ABC's Jan Crawford Greenburg speculates that the White House will nominate former US Solicitor General Theodore "Ted" Olson to be Alberto Gonzales's replacement as AG. Gonzales announced his resignation last month.
Senatorial Democrats who might be inclined to oppose the nomination have some decent ammunition.
Olson argued on behalf of George W. Bush in the Supreme Court in Bush v. Gore [2000] and is considered one of the nation’s top Supreme Court lawyers.On the other hand, if Greenburg is correct that the announcement will become public tomorrow, the Senate Donkeys will have to tread lightly.
[Olson] was serving as solicitor general when his wife, noted commentator Barbara Olson, was killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. She was a passenger on the hijacked American Airlines flight [77] that crashed into the Pentagon, killing her and 58 other passengers and crew members.September 11th is also Ted Olson's birthday. (He has remarried.)
If the White House employed any adviser possessing any Machiavellian skills to speak of, it would have announced the nomination today. The Democrats' self-righteousness preaching couldn't get any louder than it already is regarding other subjects. However, if Greenburg's speculation is true, I would think that the timing decision would be Olson's to make. Decency is more important than tactics.
But regardless of the date of the announcement, an Olson nomination would be perfect in its symbolism; as an in-your-face move directed at multiple targets.
(Thanks to Ace of Spades HQ)
