NBR: Scalia is dead. Things just got interesting.

[Deleted]

ZOMG! Justice Scalia died!??!   You know, because American politics were already nearly dramatic enough right now. Holy SHIT! This is freaking enormous.  HUGE!  Thoughts and polite discussion anyone?  I know I"m not the only legal/political nerd here.

[txngrl31]

This is huge, especially since it comes at the end of Obama's term. Scalia was a conservative voice on the Court. Does a lame duck President appoint a new justice ( and tilt the balance to the liberal side) or does it get stalled until the next President is elected? Will the Senate just delay anyone Obama tries to appoint? So many questions!!

The GOP debate was pretty wild tonight.

[Deleted]

Wow I'm shocked. Needless to say he was not my favorite Justice

[Deleted]

I am dumbfound, but not necessarily surprised, that the GOP is actively calling for Congress to not do their jobs and refuse to appoint an Obama nominee. Are you kidding me? You're seriously calling for elected officials to hold the country hostage and not allow the Court to make any major decisions for almost a YEAR? Do you think they would wait if the tables were turned? Scalia died under this president. He has a constitutional obligation to nominate someone. Period.

I am beyond fascinated by the timing of this and just how much more important the next election has become. I'm also a little scared by the political divisiveness and hostility in our country right now.

[Deleted]

Feb 13, 2016 23:07:11 GMT -5 txngrl31 said:

This is huge, especially since it comes at the end of Obama's term. Scalia was a conservative voice on the Court. Does a lame duck President appoint a new justice ( and tilt the balance to the liberal side) or does it get stalled until the next President is elected? Will the Senate just delay anyone Obama tries to appoint? So many questions!!

The GOP debate was pretty wild tonight.

He has a constitutional obligation to nominate someone. Historically there hasn't been a nominee presented in the last six months of a presidency in around 80 years.   But there is almost a full year before the next president will be sworn in. I think the longest it's ever taken a nominee to go through is something like 170ish days?  Even the current clown car congress can't keep the country on hold for a year.  That is just beyond unconscionable.  And, as someone who leans left, I would be saying the same thing if the opposite existed.

[Deleted]

Feb 14, 2016 0:22:50 GMT -5 @jimbobcooter said:

I am dumbfound, but not necessarily surprised, that the GOP is actively calling for Congress to not do their jobs and refuse to appoint an Obama nominee. Are you kidding me? You're seriously calling for elected officials to hold the country hostage and not allow the Court to make any major decisions for almost a YEAR? Do you think they would wait if the tables were turned? Scalia died under this president. He has a constitutional obligation to nominate someone. Period.

I am beyond fascinated by the timing of this and just how much more important the next election has become. I'm also a little scared by the political divisiveness and hostility in our country right now.

I'm not at all surprised. This is why congress needs term limits in my opinion. They completely suck.

[Deleted]

Feb 14, 2016 0:32:33 GMT -5 @poppyc8 said:

Feb 14, 2016 0:22:50 GMT -5 @jimbobcooter said:

I am dumbfound, but not necessarily surprised, that the GOP is actively calling for Congress to not do their jobs and refuse to appoint an Obama nominee. Are you kidding me? You're seriously calling for elected officials to hold the country hostage and not allow the Court to make any major decisions for almost a YEAR? Do you think they would wait if the tables were turned? Scalia died under this president. He has a constitutional obligation to nominate someone. Period.

I am beyond fascinated by the timing of this and just how much more important the next election has become. I'm also a little scared by the political divisiveness and hostility in our country right now.

I'm not at all surprised. This is why congress needs term limits in my opinion. They completely suck.

So very yes!  I somehow missed that you are moving to Canada soon.  I don't know whether to be nostalgic for you or jealous. Ask me after November.

[Deleted]

Feb 14, 2016 0:44:14 GMT -5 sammyca said:

Feb 14, 2016 0:22:50 GMT -5 @jimbobcooter said:

... He has a constitutional obligation to nominate someone. Period.

That's what I thought. So why the talk of it being delayed until the next prez is elected? Is it that the Senate will stall it by not agreeing to Obama's nomination? Or is it just the right wanting Obama not to nominate?

Both.  I am continuously dumbfounded at how so many of the current Republicans leaders scream "Constitution" when it suits them but then blatantly ignore it when it doesn't.  I honestly think many of them don't actually know constitutional law.  Some them are saying he shouldn't nominate at all.  But there is also an outcry to Congress, if Obama actually does his job *shock and horror* and nominates, for them to stall the nomination long enough for a new president to take office, which is just too far away.

[erbear]

@jimbobcooter, yesssss. I wish I could say that I cannot believe the GOP is doing this, but in reality, I'm not surprised at all. It will be played as Obama abusing his power and the uninformed will turn out in droves to support them.

[kemdupuis]

This is so crazy. This election season was insane enough to begin with, but now- wow. As much as the GOP wants the senate to stall and not approve anyone that President Obama nominates as the next justice, there is almost an entire year before the next president takes office. I feel like they have to put someone in place. The SCOTUS will not be able to get much accomplished with 8 justices. I hope that people get pissed off enough that they start calling their senators around the clock. I, for one am sick of being held hostage because certain senators feel like they can treat political progress like a game.

[Deleted]

Feb 14, 2016 0:34:34 GMT -5 @jimbobcooter said:

Feb 14, 2016 0:32:33 GMT -5 @poppyc8 said:

I'm not at all surprised. This is why congress needs term limits in my opinion. They completely suck.

So very yes!  I somehow missed that you are moving to Canada soon.  I don't know whether to be nostalgic for you or jealous. Ask me after November.

I'll still be voting as absentee and reading up on the election. So this morning H checked his Instagram and one of his friends posted a photo that he is missing his grandpa today w Scalia's photo. We both had no idea that he is one of Scalia's grandsons.

[Deleted]

Feb 14, 2016 19:57:48 GMT -5 budders said:

I just came across this article and found it really fascinating:

www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/02/13/if-republicans-block-obamas-supreme-court-nomination-he-wins-anyway/

 I knew the rule about upholding the lower court ruling, but I hadn't yet looked into the specific cases that were in limbo.   Fascinating in deed.

[mrsdee1982]