“If viewed from a long term political stand point looking at SCOTUS, the theory goes that if we have a RAT Hillary or Obama in power for 4 years they will only have the chance to replace LIBS with LIBS that will not affect the make up of the court.”
So you would rather give Hillary or Obama the right to pick the successors to Justice Stevens or Justice Ginsburg than John McCain? Tell me, did you like the choices of Alito and Roberts to the Supreme Court? McCain voted yes on both of them, Hillary and Obama both voted no.
We are one vote away from the elimination of Roe v. Wade. Are you willing to throw away all the gains we’ve made based on personal hatred of McCain? I have never been a fan of McCain, but I would much rather have him picking those justices than Hillary or Obama.
Stopping McCain now will make the GOP think harder about what it will take to keep the conservatives in line. Conservatives are Conservatives first, Republican second. To toss that away now would do more harm than good. 2-3 presidents from now will have a far greater impact on the SCOTUS for a longer time.
The way this scenario plays out in theory is that the ends will be justified by not making concessions now. Look at all the concessions the GOP has made to the LIBS and look at what the RATS (read here none) have made back?
Every time the Conservatives make concessions we get bit. When are true conservatives going to stop turning the other cheek and grow a set of balls?
The RATS know that the GOP will make more concessions over and over and that is how we have lost more ground in the last 20 years. Little bits at a time.
“So you would rather give Hillary or Obama the right to pick the successors to Justice Stevens or Justice Ginsburg than John McCain? Tell me, did you like the choices of Alito and Roberts to the Supreme Court? McCain voted yes on both of them, Hillary and Obama both voted no.”
Until Republicans win back the Senate, McCain won’t pick anyone except a nominee pre-approved by Patrick Leahy and Teddy Kennedy.
If Stevens or Ginsburg resigned, and McCain were president, there is no way in hell the Dem. Senate would confirm a nominee that might remotely tip the balance to the conservatives.
Until we win back the Senate, it’s a fantasy that McCain could put who he and Republicans wanted on the court. Winning back the Senate is critical, and the chances of that are better in 2010 after a couple of years of a Dem. president. And that’s the best starting point to rebuild the party and regain power in general.