The Washington Post says Bush is looking seriously at possible female and minority Supreme Court nominees. And Ann Althouse would seem to have put her finger on one of the reasons: "the Laura factor."
[T]he White House has sent signals that have raised expectations in recent days, leading some outside advisers to conclude that Bush wants to name a woman or a member of a minority group. On Tuesday, Laura Bush said in a television interview that "I would really like for him to name another woman."The next day, she tried to soften the sentiment to avoid boxing her husband in. "I let everyone know yesterday that I thought it should be a woman . . . but actually, you know, whether it's a man or a woman, I know that whoever he picks will be a person of great distinction," she told reporters traveling with her in Africa. Yet the impact of her opinion was felt strongly in GOP circles here, seen either as an indication of the president's intent or an extraordinary high-profile nudge.
Of course, the nominee who would give Bush everything he wants in one stroke -- except, of course, a uniter -- is Janice Rogers Brown. But would she "meet his standards for a justice who adheres to a strict interpretation of the Constitution"? Bush would probably say yes -- he's said he admires Clarence Thomas, and Brown is very much in Thomas's mold. But Democrats would violently disagree, and would almost certainly fight her appointment tooth and nail.
The Gang of 14 passed her for the appeals court nomination. How would they like her as a Supreme?
- amba
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