Elena Kagan: Why Liberals Should Be Concerned

Image from source, Salon

I don't really have anything invested in President Obama's choice of Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court. No matter who he nominates, the Republicans will be against the nominee. We already know that. And knowing very little about Kagan, I don't care much either way. It would be better for Obama if she sails through of course. Remember George W. Bush's choice of his cleaning lady (thanks, Bill Maher!)? This wouldn't be quite that embarrassing, but it wouldn't be good if she's perceived to be a bad choice.

Either way, Obama will get to appoint somebody. So, it seems to me like he should nominate a trailblazing liberal, just for the hell of it. And maybe Kagan is one. We don't know yet. Which might be Glen Greenwald's point in the piece below. For another point of view (also from Salon), click here.

[Excerpt]

The case against Elena Kagan

It is far from clear who Obama will chose to replace John Paul Stevens on the Supreme Court, but Elena Kagan, his current Solicitor General and former Dean of Harvard Law School, is on every list of the most likely replacements. Tom Goldstein of SCOTUSblog has declared her "the prohibitive front-runner" and predicts: "On October 4, 2010, Elena Kagan Will Ask Her First Question As A Supreme Court Justice." The New Yorker's Jeffrey Toobin made the same prediction. . .

Read more at: Salon