Elena Kagan confirmed

Elena Kagan was confirmed yesterday.  Since she is replacing another liberal I cannot get too worked up over it.  Conservatives need to save the big fight in case a conservative justice must be replaced during Obama’s presidency.

The usual RINO suspects voted to confirm Kagan. 

Only five Republicans voted in favor of Kagan’s nomination. Last year, just nine Republicans voted for Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Obama’s first Supreme Court appointee.

Today’s yes votes included Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the lone Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee to support Kagan when the panel recommended the nomination to the full Senate on a 13-6 vote. Other GOP yes votes came from Richard Lugar of Indiana, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, and Judd Gregg of New Hampshire.

Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass, one of Kagan’s home state senators, voted against her. 

It would be wise for conservatives to start putting pressure on these RINOs now, so that in the event a major appointment battle comes, these bone heads won’t capitulate like they always do.

Via: Michelle Malkin

Obama to nominate Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court

It has been widely speculated that Obama was going to pick Elena Kagan to replace Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. It is thought that she is a safe pick because she was confirmed to Solicitor General by a 61-31 Senate vote. 

MSNBC: WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama will nominate U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan to serve as an associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, NBC News’ Pete Williams reported late Sunday night.

Kagan, 50, served as the Dean of Harvard Law School from 2003 to 2009. Obama nominated her to serve in her current post as solicitor general early in 2009, and she won Senate confirmation by a vote of 61-31. She is the first woman to serve as solicitor general of the United States. 

Kagan is not without issues. Both the left and the right will take note that her resume is rather thin for the Supreme Court. The right will take note of her opposition to on campus military recruiting because of Don't Ask Don't Tell. The left will certainly take issue with her defense of expanded presidential powers during the Iraq war. To get more detail on Elena Kagan check out Michelle Malkin. If you are wondering about the Elena Kagan gay or Elena Kagan lesbian rumors check out The Other McCain, he has the Google bomb on that issue.

There is also another issue bubbling up on the left. It seems to hint at Kagan being a racist for not having enough diversity in her hiring practices. Depending upon how much the left hates her, this charge may become more explicit. Time will tell.

Tammy Bruce has linked to a series of Cspan videos with Elena Kagan. They ought to give you some idea of who she is and where she is coming from.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: MSNBC News

Via: Legal Insurrection

Via: Michelle Malkin

Via: The Other McCain

Via: Tammy Bruce

Chief Justice John Roberts: Scene at SOTU “very troubling”

At the last State of the Union address only six of the nine Supreme Court Justices attended, I have a feeling the attendance will be a little lower next time round. During a Q and A session at the University of Alabama, Chief Justice John Roberts was asked his opinion on the Alito incident at the State of the Union.  Roberts said: 

"So I have no problems with that," he said. "On the other hand, there is the issue of the setting, the circumstances and the decorum.

"The image of having the members of one branch of government standing up, literally surrounding the Supreme Court, cheering and hollering while the court — according the requirements of protocol — has to sit there expressionless, I think is very troubling."… 

Roberts told the students he wonders whether justices should attend the speeches.

"I'm not sure why we're there," said Roberts,… 

Sounds like Roberts might be channeling his inner Clarence Thomas on this matter.  As I mentioned before on this blog, the State of the Union is really becoming such a childish exercise. It isn’t something that started under Obama either, it was bad under Clinton and Bush as well.

Since partisanship is driving much of the childish behavior, I think it would be better for future presidents to simply give the address from the Oval Office, where there can be no silly standing ovations, cat calls or outbursts.  Let the viewers at home make up their own minds as to whether or not the president is saying anything noteworthy. 

More reactions at Sister Toldjah and Scared Monkeys.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Associated Press

False alarm of the day: Chief Justice Roberts stepping down

Radar Online gave conservatives the scare of a lifetime, by announcing that conservative Chief Justice Roberts would be stepping down from the Supreme Court. Radar then updated to say the rumor was NOT true.

Thank God for that. Any conservative justice resigning between now and 2012 will allow Obama to change the balance of the court towards the left. Right now the only justice Obama might get to replace is Justice Ginsberg who is currently holder her own against cancer. Replacing her with a radical lefty would be a wash. 

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Radar Online