by James Oliphant
Hey, Boomers, Gen Xers, all of you. Ready to freak?
Good. Siddown.
We've reached a milestone in terms of the Supreme Court nomination process that you are likely not aware of. If Elena Kagan is confirmed, she would be the first justice to be younger than--wait for it--Madonna.
Let that sink in for a minute.
We would have sitting member of the highest court in the land who is younger (by two years) than the Material Girl. (I'd like to think her expression in the photo, right, stems from Madge hearing this particular fact for the first time.)
(Photo: GettySteven Lovekin)
Selecting younger nominees has been in Vogue (sorry) has been of importance to Democrats ever since George W. Bush tapped John Roberts, then 50, for the high court. But it's been a GOP strategy for a long time. Clarence Thomas was nominated in 1991 when he was just 43. Samuel Alito was 55 when Bush chose him.
Sonia Sotomayor was 54 last year when Obama picked her for the court.
Age was believed to be a concern with Diane Wood, the Chicago federal appeals court, who was a finalist for the slot that went to Kagan. Wood will turn 60 in July. Another contender, federal appeals court Judge Merrick Garland, is 57.
The equation is simple. The younger the justice, the longer he or she can stay on the court. And on the court, seniority matters. Of course, age isn't everything. Health matters, too. John Paul Stevens joined the court at 55 in 1975. He went on to serve 35 years--almost a record.
Kagan just turned 50 in April. By the way, do you know who turns 50 today? Bono. That's right. Bono. Freaking Bono. Am I bugging you? I don't mean to bug yuh.
What does this all mean? It means that we are terribly, hideously, tremendously old. Old. Old. Old. Old. Old. Old. Old.
Comments
Welcome to life !! What do think starts happening, once we are born? Get over it and get on with it !! I think General Kagan will make an excellent Supreme Court Justice, particularly in light of who the Bush&Cheney installed, on our Supreme Court, hacks all !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | May 12, 2010 10:27 AM
Kagan has about as much experience as president panty waist....when she argued the Citizens United v. Fec case to the Supreme Court she got her facts wrong on the precedent and Scalia and Kennedy ripped into her.
President Bush installed two of the most brilliant legal minds in the country on the Supreme Court and Obama nominates a left wing military hating simpleton.
Just a terrible partisan pick, but that's panty waist.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | May 12, 2010 1:28 PM
calling kagan a girl is a bit of a stretch. I'd bet Madonna is more qualified that this fugly women from the napitalano strain of ugliness.
But since we have an incompetent president with no experience running anything, I guess a supreme court justice
without any experience is right up the democrats alley. I just hope when they're all on their deathbeds that they get a doctor without any experience!
Posted by: worsethanbefore | May 12, 2010 3:39 PM
"General Kagan"? Did she do a stint in the military?
Oliphant has as many articles on Kagan as Silva did on Palin. Speaking of which, since Silva left, have we seen any articles on Governor Palin?
Posted by: Terry | May 12, 2010 8:30 PM
Terry, I always thought that Silva threw in the occasional Palin item just to watch the feeding frenzy among the likes of HHH, bill r. (or whatever he's calling himself today), and Roger Morris. We'll see if Oliphant does the same.
I used to go to a fish hatchery in Missouri where you could buy a handful of the pellets they fed the trout for ten cents. It was great fun to throw a few into the pool to get the fish bunched up, then throw in the whole rest of the handful and watch the fish push each other out of the water. Those who respond to the Palin items are behaving just like those trout.
Posted by: DaveB | May 13, 2010 9:33 AM
Well, DB, the difference is that Sarah is a provocateur.
She'd be terrible at government.
But she found her niche in right wing broadcasting. With Beck and Rush.....
Heartwarming, isn't it? A real American success story.
Drum majorette makes good.
Posted by: ornery | May 13, 2010 6:05 PM
Don can I get a bag of what ever youre smoking "General Kagan" Ha Ha oh yes I can picture it now Her Barry and Patton exchanging war stories Bwaaaaaaaaaaa ha ha you my man are nuts!!!!
Posted by: Libtard | May 14, 2010 9:38 AM
I will try not to disturb all of you, Republican-Libertarian-T.Baggers from your self-induced comas, but is Ms Kagan, the 45th U.S. Solicitor GENERAL, or isn't she !!? You guys aren't morons, because you got more off !! Go back to sleep, that is when most of you do your best work !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | May 14, 2010 10:52 AM