Posted on 03/21/2016 9:32:51 AM PDT by RC one
What’s fascinating about 21 centuray American politics is how many norms and “given’s” are being stripped away on a regular basis, how perfunctory these stories are treated by the media, and how accepted it is if a party or political figure discards longstanding principles of how our government has long functioned. The change then suddenly becomes the new norm, with little resistance (which suggests American democracy in general is fragile). It is indeed unprecedented that a political party would not even MEET and put up to a vote (where they could vote down) the nominee of a President because it’s election year. And all the talk about people who may have suggested it work that way means little because: i-t h-a-s n-o-t e-v-e-r h-a-p-p-e-n-ed that a party would not even allow hearings on a President’s nominee.
And now we have yet a new one. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has just re-written the rules on Supreme Court nominees: the powerful National Rifle Association now has veto power over all Supreme Court nominees. That most assuredly would have been a factor in many senators’ votes in the past — but now this is an openly-stated new rule for any nominee to the Supreme Court. Now, this isn’t a comedy new rule like Bill Maher’s new rules, it’s yet another sign of how today’s GOP increasingly isn’t conservative but is morphing into something else, even if you take Donald Trump out of the picture. Think Progress reports:
Supreme Court justices are nominated by the president and appointed with the advice and consent of the National Rifle Association, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
McConnell offered this unusual view of the confirmation process during an interview with Fox News Sunday. In response to a question from host Chris Wallace, who asked if Senate Republicans would consider the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court after the election if Hillary Clinton prevails, McConnell responded that he “can’t imagine that a Republican majority in the United States Senate would want to confirm, in a lame duck session, a nominee opposed by the National Rifle Association [and] the National Federation of Independent Businesses.” The Majority Leader’s statement is significant for several reasons. For one thing, it suggests that his previously stated position that “this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President,” is a sham. Simply put, it’s unlikely that the NRA or the NFIB will change their position on a nominee just because Hillary Clinton is president and not Barack Obama.
and I'm getting real tired of that.
But McConnell did and said the right thing here.
So? Planned Parenthood has veto power over nominees for the dems.
But he did NOT say what the headline states he said.
“The duties of the Senate are set forth in the U.S. Constitution. Nowhere in that document does it say the Senate has a duty to give presidential nominees a vote. It says appointments shall be made with the advice and consent of the Senate. That is very different than saying every nominee receives a vote.” (Sen. Harry Reid, Remarks On Senate Floor, 5/19/05)
” ...the powerful National Rifle Association now has veto power over all Supreme Court nominees.”
Truly good news on a Monday. Thanks.
True, but he came pretty close to it so I’ll give him credit for it (credit for doing good of course).
You are welcome. lol
the NRA defends the constitution, particularly the second amendment. in that regard they SHOULD have veto power in that anybody who does NOT adhere to the constitution (including the second amendment) should be opposed and defeated.
Not true. Democrats have done this forever for lame duck republican presidents.
As does the Congressional black caucus, Feminist in general, the lbgt community, La Raza, the liberal media.
The libs are just mad that we sometimes do the same thing that they are doing.
The CEO of Klanned Parenthood was seen entering the White Hut ten minutes after the nomination was announced. Don’t hear much about that.
I’m giving Mitchie a big 10-4 on that one. :-)
McConell is a real turdstain..
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