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May 07, 2008
You Heard It Here First
Since a very long time ago, I have been a strong booster of Fred Dalton Thompson! for President. Obviously, that time is well past. But I just read this over at Bench Memos wherein John McCain's Judicial Advisory Committee is detailed in full. And I must say, it is heartening indeed. But what struck me is the following: Fred Dalton Thompson! would make a superlative pick for the United States Supreme Court.
That's right, Fred! for SCOTUS!
Think about it: consider the home-spun wisdom of his occasional editorials, Paul Harvey guest-spots, YouTube bits, etc. Consider also that Fred!'s reputation is one of being laid back rather than in-your-face, and of giving considerable thought and deliberation to his opinions. Consider also his experience as a lawyer, and his very clear bias toward strict constructionist constitutional principles. The man clearly didn't have the "fire in his belly" to achieve the Republican nomination, but SCOTUS jobs are appointments. And considering that he already shepherded now-Chief-Justice John Roberts through the confirmation process, he's already intimately familiar with the ins-and-outs of that particular rite-of-passage. Finally, as a former Senator and popular, charismatic individual, he has connections that would ease the confirmation process considerably.
Electing John McCain as president in November just got that much more important.
Fred Thompson for SCOTUS!
May 7, 2008 by Ben | Permalink
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Comments
Does this mean they'll be allowing TV cameras into the Supreme Court?
Posted by: Marty | May 7, 2008 10:08:46 AM
I'd love to see him on the bench. The main problem is his age; I'd prefer to see a conservative who has the cap[acity to annoy the libs for decades.
Posted by: Chris | May 7, 2008 2:04:16 PM
Well, Chris, I suppose I don't have a good answer to his age. Maybe McCain appoints him first, then he retires right before the end of McCain's term so McCain can replace him with some younger conservative (Rick Santorum?). That way we'd get 8 (4?) good years of homespun Thompsonesque wisdom AND a well-packed court.
Posted by: Ben | May 8, 2008 10:54:59 AM
It might not be a bad option to have someone like Thompson as a candidate. If he gets elected, McCain will probably face a hostile, packed Congress. He could either pick a weak, non-Conservative candidate that he could get through, or he could pick Thompson, who is genuinely conservative, but likable by the public and liked by many of his former colleagues. McCain might be able to get him through because it would be hard to make people see the evil in him, and the tacit assumption would be that he wouldn't be around forever. But McCain could then buy some time and hope he gets a more favorable Congress in 2010 for any future nominee.
Posted by: Marty | May 8, 2008 6:57:13 PM
