Democrats are giddy over the prospect of President Obama replacing conservative Justice Antonin Scalia with a liberal.
But Republicans are equally adamant about blocking Obama’s lame-duck appointment. “This vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president,” says Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
It’s rare that a president makes a Supreme Court appointment during his last months in office. But timing’s not the critical issue. The real outrage is the Democrats’ baseless claim that Obama’s promised nominee should get an E-ZPass onto the bench.
Party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz urges that Senate confirmation move quickly, “as our founders intended,” and not be “twisted by politics.”
Hillary Clinton says any obstruction would “dishonor our Constitution.” Sorry Hillary and Debbie, that’s not what the Constitution says.
Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders also insists it would be wrong to delay Obama’s court pick for “overtly political reasons.”
All these politicians need a history lesson. Claiming the Senate’s duty is to rubber stamp any “qualified” nominee is pure fiction.
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5 comments:
Constitution provides that president shall nominate justices to the Supreme Court when a vacancy occurs. No timeline is listed regarding how quickly he should make a nomination.
The Senate has the power and duty to Advise and perhaps, or perhaps not, Consent (aka confirm) to the nominee. No timeline binds the Senate either. They are free to take until the 12th of Never, or longer. They have no obligation to do anything if they choose inaction.
Quite a few Supreme Court nominees have never been confirmed; some voted down and others never voted about.
Just because Obama can disrupt a wedding because he wants to golf does not mean his wish becomes the Senate's duty.
There is a caveat. A 1960 Resolution the Democrats (no less) signed against appointments in election years done by recess appointment.
http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/17/the-tables-have-turned-dems-passed-resolution-in-1960-to-prevent-supreme-court-appointment-ahead-of-election/
Well my concern is everytime McConnell runs his mouth Obama gets what he wants.
Wait till Hillary is president and get a more even liberal nominee ? Drag this out and it could possibly give us an even more liberal than Obama would put up. Could back fire horribly .
10:31
See the first comment. Unless the balance of power shifts in the Senate, if elected Hillary or Bernie can nominate anyone they please and the Senate has no obligation to do anything, unless they choose to.
And the Senate can't compel a President to make a nomination.
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