Listening to the heated rhetoric coming out of Washington, you may think the three days of health care arguments at the Supreme Court that began Monday morning, March 26, are about whether President Obama should have the power to …
Supreme Court
In Blow to Democrats, Supreme Court Knocks Down Texas Voting Map
Just in time for the renewed talk of a protracted GOP primary fight, the Supreme Court of the United States has crushed a revised redistricting map in Texas and unanimously ordered a lower court in San Antonio to come up with a …
What Obama Can Say On Guns
Guns are as charged a topic as ever. But when the President takes up the issue in the near future, as aides have indicated he’ll do, there are a multitude of measures he can endorse without endangering himself politically. Here’s my story on Time.com.
Kagan Confirmed
After another summer of hyperbolic debate, the Senate voted 63-37 Thursday to confirm solicitor general and former Harvard Law School dean Elena Kagan as the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
Despite the obligatory objections over her judicial record (or lack thereof), legal philosophy (real and imagined) and all-around …
Morning Must Reads: Let Them Eat Cake
President Obama jokes with AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka about eating birthday cake while he speaks at the labor union’s Executive Council meeting in Washington, August 4, 2010. REUTERS/Larry Downing
–Michael Lindenberger explains the ruling that struck down California gay-marriage ban yesterday.
–Dahlia Lithwick writes …
Confirming Kagan
The Senate Judiciary Committee in the next few minutes will report out the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Her passage through the committee is all but assured given that Democrats control it by a margin of 12-7. The only bit of news this vote will yield is whether or not South Carolina Senator Lindsey …
Morning Must Reads: Salesmanship
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
–John Dickerson reads the polls, sees a failure in salesmanship.
–The White House will get another chance today with the release of the Council of Economic Advisers’ latest stimulus report. Chairwoman Christina Romer will present her findings — that the Recovery Act “saved or created” …
GOP Opposition to Kagan Mounts
John McCain became the latest GOP senator to announce his opposition to Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. In a searing op-ed in today’s USA Today, McCain, who is in a tough reelection race, said “Kagan fails.” His reasoning? Her handling of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell as Dean of Harvard Law School.
In 1987, I had my first opportunity to
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Kagan’s Haven?
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Here’s a wrap up of the first day of questioning in the Senate …
Morning Must Reads: Compromise
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
–As Jay reported yesterday, Barney Frank and Chris Dodd moved back to conference to strip the $18 billion bank tax from financial reform. The money to pay for the bill will now come from the TARP and increased FDIC premiums. Translation: Rather than getting the money from large investment …
Kagan’s “Modest” Day 1
Day 1 is done in Solicitor General Elena Kagan’s hearings to become the 112th Supreme Court justice. Thus far there has been relatively little about Kagan herself. In between memorials for Senator Bobby Byrd and Sandra Day O’Connor’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s husband, Republicans griped that no matter what Kagan says, they don’t think …
Re: Kagan’s Day
The White House sends over excerpts of her opening statement. Anticipating the standard Republican inquisition over “judicial activism” and “legislating from the bench,” Kagan’s remarks come off as a paean to rule of law, impartiality and proper deference to the legislative branch. From her prepared remarks (emphasis mine):
“Mr.
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Kagan’s Day
Well, it’s actually her week. President Obama’s nominee to the nation’s highest bench, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, takes the hot seat today before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Though, today will be relatively mild given that the whole day will actually be spent on senators’ opening statements. Her first words are expected to be …