Reid suggests

Yahoo! News reported U.S. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid suggested on Tuesday that four of his Republican colleagues be considered by
President Bush if a vacancy occurs on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Gee, I bet that GWB wants to know who Reid thinks should be chosen almost as much as he wanted to know what John Kerry thought he should say in his speech Tuesday night.

Seeking a possible consensus nominee, Reid recommended Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Mel Martinez of Florida, Mike DeWine of Ohio and Mike Crapo of Idaho.

He probably hopes a Democrat would be named to replace them in the Senate.

Reid described them all as bright and able lawyers who would be strong additions to the nation's highest court.

The USSC needs people with appelate court experience, not just lawyers.

"We have had approximately 10 members of the Supreme Court that came from the United States Senate over the years," Reid told reporters. "There are people who serve in the Senate now who are Republicans who I think would be outstanding Supreme Court members," Reid said. There had been widespread speculation that a resignation could come soon on the Supreme Court. But uncertainty rose on Monday when the court ended its term for the year without any announced departures. Still, court observers say there could be a resignation on the aging federal bench in the days, weeks or months ahead. Reid, who has conferred with Senate Republican leader Bill Frist on the possibility of a Supreme Court opening, said he has made his suggestions to "anyone who will listen."

He says a lot to anyone that will listen. Mostly things designed to hurt the Bush administration.

Reid and fellow Democrats have urged Bush to consult with them before making a nomination, which the Senate would then be asked to confirm. Earlier on Tuesday, Frist said, "I've made some suggestions" to the White House on potential nominees, but declined to disclose names. "They are reaching out for suggestions," Frist said after giving a speech at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative group. He added, "I don't have any inside information" about who the nominee could be. Another senator who has been mentioned as a possible Supreme Court nominee is Republican John Cornyn of Texas, a former member of the Texas Supreme Court and the only senator with appellate court experience. Asked if Bush should consider Cornyn, Reid shrugged and said, "I've told you (the ones) I think he should consider."

And they were lawyers with no appellate court experience.

Graham and DeWine were among seven Senate Republicans who joined seven Senate Democrats in reaching a compromise last month on Bush's most contentious appeals court nominees. The accord cleared the way for the confirmation of a number of Bush's nominees, but preserved the right of Democrats to block others "under extraordinary circumstances." Cornyn was among those who have criticized the accord, which could face a major test with a Supreme Court nomination.

PoliPundit blogged Ordinarily, I’d be suspicious of just about anyone Reid supports, but one of the names on that list would make a terrific Supreme Court nominee. Here’s why Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) is that man:

• He’s from Idaho, one of the safest Republican states. In 2004, Crapo was the only senator to be completely unopposed on the ballot. The one-term senator won re-election with over 99 percent of the vote (the rest went to write-ins.)
• Crapo’s Senate successor would be nominated by Republican Governor Dirk Kempthorne.
• On the all-important issue of abortion, Crapo has a perfect record, with a zero rating from NARAL.
• Crapo is 54 years old. He’d be on the court for the next 30 years.

Which brings up the question of why Reid would back Crapo for SCOTUS. Does Reid know something we don’t, or is he just as “moderate” on this issue as the Republican senators who let Bill Clinton put two ultra-liberal Justices on the Supreme Court without a fight? My guess is the latter. Reid has made favorable comments about Justice Scalia’s potential nomination for Chief Justice in the past. Perhaps he’d really be amenable to a Crapo SCOTUS nomination!

Extreme Left Wing Kos @DailyKos blogged Interesting bunch. We're going to have a conservative replace Rehnquist if he retires, and all four of these would likely be an improvement for our side. My choice would be Alberto Gonzales, torture lover that he is. Fact is, he would be the most likely to become the next Souter. But for that reason, he's vehemetly opposed by rank and file conservatives. Of Reid's four, Graham is the most capable, by far. I've heard about a DSCC poll floating around showing DeWine extremely vulnerable in Ohio to a Sherod Brown challenge (reelects in the 30s). Coupled with yesterday's SUSA poll showing Bush tanking in Ohio, and the state's imploding GOP over the Coingate scandals, and suddenly Bush has a good incentive to rescue DeWine with a promotion. Conservatives are hoping Bush has two retirements to work with, with O'Connor being the second. But given O'Connor's recent turn to the left on issues like the Death Penalty, and her continued strong support for Roe, it's hard to see her surrendering her seat under this administration.