President Obama has made his decision as to who he wants to replace the late Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. The choice has not been made public as of yet though I suspect it will be leaked prior to the President’s announcement. This is a big moment because some were speculating the President might make a “consensus” choice – one the GOP majority in the Senate might be able to support.
“In putting forward a nominee today, I am fulfilling my constitutional duty. I’m doing my job,” Obama said. “I hope that our Senators will do their jobs, and move quickly to consider my nominee. That is what the Constitution dictates, and that’s what the American people expect and deserve from their leaders.”
This has been a constant talking point among Democrats. The GOP has said they will not consider Obama’s Supreme Court pick this year and Democrats have predictably whined and blubbered that Republicans in the Senate are “not doing their job.” But is the Senate required to consider Obama’s nominee?
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Seldom if ever, have we faced the current situation of a president filling a sudden vacancy on the court in an election year when the Senate is controlled by the GOP, the opposition party, particularly when the vacancy occurred with nearly a year left in the presidential term.
It is glaringly obvious that politics has always played a role, and the Senate has set the rules to act as it wants. In the past, during periods of divided government and looming elections, the Senate has chosen to stall the process or not to act. While that’s not unconstitutional, in the current situation, it earns them the label of obstructionists.
McConnell should never have made the statement that they wouldn’t even consider O’s nomination. There was no reason to advertise their stance. Instead, he should have remained silent and simply reject the judge he chooses.
~Kathy
Categories: Political
Pesky Truth 
Merrick Garland, a pro-government regulation, pro-gun control “moderate” (meaning anti-Constitution leftist) is the pick.
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Thanks, Crawfish. Judge Nap is saying that Garland is the most conservative nominee by Dem in modern era. Now the question is what does the Senate do?
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If they even start down the path, they will cave in quickly.
Senator Cornyn, our disappointing part-time conservative who talks a good game, has said the Judiciary Committee will not even do the background checks, much less hold hearings.
Will he hold his ground for a change??
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I’d be very surprised if Cornyn stands his ground and the same applies to McConnell who just confirmed his earlier stance that they won’t proceed with the confirmation process. They talk tough now, but as the weeks go by they’ll need O’s cooperation and this will be his leverage.
The NRA confirmed what you said on gun control – “Merrick Garland, has a track record on the Second Amendment that suggests he holds a “very liberal view” on gun rights.”
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When Cornyn first ran for the Senate, he was a strong conservative, and stayed that way for about a year.
Cruz, on the other hand, ran just as fat right as Cornyn….,and STAYED THERE!
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It’s a damn shame that we don’t have Senate leadership that we depend on – what we’ve got are deal-making squishes who will only do what benefits them. When we have to depend on McConnell and Cornyn (like Craw says a disappointing part-time conservative) to do what’s best for the country, we are in a heap of trouble. Their usual M.O. is to start with what appears to be a “principled” position knowing full well that they’re going to cave when the time is right.
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The one thing they have been consistent about that we can depend on is that they cave at every opportunity. This news just hit today and already there’s a handful of senators saying they will meet with Merrick Garland. They say their reason for the meeting is to show him the courtesy of giving him an explanation of why they won’t go through the confirmation process.
Sheesh – McConnell’s statement on their refusal came just hours after the news of Scalia’s death and anyone who’s heard or seen even a snippet of news already knows why.
Crawfish is right about Cruz too – aside from Utah’s Mike Lee, he’s the only one who’s stayed on the right side.
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