# Nevada Gov Brian Sandoval Being Vetted as Potential Supreme Court Justice!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 24, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005 "2016-02-24T18:43:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/41 "2016-02-24T22:21:23Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Sigh. A sitting POTUS should not have to look outside his party for a nominee the opposing party would consider. Obama won the election. Did not get any help from me, but he won. As such, he gets to nominate people to various offices, including SCOTUS. So long as his nominee is at least reasonably qualified, the Senate should confirm. (post shortened) Sigh. The U.S. Senators were also elected and they were elected to represent their constituents, not to kowtow to the President. The President gets to nominate a Supreme. A President does not control the U.S. Senate. The President represents only one branch of the federal government. The duly elected Senators are not required to consent to confirm a nominee simply because the President (or the internet) says they must. I can’t even call the present situation a standoff. There is no nominee. It looks like Hairy Reed may have suggested a nominee but he isn’t the President. Who knows what game Reed is playing? Maybe he’s just trying to start shit and screw with the media? ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/42 "2016-02-24T22:29:29Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I’m not sure how the process works. If Obama nominates someone, and the GOP were to decide to have hearings and confirm that nominee, is Obama obligated to let him go through, or does he have the option to withdraw the nomination? Several nominees to the Supreme Court have been withdrawn by the President. Started with Washington. No reason to think Obama couldn’t withdraw a name after he makes a nomination. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/43 "2016-02-24T22:32:58Z")
> [@sleestak](#): > > BWHAHAHAHAHA! > > Seriously funny. > > Slee LBJ pushing through civil rights knowing that it would be politically damaging was government not politics. Just because the current crop of Republican leaders are scum and worse doesn’t mean that everyone is. Some people think the Constitution trumps their party. (Pun intended.) McConnell obviously does not. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/44 "2016-02-24T22:34:29Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Obama is playing politics with the nomination. Everything a President does is politics. > > DNC/Obama should nominate Obama for the empty seat on the SCOTUS. Is McConnell playing politics? Would Obama be playing politics if McConnell promised a fair hearing for any reasonable nominee? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/45 "2016-02-24T23:26:38Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > The duly elected Senators are not required to consent to confirm a nominee simply because the President (or the internet) says they must. The currently seated asshats have an obligation to do their damn jobs. That means giving fair consideration to the nominee, holding the hearings and giving the nominee an up or down vote on the record. They should not be allowed to stamp their feet and hold their breath like petulant children because they don’t like POTUS. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/46 "2016-02-24T23:27:26Z")
McConnell & Co. are refusing to meet with anyone because, while this is likely a losing issue for them with the general population, months and months of coverage on hearings and votes will only make it worse for them to say no (and they really want a Republican president to fill it so they will not say yes). Blanket refusal now sounds bad but the guess is that, 200 days from now, “Senate still says no” will be the new normal and more of a non-story than actual news about a nominee. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/47 "2016-02-24T23:47:53Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > The currently seated asshats have an obligation to do their damn jobs. That means giving fair consideration to the nominee, holding the hearings and giving the nominee an up or down vote on the record. They should not be allowed to stamp their feet and hold their breath like petulant children because they don’t like POTUS. Our U.S. Senators are doing their damn jobs. You object to the way they are doing it. Other constituents may approve of the way their U.S. Senators are representing their interests in the Senate. Democrats telling Democrats how conservatives and Republicans must act isn’t going to convince many (any?) conservatives and Republicans to unelect their favorite U.S. Senators. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/48 "2016-02-24T23:58:32Z")
doorhinge, I don’t think Oakminster is a Democrat. He just said he didn’t vote for Obama. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/49 "2016-02-25T00:18:36Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Our U.S. Senators are doing their damn jobs. They are withholding their advice and consent, or whatever the constitution says. So, they are not doing their jobs, assuming they follow through with their threats. They could hold hearings and reject every nominee, but not even interviewing the nominee and not holding hearings is dereliction of duties. You can’t advise and consent with your eyes and ears closed. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/50 "2016-02-25T00:24:23Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > CNN says Harry Reid “suggested” Sandoval, and his vetting is being confirmed by “a source close to the process.” So yeah, nothing solid yet. Even if there are no confirmed sources, the GOP already took the bait. That makes them look pretty stupid. There are solid sources with McConnell and Cornyn saying they wouldn’t consider him. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/51 "2016-02-25T01:16:13Z")
Wow. Obama really has a chance to pull these clowns around by the nose and have some fun for the rest of his term. There is still another recess in the summer too. He could make a recess appointment. The world is just a big open oyster. There will never be a better chance for them to play ball but they just can’t do it. And the court is better off by magnitudes with only 8 on it and NO SCALIA! It’s win win win. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/52 "2016-02-25T02:37:50Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > I know someone in a government-relations position that’s on a White House e-mail list, and got the news that way early this afternoon. This is completely real. Cite, please. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/53 "2016-02-25T02:48:17Z")
The poster has clearly declared the “hearsay” nature of his post. He is not offering any pretense of authority. Hava cuppa chill, it’s good for you. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/54 "2016-02-25T03:23:49Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > Smart strategy on Obama’s part. I so disagree. I hope this is wrong. An African American, preferably a woman, with mainstream center-left positions and impeccable credentials, would be ideal. A Republican officeholder? No way. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/55 "2016-02-25T05:03:19Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > It’s a smart strategy to publicly vet some moderate Republicans while the GOP is foaming at the mouth. Now they have to decide whether or not to stick to their guns. If they back down, they open the door to Obama picking his real nominee. If they stay strong, they look even more childish than before. Or, they just say nothing until the actual nominee is named. I don’t think this is misdirection though. It would be pretty amateurish if it was. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/56 "2016-02-25T05:08:13Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Or, they just say nothing until the actual nominee is named. I don’t think this is misdirection though. It would be pretty amateurish if it was. I’m sure it’s misdirection and not remotely amateurish. He probably put out a whole cloud of vetting. This one got picked up. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/57 "2016-02-25T05:34:55Z")
There’s no point in misdirecting. Just as the President can float Sandoval and then change his mind, the Republicans can say anything they want and change their minds too. They can keep on saying they won’t confirm anyone right up until he’s named, and then when he is, confirm him and declare victory. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/58 "2016-02-25T05:53:40Z")
I don’t think they’re going to be able to spin that as a victory. But I agree that confirming Obama’s nominee as quickly as possible is their best course to minimize the election impact. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/59 "2016-02-25T06:03:13Z")
Getting the President to nominate a Republican governor? Oh yeah, that’s a win. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005/60 "2016-02-25T06:17:21Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Getting the President to nominate a Republican governor? Oh yeah, that’s a win. Maybe it _is_, especially relative to anything else that’s likely to happen, but it won’t look that way, after their posturing about how they must take a stand against Obama!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-being-vetted-as-potential-supreme-court-justice/747005.md?page=4)