Redstate.org rumors: Cornyn and Garza

Go here to see what Redstate has to say:

Multiple sources are telling RedState that Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) will be the nominee.
Now that I'm at my desk and not banging away on my Treo, here's what I know. Cornyn was supposedly seen at the White House first thing this morning. One of Cornyn's big guns got a phone call, he went scrambling, then Cornyn went to the White House. Cornyn's office denies he was at the White House. Folks who keep their eyes open say he was there.

Cornyn's staff immediately disappeared. They are scrambling. Cornyn is suppose to be meeting with his top staff. Low level staffers are buzzing about the rumor.

A Supreme Court source says that they heard that Cornyn is the President's intended.

We don't know for sure. My key source is silent other than that the President wants to play identity politics and, by that, the source means the President wants someone who identifies with Texas. That leaves Garza, who is on the 5th Circuit, Gonzales, and it certainly puts Cornyn in play.

Cornyn is all Corporate/no Environment. EPA is dead if he is nominated. He is a good candidate to try and outlaw abortion as well. Personally, I think that he disqualified himself by failing to respect the judiciary on the floor of the Senate, when he implied that violence against judges is understandable.

Can't comment on Garza, but y'all are welcome to below.

•  If It's Cornyn

  I will just vomit.

  by RandyMI on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:02:11 PM PDT

•  From the perspective of legal credentials

  doesn't this just epitomize "All hat, no cattle"?

  by PeteyP on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:06:10 PM PDT

•  Cornyn

  I am sure this has been discussed somewhere on DK, but the WashPost has an article on Possible Nominees

  Their list:

  Samuel A. Alito, Jr.
  John Cornyn
  Emilio M. Garza
  Alberto R. Gonzales
  J. Michael Luttig
  Michael W. McConnell
  John G. Roberts
  Theodore B. Olson
  Larry D. Thompson
  J. Harvie Wilkinson

  Note that no women made their list. (The fact that Priscilla Owen was not confirmed until this year, just paid a dividend.)

  I will discuss Cornyn. I have read many of his opinions. He is an extreme lightweight. While world view or values are important, there should be a requisite  minimum amount of brainpower or intellect to sit on the nation's highest court. Unquestionably, Cornyn doesn't meet that requisite. This guy wouldn't qualify for law review at a major lawschool. Supreme Court material? He doesn't come close.

  As for values or world view. He is tofu. He has none, he just absorbs the values of those he is trying to please.

  If you would nominate a box turtle for the Supreme Court, Cornyn is your man. Otherwise, keep looking.

  by muledriver on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:11:02 PM PDT

  •  Box Turtle!!! Love it! n/t

    by inclusiveheart on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:19:41 PM PDT

  •  asdf

    This sounds exactly like the type Bush would choose, also sounds very similar to Thomas.

    by brighton on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:41:35 PM PDT

  •  "tofu values"

    good one; take a bow...

    by ex republican on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:44:57 PM PDT

    •  Grazie

      by muledriver on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 04:00:27 PM PDT

  •  Olsen . . .

    I think they owe Olsen for getting them into the White House in the first place.  The fact that his wife died on 9-11 will make him super-difficult to attack.

    Then again, Olsen is potentially not wacko enough for this bunch.

    by dbratl on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 04:43:57 PM PDT

•  Doubt it

  They'll want someone with heftier intellectual and judicial credentials.  In addition, that would mean an open senate race in November that, while the Republicans should hold, they might not want to risk.

  by Paleo on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:18:50 PM PDT

  •  Would hope you are right

    but risk factor very low in Texas.

    by muledriver on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:20:23 PM PDT

  •  Why do you doubt that this administration

    will take the most extreme option first just to see if they can pull it off?

    For my money that is their signature move.

    by inclusiveheart on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:21:15 PM PDT

    •  Reason

      Because they can get someone just as bad without leaving a vacant senate seat.

      by Paleo on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:24:36 PM PDT

      •  They just appoint his successor n/t

        by inclusiveheart on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:44:05 PM PDT

        •  No

          There would have to be a special election.

          by Paleo on Sat Jul 02, 2005 at 05:31:12 AM PDT

  •  He might have it

    I saw it claimed that Cornyn was on the Texas Supreme Court, and was the AG of Texas.  I don't know his bio, though.  Just what somebody posted.  See my comment below with a link to a dkos post.  Not that informative.

    The point is that it can't just be dismissed.  If it is true, he does have some "qualifications."

    by marchmoon on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 04:30:14 PM PDT

•  I don't feel like going over to RedState

  I'll take your word for it.

  I just wonder if Bush will look for a woman to replace O'Connor and save a male candidate for Rehnquist.

  by deano on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:19:36 PM PDT

  •  they're probably counting on

    the "norms and folkways" of the U.S. Senate to protect him from anything too serious from his colleagues. I doubt, however, that there are any left or that they're in any shape to shield Cornyn from criticism.

    by loyalson on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 04:54:24 PM PDT

    •  stupid me

      Wrong comment. First time that's happened to me. Shift this reply down one.

      by loyalson on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 04:55:08 PM PDT

•  I hope it is Cornyn,

  He is such a steaming pile of shit that I can't possibly imagine his nomination being good for the Republican Party.  They will be able to ask him, I assume, under oath, about things like his dealings concerning defrauding Indian Tribes, how much money he got from Enron, if he will understand it if someone shoots him if confirmed, and on and on and on.

  by buckhorn okie on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:33:46 PM PDT

•  Nominating Cornyn to the Supreme Court...

  ...after his comments would be like nominating John Bolton to be UN Ambassador.

  Oh. Wait...

  by cdicely on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:38:43 PM PDT

•  Jon Stewart on Cornyn:

  "What a good looking crazy man."

  by ex republican on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:47:04 PM PDT

•  And what will ...

  ..this new court be called, particularly if Rehnquist goes?  

  Certainly not the best and the brightest.

  I think it will be the Kangaroo Court

  Do you think they'll want to revisit Dred Scott as well as Roe v Wade?

  Only time will tell.

  by Bcre8ve on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 03:48:15 PM PDT

•  Precedence?

  Seriously,

  when was the last time a Congresscritter was put on the bench?

  None of the current justices came from that background, did they?

  They all came from the bench, so I'm thinking it's going be someone from the bench as well.

  by yankeeinmemphis on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 04:07:04 PM PDT

  •  Well...

    He was AG of Texas

    by marchmoon on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 04:23:23 PM PDT

  •  Not to mention

    And according to someone on this little thread in kos's speculation post, he was also on the Texas Supreme Court.

    by marchmoon on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 04:27:13 PM PDT

  •  OTOH...

    See here:

    Reid also said that in a conversation with the justices last week, they said that "they thought what would be a good idea is to start calling people from outside the judicial system."

    "I think that's something that we should listen to. And I've conveyed this to anyone that will listen," Reid said.

    by cdicely on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 04:42:17 PM PDT

•  Cornyn the human shield

  After what Cornyn said about the role of the judiciary during the Schiavo morality-fest, Republicans can pretty safely count on Democrats playing that quote over and over, using all their energy to knock him out.  Choosing the dumbest candidate - a guy who endorses killing judges -  is a good way for Rove to wear the Democrats down until he comes in at the last minute with a superficially compromise candidate.  And by being superficially moderate, this candidate would give the White House room to persuade the nuclear option 7 (on the right) that their deal is void.

  by berns19 on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 04:22:56 PM PDT

  •  That's actually a good point . . .

    Soften them up with Cornyn, then finish up by nominating Gonzales or Olsen.  Either of those guys will look downright progressive after the Cornyn fight.  

    by dbratl on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 04:47:22 PM PDT

•  If it's Cornyn

  Will he shoot himself?

  by tooblue on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 04:45:39 PM PDT