[winflop]

I saw Corey Booker mentioned, though he was not a leading candidate.

It's all moot anyway because the majority party in the senate has discovered a heretofore unknown clause of the constitution that permits the president from doing anything in his final year in office.

Try again there.  Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution states:

"He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and [b]by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law[/b]: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments."

Obama can nominate anyone he wants, but without confirmation by the Senate it ain't happening.  It's how the system is designed.

[winflop]

I saw Corey Booker mentioned, though he was not a leading candidate.

It's all moot anyway because the majority party in the senate has discovered a heretofore unknown clause of the constitution that permits the president from doing anything in his final year in office.

Try again there.  Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution states:

"He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and [b]by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law[/b]: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments."

Obama can nominate anyone he wants, but without confirmation by the Senate it ain't happening.  It's how the system is designed.