Why haven't any Supreme Court justices retired during Bush's presidency?

[ChiefJoseph]

Am I the only one who has thought about that? During the 2000 election, everyone was talking about how Bush was going to appoint 2 to 3 members of the Supreme Court. Since his inauguration, no one has retired, though several of them are as old as God. Now we're once again revisiting the Bush-will-appoint-the-next-2-to-3-Supreme-Court-justices argument.

Why do you suppose that Rehnquist, a devout Republican, hasn't stepped down?

[SavageWombat]

1. Because...

... he knows the ****storm that would be unleashed if he did. The Supremes understand how bad it would look to give the power of appointment to a man they put into office, and they really don't want to bring it all up again. I suspect they're waiting for Bush to win in 2004, so that they can have their cake and eat it too.

[ChiefJoseph]

3. Do you really think...

...that the Supremes who put Bush into office in such a brazen, undemocratic way would care about appearances at this point? Got to be something else.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

11. they do care about appearances

The Republicans on the Supreme Court have now become a historical joke, and they know it. Any fuzzy warm feelings Americans may have had about wise, politically independent judges were smashed in December 2000, and they know it. I think the poster is right - they will wait until Bush's second term.

Sandra Day O'Conner is probably the most embarrassed, her legacy is now as a rubber stamp for the GOP.

[Mountainman]

4. They are waiting for each other to retire

If a conservative retires and there is a long drawn out fight over a nomination, the court could be temporarily more liberal until the position is filled. The same thing goes if a liberal judge retires.

[mumon]

12. Exactly.

Take the pledge of allegiance issue. The court's already split 4-4, now that Scalia did the right thing for once in his sordid life and recused himself.

With retirement of a Repug, it's a slam dunk for liberty.

[madrchsod]

2. waiting for the election

so they can leave if he gets elected or give up and leave if the democrats take the whitehouse.

[Dookus]

5. well...the term's not over yet..

Some could resign this summer, though with the election coming up, it seems less likely.

I think Rehnquist and O'Connor, the two most likely resignations, decided to put it off after the shameful Bush v Gore decision. They knew it would taint their legacy, especially after O'Connor was reported to have rooted for Bush so she could retire.

The other likely retiree, John Paul Stevens, wouldn't give Bush the satisfaction. If a Democrat doesn't win in November, he'll probably die on the bench.

[silver state d]

8. even if that happend......

the war in the Senate would be ugly it doesn't take a majority to delay of ever stop a nominee. A retirement now would be the best thing that could happened to the D's talk a bout an idealogical shit storm in an election year. imho even if a justice dropped dead B*sh would wait until after election to nominate.

[Journeyman]

6. They don't want to start a "rumble" in the Senate. . .

at this point in BushCo's term.

Undoubtedly, some wackjob will be nominated, and rather than stir a shit-storm at this juncture, I think the tired justices determined last summer to wait it out until the Boy-Blunder secured a second term before they left. At that moment in time, it probably seemed a good idea: Who (outside of we 10 percenters) believed Shrub's numbers would fall, or would fall as dramatically as they have? Now, I imagine they regret that decision but what they hey, we all have to live with our mistakes (and if we remain consistent, we'll vote this big one out of office come November 2).

[Arbustosux]

10. Miguel Estrada for Supreme Court!!!

now there's a winner!

[Demeter]

7. 3 REASONS

1. Don't want to give up the power.

2. Already bought and paid for...in case Bush needs to steal another one.

3. Respect for the fact that it would kill Bush to have to deal with it until he's in 2nd term.

[MO_Dem]

13. I think #2 is most accurate

They know he can't get another term without 'em, and five of them are staying to vote FOR Duhbya, and the other four are staying to vote AGAINST.

[CaptainMidnight]

9. Bush tried to retire O'Conner and MISSED!

Remember that incident last year?

She was onstage in some conference or ceremony, and had just sat down again, when this piece of scenery or stagecraft came hurtling down and crashed into the floor. Right where she had been seconds earlier.

"We could have been killed, " was a quote from her.

Lemme see if I can find the link. I know, "tinfoil hot, right? But sorry, with all the suicides and plane crashes of people who either have the goods or Bush or are standing in their way politically, I don't buy all those coinky-dinks.

Here it is:

Close Call For Justice O'Connor
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/04/national/main561779.shtml

Plus, with all the revelations coming out about Iraq, 9-11, October Surprise, Iran Contra, you really wanna put it past them? The O'Conner incident made me think, "oops, they missed!"

Captain Mike