Fred! will vet judges for McCain: Human Events
posted at 6:30 pm on June 20, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Fred Thompson will assume a leadership position in a John McCain administration in the process of selecting judicial appointments, according to a post at Human Events. The former Senator and crusading Tennessee attorney won the attention of conservatives as a rival to McCain in the primaries, but faded quickly after his long-delayed entry into the race. His friendship with McCain makes this credible — and could help assure conservatives that he will stick to his promises on the courts:
In a McCain administration, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson would play a dominant role in selecting Supreme Court nominees and other judicial appointments, sources close to the McCain campaign and to Thompson tell us.
McCain already has Ted Olson on his advisory staff, who joined McCain shortly after Rudy Giuliani pulled out of the race. Olson has tremendous support among conservatives who keep tabs on this issue, but hasn’t factored into the campaign. Olson has always been a behind-the-scenes player in electoral politics, and has not made many appearances to help McCain reinforce his pledges to nominate judges that will refrain from activism — like, say, Anthony Kennedy in Boumediene.
Thompson makes a much better choice for the public face of McCain’s direction on the courts. He may not have a taste for campaigning, but he does well in public appearances. He fronted a press conference call earlier this week to talk about Boumediene as well as national security, and the enthusiastic reception from conservatives may have prompted Team McCain to realize that they had left an asset on the shelf for a little too long.
If McCain names Thompson as the chair of his judicial-nominations committee, will that help reassure Hot Air readers that McCain will stick with conservatives?
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that is good news…I’m beginning to feel overwhelmed by the media love toward Obama, my fellow citizenry not looking behind the veneer of empty promises, and of course our lackluster candidate.
*sigh* Fred gives me a smidgen of hope.
spacekicker on June 20, 2008 at 6:33 PM
A dominant role in judicial selection? Unless he suddenly became a congresscritter or senator again, in the end his role won’t amount to squat.
tomk59 on June 20, 2008 at 6:37 PM
Fred can take a good share of the credit for getting John Roberts on the Supreme Court.
Connie on June 20, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Someone please explain to me how it matters who vets the nominees, or who John McCain nominates, if the Democrats dominate the Senate.
Please explain to me how in the world a Democrat-dominated Senate will allow replacing a loony liberal like Ginsberg or Stevens with anything other than another loony liberal.
Does anyone remember Teddy K’s speech about how Bork was going to bring back-alley abortions to us?
Please explain how a Democrat-dominated Congress is going to allow a majority of 5 solid conservatives on the Supreme Court.
I want to believe.
misterpeasea on June 20, 2008 at 6:39 PM
As long as he does things like hold closed door meetings with US/Latin leaders, he will never have a firm conservative base but there is a fundamental distrust there.
We don’t trust him because he acts like he doesn’t trust us or our judgement.
SPCOlympics on June 20, 2008 at 6:40 PM
C’mon Ed, you’re trying too hard.
doubleplusundead on June 20, 2008 at 6:40 PM
Bingo, misterpeasea. And circuit judges.
tomk59 on June 20, 2008 at 6:41 PM
FTFY
doubleplusundead on June 20, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Hard to get excited about McCain, but FDT vetting the Supremes, well, that’s exciting.
Buford Gooch on June 20, 2008 at 6:42 PM
A Fred! post?
Cue tommylotto in 5, 4, 3, 2….
It’s too bad that Fred! wont be setting immigration/border security policy. That’s my biggest worry with McAmnesty at the helm.
HebrewToYou on June 20, 2008 at 6:42 PM
Cool Beans.
Maybe someone should tell Fred that it would be nice to mention to all of his loyal supporters that Fred supports McCain. And maybe they might want to look into doing the same.
!
wise_man on June 20, 2008 at 6:43 PM
If true, this will be the deciding factor for me to vote for McCain (rather than sitting out the presidential election). McCain and Obama are so close on most issues that it’s difficult to tell the apart (a Republican that’s for a windfall profits tax?). I was also afraid that any selection McCain would make for the Supreme Court would also turn out to be another Republican disaster. With Fred there to provide a bit of sanity, I feel much better on getting another Roberts, and not another Kennedy.
rmgraha on June 20, 2008 at 6:44 PM
With a democrat in the whitehouse? Absolutely not.
wise_man on June 20, 2008 at 6:45 PM
Now if Fred would control McCain’s energy policy, tax policy, immigration policy and economic policy, we’d be getting somewhere. McCain could have defense.
Cicero43 on June 20, 2008 at 6:47 PM
You know, it’s kinda tinfoil-hat of me, but I wonder if at some point all the good GOP candidates got together and decided to get 100 percent behind whichever one of them won Florida?
Sekhmet on June 20, 2008 at 6:48 PM
Good enough for government work.
silverfox on June 20, 2008 at 6:48 PM
Does that mean every SCOTUS session will begin with that “dunk-dunk” sound?
Nosferightu on June 20, 2008 at 6:49 PM
Uh,helloooo! Some of you seem to think Fred having McCain’s ear means the SCOTUS appointments are good to go in your favor. That would be the congress that will decide that, and especially if dem controlled in both houses, won’t give a damn what Fred says.
tomk59 on June 20, 2008 at 6:49 PM
Go Fred! Get McCain to pilot the Thompson platform and we’ll be there.
maverick muse on June 20, 2008 at 6:50 PM
I’d take it as very good news, especially when teamed with Ted Olson.
irishspy on June 20, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Yay!
Spirit of 1776 on June 20, 2008 at 6:52 PM
Seriously, if Fred could play the role for McCain the Left thinks Cheney plays for Bush, I’d be all aglow with fervor for the Mack campaign.
VolMagic on June 20, 2008 at 6:52 PM
True enough, but I means that there probably won’t be a Sandra Day or an Anthony Kennedy put up for offer.
VolMagic on June 20, 2008 at 6:53 PM
Fred! for SCOTUS
davidk on June 20, 2008 at 6:53 PM
Fred’s a good man, a true conservative. I think though, that he should not do this alone. He should collaborate with someone with a more centrist outlook. This in order to get any judges through.
jeanie on June 20, 2008 at 6:53 PM
YES.
Theworldisnotenough on June 20, 2008 at 6:53 PM
I think that its interesting, in a terrifying sort of way, that McCain and his camp don’t seem to have any inkling of how he’s perceived by the majority of the Republican base. They (we) HATE him. He spends most of his time trying to curry favor with the “moderates” by prattling about global warming and excoriating “obscene profits” of the oil companies without a clue that this crap just repels Conservatives.
McCain needs to tend to his base, if its not too late. (Its ten years too late for me.) He’s got to get some money coming into his campaign and he’s not going to get it from moderates or the New York Times.
Cicero43 on June 20, 2008 at 6:54 PM
If it’s true what McCain said in Chicago recently about “comprehensive immigration reform” being a day-one priority – No.
If not – Maybe.
jaime on June 20, 2008 at 6:55 PM
I just felt a tingle going up my leg.
steadyrock on June 20, 2008 at 6:55 PM
Wow. Another lie from the left who wants Obama to be the next president, and the so called conservatives on sites like this. Obama and McCain, it’s difficult to tell them apart. Let’s roll the film, shall we?
*movie projector starts*
*yup, Obama is the most liberal. Just like McCain, … right????*
Now, let’s look at this “liberal,” McCain.
Yup. McCain and Obama. Can’t tell them apart. No, sir. Why anyone who thinks that Obama isn’t a liberal will surely say that Brian Friel, Richard E. Cohen and Kirk Victor, National Journal are lying, and obama isn’t that liberal …..
or claim that The American Conservative Union and Ed Morrissey is lying … and that McCain doesn’t have a lifetime score of 82.16.
*film projector stops*
Thats it. Thanks for attempting to lie about McCain, rmgraha. But too bad – you got the crap stomped out of you by the truth. Thanks again, and we’ll see you next time.
wise_man on June 20, 2008 at 6:57 PM
Again, Fred will have as much say in who gets seated as SCOTUS or circuit judges as you or I will. It may influence who McCain decides to nominate; it will have no bearing on who gets seated.
tomk59 on June 20, 2008 at 6:57 PM
You said it!
ihasurnominashun on June 20, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Thompson’s vetting is a good start.
Now where do we find the strongmen to push the nominees through a Dem Congress?
petefrt on June 20, 2008 at 7:07 PM
Too bad the president cant do a recess appointment to the SCOTUS in the same manner that Bush moved Bolton to the UN when the democrat congress kept denying Bolton an up or down vote, petefrt.
wise_man on June 20, 2008 at 7:19 PM
Yes, that lifetime 82 rating sounds impressive, but again, it’s good for 39th in the Senate.
So, again, McCain is more liberal than 80% of Republican Senators. And that includes the usual NE liberal suspects.
Not so impressive, when you look at it in context.
What would you call a person who made factually accurate statements with the intent to deceive? What if that person was fond of accusing others of being lying liars?
misterpeasea on June 20, 2008 at 7:21 PM
Fred! supported McCain-Feingold, so maybe he’ll help keep that dreaded fifth vote away. Sorry for the cynicism, but I can’t help myself.
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on June 20, 2008 at 7:22 PM
well that sounds fine. At least we will have some idea of the justices we could be getting.
BTW what the hell is going on with this and why are Repubs behind this?
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-6257
jharada on June 20, 2008 at 7:23 PM
Good move by McCain…more please and faster.
AUINSC on June 20, 2008 at 7:24 PM
People seem to forget that a majority of Americans actually WANT conservative judges. Thompson playing the role of vetter and chief “get on tv and belittle the obstructionists” dude is a good move.
No, I don’t think McCain will ever make us totally happy. But dear God, the alternative choice is beyond scary. Conservatives are going to have to act like adults and vote for a far-less-than-perfect candidate in McCain, or shut the F-up when they wake up to realize what they’ve allowed to happen.
Sugar Land on June 20, 2008 at 7:25 PM
Still using the red herring that is McCain’s lifetime ACU rating. What a joke you are, wise_man.
He’s nowhere near the most conservative senator nor has he been a solid conservative this decade. He’s. A. Frickin’. Joke. His 65 rating from 2006 says it all.
You’re as predictable as tommylotto…
HebrewToYou on June 20, 2008 at 7:38 PM
Fred is an excellent selection but it doesn’t change my opinion of McCain. McCain is not to be trusted.
thatcher on June 20, 2008 at 7:39 PM
Peddle in hyperbole much?
Ridiculous. The only people who would be “allowing” Obama to be president are people who actually vote for him. People like you who expect conservatives — read: NON-REPUBLICANS — to tow McCain’s liberal line disgust me.
McCain is a joke of a candidate and I have absolutely no intention of supporting him. That doesn’t mean I’ve somehow allowed Obama to president. Nice leap in logic, though.
HebrewToYou on June 20, 2008 at 7:42 PM
Y’all can go ahead and hold your breath until someone with a 100 percent rating from the ACU runs for President.
Sekhmet on June 20, 2008 at 7:55 PM
Not for our side, that’s for sure. But enough to grab Indies and Blue Dogs who are scared to death by Obama. I will say it one more time. This is the whole reason McCain is the candidate, and conservatives would be wise to understand that and quit their biatchin’ until after McCain is elected.
Connie on June 20, 2008 at 7:57 PM
Both Richard Nixon and the Judge in Tennessee that Fred practiced before as a US attorney thought Fred was dumb as a door. Why would you want this man selecting judges for you when you could have Olson? (unless of course you are selecting Olson)
P.S. Did I mention that Fred helped murderous Libyan Islamist terrorist avoid justice for 11 years?
tommylotto on June 20, 2008 at 7:58 PM
Nice theory, only, did you see that poll that Allah linked the other day? There are more Obamacans than McCainocrats.
So while McCain’s lurch to the left hasn’t helped attract many unprincipled moderates and Democrats, at least he’s alienated the Republican base.
misterpeasea on June 20, 2008 at 8:05 PM
misterpeasea on June 20, 2008 at 7:21 PM
HebrewToYou on June 20, 2008 at 7:38 PM
Hey look, dumb and dumber thinks that Obama and McCain are just the same and just as liberal.
So how many DNC points have you two gotten so far by trashing McCain on conservative message boards so you can assist in pissing off real conservatives into not voting for McCain and help to ensure Obama wins?
Enough for your very own 8×10 glossy signed photo of Howard Dean, mid scream?
wise_man on June 20, 2008 at 8:09 PM
I think Fred could do a better job at this than John Sununu who recommended the mega-dolt David Souter. I forget who gets the credit for recommending prima donna /one world order hopeful Anthony Kennedy. We’re probably stuck with Souter and Kennedy for the time being. Ginsburg is running on fumes and Stevens probably keeps his will in his vest pocket so that Fred could provide valuable assistance not only in selecting good nominees but to help in the PR defense against the Liberal media whores who certainly will attack any non-Socialist chosen for USSC. Fred’s a good PR man and that may be as important as the nominees when going through the process.
viking01 on June 20, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Yes, he has, but there is no way I am going to facilitate Obama’s (Soros/Kerry/Gore) election.
Connie on June 20, 2008 at 8:10 PM
I like Fred.
When has McCain ever “stuck with consevatives”?
dhunter on June 20, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Cicero:
The majority of the Republican base likes McCain just fine. If they did not, he would not be the nominee.
And the idea that it does not matter who the president is if you do not control the Senate is stupid. For one thing, the Senate can change hands in two years. Just look at 2002. For another, if McCain comes up with a qualified nominee and there is a vacancy someone will have to fill it. Bush got Thomas through under very difficult circumstances.
Terrye on June 20, 2008 at 8:37 PM
How about Justice Fred Thompson? That is the best pick for the Court.
jencab on June 20, 2008 at 8:38 PM
misterpeasea:
How much money have you given to your guy Obama so far?
Terrye on June 20, 2008 at 8:39 PM
jencab:
That is not a bad idea.
Terrye on June 20, 2008 at 8:40 PM
Too bad it’s not the other way around.
Mojave Mark on June 20, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Fred probably would make a very good, conscientious SC court judge.
I can see dimwit Joe Biden during the confirmation hearings faulting Fred for the one that got away on Law and Order. Which perpetrator do you mean Senator Biden? The one where the case was dismissed right before the mouthwash commercial?
viking01 on June 20, 2008 at 9:05 PM
This is a good move. As noted above, Fred assisted in this manner in the Bush administration, and the process went about as smoothly as could be expected. Of course, Roberts gets much of the credit for his performance in the hearings, but he was obviously well-served by Fred in the process as well. I can see this working well- if McCain doesn’t outdo trying to “work with” a democratic majority in the Senate, by sending them a “moderate” they have pre-approved.
It would be nice if Fred would pull a Cheney when a vacancy comes up, and suddenly decide he is the candidate they’re looking for. He would make an excellent Justice. At least, after reading his take on the Boumediene (sp?) decision, some of his dissents would probably have some bite.
cs89 on June 20, 2008 at 9:13 PM
I’ve hated McCain for a very long time.
But keep insinuating that any conservative who refuses to vote for McCain is an Obama operative. It makes you look real smart… Meanwhile, I’ll keep pointing out exactly why a McCain presidency is as equally disastrous to this country as would be an Obama presidency. Disastrous in different ways, but disastrous nonetheless.
If more people were willing to stop towing the party line perhaps we wouldn’t be stuck choosing between a Giant Douche and a Turd Sandwich.
HebrewToYou on June 20, 2008 at 9:26 PM
You two are just perfect together. And hey _man, that bit about DNC points is really clever and original. What gave you that idea, I wonder.
You folks are changing a lot of hearts and minds, I’m sure.
misterpeasea on June 20, 2008 at 9:34 PM
So McCain has just know said his McCain no freedom of speech bill was WRONG??? Half of his bill he co-sponsor was WRONG??? WOW!!!
Like that will be the day the pigs fly when he actually picks a Roberts.
BroncosRock on June 20, 2008 at 9:38 PM
US/Latin leaders, you mean like U.S. leaders and the Pope?
Squid Shark on June 20, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Why bother, those who would rather let this country go to hell in the hopes of some…I dunno, Messiah will never be swayed by any argument.
You dont want to be swayed, you just want to snark on every damn thread, while the rest of us are trying to win this thing.
Squid Shark on June 20, 2008 at 10:46 PM
And snark they do.
In every thread.
Every.
And if they can convince me that not voting for McCain would be good for my country, then I’ll do it.
But other than being pissed off at McCain and having sour grapes because their candidate lost, just about the only thing they can say is that McCain is not a conservative. Some even say that he is as bad or (and I would gather that in a few weeks if not a month) worse than Obama. And the ‘let’s give the GOP a message’ thing, …. right. The GOP is going to look at the election results, and the millions who voted for Obama, the millions who voted for McCain, who won, who lost … and they are not going to bat an eye at the little nancies that voted for Bob Barr (has the same black cloud of loser as Ralph Nader) or the one half of one percent of the country that wrote in some candidate … as the people who decided not to realistically participate in our electoral process.
Indeed, people who do this are making a mockery of our electoral system. A protest vote against McCain isn’t going to bring about a more conservative candidate next time. Why on earth should the GOP or anyone else for that matter give these people the time of day. The only thing that might make that a possibility is for a real conservative to run a campaign that electrifies the republican voters in the next primaries. I’d sure love to see that happen.
Snarking crap about McCain isn’t going to convince me of your ideas being better for my country either. Unless you present to me a viable alternative than participating in the electoral process, then I see your flailing attempts for what they are. Serving one purpose. Getting Obama elected. Oh, that and,
Comedy.
wise_man on June 20, 2008 at 11:29 PM
I like the timbre of Freds voice. If he were selling common sense, I would buy it.
BL@KBIRD on June 20, 2008 at 11:59 PM
Fred can do whatever he likes. Who he supports or doesn’t support means nothing to me. If McCain wants to pay me mega bucks to vet his judges, I’d be happy to take his money. Doesn’t mean I’d vote for him. Whizzman, are you taking the pathetic tack that somehow a Fred stamp of approval means something to conservatives? We don’t vote that way. Even the pragmatists who will vote for McCain out of fear, aren’t doing it because ‘Fred supports McCain.’ One of the tenets of conservatism is individualism. You don’t sit around waiting for someone to tell you what to do or what to think.
Now let me ask you a question: why do you keep tilting at the holdouts on the right? Your cr*p candidate isn’t bothering with us; he’s out smooching the left. Why don’t you join him? Go find some Hillary supporters to chat up. I think you’ll be surprised at how much success you have.
austinnelly on June 21, 2008 at 12:21 AM
You’re the one proving over and over that you don’t know crap about the him and don’t want to, like a few other McCain KoolAid drinkers here. I’ve known the man since 1982, how long have you known him?
In fact, you don’t seem to know a whole lot about how SC justices are appointed and confirmed, judging from
where you seem not to know that any judge they come up with will have to be CONFIRMED by congress. Give yourself a little education by googling the ones, especially conservatives, that didn’t get through this process.
And take some of austinnelly’s advice.
Shay on June 21, 2008 at 12:35 AM
Hm. Let’s review.
They said this:
And I’m snarking. I’M snarking. Come on, Squish.
misterpeasea on June 21, 2008 at 12:41 AM
Fred to aid in vetting??? Fred should be a SCOTUS nominee!
I daresay with Fred on the bench we’d not have stupid rulings that override existing law and give habeas corpus rights to enemies of our country.
electric-rascal on June 21, 2008 at 12:54 AM
Never mind vetting, Fred for AG.
schmuck281 on June 21, 2008 at 1:23 AM
When you start to take flak, you know you’re over the target. :)
GigaDittos.
RushBaby on June 21, 2008 at 2:30 AM
I never said any of that crap and you know it.
However, the point remains that you dont want to be swayed but the MDSers and TC’s invade every board, even the ones not about McCain and attack like drunk coeeds on Justin Timberlake.
Squid Shark on June 21, 2008 at 7:11 AM
Of course you didn’t. They did.
I’d love to be swayed by John McCain. And it’d be so easy: just stop sounding like a d@mned liberal.
It looks to me like “the MDSers and TCs” attack McCain, not with cheap shots, but on principle, while the McKool-aid drinkers attack the MDSers and TCs, with cheap shots, and not on principle.
You don’t defend your candidate by attacking others. But again, it’s much easier to attack others than to defend John McCain. Especially on principle.
I’ll ask again: would you rather have the next four years blamed on McCain and the Republicans, who end up in the wilderness for 15-20 years, or Bambi and the Democrats?
Who do you want to take the blame for massive tax increases to fight global warmism? Who do you want to take the blame for amnesty?
And. How much will it matter who is President with a Democrat-dominated Congress?
And. The party with the presidency loses seats in the mid-term elections. Especially if that President presides over stupid and costly policies. Who do you want to lose seats in the mid-term elections.
Like I used to try to tell _man, it’s not as simple as McCain = R = good, Bambi = D = bad.
misterpeasea on June 21, 2008 at 11:27 AM
I agree that some (you, LegendhasIt) come in with principled arguments, and most of the time stick to McCain related boards. But some idiot like the one who posted this in the Obama Seal board:
Outnumber you.
And. How much will it matter who is President with a Democrat-dominated Congress
Squid Shark on June 21, 2008 at 11:56 AM
-=0-=blockquote>I’ll ask again: would you rather have the nex four years blamed on McCain and the Republicans, who end up in the wilderness for 15-20 years, or Bambi and the Democrats?
Who do you want to take the blame for massive tax increases to fight global warmism? Who do you want to take the blame for amnesty?
I dont think this wishful thinking helps your case much. We may not get the blam but we will be living with it for much longer under a court with 3 Ginsburgs instead of one. And a rubber stamped foreign policy so convoluted and appeasement oriented that wa have to have armed escorts for every oil tanker entering the Gulf through the SOH.
Squid Shark on June 21, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Can’t argue with that.
Spirit of 1776 on June 21, 2008 at 6:38 PM
It will help. Especially since Fred played a similar role in supporting Roberts and Alito.
But McCain has some serious ground to make up, so I would hope he won’t stop there.
theregoestheneighborhood on June 21, 2008 at 7:24 PM
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