Biden for President?

[theprestige]

One of the strengths of the Court is the heavy use of clerks by the justices. Having a strong team of very smart younger lawyers under a single far more experienced lawyer is a pretty damn good model for quality work to be done. Especially if the older lawyer knows they can trust the younger ones because they are the best in the country.

Top. Men.

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The truth is, judicial confirmation hearings never seem to ask the nominee about their track record at identifying and retaining the best young lawyers in the country. There's plenty of people who are good at their specialty, but cold suck at hiring and managing quality staff in their specialty.

And given the acrimony that accompanies Supreme Court nominations, do you ever wonder if maybe most of the bench isn't actually up to the task?

 

[dudalb]

This won't be the first time the Berners run a scorched earth campaign.

I am convinced some of the Berners want Trump to win, because that will somehow radicalize the masses.
Sort of a modern 'The sooner we have Hitler, the sooner we will have the Revolution" attitude.

 

[dudalb]

Here's someone who says Biden's speech quirks look like mechanisms for dealing with stuttering, which has afflicted him all his life.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/op-ed-others-see-joe-100045858.html

Shades of "The King's Speech".

 

[theprestige]

I am convinced some of the Berners want Trump to win, because that will somehow radicalize the masses.
Sort of a modern 'The sooner we have Hitler, the sooner we will have the Revolution" attitude.

Bernie Sanders is gonna be John the Baptist to AOC's Jesus Christ.

 

[Bob001]

One of the strengths of the Court is the heavy use of clerks by the justices. Having a strong team of very smart younger lawyers under a single far more experienced lawyer is a pretty damn good model for quality work to be done. Especially if the older lawyer knows they can trust the younger ones because they are the best in the country.

But that would be true even if there were term limits or age limits on the justices and all federal judges. I don't know if it's good news that unappointed, unconfirmed, mostly unaccountable young law grads from a handful of schools are doing most of the work of the court.

 

[Dr. Keith]

Top. Men.

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The truth is, judicial confirmation hearings never seem to ask the nominee about their track record at identifying and retaining the best young lawyers in the country. There's plenty of people who are good at their specialty, but cold suck at hiring and managing quality staff in their specialty.

Often other issues overshadow such practical considerations, but yes, I agree that it is a desirable quality that should be looked into. I think Kavenaugh had a history as a Federal judge of promoting the careers of many top female attorneys, for example.

And given the acrimony that accompanies Supreme Court nominations, do you ever wonder if maybe most of the bench isn't actually up to the task?

Quite the opposite, I think that the acrimony acts as a bit of a filter and ensures that most of them actually are up to the task. I mean, it's not like you are going to have judges that are so unqualified that they are not even endorsed by their fellow attorneys thrust into the nomination thunder dome, right?

Anyway, this is an interesting conversation that should probably be moved out of this thread unless we want to talk about how Biden may elect justices.

 

[Dr. Keith]

But that would be true even if there were term limits or age limits on the justices and all federal judges.

True, but if you have term limits you are basically creating a class of uber lawyers who are former Supreme Court justices. The bidding war on those former robes would be a bit much. And age limits would simply limit the pool of nominees to those as young as you think can make it through the process.

I don't know if it's good news that unappointed, unconfirmed, mostly unaccountable young law grads from a handful of schools are doing most of the work of the court.

I agree. They should maybe require a bit more diversity of schools, but neither of your limits would address this issue.

 

[Bob001]

True, but if you have term limits you are basically creating a class of uber lawyers who are former Supreme Court justices. The bidding war on those former robes would be a bit much. And age limits would simply limit the pool of nominees to those as young as you think can make it through the process.
.....

But nothing now prevents a justice or a judge from retiring or resigning at any age and becoming a corporate partner. Usually the kind of people who become judges have made a career decision that public service is more important to them than the big bucks. And if term limits were long enough -- say 20 years -- or the age limit was old enough -- say 72 -- that would carry them well into normal retirement age. And as I understand it, federal judges keep their salaries and benefits for life, so it's not like they would have to go out and look for a job. The idea would be to assure a regular, predictable turnover in the judiciary.

 

[Babbylonian]

But nothing now prevents a justice or a judge from retiring or resigning at any age and becoming a corporate partner. Usually the kind of people who become judges have made a career decision that public service is more important to them than the big bucks. And if term limits were long enough -- say 20 years -- or the age limit was old enough -- say 72 -- that would carry them well into normal retirement age. And as I understand it, federal judges keep their salaries and benefits for life, so it's not like they would have to go out and look for a job. The idea would be to assure a regular, predictable turnover in the judiciary.

It's better than that. They can effectively retire in place with full salary and benefits, continuing to hear cases and hire clerks.

ETA: This is something I only found out after reading a story about how that scumbag Mitch McConnell is trying to induce older judges to retire in this fashion so that they can appoint more young conservative judges to take their official place.

 

[Cabbage]

Top. Men.

---

The truth is, judicial confirmation hearings never seem to ask the nominee about their track record at identifying and retaining the best young lawyers in the country. There's plenty of people who are good at their specialty, but cold suck at hiring and managing quality staff in their specialty.

And given the acrimony that accompanies Supreme Court nominations, do you ever wonder if maybe most of the bench isn't actually up to the task?

That's funny: I've noticed a lot of people who vote for the US president often don't pay attention to the presidential candidate's track record, too, for some reason.

 

[William Parcher]

If Biden wants to be elected President then he better start talking about Covid-19 almost exclusively.

This election will be hinged on a single issue. What are you going to do about the virus and what are you going to do about the destroyed economy?

It's a brand new world.

 

[Distracted1]

If Biden wants to be elected President then he better start talking about Covid-19 almost exclusively.

This election will be hinged on a single issue. What are you going to do about the virus and what are you going to do about the destroyed economy?

It's a brand new world.

He should name his running mate early, and have her out there putting forth plans and giving Democrats a voice in this crisis. I think Warren would be great for that.

Right now, we are letting Trump get in front of the cameras daily. As the situation improves (and the messaging gets better) he will begin to be seen as the one who walked us through this- and the fact that he screwed it up in the beginning will fade in the voters minds as the relief of nearing the end of it takes over.

 

[Trebuchet]

He should name his running mate early, and have her out there putting forth plans and giving Democrats a voice in this crisis. I think Warren would be great for that.

Right now, we are letting Trump get in front of the cameras daily. As the situation improves (and the messaging gets better) he will begin to be seen as the one who walked us through this- and the fact that he screwed it up in the beginning will fade in the voters minds as the relief of nearing the end of it takes over.

Not a terrible idea, except Warren's too damn old and needs to stay in the Senate.

 

[Distracted1]

Not a terrible idea, except Warren's too damn old and needs to stay in the Senate.

You can name another Dem. contender for VP with the chops and ability to pull that off right now?

Her ability to make a plan has risen almost to the level of a self-parody, and her sternness with Wall Street is a matter of record.
As to her age. Just a number. She demonstrates ample energy and sharpness.

Warren is "shovel ready" (so to speak) and could be out in front in a matter of hours.
It is critical that we make it apparent that the Dems are partners in solving this crisis.

 

[Stacyhs]

>snip<
Right now, we are letting Trump get in front of the cameras daily. As the situation improves (and the messaging gets better) he will begin to be seen as the one who walked us through this- and the fact that he screwed it up in the beginning will fade in the voters minds as the relief of nearing the end of it takes over.

I agree with this 100%. Since the debate, we've seen virtually nothing of Biden. He needs to be see as being involved in this and not letting Trump use it as another campaign vehicle.

 

[Distracted1]

I agree with this 100%. Since the debate, we've seen virtually nothing of Biden. He needs to be see as being involved in this and not letting Trump use it as another campaign vehicle.

We might disagree on this, but I don't think he has the fortitude for that. I believe it will wear him out and make him appear too old and weak to be Presidential. Slips-o-the tongue will not help when gravitas is needed.
FWIW, I am not claiming he has dementia- but his years are obviously catching up to him.

I think he needs an energetic VP to go out and do the running.

 

[Stacyhs]

We might disagree on this, but I don't think he has the fortitude for that. I believe it will wear him out and make him appear too old and weak to be Presidential. Slips-o-the tongue will not help when gravitas is needed.
FWIW, I am not claiming he has dementia- but his years are obviously catching up to him.

I think he needs an energetic VP to go out and do the running.

We do disagree on that. He doesn't have to be out there every day but he does need to be seen.

 

[Trebuchet]

You can name another Dem. contender for VP with the chops and ability to pull that off right now?

Her ability to make a plan has risen almost to the level of a self-parody, and her sternness with Wall Street is a matter of record.
As to her age. Just a number. She demonstrates ample energy and sharpness.

Warren is "shovel ready" (so to speak) and could be out in front in a matter of hours.
It is critical that we make it apparent that the Dems are partners in solving this crisis.

Unfortunately no. I'd just rather she was the nominee for President, with maybe Beto for Veep.

 

[Distracted1]

Unfortunately no. I'd just rather she was the nominee for President, with maybe Beto for Veep.

Then we are left with the prospect of pushing Joe out of the gate to talk about the "colon-virus he had back in his days storming the bay of pigs" or some such likely gaffe or mismemory that embarrasses us for a couple of days.

That is not how we need to get the focus off Trump.

 

[Mader Levap]

There is something very wrong with process of your primaries if this is result.

As far I am aware, USA primaries aren't even mandatory or in law - this is purely party construct, right? Can't they change voting system in Democratic Primaries?

You guys would significantly reduce bad blood and infighting with system that lets you select more than one candidate and one most often selected wins. No need to complicate things with priorities, order or anything. Just let people pick many at once from Biden/Warren/Sanders/whatever.