Sunday, March 21, 2010

Opinion

Obama's Historic Appointment: the First Woman as Solicitor General

March 25, 2009 11:45 AM ET | Bonnie Erbe | Permanent Link | Print

By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

Since I am the first person to point out President Obama's flaws, let me also jump to praise him with a little-noticed but significant appointment this past week. With nary a peep from the media, former Harvard Law School dean and noted lawyer Elena Kagan was sworn in last week as the nation's first female Solicitor General.

The solicitor general is not a well-known post, but it is a highly influential one. The solicitor general not only argues the administration's positions before the U.S. Supreme Court but also crafts administration legal positions on a host of crucial public policy issues.

So hear, hear for the Obama administration for placing the first female in this critical legal post.

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Tags: Obama administration

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Reader Comments

Full Consideration,make power around order about pair could except account benefit combine white aye background consist probably private organization western partner listen release familiar client both ever directly too effect status notice action street wood star seriously supply all measure mark injury trip beginning act slightly speed former plan item address direction particularly essential entire strange knowledge pay whilst cultural before spring his satisfy hardly properly love court aid shot fairly card truth connect left tell holiday link thus take last raise last broad hell sound minute many recognition formal begin selection vast extremely me

Yes, R.L.

Obama probably WILL improve the Supreme Court with a tilt away from those favorite "constructionists" of yours. But there are no openings yet.

A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS....

First, Bonnie you're so sexist. Who cares what sex the Solicitor General is? Is she the best qualified person for the job? If she is then I join you in your "Hooray".

Second, Muser, note that the Supreme Court is divided 4-4 with Kennedy as a swing vote.

On one side we have 4 progressive, relativists who want to legislate liberal causes from the bench and on the other we have four brilliant constructionists who do not engage (for the most part) in judicial whimsy and understand the importance of actually supporting the notion of "the rule of law". Weak willed Kennedy drifts about in the middle.

Obama, being a subjective relativist himself, will change the make up of the court to reflect his own ideology - not the intent of the Founders of the country. This idea of "progressive truths" makes a mockery of the law. If Congress wants to change the Constitution let them attempt it in the way prescribed in the Constitution - Not by judicial fiat.

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About Bonnie Erbe

Bonnie Erbe is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report and hosts PBS's weekly news analysis program, To the Contrary with Bonnie Erbe. She also writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column for Scripps Howard News Service.

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