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Why Scalia's death could turn the 2016 election upside down
Fox News ^ | February 13, 2016 | William Whalen

Posted on 02/15/2016 3:28:10 AM PST by Zakeet

Things can change fast in American politics.

When the sun rose this morning, most any conservation about Supreme Court vacancies would have centered around President Obama replacing Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg - the eldest of the court's nine justices and a two-time cancer survivor who will turn 83 next month.

And then on Saturday afternoon came the news that Justice Antonin Scalia had passed away while on a Texas hunting trip. With his death, the nation's highest court went from potential sleeper issue in the president election to front and center, kicking and screaming.

[Snip]

Cruzing For A Bruising. As he seeks the nation's highest office, what has been noticeably absent from Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's core message - reflected in his best sound bites, put forth in his paid advertising - is in-depth talk about the Supreme Court.

That's something of a surprise given that Cruz is the strictest of constitutionalists. Besides, constitutional law ain't exactly Donald Trump's thing.

That now changes.

[Snip]

The area of immediate impact: the 2016 Senate battleground. Republican incumbents who are struggling to hold on in Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania now have a new means of rallying the conservative grassroots. Likewise, Democratic activists will make a hard sell to their base.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2016election; scalia; scotusnominee; senate; supremecourt
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Sen. Mike Lee: "What is less than zero? The chances of Obama successfully appointing a Supreme Court Justice to replace Scalia."

1 posted on 02/15/2016 3:28:12 AM PST by Zakeet
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To: Zakeet

“Sen. Mike Lee: “What is less than zero? The chances of Obama successfully appointing a Supreme Court Justice to replace Scalia.”

The Republican Congress has shown an amazing ability and willingness to enact Obama’s agenda.

It makes me worry.


2 posted on 02/15/2016 3:36:20 AM PST by odawg
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To: odawg

The GOP has been bought, they are either going willingly or being threatened into moving forward with the impostors agenda


3 posted on 02/15/2016 3:44:27 AM PST by ronnie raygun
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To: Zakeet
John Rivers Too asks a reasonable question:

.. why is a 79 year old morbidly obese man left alone for hours on end? at least wear a fitbit ..

4 posted on 02/15/2016 4:03:04 AM PST by Byron_the_Aussie (Michelle Obama, The Early Years: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBYGxBlFOSU)
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To: Zakeet
We better be sure we put a man in the Peoples House that will appoint conservatives to the USSC.

I have my doubt that that person is Donald J Trump.

Vote Conservative, Vote Ted Cruz

5 posted on 02/15/2016 4:15:25 AM PST by eartick (Been to the line in the sand and liked it)
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To: eartick

Someone in the mold of Roberts, maybe?


6 posted on 02/15/2016 4:29:15 AM PST by VanDeKoik
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To: Zakeet

most any conservation “

...proof reader needs a proof reader.


7 posted on 02/15/2016 4:31:03 AM PST by albie
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To: VanDeKoik

Or, if Trump is elected, someone in the mold of his liberal sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, who is in favor of a constitutional protection for partial-birth abortion. Trump has already said would make a great Supreme Court justice.

As for Roberts, his conservative credentials were damned near impeccable up to the first vote on Obamacare and everyone who screened him agreed on that fact. That doesn’t indicate that Bush screwed up, but it does emphasize the incredible importance of electing the right person.


8 posted on 02/15/2016 4:35:32 AM PST by ManHunter (You can run, but you'll only die tired... Army snipers: Reach out and touch someone)
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To: ManHunter

“Or, if Trump is elected, someone in the mold of his liberal sister, Maryanne Trump Barry,”

Which he said he isn’t going to do as recently as last Saturday. But hey, keep repeating it.

“As for Roberts, his conservative credentials were damned near impeccable up to the first vote on Obamacare and everyone who screened him agreed on that fact. That doesn’t indicate that Bush screwed up, but it does emphasize the incredible importance of electing the right person.”

So in other words: THERE ARE NO guarantees?

Anyone that looks at history should never parrot the idea that some guy jumping around make promises of rock solid SCOTUS picks, is anything but ignorant boasting. Every time we get a screwy pick, we hear a million excuses about people being fooled.


9 posted on 02/15/2016 4:47:52 AM PST by VanDeKoik
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To: VanDeKoik

So in other words: THERE ARE NO guarantees?

With humans there are no guarantees. And then there are politicians.


10 posted on 02/15/2016 4:54:03 AM PST by bytesmith
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To: VanDeKoik

There are no guarantees unless it’s a liberal being nominated.

Because for some odd reason, liberals get appointments right 100% of the time.

Never once has a liberal appointment turned into a conservative after getting appointed to the Supreme Court.


11 posted on 02/15/2016 5:05:02 AM PST by TexasFreeper2009 (You can't spell Hillary without using the letters L, I, A, R)
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To: odawg

Hobson’s choice - either accept the nominee offered up by the Current Occupant, or leave it empty, inviting charges of “obstruction”. But how many of George W. Bush’s choices for nominations to Federal judiciary positions went UNFILLED, at the behest of Ted Kennedy and Charles Schumer, who effectively blocked a HUGE number of candidates?

Many of these vacancies stretched into the purview of the Current Occupant. And we are paying for that lapse for perhaps decades to come.

It is not absolutely essential that there be a full bench at the Supreme Court. Those cases that are argued and come to a 4-4 split, are remanded back to the lower court from where it came, and that judgment stands. But nothing prevents winning over Justice Kennedy, and making the vote 5-3, thus a win for the liberals, ore even winning over Chief Justice Roberts, as well, which would present a 6-2 vote.

So for now, the eight-member court gives the liberals pretty much free reign, and the outcome in the future for them is not significantly different than it would be should another liberal justice be nominated and confirmed.

Heads I win, tails you lose. And since this is a two-headed coin, the odds are already stacked.


12 posted on 02/15/2016 5:08:04 AM PST by alloysteel (If I considered the consequences of my actions, I would rarely do anything.)
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To: Zakeet

I am so happy to see most think Trump will appoint the next SCJ.


13 posted on 02/15/2016 5:13:34 AM PST by DAVEY CROCKETT (Cards are being played, you have been Trumped!)
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To: ManHunter

No one that has a hint he’s a poof and adopted children should be scrutinized!


14 posted on 02/15/2016 5:15:36 AM PST by Dr. Ursus
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To: TexasFreeper2009

That hit me yesterday.

We seem to have a history of this going back to Ike. Appointment after appointment turning out like that.

I guess some of these people find it eaiser to play God rather than do their job.

Lifetime appointment = go nuts


15 posted on 02/15/2016 5:15:37 AM PST by VanDeKoik
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To: ronnie raygun
The GOP has been bought

Nope.

They are, for the most part, true believers.

16 posted on 02/15/2016 5:17:38 AM PST by Jim Noble (I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone, and I won't question what or when or why when I'm gon)
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To: alloysteel

The only number we can hope for that will vote conservative is four, and that includes Kennedy.


17 posted on 02/15/2016 5:20:01 AM PST by odawg
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To: Byron_the_Aussie
John Rivers Too asks a reasonable question:

The only REAL question is how has it happened that in a Republic, with strict limits on the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and total Congressional authority over the lower courts, that this "weakest" branch has come to exercise unreviewable dictatorial power over our most intimate personal, familial, and community affairs?

If the Court can be put back in its place, heart attacks won't matter. If it can't, nothing will matter.

18 posted on 02/15/2016 5:21:22 AM PST by Jim Noble (I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone, and I won't question what or when or why when I'm gon)
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To: VanDeKoik

“Or, if Trump is elected, someone in the mold of his liberal sister, Maryanne Trump Barry,”

Which he said he isn’t going to do as recently as last Saturday. But hey, keep repeating it.

_________________________________________________________

So you think he wouldn’t consult his sister to get her opinion?

You think a person who has changed parties 5 times can be totally trusted to make a ‘great’ decision?

A person who supported Partial Birth Abortion past the age of 60?

A person who supported Kelo which conservatives like Scalia though was a disaster? You don’t think he would support they type of judge who would support KELO?

I wouldn’t be surprised if Roberts has been /is being blackmailed.


19 posted on 02/15/2016 5:29:02 AM PST by Leto
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To: ManHunter
"As for Roberts, his conservative credentials were damned near impeccable up to the first vote on Obamacare..."

The GOP has been saying that about their SCOTUS appointments from Warren, through Souter and to Roberts.

Yet the fact remains that the Democrats NEVER make SCOTUS appointments that surprise them by voting conservative once on the bench.

And the question is: Why has the GOP SCOTUS picks been so less reliable then those of the Democrats?

Shouldn't the GOP have to answer for that record?

20 posted on 02/15/2016 5:32:04 AM PST by drpix
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