a big surprise to President Eisenhower.
McCain is still “young” at 72 because obviously his genetic make up signals a long life. His mother is still alive and not only is she alive but active and healthy! There are plenty of good reasons NOT to vote for McCain in November but his age is not one of them nor are the ages of the Supreme Court judges.
John Edwards for Supreme Court!
The modern day DEMANDS a more liberal interpretation of the Constitution.
The thing was written more than 200 years ago by wealthy white men and centered itself on maintaining the status quo FOR wealthy white men. That societal view must continue to be pushed to reflect a more realistic modern era.