Antonin Scalia’s death should strengthen Ted Cruz’s case for the GOP nomination

The Washington Post's The Fix ^ | February 14, 2016 | Chris Cillizza

[2ndDivisionVet]

The stunning death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia -- announced just hours before the six remaining Republican presidential candidates gathered Saturday in South Carolina for a debate -- immediately ups the ante in the GOP primary and could well cement the base's commitment to nominating a "true" conservative along the lines of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

"We ought to make the 2016 election a referendum on the Supreme Court," Cruz told NBC's Chuck Todd on "Meet the Press" Sunday. "I cannot wait to stand on that debate stage with Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders and talk about what the Supreme Court will look like depending on who wins."

As Cruz well knows, there is no issue that so animates the Republican base as appointments to the judicial bench -- most notably the Supreme Court. Many conservatives have never forgiven then-President George H.W. Bush for appointing David Souter to the court -- only to see Souter turn into a less-than-ideal conservative pick. George W. Bush's 2005 nomination of Harriet Miers was scuttled by conservatives who believed her past record demonstrated a lack of fealty to their principles....

[JoSixChip]

You know you could use this thread to tell us why you think Trump is qualified to pick a Supreme Court Justice,

Because Trump is by far the best candidate for POTUS. He is the only one that is not owned by the cheap labor express. He is the only one that is serious about securing the boarder and ridding our country of illegal parasites. He is the only one that is serious about trade policies that benefit America. Without these getting done, nothing else matters. But I am more then confident that Trump would pick real constitutional scholars as SCOTUS Justices, not ones that only believe in the constitution when it is convenient, like say the NBC Constitutional provision.

[spintreebob]

It would seem the Huckabee, Santorum, Rubio pro-life voters would all prefer Cruz as the best, based on facts and logic. But single issue pro-lifers don’t act on facts and logic, which is why we still have so many abortions.

[conservativejoy]

No, Cruz had two picks that he recommended, his first choice being Mike Luttigg. He said he did not like the fact that Roberts did not have any real record to review, but he supported him after he became the nominee.

Cruz also said that he would never nominate someone that did not have a very clear and convincing history of Conservative rulings based on strong Constitutional principles. There is no doubt that of the current Presidential candidates, Cruz is the best equipped to do just that.

[pookie18]

Cruz recommended Roberts (who for the majority of cases has been solid) only after his nomination by President Bush. Cruz preferred Mike Luttig who had more years of judicial decisions to look at. Cruz was elected to the senate 7 years after Roberts’ appointment. For Trump to say that Cruz gave us 0bamacare is ludicrous...

[pookie18]

http://www.ijreview.com/2016/02/537664-republicans-name-the-presidential-candidate-they-trust-most-to-replace-justice-antonin-scalia/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=owned&utm_campaign=ods&utm_term=ijamerica&utm_content=politics

[austingirl]

I hope I get the chance to vote for him. I have sent $$ to his campaign as well. My sister in Illinois is a supporter as well.

[pnut22]

Most of us here were also fooled by Roberts.

[VanDeKoik]

Trump can use Cruz as an advisor on selections....just make sure whomever he recommends is vetted.

[xzins]

Then jobs and economy should strengthen trump’s.

[Catsrus]

One thing is wrong with your scenario - no candidate is allowed to promise a position to anyone while running - it isn’t legal.

[Jim Noble]

If I thought for a second that Cruz could be elected, Scalia’s death would make me switch to him.

But I don’t think he can be elected.

[Kenny]

Not me, can’t name a justice if you can’t get elected and Cruz can never be elected. I’m stunned that his supporters don’t consider future lawsuits to be a problem that the fact he only appeals to a very narrow electorate if he got that far concerning. I’d give Bernie better odds.

[Catsrus]

How liberal of the Cruzbots to use this for political gain. Sounds like obama every time there is a mass shooting - using it to try and ban gun ownership. Of course, the Cruzbots can’t make the connection, because they are so desperate.

[2ndDivisionVet]

The polls say the opposite.

[Catsrus]

Two words - John Roberts. Enough said.

[pookie18]

That was an actual poll as opposed to the on-line jokes such as Drudge's debate poll where Trump had 68% of the "vote" before the debate was halfway done. As usual, it was hit by the Ron Paul Trump bots...

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

As if the law ever got in the way of a dirty political deal.

[WorksinKOP]

I too hope you get the chance... The late primary State thing kinda stinks.

[Jim Noble]

The polls had Carter up over Reagan 32-62 at this point.

The polls are meaningless.

[Kit cat]

Cruz can NOT win the general, you are VERY correct!!!! Cruz may be conservative but he is NOT prepared to be POTUS!!!! He is a VERY young lawyer PERIOD!!!!