Posted on 02/16/2016 7:18:26 PM PST by Enlightened1
SenateJudiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, Iowa Republican, didn't rule out confirmation hearings and a vote by his panel on an Obama selection.
"I would wait until the nominee is made before I would make any decision," Mr. Grassley said Tuesday in a conference call with Iowa radio reporters. "In other words, take it a step at a time."
Asked whether he thought the controversy over filling the court vacancy might endanger his re-election chances this fall, Mr. Grassley said, "I think I have a responsibility to perform, and I can't worry about the election. I've got to do my job as a senator, whatever it is. And there will be a lot of tough votes between now and the next election."
His comments appeared to be a softening from a statement shortly after Justice Scalia's death, when Mr. Grassley said it was "standard practice" not to nominate or confirm candidates for the Supreme Court in an election year.
"It only makes sense that we defer to the American people who will elect a new president to select the next Supreme Court Justice," Mr. Grassley said in a statement Saturday.
Sen. Thom Tillis, North Carolina Republican, voiced caution about blocking any Obama nominee automatically.
"I think we fall into the trap if [we] just simply say, sight unseen, we fall into the trap of being obstructionists," Mr. Tillis said on Tyler Cralle's radio show.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Lost my bet.
I didn’t think the Vichy republicans would cave until the Friday evening news cycle.
IMHO they were foolish to ever speak out about blocking a nominee.
It just gave the democtrats ammunition to get the public riled up.
Just say “We will perform our constitutional duties and give every nominee a thorough evaluation.”
Then BORK, BORK, BORK!
“What else are we going to do?”
Buy ammo, my FRiend, buy ammo. You may need it but it will never lose value if you don’t.
the 5th and deciding vote on the supreme court is worth 20 senate seats.
Sometimes, I believe that the GOP, aka “The Stupid Party”, is just too hopeless and inept to lead.
WHY did the possibly senile Mitch broadcast his intentions while Scalia’s body was still warm? Why did he say anything at all? Why did anyone say anything at all? Next year will be busy, busy, busy, and maybe the senate would just be too busy to get around tuit. Other than for the purposes of getting a cheap tweek on Obama, there was no reason to bring this up.
Once again, the Dems will get their way AND make the GOP look evil while doing it.
And the real, puke-inducing part of this is that the Chief Obstructor, Harry Reid, took the GOP to task for all of this.
“They all work for the same masters.”
Probably true, I’m afraid.
“We’d better flood the phones tomorrow. “
There would have to be someone on the other end who would actually listen. Even in this era of basically free telecommunication, not worth the time.
It has to be a mental problem.
There’s a huge freight train headed RINO way, the RINO’s can’t see it, feel the tracks shake, or hear the roar of the loud engine - but it’s gonna run right over them.
The public is tired of them, and will elect Trump.
Many say it could be a bad thing, but the RINO’s brought it on. It’s like saying obama is the greatest gun salesman, meaning anything the RINO’s do only helps Trump.
..Cruz was the first one to say that the Senate should not take up any nominees during Obama’s term.
Thus, I’ll never understand the rise of Trump over Cruz....
Cruz jumped on it literally almost before Scalias body was cold. Enough said.
We can do nothing.
Trap? Their job is to be an obstructionist.
Obama will threaten to shut down the government over this nomination and the GOP will fold like they always do.
What did I say?
I am sick of this. Obama could pick the most radical and unqualified person and the GOP will meekly roll over and play dead. Any time a Republican president wants someone even slightly conservative for the Supreme Court, the Democrats fight, fight, fight - for months if they have to. The GOP can’t and won’t do anything.
Look I am opposed to it but the Senate may play out the clock with confirmation hearings just so they don’t have to endure a daily hissy fit from the Dems and the MSM.
Perhaps they are compromised ? Maybe someone has serious dirt on them ...
I think they’re playing politics for public consumption now.
The idea is to be able to say that you’re doing all you are supposed to be doing.
It should include the “advice” part of ‘advise and consent’.
I’d advise the president with a short list of people he should submit. He will turn down their list.
Then return the favor with his list by turning everyone down.
Then send him some more ‘advice’.
Wow! That took a long time!
Hasn’t he already done this twice?
Tillis doesn’t have to face the voters for another 4 years...
My guess is the ‘16 crew will be more ... responsive to pressure.
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.