The Impeachment Question

Supreme Court Watch

Deb Riechmann reports for the Associated Press: "President Bush ... said Wednesday he will not select a Supreme Court nominee based on his or her views on abortion or other hot-button political issues. . . .

"Bush said he would have no 'litmus test' that disqualifies candidates because of their opinions on abortion and gay marriage. . . .

"Bush bristled at criticism of Gonzales. Conservatives said they aren't convinced his beliefs on affirmative action and abortion are far enough to the right for their liking."

Here's the transcript of Bush's remarks, made alongside the Danish prime minister.

"As you know, I'm not a lawyer -- thankfully," Bush said to laughter. "And so I will let my legal experts deal with the ramifications of legal opinions. I'll talk to people about just -- I'll try to assess their character, their interests. I'm looking forward to the review process, the interview process, as well.

"When I first get back, I will consult with members of the Senate -- I have done so far, our staff continues to do so -- and then I'll begin the interview process."

Mark Memmott writes in USA Today: "Social conservatives who have said they would oppose or withhold support from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales as a Supreme Court nominee stuck to their positions Tuesday, despite President Bush's displeasure with the criticism of his 'great friend.' "

Edwin Chen writes in the Los Angeles Times: "President Bush narrowed his focus to several judges Tuesday as he began considering a successor to Sandra Day O'Connor, the country's first female Supreme Court justice, who announced her retirement Friday.

"The president spent 'a good couple of hours' reviewing the biographies of the candidates and summaries of their judicial opinions during a 7 1/2 -hour flight to Copenhagen on his way to an international economic summit, said White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan."

David D. Kirkpatrick and Carl Hulse write in the New York Times: "The White House and the Senate Republican leadership are pushing back against pressure from some of their conservative allies about the coming Supreme Court nomination, urging them to stop attacking Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales as a potential nominee and to tone down their talk of a culture war."

Rove Speaks -- About the Supreme Court

Peter Baker and Charles Babington write in The Washington Post about what must have been a fascinating lunch meeting yesterday between Karl Rove and Washington Post reporters and editors.

"Karl Rove, President Bush's chief political architect, said precedents from the most recent Supreme Court vacancies suggest that opposition-party senators have a responsibility to back a president's choice if they believe a nominee is qualified, even if they disagree with the person's views. He also maintained that a strongly held ideological stance would not amount to 'extraordinary circumstances' justifying a Democratic filibuster under a recent bipartisan Senate deal.