Robert Reich says the next Dem president should nominate Obama for the Supreme Court

[arcane1]

From his Facebook page:

If Hillary Clinton or any other Democrat wins the White House next year, Barack Obama should be their first Supreme Court pick. He's been a constitutional law professor. He has the right temperament and values. He's a superb writer. The average age of newly appointed justices is 53; Obama will be 55 on leaving office. Even a Republican Senate would be hard-pressed not to confirm a former president. There are precedents (William Howard Taft was appointed to the Court after his presidency).
What do you think?

https://www.facebook.com/RBReich?fref=nf


It's not a bad idea!

[dissentient]

1. That's actually a really interesting suggestion.

[safeinOhio]

2. Heads would explode.

I love it.

[Iliyah]

21. LOL! Actually GOPer's heads would turn completely around like in

the Exorcist while stabbing themselves screaming F....F....F

[Bryce Butler]

76. ...

LOL! Actually GOPer's heads would turn completely around like in the Exorcist

Like this?

[MrModerate]

38. Brains (spongiform, obviously) would rain down on Washington . . .

for weeks.

[hifiguy]

3. That is an intriguing idea.

Reich is certainly correct about his temperament and analytic/writing skills, which would be ideal for the high court. The longer I think about it the better I like this.

[AtomicKitten]

4. I think that's a great idea for the reasons Reich outlined.

Being relatively young is definitely a plus.

[TheKentuckian]

5. Reich is wrong. Not in his points but with his premise because Obama is bad on civil liberties.

It is a shame because everything he says is bang on but Obama has demonstrated an unacceptable framework of executive power that definitely must not be allowed to be guiding principles for our country moving forward.

I'm surprised Reich is comfortable with him on corporate and economic matters.

[Dustlawyer]

30. I agree, plus his appointments have been

relatively conservative for Democratic appointees and very corporate oriented. Obama himself has given Wall Street a pass. We need more Notorious RBG's!!!

[StevieM]

35. I think Sonia Sotomayer is a spectacular Justice. Arguably the best Supreme Court appointment since

Thurgood Marshall.

[TheKentuckian]

72. Why is she better than Ginsburg or even Souter who she replaced?

[1StrongBlackMan]

78. Since there is not a hair's width of difference between her and Sotomayer's opinions ...

I'd say, her being younger and going to be on the court a lot longer, makes her "better."

[calimary]

89. Excellent point. She's young enough to be a thorn in CONs' sides for a long time.

For many years to come. Just we are unfortunately stuck with those schmucks john roberts and samuel alito. They're too young to bail yet. Unfortunately.

[TheKentuckian]

102. The claim was she is already established as better, I find the statement hyperbolic.

It is like declaring Anthony Davis to the greatest player in the history of the NBA or calling Andrew Luck the best quarterback in NFL history citing their play to date and pointing at their age.

[1StrongBlackMan]

104. Okay.n/t

[StevieM]

114. I didn't say that she is established as better. I just commented on how good she was in my esteem.

I used the word "arguably." Also, please see my response to your above post, where I answer your question as to why I like her the best.

[StevieM]

99. I think it often comes down to which Justice has said and done things that appeal to you the most.

I agree that Ginsburg and Souter are/were fantastic Justices. I am in no way saying that they pale in comparison to Sotomayer or anything like that.

I love the dissent that Sotomayer wrote in the Veronica Brown case, in favor of her natural father, Dusten Brown, over her prospective adoptive parents, the Capobiancos. She took a firm defense for the Indian Child Welfare Act, and really demonstrated the insanity of the decision made by the majority. That earned her a place in my heart.

[1StrongBlackMan]

77. Perhaps I'm being a little naive but ...

the role of the SCOTUS is not to push an ideological agenda ... isn't that what we were/are complaining about in Citizen's United, Hobby Lobby, the ACA challenges?

But that said ... I think that President Obama's SC picks (to interpret the law) should weigh heavier than his appointees (to govern), as a hint to how he would sit as a Justice.

[lobodons]

41. Hillary

But you must remember who will be appointing most likely. Hillary. Like she is going to nominate a WS foe? Not likely. Regardless how WS friendly her pick will be, it will be light years better than any GOP pick.

[cui bono]

66. No. No Hillary. Can people please stop assuming she is going to be our nominee?

FFS... no one has even entered the race yet.

[marym625]

71. +1 gazillion

[MissDeeds]

97. + a zillion

[Demeter]

47. +several brazillion

and then, there's the war criminal aspect....

I've got to wonder why Reich feels the need to suck up like that.

[lumberjack_jeff]

52. He inherited a unitary executive and did little to fix it.

I want a better champion of civil liberties and separation of powers.

[Vincardog]

63. corporate and economic matters are exactly why we don't need PBO on the SCOTUS. Would he

Overturn Citizen United? Would he do anything to halt the Corporate coup in the USA?
No, look at the TTP.

[thesquanderer]

70. He has spoken against Citizens United.

Though I'm still not sure what I think of his being on the court.

[Vincardog]

113. He SPEAKS well. It his actions that concern me.

[cui bono]

65. +1

[marym625]

73. +1 gazillion

[Hekate]

6. He'd be good.Reich's analysis of Obama's characteristics is spot on: judicial temperament, values...

...great writer, all of it. The only question would be: would he want it?

Reminds me: Let's make sure we elect a Democrat!

[AikenYankee]

16. Also my thoughts reading

the post. Would he want it? I think he'd be great as a Justice, but also think he can give a hell of a speech. Justices don't "go on the stump" so much. Of course, RBG has been great publicly expressing here opinions lately. Maybe Obama could do more for the country by playing more of a Bill Clinton type role?? Supreme Court Justice seems too "calm" for him. You're right .... need to elect a Democrat in 2016!!

[lordsummerisle]

7. Hmm

Obama and Thomas serving together...? My brain is overloading...

[PSPS]

8. "He has the right temperament and values"

If Hillary Clinton or any other Democrat wins the White House next year, Barack Obama should be their first Supreme Court pick. He's been a constitutional law professor. He has the right temperament and values. He's a superb writer. The average age of newly appointed justices is 53; Obama will be 55 on leaving office. Even a Republican Senate would be hard-pressed not to confirm a former president. There are precedents (William Howard Taft was appointed to the Court after his presidency).

1. I'll allow Reich's opinion on temperament but we have six years of proof that Obama doesn't have "the right values," swooner opinions notwithstanding.

2. A Republican senate would have no trouble at all not confirming this former president regardless of any precedents. Hint: Obama will still be black when he leaves office.

[Blue_Tires]

9. DU would be a goddamned supernova if that ever happened...

and Greenwald would have a stroke...

So count me as in FULL favor of the idea...

[steve2470]

28. ha!

President Obama would make an excellent Chief Justice of the SCOTUS.

[JustAnotherGen]

29. ITA

And let an equal pay case cross in front of him . . . *rubbing my hands in glee*

[hibbing]

39. Yes it would be hehe n/t

[truebluegreen]

90. Back on the hobby horse I see

greenwald greenwald greenwald ad nauseam.

[Number23]

108. Ha! I like where your heads at...

[bvar22]

10. Not a good idea.

President Obama is very friendly with the Wall Street Banks and the 1%,
and doesn't respect the limits of power on the Executive Branch established in the Constitution.
We already have enough of those on the Supreme Court.
Warren would be a better choice

[daleanime]

34. Hopefully she will be busy...

with a new job.

[Lucky Luciano]

11. The speech circuit is much more lucrative. nt

[Thespian2]

20. Yes

Ask the Clintons. Don't ask Carter...he does too much free stuff.

[Egnever]

24. Probably true

But Obama doesn't exactly have a history of going for the money.

[pampango]

69. You must have not been convinced by the tea party that Obama is in politics for money and power.

Get with the program.

[PoliticAverse]

12. "I think being a Justice is a little bit too monastic for me."

“I love the law, intellectually,” Obama went on. “I love nutting out these problems, wrestling with these arguments. I love teaching. I miss the classroom and engaging with students. But I think being a Justice is a little bit too monastic for me. Particularly after having spent six years and what will be eight years in this bubble, I think I need to get outside a little bit more.”

From: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/27/obama-brief

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

13. Now that would really piss off the right.

[Jack Rabbit]

14. I agree with Mr. Reich on many, many things, but, regretfully, not this

I cannot in good conscience say that the President who failed who prosecute Bush administration war criminals, failed to prosecute Wall Street criminals and continued the wide surveillance of Americans began under the Bush administration is fit to serve on the Supreme Court.

We have enough justices on that court who aren't fit to serve on it already.

[rhett o rick]

18. I agree completely. nm

[MrMickeysMom]

61. ^^THIS^^

[cui bono]

67. +1

[truebluegreen]

91. Completely agree.

[MissDeeds]

110. Thank you!

I agree completely.

[ananda]

15. I hadn't thought of that.

Interesting idea.

[Omaha Steve]

17. I said that some time ago

Why not Bill too? Clarence Thomas had a sex problem past. Dem's let him in to extend the Voting Rights Act. That was a bad deal.

[Iliyah]

22. Thomas is a RWer and their GAWD is ok with that, also, their GAWD hates Dems

[NewJeffCT]

86. Clinton would have been good

if Gore was selected in 2000 and Gore named him to replace Rehnquist in 2005 or whenever it was. Now, he's too old, I think.

[Mira]

19. And he would be a black Supreme Court Justice who

ASKS QUESTIONS

(couldn't help it)
I think it's quite a good idea, if he would accept the offer to serve even more. I suspect he is going to be pretty worn out.

[tishaLA]

23. the confirmation hearings would be nightmarish

Much as I'd love it, I sense I'd be overdosing on antacids were it to happen.

He also has a more expansive view of executive power than I think is healthy.

[a kennedy]

25. OMGOSH.......and I'm sure others more intelligent have said this.......

LOVE THIS IDEA.....

He'd be the balancer...... LOVE THE IDEA.

[ms liberty]

26. I like the idea. n/t

[sendero]

27. That would....

... suit me. I think Obama would make a great Justice.

[daleanime]

31. No, it's not.

[Sunlei]

32. That's what I've always said, we need Justice Obama the Dragonslayer

J'BHO

[RKP5637]

33. Excellent idea!!! n/t

[a kennedy]

36. Curious???? Where do all the Supreme Court Justices live???

New York right???? And where's the thread that said Barak wanted to live in New York??? OMGOSH. Supreme Court Justice, Barak Husaine Obama.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

55. The Supreme Court is in Washington, DC, not New York.

[appalachiablue]

37. I used to think the SC might be a place for him later or the chair of a good law school. But in the

interim I see him working with global matters as in foundations because of the presidency and his international background.

[Stellar]

40. He and Thomas should get along well...

..don't you think?

[Gore1FL]

42. I will admit I smiled at the thought when I read the headline

As I think about it, I would argue that there are probably better choices with less baggage and less potential for divide.

They've been doing a really bad job of it, but it's important that the SCOTUS be trusted. Adding the political baggage of a former president would hinder any recovery in the credibility we, as a nation, need it to have in that institution.

[Fumesucker]

43. Good to great idea..

And Michelle should run for POTUS, it would be cool if she appointed him to the SCOTUS.

It would be fun watching the Republican reaction.

[Bucky]

44. Obama will need to spend a couple of years just raking in some green & being out of the ratrace

[daredtowork]

45. I like it. nt

[Old and In the Way]

46. count me in!

A constitutional lawyer and former President? Awesome. He would be brilliant. And would look so forward to the mrons expressing
their outrage. Please make it happen.

[Reter]

48. And he thinks the Patriot Act is legal and supports the NDAA and NSA

So no thanks.

[RufusTFirefly]

100. For a constitutional scholar, he's demonstrated a shocking ignorance for that document. n/t

[Leontius]

49. No fucking way!!!

[CK_John]

50. The GOP is going to hate the POTUS forever and only a dreamer thinks a GOP Senate

would ever confirm him.

The only thing this President will get is an impeachment vote from the House.

[raging moderate]

51. It's a GREAT idea!

Let's all work together for this goal.

[Politicalboi]

53. Didn't you guys hear

When Obama's term is over, he's going to appoint himself to the Supreme Court, and throw Fat Tony in the street.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

54. Might be enough to push Fat Tony right over the edge.

[RoccoR5955]

56. I was thinking that just a couple of days ago. n/t

[Agnosticsherbet]

57. The Republican Senate would never approve his nomination.

[JoePhilly]

58. +1

[jhasp]

59. Robert Reich should be the next Democratic President

and do it himself.

The debates would be phenomenal.

[arcane1]

60. I would have no problem with him running.

[lpbk2713]

64. Sounds reasonable to me.

Even if for no other reason than to piss in the other side's Wheaties.

But I know Obama would be a good and fair justice.

[Gothmog]

68. President Obama would be a good SCOTUS justice

[daredtowork]

74. Should there be a petition? nt

[Dont call me Shirley]

75. Poetic Justice.

[1StrongBlackMan]

79. It's amazing ... Those critical of a Obama SCOTUS seat ...

seem to want him to be exactly what we scream about with the current court ... Partisan and Ideological!

[whereisjustice]

80. torture, NSA surveillence, patriot act, Monsanto, Wall Street crime, oil, off shoring, corporations

Obama makes perfect sense for establishment conservatives squatting in the Democratic Party.

[TBF]

81. I think that is a terrific idea. nt

[samsingh]

82. actually it is. Obama is too much to the right for my taste. i support him as President

but I'm not happy with the slow change to many things - cannabis deregulation for one

[McCamy Taylor]

83. Bravo! Agree!

However, he won't accept. It is way more fun to be an ex-president. More lucrative, too. And I think he has already done enough service for his country.

[NewJeffCT]

84. How about Michelle Obama?

Just to watch Freeper heads explode. (Plus, I think she's 2 or 3 years younger than her husband and women tend to live longer - so, she could be on the court for 30 years.)

[Andy823]

93. I would agree

She would make a great addition to the court, as would president Obama. Either one would work for me.

[C Moon]

85. Wow! That's a great idea!

[MineralMan]

87. That seems unlikely. Only Taft has served both as

President and on the Supreme Court. There's a tradition at work here that involves the separation of powers. I think it would be unlikely for President Obama to be appointed to serve as a Justice, frankly.

[calimary]

88. I think this is a FABULOUS idea.

Then the enemy really will be stuck with him for the next 30 years! If they hate him so badly, then I wanna jam him down their throats.

[kickysnana]

92. He could definitely use the practice but he should work in the real world first for a year.

[herding cats]

94. Scalia would have a stroke on the spot if it happened.

So would 2/3 of the Tea Party for that matter. Just the thought of the magnitude of their anger is reason enough to support the idea.

I don't care if there is little to no chance of it happening, I'm going to suggest it often if for no other reason just to watch the reactions.

[Bill USA]

95. a great idea! someone to counter Herr Roberts!

[Hawaii Hiker]

96. It could happen if there's a Democratic controlled senate

I think the repukes would want to deny him a seat on the SCOTUS, they despise him too much....For fucks sake, they've already shut down the govt, delayed DHS funding, had 47 GOP senators write a letter to an enemy because of their hatred for this President....

[LiberalLovinLug]

98. Love to see it happen just to watch the looks on the GOPs faces

Just when they thought they had rid themselves of the Muslim, gay loving, terrorist palling, Kenyan, commie n***** ....they'll have to deal with him for the rest of their political lives.

[blkmusclmachine]

101. No way I want Mr. Compromise on the SCOTUS. He'd be another rightwinger like Kennedy.

We can do a lot better than Mr. Compromised. And, besides, what does Obama really know about the US Constitution??? According to his actions since 2008, precious little...

[George II]

103. Quite honestly, I think he'd decline, and I'd much rather see him out there speaking....

...and making public appearances. Becoming a Supreme Court Justice really puts a cramp on one's style.

[OnyxCollie]

107. Torture, drone strikes, domestic surveillance.

What's not to love?

[RufusTFirefly]

112. "I'm not saying we wouldn't get our hair mussed."

OC, your pony will be arriving via privatized express mail.

[JI7]

109. he could do a lot more outside of the Court

yes, he would make a good justice but it would be limiting to what he could do otherwise. unless he wanted to get away from the public eye but still serve publicly .

[YOHABLO]

111. Oh please, he stands to make millions just on speeches. A few books, a foundation $$$$

There will be a Barack Obama center ... like Carter's. It would be more apropos for him to follow in the footsteps of President Carter... and much more lucrative. Carter even taught at Emory University after his Presidency. I can't see Obama wanting to be a justice.