Senators for Attorney General?

[Adlai Stevenson]

Now that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has stepped down effective 17th September, the Bush White House is reportedly considering two Republican Senators as potential replacements.  They are named as Orrin Hatch of Utah and John Cornyn of Texas.  While both are seen as relative long-shots, who is more likely to be chosen?

Personally I think Bush does choose a nominee from the Senate, it is more likely to be Hatch for a number of reasons.  Cornyn faces re-election next year and the President is unlikely to want to intervene in a Republican re-election campaign; Gonzales came from Texas and his appointment and subsuquent term smacked of cronyism - another nominee from Texas would be seen as possibly obdurate.  Furthermore, I would say that given the confirmation is likely to be difficult, Bush would consider choosing someone from the Senate in order to possibly ease the process - in the past Harry Reid has given the White House a list of names acceptable as Supreme Court nominees, several of whom were Republican Senators, including, I believe, Hatch and Cornyn.  Hatch has been in the Senate for thirty years and is known to have closer ties to senior Democrats than Cornyn, whom I think many Democrats regard as a typical conservative Republican.  Finally, Hatch is a man in his early-seventies drawing towards the end of his career; he could end it as Attorney General, whereas Cornyn is still only in his first term as a Senator and is relatively youthful in his mid-fifties. 

[Governor PiT]

Jeff Sessions would make the best choice.

[WalterMitty]

the best qualified sitting senator in jon kyl.  but az has a democrat governor.

id prefer ex-senator john danforth.

[Kevin]

Now that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has stepped down effective 17th September, the Bush White House is reportedly considering two Republican Senators as potential replacements.  They are named as Orrin Hatch of Utah and John Cornyn of Texas.  While both are seen as relative long-shots, who is more likely to be chosen?

Personally I think Bush does choose a nominee from the Senate, it is more likely to be Hatch for a number of reasons.  Cornyn faces re-election next year and the President is unlikely to want to intervene in a Republican re-election campaign; Gonzales came from Texas and his appointment and subsuquent term smacked of cronyism - another nominee from Texas would be seen as possibly obdurate.  Furthermore, I would say that given the confirmation is likely to be difficult, Bush would consider choosing someone from the Senate in order to possibly ease the process - in the past Harry Reid has given the White House a list of names acceptable as Supreme Court nominees, several of whom were Republican Senators, including, I believe, Hatch and Cornyn.  Hatch has been in the Senate for thirty years and is known to have closer ties to senior Democrats than Cornyn, whom I think many Democrats regard as a typical conservative Republican.  Finally, Hatch is a man in his early-seventies drawing towards the end of his career; he could end it as Attorney General, whereas Cornyn is still only in his first term as a Senator and is relatively youthful in his mid-fifties. 

How about Lieberman? He would give the Republicans a pickup in terms of a Senate Seat.

[Sam Spade]

the best qualified sitting senator in jon kyl.  but az has a democrat governor.

id prefer ex-senator john danforth.

AZ is one of those states where the Democratic governor has to select a Republican replacement from a list who would be voted at the next general election slot.

Nonetheless, I can't see one of these Senators wanting a job that'll last another 16 months at the most, unless they really want to retire or go into private practice anyways.

Lieberman is not leaving the Senate.  lol  He has plenty of power there, Kevin, moreso than Justice.

[Kevin]

the best qualified sitting senator in jon kyl.  but az has a democrat governor.

id prefer ex-senator john danforth.

AZ is one of those states where the Democratic governor has to select a Republican replacement from a list who would be voted at the next general election slot.

Nonetheless, I can't see one of these Senators wanting a job that'll last another 16 months at the most, unless they really want to retire or go into private practice anyways.

Lieberman is not leaving the Senate.  lol  He has plenty of power there, Kevin, moreso than Justice.

So does Hatch.

[CPT MikeyMike]

the best qualified sitting senator in jon kyl.  but az has a democrat governor.

id prefer ex-senator john danforth.

Danforth's name has been floating around. Whatever Danforth does, he gets things done.

I also heard Slade Gorton's name is also being tossed around though I think he's over 80 years old.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I'm putting my chips behind that go-getter Harriet Miers.

[YRABNNRM]

I'm putting my chips behind that go-getter Harriet Miers.

She'd do a heck of a job!

[CPT MikeyMike]

I'm putting my chips behind that go-getter Harriet Miers.

She'd do a heck of a job!

I think she would be a fine AG HOWEVER, her closeness to Bush and her past nomination to the Supreme Court is going to make it a rough nomination process for her.