Which is exactly why the way the Republicans are behaving is so stupid and the antithesis of good government.
At the end of the day - whether it’s politics or not, these guys are supposed to govern the country. What they have done is to paint everybody into a corner of making bad decisions. Now they have “forced” Obama into a position of having the choice between nominating a liberal or appearing to “cave” to their demands as a ball-less jerk.
Not a nice choice right? If he nominates anybody even slightly right of centre - he takes a hit as “giving in”
The end result? Likely a MORE left wing candidate.
I always thought the constitution basically assumed that it would be implemented by reasonable people doing their best. The rules tend to fall down a bit when everybody tries to be a cheating jerk
Yeah, no. The point if misdirecting is to get the Repubs to either double down on their refusal, despite a complete handjob nominee being floated or have them look like hypocrites for dropping their supposedly high minded principles once a political favour comes down from the President. Face it, the Republican leadership painted themselves into a corner and this is just one of the grenades Obama is going to lob into that corner.
That would be a hollow, Pyrrhic “victory”. Win a couple news cycles against them in return for their getting a Republican on the SCOTUS for 30 years? Bad, bad deal. Just, no.
As I said, I believe confirming Obama’s nominee is now the best option they have left themselves. It will still hurt them some with the wing that is convinced–that they have convinced–that Obama is the enemy of America, and that any accommodation of him is a surrender to tyranny.
I’m enjoying Obama’s “I don’t have to care about what you think anymore” phase of his Presidency. This is brilliant: “yeah, we will look at this guy, see if he can pass.” and then see what happens…
You can’t provide a U.S. Senate job description that clearly states that the U.S. Senate must have a vote for every Presidential nominee because that doesn’t exist. Nominees have failed to be seated on the Supreme Court for many reasons. There is no dereliction of duty if that duty isn’t spelled out. The U.S. Senate can chose to consent or not.
If/when the DNC/Obama (not Hairy Reed) actually announce a nominee, it will then be up to the U.S. Senate to deal with that nominee as they see fit.
Why shouldn’t D’Anconia ask for a cite if he believes one is warranted? Especially since this Nevada Gov Brian Sandoval Being Vetted as Potential Supreme Court Justice!! story appears to be a prank played by Hairy Reed on a couple of alleged reporters.
Obama wants a Republican Governor as the next SCOTUS Justice? Seriously?
Reed punked a couple of reporters because A) reporters can’t be bothered to actually vet their stories and B) reporters can’t be bothered to actually vet their stories. The story grew legs, and the Democrat collective bought it hook, line, and sinker. Hooray! What a brilliant move by Obama to put pressure on Republicans in the U.S. Senate!!! :smack: :smack:
D’Anconia has a history of demanding cites for the sole purpose of derailing threads. Why should someone produce a cite for a clearly sarcastic statement?
As the Republicans are the ones responding I’d say they were the ones that have been punked if anyone.
Why on green earth would Obama nominate someone even slightly “right of center”??? Hes a D for one thing, remember?
His voters voted for Kerry, Gore and him, (And were the majority of votes cast) and watched Reagan and 2 bushes, and suffered under a right wing court for what seems like forever. It would really be spitting in the eye of most of the country to do that.
They picked the game, and now they’re complaining Obama is beating them at it.
Not really - I know he’s out, but putting in someone much of the party considers a “RINO” is still a big shift to the left for the court, as noted:
Don’t be fooled by the “R” - it’s all about the long game.
Of course, the more Republican candidates the GOP shoot down, the stronger Obama’s position if he finally says “welp, I tried” and throws his full support behind a proper liberal, to be confirmed by the next Congress. And the GOP will have no one to blame but themselves.
Hey doorhinge, I’m not wild about Harry, but he’s Harry Reid. Harry Reid. Harry Reid. Hairy Reed is a porn star’s handle, which I’m sure is of particular interest to you, while Harry Reid is a duly-elected United States Senator. :rolleyes:
It takes two to tango. And Bran Sandoval is declining the next dance as he announced he informed the White House that he does not want to be considered for a nomination to the Supreme Court.
It does highlight a possible difficulty that Obama faces. Perhaps his choice will not choose him?
I highly doubt someone with judicial aspirations would say no to a lifetime appointment to the SC, just to spite the guy he will never have to work with.
Sandoval is a guy who wants to serve in electoral politics. He already walked away from being a judge to run for governor. He doesn’t want to be a judge.
I *do *think he didn’t like having the Democratic president use him as a political wedge, hence his withdrawal from the conversation.
My understanding is that the two of them are actually friends, mutually respectful and with a history of working together on Nevada issues. Reid, and Obama, may have thought it a good time to get a Republican name into the conversation, but that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t a sincere recommendation on Reid’s part.
