Here's a thought guaranteed to blow GOP minds: Supreme Court Justice Barack Obama.

[thucythucy]

He'd certainly be qualified: attorney, constitutional scholar, young enough to serve out a decent length term, thoroughly vetted, progressive, popular....

IMHO he'd make an excellent choice.

[muntrv]

1. There is precedent, William Howard Taft.

[thucythucy]

3. Thanks!

I knew there had been a former president appointed to the Court, but couldn't remember which one and was too lazy to consult the almighty Google.

Thanks for mentioning this.

[Mike Nelson]

2. That would be...

...a great pick!

[NightWatcher]

4. Here's another thought Supreme Court Justice Bill Clinton

Hillary will get to pick a couple of Justices.

The pukes heads will explode

[PJMcK]

13. Bill Clinton is too old

When President Hillary Clinton gets to nominate justices to the Supreme Court, I hope she'll choose jurists who are in their 40's. That's old enough to have established legitimate credentials but young enough that they'll be around for at least a couple of decades.

The next four to eight years will see the possibility to realign the Supreme Court with liberal justices.

[TransitJohn]

39. His previous disbarment may be an issue. eom

n/t

[LuvNewcastle]

5. Appoint him to take Clarence Thomas's

place when he retires. That would be sweet revenge.

[Trust Buster]

6. Here's a thought guaranteed to blow Dems minds: Republican nominee Kasich.

We need to temper our joy here. Trump might be self immolating so early that Hillary might have to unfairly compete with a fresh and unvetted challenger.

[thucythucy]

9. I worry about this too.

Still, I do a happy dance whenever I think those words: Justice Obama.

[roamer65]

12. The Rethugs are stuck with Drumpf, IMO.

They need the Drumpf vote to try to hang on to Congress. They dump Drumpf and they will lose big time down ticket.

[Trust Buster]

14. I don't think Trump wants the job. If he ends his campaign voluntarily, then all that pent up

frustration that Republicans have been stewing in can swing in the other direction very quickly with Kasich as their candidate. The relief alone will bring Republicans flocking to the polls in November in Ohio and other swing states.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

18. Trump wants the title, not the work. He won't quit. But your warning for if he does is wise. . .nt

[Iggo]

24. His ego won't let him end it voluntarily.

He needs to get fired, so he can claim he's not a quitter.

[Trust Buster]

25. His ego won't allow him to lose on the world's largest stage. His ego won't allow him to

become the Romney that he has labeled as a loser.

[roamer65]

7. I like the sound of it. N/t

[Squinch]

8. I'd have LOVED that, but he has already said he doesn't want it.

[thucythucy]

11. I didn't know that.

Perhaps after a few years then...

[Squinch]

19. Yes. It was a while ago. (I looked for the statement, but the Google gods will only

give me articles on who he has nominated.)

At that time he said he doesn't have the temperament to sit in a room and write decisions. But, hey, we are all getting older, and that quieter life might appeal after the work and upheaval of his Presidential years.

[jcgoldie]

10. Who knows but...

He's said he's not interested. I think he wants to travel and have some freedom after 8 years in the White House.

[Vattel]

15. IMHO that would be a bad choice. I think he sees the law as subservient to political ends.

The way he chastised the Court for Citizens United is an example. Instead of providing an intelligent critique of the decision by revealing the flaws in the majority's reasoning, he seemed to think it was enough to say that the decision would have bad political consequences. He also seems to be way too pro-executive power. I would prefer a SCOTUS justice to recognize that the executive branch has usurped much of Congresses war powers and that the constitutional rights of the individual have too often been sacrificed at the alter of political expediency.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

16. Obama already said no, but wait a few years, Clinton might get him to say yes. Great choice. . nt

[ecodeathmarch]

17. Great idea! I would trust BO in that role

[vi5]

20. How about we focus on first things first....

Doing everything we can to insure a Dem in the White HOuse and as many senate and house seats as we can.

[awoke_in_2003]

33. And getting the current vacancy

filled now. If HRC wins (I put not put dirty tricks past the GOP machine) she will likely have a few to fill herself.

[lostnfound]

21. I expect he is going to find better ways to invest his time

As powerful as a Supreme Court Justice is, it comes down to one vote on a panel of 9.
His strength is in being an inspiring and creative leader.

[Princess Turandot]

22. He enjoys interraction with a wide range of people too much to be satisfied in this type of job...

Not to mention, right now, President Obama is a major leader on the world stage, second to none. While the Supreme Court is critical to the country, somehow I don't see him becoming the least senior justice of 9, the one who gets to open the door to their conference room if someone interrupts them while they are meeting, and takes notes at the Chief Justice's direction. It would be a waste of his many gifts, IMO.

Sorry, but no.

[loyalsister]

23. I hope not!

I would rather see him be the kind of ex president Jimmy Carter has been - an activist.

[former9thward]

26. Obama wants to follow the Clinton path post presidency.

Make money. Lots of it without doing too much. That is not a negative. I would do the same. As a SC Justice you don't make much money. Also he was not a "constitutional scholar". At the U of Chicago he was a part time lecturer not a professor. He has never written any professional articles or books on the Constitution or law in general.

[csziggy]

27. Supreme Court Michelle Obama!

She's my husband's choice for the court.

[bigwillq]

28. I would like to see the GOP squirm over that but I don't want Obama

As an SC judge. There's other folks qualified. I'm not a fan of having the same folks in power over and over.

[Johnny2X2X]

29. Nah

Obama can do more good championing his causes as an ex President than he can on the SCOTUS.

[Vinca]

30. He'd be a great choice.

We have to make sure we get the Senate though. As it is, Turtle Man says he won't bring any nominee up for a vote unless they get the stamp of approval from the NRA.

[librechik]

31. message to the Republican Senate: don't confirm

and forever reveal your racism.

[mopinko]

32. NO WAY michelle goes along w that.

no way she wants to live in dc for the rest of her life. none.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

37. Really? Why? they are staying after presidency for school. Her mom is still

here, right? Does she have that much love for Chicago? I sense a change in her about the DC life. I suspect she'd miss being in the epicenter? But, only my intuition.

[mopinko]

40. maybe she has come to like it there, but

you can take the girl out of chicago, but.....

from the stories i heard on the trail from folks who knew her, she really does not like the sort of falderal that goes along w being first lady. maybe she has acquired the taste, but i kinda doubt it.

i suspect she is looking forward to the library. i expect her to have a big role there.

eta, suspect her mom cant wait to get out of there, either. she didnt want to go in the first place.

[democrattotheend]

34. I love it

It would be such sweet revenge for them holding up his nominee for over a year.

[djg21]

35. Not until Hil's second term.

If Obama were appointed sooner, he'd have to recuse himself from every case arising out of his administration. This would be a disaster. After 4 years, this issue largely will resolve itself.

[ManiacJoe]

36. While, in theory, Obama might be a good choice,

in practice, someone with more real experience would be preferable.

[TransitJohn]

38. I'm sure a seat is his if he wants it, assuming HRC wins the election. eom

n/t