Why There’s Nothing Unprecedented about what the Republicans (or Democrats) are Doing

Townhall.com ^ | September 27, 2020 | Joseph Backholm

[Kaslin]

President Trump’s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court not only ads another wrinkle into an already unusual election cycle, but renews the debate over the appropriateness of the deliberation. Lindsey Graham was against confirming Supreme Court nominees before an election before he was for it. On the other hand, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Barack Obama were in favor of it before they were against it.

Still, despite the attempts to appear outraged, no one should be surprised that this is happening the way it is. Though the timing of Ginsburg’s death is fitting for the chaos of 2020, the response by the respective parties is completely predictable. Yes, Republicans and Democrats alike are taking different positions now than they did in 2016. The reason the Republicans and Democrats are taking a different position is because the positions they took in 2016 do not serve their interests in 2020. It really is that simple.

More remarkable is the seemingly providential way in which people on the Supreme Court die at times that benefit President Trump.

More than a quarter of Trump voters surveyed in 2016 said that the Supreme Court was the “most important factor” in casting their votes. Only 18 percent of Hillary Clinton voters said the same. Without Antonin Scalia’s death in early 2016, Trump likely would not have been elected. Evangelicals were highly skeptical of the man but supported him in the hope that he would nominate someone to the Supreme Court who would be better than Hillary’s choice. And he did. Could it be that the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg four years later will be the catalyst to his reelection as he again galvanizes the same base around another Supreme Court vacancy? That seems possible.

While the timing of death is a mystery, the motivations of politicians really are not. Politicians use their power to advance their interests. This is the most precedented thing there is in politics. The difference between 2016 and 2020 is that the president in 2016 did not have the political support to confirm his nominee. In 2020, the president does. Elections matter.

If the roles were reversed, Republicans would be crying bloody murder about the hypocrisy of the Democrats and Democrats would be calmly explaining the importance of not going into this election with a tie on the Supreme Court. Still, in many ways, the protest is a show. Even though they say “you can’t do that,” what they really mean is “I don't want you to do that" and they know it. The only real rule is the Constitution. Everything else is opinion, preference, or protocol.

If the Constitution says you can, then you can. In this case, the Constitution says you can.

The real tragedy here is not that politicians are doing political things but that the Supreme Court has become such a high stakes game. We are, in many ways, ruled by an oligarchy of nine that creates policy, invents rights, and takes away rights without any accountability to the public. The president's most important job, it seems, is to appoint members of the oligarchy.

This is not how it was intended to be and is not how it should be. But it is how it is. Now, the ones who invented this game are the ones who are most bothered by the way the game is going. I hate it too.

I would be happy to go back to a world where elected officials are the most important policymakers in the country, but since the left has advanced virtually all their preferred policies (redefining marriage, redefining gender, inventing the right to abortion) through courts rather than Congress, they have created a nation full of people who care a lot about what happens on the court.

There is simply too much at stake to turn down an opportunity to select eleven percent of an oligarchy. Republicans know this, which is why they’re going to do it. Democrats know this too, which is why the situation makes them so angry. Frustration is understandable but indignation is unreasonable. Everyone is simply doing what they've always done. It just so happens that it’s more painful to lose when you thought you were about to win.

[sauropod]

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[Arlis]

Bulls-eye article.

We should just get in the Dems face and say, “We are just doing exactly what you would do in the same situation. STOP your moralizing!”

It’s perfectly legal and in line with what the Constitution actually directs. President’s authority does not end until end of his term.

Take that and shove it.......all else is political posturing from a moral tower made of air and words, nothing more......

[Raycpa]

Timing. Barrett’s was born about one month after case was argued in SC and her first birthday was 5 days after the decision.

Jeremiah 1

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” English Standard Version “ ...

[workerbee]

We are, in many ways, ruled by an oligarchy of nine that creates policy, invents rights, and takes away rights without any accountability to the public. The president's most important job, it seems, is to appoint members of the oligarchy.

Thanks to the cowardly Legislative branch who only worries about the next election and happily lets the judges do the hard stuff for them.

[Brian Griffin]

I voted for Trump mainly for Supreme Court nominations.

As far as we know, Amy Barrett is the best candidate that can be confirmed.

Confirm her!

[Brian Griffin]

Judge Barrett has been a top contender before.

No good reason has been offered up that could justify any delay in confirming her.

[Kaslin]

She must absolutely be confirmed.

[fireman15]

I voted for Trump mainly for Supreme Court nominations.

Well good for you! So if it wasn't for the Supreme Court nominations you would have voted for Hillary?<[p> I made the mistake of going to your “about page” to try and figure out where a potential Hillary voter is coming from. LOL!!! Maybe its time for you to do a little editing in case you have forgotten what you wrote there. It may undermine your credibility here considering what has gone on in the last 6 months. Here is a link in case you have forgotten how to get to it: http://www.freerepublic.com/~briangriffin/

"I suspect 14-day internationally synchronized Chinese-style hard lockdowns are probably the way to go.

No stranger contact except with PPE protected licensed medical professionals and first responders.

Grocery stores would be closed during the lockdowns. Prescriptions would be left on the hood of your car or doorstep.

Florida and I will be on lockdown starting April 3rd.

Be aware that contact tracing works well for HIV. This virus spreads too fast to base our health security on contact tracing. Contact tracing is a very important tool, but not a solution.

Our main defense against this virus must be physical barrier and temporarily based.

I recommend going to a 14 day hard lockdown(grocery stores, food banks, methadone clinics closed, ER doors normally locked) followed by a gradual reopening using best practical safeguard practices, such as no commercial air conditioning during business hours for 14 days after the hard lockdown and large office building spaces left unused until a coronavirus vaccine is widely available.

A Chinese-style hard lockdown has a record of success. Our soft lockdowns are letting 2,000 people a day die. Just 14 days of total quarantine should work very well. PRN"

What comes after is also illuminating, but others who want to read it can just go to http://www.freerepublic.com/~briangriffin/

Personally I am trying to get it all back out of my head.

[DoughtyOne]

While I do get how that headline focuses on this topic, and
agree with it, it actually serves to put something out there
that isn’t quite so obvious.

Some folks will see that headling, not understand what it is
about, and think it references much more than what it does
address.

There is a dynamic to the political environment today that
is nothing much like any other time in our history.

There are a number of forces lined up to destroy this nation
and this environment is not like any other in our nation’s
history.

We have an insurrection and coup that has crept up out
of nohtingness, to threaten this nation. The sooner we
grasp that and take it down, the better for everyone.

I would not put a headline out there like this one right
now. Anything at all peripheral that could influence
people to think what is going on in our nation right now
isn’t out of the ordinary, is a massive mistake IMO.

We shouldn’t contribute to the overwhelming chaos already
out there.