And The Nominees Are...

And The Nominees Are...

In March of 2009, President Obama nominated former federal court judge Sonia Sotomayor for retiring justice David Souter's spot on the Supreme Court. Souter's unexpectedly left-wing tendencies ensured that Sotomayor's eventual confirmation would not change the makeup of the Supreme Court to any substantive degree. Although minor qualms were made about more contentious statements made by Sotomayor, she was approved by the Senate relatively quickly.
Now, President Obama has been presented with a second opportunity to nominate a Supreme Court justice. As long-time liberal justice John Paul Stevens prepares for his retirement, Obama and the Democratic Senators must prepare for a vicious battle in Congress.
Some in Congress have already made a fuss about the as-yet-unnamed candidate. Congressional Republicans don't want to see another liberal on the court, even if it means keeping the balace of the court in check.
However, the fragile balace of the court must be maintained, even if this means, for Congressional Republicans, the confirmation of a liberal. Still, the Obama Administration may not even nominate a liberal- fear of a bitter partisan battle, especially so soon after the health care debate, might turn them away from promoting a more polarizing person.
The Obama Administration, unless they wish to see more of- and more radical versions of- court decisions like January's on corporations, must nominate someone who is as much an ideologue as Stevens. Although nominating a partisan judge to the land's highest court may not be a popular, nor even a remarkably good decision, it is imperative that the court remains balanced. Stevens was the leader of the liberal wing of the Supreme Court, so if Obama is to appoint a moderate, non-partisan, or even a right-wing judge, the already conservative court will be flung so far right that its future may become unsalvageable.