Posted on 02/13/2016 9:43:46 PM PST by TigerClaws
After the sudden death of conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, President Obama has the opportunity to move the country’s highest court toward the left by tapping a more liberal-leaning successor.
Immediately after news of Scalia's death broke, diverse options for the top job were being floated along with a debate online among Senate leaders about whether lame duck Obama should be the one to nominate the next justice.
"The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Saturday in a statement.
"Therefore this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.â€
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) quickly fired back saying that "it would be unprecedented in recent history for the Supreme Court to go a year with a vacant seat."
"Failing to fill this vacancy would be a shameful abdication of one of the Senate's most essential Constitutional responsibilities."
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
The scenario I see playing out is come late September the GOP will find that they are in real danger of losing their majority because the Dims and the media have successfully depicted them as obstructionists who cannot get anything done. In response the Senate concerned about keeping their jobs will approve Obama’s nominee....
Why not let Obama select someone - exhibit what a commie traitor they are in the hearings - and then vote them down and say “next”
The process of nominating - debating - voting down - however many candidates are nominated should last long enough for the next POTUS to decide
Unprecedented in recent history means that it is not unprecedented. I am seeing evidence that Supreme Court had year long vacancy under the 10th president, John Tyler.
Ouch! Now I know how the Philistines felt when they were slain by the jaw of an ass.
When I first heard of his death the first thing I said was “They killed him” and I do not think I am paranoid. I think the timing is suspect. It has not even been 24 hrs since his death and Obama and the democrats are already choosing his successor.
And the sad news about Mr. Scalia comes just about one day or say after the Supreme Court put a stay on Obamas Epa shenanigans.
The timing of his death makes you wonder if Beelzebama and Her Heinous have started anew round of Arkancides..
There’s no such thing as a coincidence..
Will they do an autopsy? Would feel much better if they did.
obama and the democrats are going to put on the full-court press for some sort of Far Left judge in a big hurry.
Given the milquetoast nature of the Republicans, I wouldn’t bet against the Lefties.
Too bad.
I seem to recall the left screaming about having to nominate justices with similar ideologies to the person they’re replacing when Pres. Bush was doing it.
Obama will play the “minority” card on the nominee and then the Dems will spend all election saying Repubs are sexist and/or racist for blocking the nominee.
Is it true what someone on Fox said that the Senate will have to be adjourned for 2 weeks next January in which case Obama would be free and clear to do a recess appointment? If so we may be stuck. This is the consequence of those who “stayed home” last time and didn’t vote lesser of two evils Romney.
If Obama gets a 5th leftist on there, the liberals will start passing all kinds of gun-grabbing and other unconstitutional laws across the country, knowing the lawsuits will take them to the Supreme Court for a guaranteed victory. It’ll be open season on the Constitution.
The GOP will have to go more “nuclear” if they win the presidency after this, and start legislating jurisdiction away from the Supreme Court on a host of issues. The country will be completely lost in many ways if they don’t.
It’s hard to believe it was a heart attack and I’m not sure how many other options for “sudden death” there are. I thought medical care was to the point where problems with arteries could be detected with screening. Obviously Cheney has hung in there by a thread with all kinds of techniques. Cheney said at the time of Tim Russert’s death he wished he had been able to give him health advice because he seemed to think Russert’s death was entirely preventable. It’s hard to believe Scalia wouldn’t have been getting proper medical screenings at his age and definitely valuing his role on the court.
Obama will play the “minority†card on the nominee and then the Dems will spend all election saying Repubs are sexist and/or racist for blocking the nominee.
_______________________________________________
I agree with you...Obama supporters will accuse GOP Senators of being “racist” for not confirming Obama’s nominee...
Obama’s left-wing nominee will eventually be confirmed...GOP Senators probably do not want to be accused of being “racist”...They will go along...
It would be nice if GOP Senators refused to hold hearings on Obama’s nominee...But, it is not going to happen.
In 1991, Thurgood Marshall retired from Supreme Court. He was a liberal. George Bush nominated Clarence Thomas to replace him...Thomas eventually got confirmed...Back then, Dems controlled the Senate. But, Bush still got Thomas confirmed...11 Dem Senators voted for Thomas.
Remembering how Marshall was replaced, I do not see how Obama cannot get his nominee confirmed...Obama should be able to get a few GOP votes for his nominee.
I am disappointed that Scalia will be replaced by some liberal...But, that is a very likely outcome.
Nothing announced at this point..
Saturday’s paper headline:
The short arms short list
John McCain will stand with the President on this one.
They better do a thorough autopsy and look for chemicals that are used in murders to make it appear like a natural death.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.