After being blown away by Glenn Greenwald's impressively well-researched and passionate case for Judge Diane Wood, I believe Judge Wood to be the only person on the "short list" capable of filling Justice Stevens' shoes.
So now here we are, crossing our fingers, hoping and praying that Obama nominates someone like Wood instead of a middle-of-the-road centrist who will be more conservative than the wonderful Justice whose seat has gone vacant.
Let's not just sit and wait and pray. Let's make our voices be heard!
I just called the White House comment line at 1-202-456-1111. Let them hear your opinion. The woman who answered the phone seemed pleased by my articulate comments on why Judge Wood is the best choice to fill Stevens' seat. Is she a Greenwald or Kos reader? Perhaps. But probably she's just used to answering frothing calls from teabaggers.
Janosnation blogged yesterday about Greenwald's article and included a link to the Facebook group, which indeed everyone should join. But a Facebook group alone will not make waves in Washington.
Today, Obama is having Senators over to hear their opinions on who he should nominate. He's going to hear Jeff Sessions's thought on the matter. I say, let him hear our thoughts as well! Call the White House comment line now (202-456-1111). And then, write Obama an email too. Spread the word, and keep calling, just like we did for the Public Option.
The netroots did an amazing job campaigning for the Public Option. Even though we were ultimately not successful in getting it into the legislative sausage, there's no reason we shouldn't put just as much effort into influencing non-legislative decisions, such as this important appointment. In fact, since Obama has already expressed some inclination to go for a more "independent" decision on this matter, I would say we have a much better chance of seeing positive results from our actions.
Greenwald calls Diane Wood "the public option" choice in this process: not the most progressive choice in the world, but the most progressive choice within the realm of possibility. Let's not have her get the "wouldn't it have been nice" fate that the Public Option got.
After you call and write to Obama, call the Senate. Here is a list of members of the Judiciary committee. Of course, the Democrats are going to support whoever Obama nominates. But before he nominates someone, the members of this committee have his ear.
Call Patrick Leahy. Then call the others, especially if you are in their state.
Join with me to call and write today. And tomorrow. And the next day.
We must counteract the Scalia/Thomas/Alito/Roberts pull of the court with a strong and intelligent progressive thinker, and Judge Wood is the only woman for the job.