Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dead at 87

[james t kirk]

They will certainly try.

Trump is already planning to challenge the election results in court if he loses...If the GOP can stack the court with conservative justices before the election there is an excellent chance the SCOTUS will appoint him to a 2nd term.

Now that is a scenario I did not think of.

You may have touched on a very distinct possibility there.

 

[Insidious Von]

If Mitch McConnell is re-elected in Kentucky, then the election is rigged.

He has an 18% approval rating in his home state. Don't know anything about the challenger.

 

[K Douglas]

She was great.

This is where I don't know enough of US politics, is there enough time for him to actually ram through a judge with the limited senate time left?
Or can he do it between the election and Biden being sworn in?

You don't know enough of pretty much everything. So apparent in your posting history.

 

[K Douglas]

Following the February 2016 death of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Antonin Scalia, President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to fill Scalia's seat on the Supreme Court. After the death of Scalia, Republican Senate leaders announced that they planned to hold no vote on any potential nomination during the president's last year in office.[9] Senate Democrats responded that there was sufficient time to vote on a nominee before the election.[ The nomination remained before the Senate for 293 days


That August, McConnell, who played an instrumental role in keeping Merrick Garland from filling Scalia's vacant seat, heralded the party's uncompromising intransigence by declaring to a crowd in Kentucky, "One of my proudest moments was when I looked at Barack Obama in the eye and I said, 'Mr. President, you will not fill the Supreme Court vacancy.'"[23][24][25]

McConnell later admitted that the "rule" he invented was not actually grounded in custom or precedent, but rather a principle he came up with for political expediency.[26]

McConnell did have history on his side. The last time a SC nominee was confirmed in an election year where the Senate and Presidency were two different parties was in 1880. Furthermore the composition of the Senate at that time was 54 Republicans, 46 Democrats/Independents. Chances were good Garland wasn't getting confirmed.

 

[K Douglas]

If Mitch McConnell is re-elected in Kentucky, then the election is rigged.

He has an 18% approval rating in his home state. Don't know anything about the challenger.

Where are you getting 18% approval rating from. The polls I've seen show 35-40%. The challenger, Amy McGrath, is a newcomer to politics and $ has been flooding into the state backing her. Doesn't seem to be helping much she's down double digits consistently in the polls. That said the only poll that counts is on Nov 3 and that is still a lifetime away in politics.

 

[K Douglas]

They will certainly try.

Trump is already planning to challenge the election results in court if he loses...If the GOP can stack the court with conservative justices before the election there is an excellent chance the SCOTUS will appoint him to a 2nd term.

Hmm. I vividly recall Hillary Clinton saying in a recent interview that Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances if Trump is declared the winner on Nov 3.

 

[james t kirk]

Following the February 2016 death of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Antonin Scalia, President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to fill Scalia's seat on the Supreme Court. After the death of Scalia, Republican Senate leaders announced that they planned to hold no vote on any potential nomination during the president's last year in office.[9] Senate Democrats responded that there was sufficient time to vote on a nominee before the election.[ The nomination remained before the Senate for 293 days


That August, McConnell, who played an instrumental role in keeping Merrick Garland from filling Scalia's vacant seat, heralded the party's uncompromising intransigence by declaring to a crowd in Kentucky, "One of my proudest moments was when I looked at Barack Obama in the eye and I said, 'Mr. President, you will not fill the Supreme Court vacancy.'"[23][24][25]

McConnell later admitted that the "rule" he invented was not actually grounded in custom or precedent, but rather a principle he came up with for political expediency.[26]

If I recall correctly, the GOP controlled the Senate at the time of Obama's last quarter. (I.e. Obama during his tenure as POTUS had 4 two year quarters.)

There was no way Obama could succeed in nominating a Liberal justice at the time.

And likewise now, the GOP still controls the Senate. In the mid term elections of 2018 the Democrats retook control of the House of Representatives, however, they failed to retake control of the Senate and that could really come back to haunt them now.

I suspect the GOP has been planning for this day since before it was even made public that Ginsburg had cancer. They have ready to go their preferred candidate or candidates. Expect an announcement today or tomorrow since time is of the essence.

The next next step will be the formation of a senate committee which will have hearings to ask questions of the nominee. That committee will be made up of both Republicans and Democrats (have to appear bipartisan don't we), however, the majority will be Republican. And my guess would be that Mitt Romney, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski will NOT be on that committee since they are all red tories and all known to fucking despise Trump (that fat piece of human shit).

Once the hearings are done, the committee then flips it over to the Senate for a vote on the nominee. A simple majority wins the day.

Now given that the Republicans control the Senate, its almost a given that Trump's nomination will carry the day.

2 wild cards

1. Time

2. Rogue GOP senators like Collins, Murkowski and Romney.

 

[K Douglas]

If I recall correctly, the GOP controlled the Senate at the time of Obama's last quarter. (I.e. Obama during his tenure as POTUS had 4 two year quarters.)

There was no way Obama could succeed in nominating a Liberal justice at the time.

And likewise now, the GOP still controls the Senate. In the mid term elections of 2018 the Democrats retook control of the House of Representatives, however, they failed to retake control of the Senate and that could really come back to haunt them now.

I suspect the GOP has been planning for those day since before it was even made public that Ginsburg had cancer. They have ready to go their preferred candidate or candidates. Expect an announcement today or tomorrow since time is of the essence.

The next next step will be the formation of a senate committee which will have hearings to ask questions of the nomination. That committee will be made up of both Republicans and Democrats, however, the majority will be Republican. And my guess would be that Mitt Romney, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski will NOT be on that committee since they are all red tories and all known to fucking despise Trump (that fat piece of human shit).

Once the hearings are done, the committee then flips over to the Senate for a vote on the nominee. A simple majority wins the day.

Now given that the Republicans control the Senate, its almost a given that Trump's nomination will carry the day.

2 wild cards

1. Time

2. Rogue GOP senators like Collins, Murkowski and Romney.

Murkowski is already on record as saying she wouldn't support putting a nominee through until after the election. Romney hates Trump so he'd probably vote against the nomination too. That leaves Collins as the true wild card. She does have principle and should Trump put forward Amy Comey Barrett I think she would have a difficult time voting against her pretty impeccable credentials. This is all on Mitch McConnell to deliver under some pretty tight and stressful circumstances.

 

[Valcazar]

If Mitch McConnell is re-elected in Kentucky, then the election is rigged.

He has an 18% approval rating in his home state. Don't know anything about the challenger.

That's not his challenger.

 

[Anbarandy]

Biden/Schumer's 11 will restore balance to the SCOTUS.

 

[james t kirk]

Hate to say it, but...

All of this shit could have been avoided if Ginsburg had retired under Obama when the Democrats had control of the Senate. Obama would have been able to nominate a younger Liberal justice to take Ginsburg's place.

But instead her hubris got in the way and now 7 weeks short of the election, we are where we are at.

 

[Frankfooter]

If I recall correctly, the GOP controlled the Senate at the time of Obama's last quarter. (I.e. Obama during his tenure as POTUS had 4 two year quarters.)

There was no way Obama could succeed in nominating a Liberal justice at the time.

And likewise now, the GOP still controls the Senate. In the mid term elections of 2018 the Democrats retook control of the House of Representatives, however, they failed to retake control of the Senate and that could really come back to haunt them now.

I suspect the GOP has been planning for this day since before it was even made public that Ginsburg had cancer. They have ready to go their preferred candidate or candidates. Expect an announcement today or tomorrow since time is of the essence.

The next next step will be the formation of a senate committee which will have hearings to ask questions of the nominee. That committee will be made up of both Republicans and Democrats (have to appear bipartisan don't we), however, the majority will be Republican. And my guess would be that Mitt Romney, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski will NOT be on that committee since they are all red tories and all known to fucking despise Trump (that fat piece of human shit).

Once the hearings are done, the committee then flips it over to the Senate for a vote on the nominee. A simple majority wins the day.

Now given that the Republicans control the Senate, its almost a given that Trump's nomination will carry the day.

2 wild cards

1. Time

2. Rogue GOP senators like Collins, Murkowski and Romney.

One more wild card:
The Arizona special election could add one more dem senator before a vote happens.

The winner of the Arizona Senate race could be seated in time for a vote on a Supreme Court pick. (Published 2020)

www.nytimes.com

If McConnell pushes it through the dems, unless the Moscow Mitch SC rules Trump won regardless of the votes, the dems will have the grounds to go nuclear.
Declare Washington a state, adding 2 more likely dem senate seats
Add 2-4 more SC judges
Kill the filibuster

The big question becomes how close is the election and can Trump use the new SC judge to rule he won.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s replacement may well be decided and pushed through by a president who lost the popular vote by almost 3 million ballots and a Senate where, if you count the popular vote, the party which holds control received almost 18 million fewer than the one which sits in the minority.

 

[Butler1000]

I'm trying to think of a another way that could have escalated this election and increased the partisan divide.

Other than a terrorist attack(knocking wood) or health scare on a candidate, I just can't think of one.

2020 is going to be a year that is studied by historians. No matter the outcome.

 

[Valcazar]

McConnell did have history on his side. The last time a SC nominee was confirmed in an election year where the Senate and Presidency were two different parties was in 1880.

By which you mean 1988, right?

Hmm. I vividly recall Hillary Clinton saying in a recent interview that Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances if Trump is declared the winner on Nov 3.

Yes. Given the blue shift phenomenon and the fact that Trump has made it clear he intends to try and insist he won before the votes are counted that's just reasonable.
Neither should concede before the result is solid.

If I recall correctly, the GOP controlled the Senate at the time of Obama's last quarter. (I.e. Obama during his tenure as POTUS had 4 two year quarters.)

There was no way Obama could succeed in nominating a Liberal justice at the time.

Which is why he nominated a very moderate justice like Garland.

I suspect the GOP has been planning for this day since before it was even made public that Ginsburg had cancer. They have ready to go their preferred candidate or candidates.

Remember that Trump announced his list 10 days ago.

Trump’s Supreme Court list: President reveals names of 20 more people he’d consider nominating

President Trump on Wednesday announced a list of 20 more people he would consider nominating to the Supreme Court, including three sitting Republican senators.

www.foxnews.com

Most people close to her said they knew she wasn't going to make it much longer starting about 2 weeks ago.

Expect an announcement today or tomorrow since time is of the essence.

I was saying earlier that McConnel would hold off until after the inauguration because it would allow it to be used as a tool to whip up turnout and protect vulnerable senators.
Seeing how quickly he put out his statement, though, I have come around to the idea he will happily sacrifice those pieces in order to make sure they can control the court for a generation.

Announcement of nominee before Wednesday and confirmation by Friday October 2nd.
They seem to be even more worried than we think about winning without the Court deciding the election.
They also need the new justice there to kill the ACA.
The longer you let the vulnerable senators think about it the worse it is. McConnell probably figures they will just lose anyway.
Ram it through and dare the Democrats to pack the court because they probably won't and if you win it doesn't matter.

The next next step will be the formation of a senate committee which will have hearings to ask questions of the nominee.

No committees.
Just bring it to a floor vote.
Claim it is crucial to have a full set of justices in case something happens with the election.
That's bullshit, but McConnell doesn't care about spouting bullshit.

Rogue GOP senators like Collins, Murkowski and Romney.

Irrelevant. He can lose all 3 and it is a tie then Pence breaks the tie.
Maybe Romney votes no, probably not.
At worst, they vote no on a procedural vote to bring it directly to the floor and then vote yes for the nominee.

Murkowski is already on record as saying she wouldn't support putting a nominee through until after the election.

She will walk it back. She will say she does think fair's fair, but given the chance of a contested election she will have to reluctantly vote to confirm. (Or she will abstain, since it will do nothing to stop the confirmation but she can say she technically didn't vote before the election.) Besides, she said it before Ginsburg died so I don't think you can count it as a real statement. She isn't up for re-election though, so she could go either way.

Romney hates Trump so he'd probably vote against the nomination too.

He is the only one I think is more than 50% to vote against. Still wouldn't be surprised if he rolls, though.

That leaves Collins as the true wild card. She does have principle

That's a weird statement. What principles do you think she has?
She is in bad shape in her election right now and if McConnell thinks she is a lost cause he isn't going to help her out. Voting no won't win her back any democrats or independents and will cost her GOP support.
She will make concerned noises and then do what she's told as usual.

Hate to say it, but...

All of this shit could have been avoided if Ginsburg had retired under Obama when the Democrats had control of the Senate. Obama would have been able to nominate a younger Liberal justice to take Ginsburg's place.

But instead her hubris got in the way and now 7 weeks short of the election, we are where we are at.

This is true, unfortunately. She should have resigned in 2013 after her first big cancer scare.

One more wild card:
The Arizona special election could add one more dem senator before a vote happens.

Not if they vote before next Friday.

If McConnell pushes it through the dems, unless the Moscow Mitch SC rules Trump won regardless of the votes, the dems will have the grounds to go nuclear.
Declare Washington a state, adding 2 more likely dem senate seats
Add 2-4 more SC judges
Kill the filibuster

I think Mitch figures they were talking about that all before (he made a big fuss about it recently and how it would be unfair) and he can complain about it being unfair later so he should take the win and count on the Democrats who are reluctant to go nuclear to still be reluctant. He doesn't care about looking like a hypocrite and the Democrats tend to not like escalation and want to preserve the institution. He probably figures they will go squishy.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s replacement may well be decided and pushed through by a president who lost the popular vote by almost 3 million ballots and a Senate where, if you count the popular vote, the party which holds control received almost 18 million fewer than the one which sits in the minority.

The entire Supreme Court system is ridiculous as it exists. The solution is fixed terms and scheduled appointments.
Every person who said that pointing out the Supreme Court was in play in 2016 was "blackmailing me into voting for Clinton" deserves every slap in the face and public humiliation they get.

 

[Frankfooter]

I think Mitch figures they were talking about that all before (he made a big fuss about it recently and how it would be unfair) and he can complain about it being unfair later so he should take the win and count on the Democrats who are reluctant to go nuclear to still be reluctant. He doesn't care about looking like a hypocrite and the Democrats tend to not like escalation and want to preserve the institution. He probably figures they will go squishy.



The entire Supreme Court system is ridiculous as it exists. The solution is fixed terms and scheduled appointments.
Every person who said that pointing out the Supreme Court was in play in 2016 was "blackmailing me into voting for Clinton" deserves every slap in the face and public humiliation they get.

Looks like its an all or nothing gamble for McConnell.
Try to get a judge in to guarantee that the SC would give the presidency to Trump if its challenged.

Given the numbers at the polls right now that means the GOP has to go all in for election fuckery to try to make it look close enough to contest.
That means attacking USPS, using GOP vote monitoring goons, back Trump's calls that the election will be fixed and do everything else they can.

Biden’s polling lead nears magic number

The former vice president is above or close to majority support in enough states to win the Electoral College.

www.politico.com

While the dems will attack every senator that might turn, I think you're probably right they won't.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1307172978971553792

 

[mandrill]

This is the first step in a constitutional crisis for the USA. If TX goes blue in the next 8 years, the GOP cannot mathematically win the presidency, as the party is currently constituted. It's getting nuttier and more extreme all the time and the era of the RINO is over. As the electorate in the more urban states gets younger and more educated, the GOP will find it impossible to win the House. But the GOP will hold the Senate - because WY, UT, KY, WV and the other shithole states - and the USSC.

So the GOP will block any presidential initiatives and any legislation from the House. Forever. And ever. And the USSC will back them up. Forever.

How long do you think CA and the other large urban states are going to put up with this horse shit?!

 

[The Oracle]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1307565420954689536

 

[Mr.Know-It-All]

OPED: I was raped by whoever Trump picks to replace Ginsburg on the Supreme Court

OPED: I was raped by whoever Trump picks to replace Ginsburg on the Supreme Court • Genesius Times

This is incredibly difficult for me to do but I feel that it’s necessary to...

genesiustimes.com

 

[toguy5252]

Looks like its an all or nothing gamble for McConnell.
Try to get a judge in to guarantee that the SC would give the presidency to Trump if its challenged.

Given the numbers at the polls right now that means the GOP has to go all in for election fuckery to try to make it look close enough to contest.
That means attacking USPS, using GOP vote monitoring goons, back Trump's calls that the election will be fixed and do everything else they can.

Biden’s polling lead nears magic number

The former vice president is above or close to majority support in enough states to win the Electoral College.

www.politico.com

While the dems will attack every senator that might turn, I think you're probably right they won't.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1307172978971553792

I really fin it funny that anyone is surprised by the hypocrisy of the GOP. It is party which is build on situational ethics and hypocrisy. Hoping for the GOP to act with any semblance of integrity is just regrettably completely naïve. You just have to look at the gymnastics that the boob and oracle et all go through to explain or justify everything that the chosen one does.

 

[jcpro]

I really fin it funny that anyone is surprised by the hypocrisy of the GOP. It is party which is build on situational ethics and hypocrisy. Hoping for the GOP to act with any semblance of integrity is just regrettably completely naïve. You just have to look at the gymnastics that the boob and oracle et all go through to explain or justify everything that the chosen one does.

ROFLMAO!!!! Integrity??! Like the Democrats presenting a "witness" who accused judge Kavanaugh of organizing rape parties just to block his nomination? No, sweethearts, the gloves are off; all the way off. The Republicans are now fighting like the Democrats. Get used to it.