Replacing Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia

[Geilinor]

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says that no one should be appointed until after the election (and, I presume, inauguration).

Unsurprising. He'll do anything if he thinks he can keep the Court stuck in the dark ages.

What happens if there's a 4-4 tie on this summer's rulings?

[Tahar Joblis]

How about this to make their heads explode? Obama nominates himself. If they want out of the White House so badly they can put him on the Court. Besides, Joe has wanted to be President for so, so long...

Can he even do that?!

You know, I don't think there's a rule against it. And we have had a former President join the bench before. As no less than Chief Justice, for that matter.

[Tmutarakhan]

He said the police should actively break into the houses of gay people and arrest them.

What a fucking prick.

You would have to be myopically, retardedly faux-working class to suggest that just doing your job for a while is sufficient to make you a hero.

He didn't say that - he claimed that it was constitutional, regardless of what he would have voted for otherwise.

That's bullshit. When he wanted a different result he found different arguments. He didn't care about the text or original intent of the constitution when it came to the Second Amendment, for example. He argued against gay rights consistently out of a genuine religious bigotry.

Comparing him to murderers like Ratko Mladic is way insane.

The Bush v. Gore decision killed more people than Mladic ever did. Of course there are a lot of hands to spread that blood around, but Scalia certainly deserves a good share.

[The United Territories of Providence]

According to The WhiteHouse, President Obama will nominate a new Supreme Court Justice.

[Wallenburg]

Unsurprising. He'll do anything if he thinks he can keep the Court stuck in the dark ages.

What happens if there's a 4-4 tie on this summer's rulings?

I believe the decision goes in favor of the defendant rather than the prosecutor.

[Tmutarakhan]

Unsurprising. He'll do anything if he thinks he can keep the Court stuck in the dark ages.

What happens if there's a 4-4 tie on this summer's rulings?

Then whatever happened at the lower court remains in place, as if the Supreme Court had declined to hear the appeal, and no nationwide precedent is set.

[Wisconsin9]

According to The WhiteHouse, President Obama will nominate a new Supreme Court Justice.

TYRANNY! ABUSE OF POWER! EXECUTIVE OVERREACH! PRESIDENTS DON'T GET TO DO THAT! READ THE CONSTITUTION!

[Big Jim P]

My condolences to his friends and family.

Obama, don't fail us now.

Why should Obama change this late in the game?

[Geilinor]

According to The WhiteHouse, President Obama will nominate a new Supreme Court Justice.

Of course he will. He's being blackmailed by Republicans in the Senate into not exercising his legal powers.

[Galloism]

My condolences to his friends and family.

Obama, don't fail us now.

Why should Obama change this late in the game?

He might do his job and appoint a Justice.

[Novus America]

Or the next president and congress could get tired on just relying on that vote and expand the court. Congress can literally make as many vacancies as they want by just passing a simple law.

Yeah, but the last time a President tried that, it didn't work out well for him at all.

It actually worked out fine for him. It did not pass, but it did not hurt him. Plus it (arguably) scared the court into being more friendly. But it ended up not being needed as a bunch died so he ended up appointed 8 of 9 anyways.

[Napkiraly]

Why should Obama change this late in the game?

He might do his job and appoint a Justice.

The President doing his job? Why, that's treason!

[Big Jim P]

Being American and discussing a potential appointee to the AMERICAN Supreme Court, would you care to take a guess?

I like that you didn't disagree with the sociopath bit.

European opinions are irrelevant.

[Novus America]

According to The WhiteHouse, President Obama will nominate a new Supreme Court Justice.

Of course he will. He's being blackmailed by Republicans in the Senate into not exercising his legal powers.

Well the Senate has the legal power to block the nomination. The president's power is not any more legal.

[Wallenburg]

My condolences to his friends and family.

Obama, don't fail us now.

Why should Obama change this late in the game?

Because then he can actually get something done. He's backed down to Republicans and conservative groups too often. Scalia's replacement will affect politics for decades.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Yeah, but the last time a President tried that, it didn't work out well for him at all.

It actually worked out fine for him. It did not pass, but it did not hurt him. Plus it (arguably) scared the court into being more friendly. But it ended up not being needed as a bunch died so he ended up appointed 8 of 9 anyways.

It damaged his credibility and reputation, gave his enemies in Congress ammunition to use against him, and didn't make the Court any friendlier. He appointed that many because he was in office for nearly a generation.

[Wallenburg]

I like that you didn't disagree with the sociopath bit.

European opinions are irrelevant.

I see that you are the friendly, multilateral, diplomatic type.

[Big Jim P]

I KNEW IT!

Oh, wait, that was sarcasm. Damn. Thought you'd had a moment of insight, there...

Hard to tell with the signature.

I never said it wasn't one of my main issues, now did I?

[Geilinor]

Of course he will. He's being blackmailed by Republicans in the Senate into not exercising his legal powers.

Well the Senate has the legal power to block the nomination. The president's power is not any more legal.

They're saying that he shouldn't even bother nominating someone. If they'll blindly obstruct any nominee, what's the point?

[Novus America]

He might do his job and appoint a Justice.

The President doing his job? Why, that's treason!

He can appoint one. The Senate has just as much a job to approve OR disapprove the nomination.

[Ifreann]

I like that you didn't disagree with the sociopath bit.

European opinions are irrelevant.

And which Native American tribe are you part of, Big Chief Jim?

[Big Jim P]

Hard to tell with the signature.

Be fair. He's also a proud, open Devil Worshipper.

Incorrect. Please try again.

[Wallenburg]

The President doing his job? Why, that's treason!

He can't appoint one. The Senate has just as much a job to approve OR disapprove the nomination.

Fixed that for you. He can nominate. The Senate appoints.

[Geilinor]

The President doing his job? Why, that's treason!

He can appoint one. The Senate has just as much a job to approve OR disapprove the nomination.

The Senate should be expected to consider the nominee on the nominee's merits - not their dislike of the current president.

[Big Jim P]

Be fair. He's also a proud, open Devil Worshipper.

Shouldn't we just focus on Scalia, and not on making this an issue about the 2nd amendment or what Big Jim P believes in or not about that subject or about his Satanism? 'Cuz there is a thread about that, gun rights, already doing the rounds.

Agreed.