Breyer, Retire

[sk8knight]

Leftist groups have begun campaigns to encourage SCOTUS Justice Breyer to retire. Some of them are already pushing that the nomination process for a black woman needs to start now. Biden has already promised to nominate a black woman for the next opening. As long as whoever the nominee ends up being is qualified, gender and ethnicity shouldn’t be a factor. But obviously it is for many. So my question is, what happens when all the first are done? Do we then finally get to ignore gender and ethnicity and concentrate on character and qualifications?

 

[hemightbejeremy]

He will retire in the next 2 years before the GOP controls the senate. It will be the only way to get a Biden nominee confirmed. Plus he’s 82.

 

[bqknight]

Leftist groups have begun campaigns to encourage SCOTUS Justice Breyer to retire. Some of them are already pushing that the nomination process for a black woman needs to start now. Biden has already promised to nominate a black woman for the next opening. As long as whoever the nominee ends up being is qualified, gender and ethnicity shouldn’t be a factor. But obviously it is for many. So my question is, what happens when all the first are done? Do we then finally get to ignore gender and ethnicity and concentrate on character and qualifications?

You realize Trump did the same thing with ACB. She may have not been the first, but he very intentionally picked a woman.

The thing is, there are plenty of qualified Black woman for the seat, however, for whatever reason, they have been skipped over. There are plenty of people "qualified" for the seat, so wanting representation for a large portion of a population shouldn't be a big deal....

 

[Happy Hands]

Thought this thread was about ice cream. I like ice cream. I don’t like thinking about that the fact that I am so free that rich old strangers need to decide how free I am.

 

[sk8knight]

You realize Trump did the same thing with ACB. She may have not been the first, but he very intentionally picked a woman.

The thing is, there are plenty of qualified Black woman for the seat, however, for whatever reason, they have been skipped over. There are plenty of people "qualified" for the seat, so wanting representation for a large portion of a population shouldn't be a big deal....

I feel like, of all the institutions, SCOTUS should be colorblind. Not that I matter but I’m fine with a black woman appointment. It just feels like the nomination process shouldn’t be predefined, I.e white man, black woman, gay, straight, AAPI, whatever. Take the best candidates regardless.

 

[bqknight]

I feel like, of all the institutions, SCOTUS should be colorblind. Not that I matter but I’m fine with a black woman appointment. It just feels like the nomination process shouldn’t be predefined, I.e white man, black woman, gay, straight, AAPI, whatever. Take the best candidates regardless.

I do get what you’re saying, and in a perfect world, all things would be “colorblind”. But that’s not the world we live in. Maybe one day...

 

[Crazyhole]

I do get what you’re saying, and in a perfect world, all things would be “colorblind”. But that’s not the world we live in. Maybe one day...

What's the point in indulging in it then?

 

[bqknight]

What's the point in indulging in it then?

Because I don’t think we live in a world that is colorblind. Do you know how many times a Black woman probably wasn’t considered just because she’s a Black woman?

That’s why it’s important to have representation of all our people.

 

[OLearyLastCall]

I feel like, of all the institutions, SCOTUS should be colorblind. Not that I matter but I’m fine with a black woman appointment. It just feels like the nomination process shouldn’t be predefined, I.e white man, black woman, gay, straight, AAPI, whatever. Take the best candidates regardless.

Cry.

 

[Crazyhole]

Because I don’t think we live in a world that is colorblind. Do you know how many times a Black woman probably wasn’t considered just because she’s a Black woman?

That’s why it’s important to have representation of all our people.

Do YOU know how many times a black woman probably wasn't considered just because she's a black woman?

You can't just throw out platitudes and act as if they are truth.

 

[sk8knight]

I do get what you’re saying, and in a perfect world, all things would be “colorblind”. But that’s not the world we live in. Maybe one day...

I guess, similar to crazy, I gotta ask, how will it ever be that world unless people let go of all of it? We’ve gone the wrong way lately and I get that it makes people feel better to blame Trump but he’s a symptom, not the disease.

 

[goodknightfl]

I don't care who he nominates as long as they are qualified, and left or right shouldn't matter on confirmation. I do think it is racist and sexist to pick anyone totally based on color or gender. Race and color should be a non factor.

 

[DaShuckster]

I do think it is racist and sexist to pick anyone totally based on color or gender. Race and color should be a non factor.

That's RIGHT! The very notion of picking someone totally based on their skin-color or gender is abhorrent. We need to be color-blind when picking Supreme Court justices!!!

In the history of our country, our SCOTUS has composed of:

• 103 White men and 4 White women
• 2 Black men and 0 Black women
• 0 Asian American men and 0 Asian American women
• 0 Hispanic men and 1 Hispanic woman
• 0 Native American men and 0 Native American women

 

[Crazyhole]

That's RIGHT! The very notion of picking someone totally based on their skin-color or gender is abhorrent. We need to be color-blind when picking Supreme Court justices!!!

In the history of our country, our SCOTUS has composed of:

• 103 White men and 4 White women
• 2 Black men and 0 Black women
• 0 Asian American men and 0 Asian American women
• 0 Hispanic men and 1 Hispanic woman
• 0 Native American men and 0 Native American women

Recent history paints a much different picture.

 

[DaShuckster]

Recent history paints a much different picture.

How recent?

• 1955 thru 1969: Nine justices - 8 White men, 1 Black man
• 1970 thru 1985: Five justices - 4 White men, 1 White woman
• 1986 thru 2000: Seven justices - 5 White men, 1 Black man, 1 White woman
• 2000 thru 2010: Four justices - 2 White men, 1 White woman, 1 Hispanic woman
• 2011 thru today: Three justices - 2 White men, 1 White woman

 

[Crazyhole]

How recent?

• 1955 thru 1969: Nine justices - 8 White men, 1 Black man
• 1970 thru 1985: Five justices - 4 White men, 1 White woman
• 1986 thru 2000: Seven justices - 5 White men, 1 Black man, 1 White woman
• 2000 thru 2010: Four justices - 2 White men, 1 White woman, 1 Hispanic woman
• 2011 thru today: Three justices - 2 White men, 1 White woman

Exactly my point. Every minority that has been seated on the court has happened since 1955. I'd say that means things have naturally been moving in the right direction so why force the issue now? This is kind of like how race relations were the best they'd ever been in the mid 2000s. Why not just let that continue naturally?

 

[_glaciers]

we need a trans, jewish, disabled person of color as next SCOTUS or else we riot

 

[Crazyhole]

we need a trans, jewish, disabled person of color as next SCOTUS or else we riot

RBG wasn't Trans? Could have fooled me.

 

[_glaciers]

RBG wasn't Trans? Could have fooled me.

no she was jewish, which supercedes all levels of oppression.

 

[Crazyhole]

no she was jewish, which supercedes all levels of oppression.

Wait. So she was only Jewish and disabled?

 

[Boosted87]

Leftist groups have begun campaigns to encourage SCOTUS Justice Breyer to retire. Some of them are already pushing that the nomination process for a black woman needs to start now. Biden has already promised to nominate a black woman for the next opening. As long as whoever the nominee ends up being is qualified, gender and ethnicity shouldn’t be a factor. But obviously it is for many. So my question is, what happens when all the first are done? Do we then finally get to ignore gender and ethnicity and concentrate on character and qualifications?

The reality is there are 9 SCOTUS justices at a time and vacancies aren't particularly common. Trump did not appoint the "most qualified" candidates. He appointed Federalist Society approved individuals who were relatively young (49, 49, and 52 I think) AND met a threshold character/experience requirement. Objectively, there were better qualified (more experience) individuals who did not get serious looks because of their age.

Reality - there are PLENTY of individuals who meet the minimums on character and qualification. From there, POTUS gets to narrow the field based on politics. Whether that's age, gender, ethnicity, or Federalist Society membership status. I just don't see how Biden limiting his search to black women is inherently any different than Trump limiting his search to Fed Soc approved justices under a certain age. I don't have a problem with either criteria assuming the nominee really does meet threshold character/experience requirements...

 

[sk8knight]

The reality is there are 9 SCOTUS justices at a time and vacancies aren't particularly common. Trump did not appoint the "most qualified" candidates. He appointed Federalist Society approved individuals who were relatively young (49, 49, and 52 I think) AND met a threshold character/experience requirement. Objectively, there were better qualified (more experience) individuals who did not get serious looks because of their age.

Reality - there are PLENTY of individuals who meet the minimums on character and qualification. From there, POTUS gets to narrow the field based on politics. Whether that's age, gender, ethnicity, or Federalist Society membership status. I just don't see how Biden limiting his search to black women is inherently any different than Trump limiting his search to Fed Soc approved justices under a certain age. I don't have a problem with either criteria assuming the nominee really does meet threshold character/experience requirements...

I must say that I honestly appreciate you and Poolside stopping by. Makes for much better discussions than we normally get in here.

 

[fabknight]

I must say that I honestly appreciate you and Poolside stopping by. Makes for much better discussions than we normally get in here.

Are you getting tired of arguing with Shuckster's disingenuous circles?

 

[Boosted87]

I must say that I honestly appreciate you and Poolside stopping by. Makes for much better discussions than we normally get in here.

Thanks! I'm confident this board will one day be credited with saving American Democracy.

 

[sk8knight]

Thanks! I'm confident this board will one day be credited with saving American Democracy.

Lol. We can’t really talk about this stuff IRL because people get so hot so it would be nice to have a board to talk about it and actually get some intellectually opposing views.

 

[firm_bizzle]

The reality is there are 9 SCOTUS justices at a time and vacancies aren't particularly common. Trump did not appoint the "most qualified" candidates. He appointed Federalist Society approved individuals who were relatively young (49, 49, and 52 I think) AND met a threshold character/experience requirement. Objectively, there were better qualified (more experience) individuals who did not get serious looks because of their age.

Reality - there are PLENTY of individuals who meet the minimums on character and qualification. From there, POTUS gets to narrow the field based on politics. Whether that's age, gender, ethnicity, or Federalist Society membership status. I just don't see how Biden limiting his search to black women is inherently any different than Trump limiting his search to Fed Soc approved justices under a certain age. I don't have a problem with either criteria assuming the nominee really does meet threshold character/experience requirements...

It's not like he's choosing some unqualified black woman off the street. I wouldn't be surprise to see Thomas retire soon after.

 

[sk8knight]

It's not like he's choosing some unqualified black woman off the street. I wouldn't be surprise to see Thomas retire soon after.

After the way Justice Thomas was treated by Joe Biden and the Democrats in his confirmation hearing, it would take either an assassination or an act of God to remove him from that seat while Biden is President.