# Ruth Bader Ginsburg has passed away **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 18, 2020, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957 "2020-09-18T23:34:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/82 "2020-09-19T00:43:49Z")
Also most of the people who are emptying the liquor cabinet right now are already more or less definite Dem voters. I don’t think most swing voters care as much. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/83 "2020-09-19T00:43:59Z")
Is anyone _really_ surprised by this? _Really_ surprised? Her declining health has been all over the news for the past year or two. I knew it was coming. Of course, it’s a very bad situation, politically. And I’m with **Wesley** here in the sense that, yeah, why didn’t she retire strategically when she knew she would have had a favorable replacement? Now, I’d never say “fuck them”, upon the passing of an iconic and respected figure, but yes, I agree she should have retired, hit a sacrifice bunt, if you will, to score a run for her team, when the time was right. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/84 "2020-09-19T00:44:11Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > There are three Senate Republicans retiring at the end of this session (Pat Roberts, Mike Enzi and Lamar Alexander), as well as whichever incumbents lose their elections in November. Theoretically, these Senators would no longer have electoral concerns to worry about in a lame duck session, but a vote against Trump’s nominee would impact them enormously. They would be burning bridges that they spend their whole careers building, they would be cut off from employment in Republican-friendly lobby shops, foundations, etc. They would spend the rest of their lives being harassed as traitors by right-wing nut jobs. I’d be very surprised if more than one or two Republicans voted “no” in a lame duck, and Mitch can afford to lose three. I’m afraid this is likely to be correct—even the retiring Senators will want to avoid being labeled Anti-Dear-Leader, and will vote accordingly. . . . > [@Velocity](#): > > If Trump successfully gets his replacement confirmed onto the Supreme Court shortly before Election Day, is it likelier to revv up Democratic anger and motivate them to vote, or to deflate them and make them more sullen and listless about voting? The former, I think. Respectable political figures are already saying for the record that if McConnell goes Full Hypocrite (and violates his 2016 “principle”) then enlarging the Supreme Court will be a reasonable response. And of course the Constitution does NOT establish “nine” as the number of Justices. So I think many on the left will take heart from all that, and vote with passion and a strong determination to reclaim our republic-and-democracy from the would-be authoritarian rulers. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/85 "2020-09-19T00:46:52Z")
Right, which is why my question was about his base. Like, if Trump is re-elected, I could see opposition to him diminish significantly, on the (perhaps mistaken) idea that it’s all over, that he’s won, and that nothing can pull America away from the brink. Similar principle here. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/86 "2020-09-19T00:48:15Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > That’s hyperbole - I think the real attitude is “we were on the edge of the cliff, and now we’re hanging by our fingers… but it’s not over quite yet”. LOL, like the first move of a Harris Presidency won’t be to blow the Supreme Court out to 15 seats. In the name of comity with the lower Circuit Court panels or some other excuse. You guys are going to be fine. If Biden wins… Until then, enjoy the spectacle of the (my guess) Amy Coney Barrett Senate confirmation hearings. What a brave person Ruth Bader Ginsburg was. I may not have agreed with her judicial reasoning, but I certainly admire the courage she showed in her final years. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/87 "2020-09-19T00:50:25Z")
Oh sorry. I think Republican voters are probably going to be more energized to vote if the seat is open, and there probably are some single-issue abortion voters who will suck up whatever negative things they think about Trump if there’s a definite SC seat up for grabs in addition to the possible Breyer seat. My best guess is that won’t stop the Republicans from pushing through a replacement but I would be ecstatic to be wrong. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2020, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/88 "2020-09-19T00:50:40Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Is anyone _really_ surprised by this? _Really_ surprised? Doubt it. Why would you think so? Depressed maybe, but I doubt anyone is shocked. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/89 "2020-09-19T00:51:41Z")
But I guess the question is whether you would rather have a Supreme court that will block everything that the Democrats propose or a court that rubberstamps everything that a would be dictator would propose. Now more than ever its important that Trump loses. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/90 "2020-09-19T00:52:58Z")
I believe McConnell will decide on how he thinks it will work best for him. He is seeing that the senate is hanging right now. His best move would be to wait until after nov. 3rd. Deal with it after the election. He has time after the election to get someone through lame duck if he loses the senate and trump loses the election. McConnell is very strategic. He is not going to do anything to lose his race and the senate. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/91 "2020-09-19T00:54:49Z")
People are ascribing way too much power to McConnel. If other senior GOP figures want to fill the seat and have the votes, and McConnel is standing in the way, they’re going to force the seat to get filled. I’m not sure if they’d have to replace McConnel as majority leader but if they need to they’ll do that. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/92 "2020-09-19T00:57:47Z")
Various Twitter chatter is reporting that Trump will be putting forth a nominee within days, and McConnell is committing to a floor vote in the senate. Nothing about the timing of the vote, though. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/93 "2020-09-19T00:59:12Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > And I’m with **Wesley** here in the sense that, yeah, why didn’t she retire strategically when she knew she would have had a favorable replacement? Now, I’d never say “fuck them”, upon the passing of an iconic and respected figure, but yes, I agree she should have retired, hit a sacrifice bunt, if you will, to score a run for her team, when the time was right. To wit: > [@Sherrerd](#): > > This assumes that Obama could have gotten a nominee (replacing Ginsberg) approved by the Senate. > > By the time of your story, with Ginsberg saying ‘who are you going to get,’ there was no way for an Obama-nominated judge to get the 60 votes needed (recall that use of the ‘nuclear option’ didn’t happen until the Gorsuch confirmation, in 2017). > > So despite the wish of some to attribute RBG’s failure to resign in 2014 to “ego,” the fact is that Obama wouldn’t have been able to get anyone as progressive to replace her. Not even close. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/94 "2020-09-19T00:59:42Z")
McConnell just put out a statement that the nominee will get a vote on the floor. He will not roll the dice on this election like he did in 2016. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/95 "2020-09-19T01:00:37Z")
I’m not gonna say, “fuck her” but neither do I agree with your statement that she didn’t owe anybody anything. She spent her life in public service, and yes, she did owe it to the country, both now and for the generations to come that will be affected by her death, to bow out at a time that would help guarantee a continuation of her ideals and principles. Hell, she owed it to herself to make sure her work would be continued. I am sorry she’s passed. She was a remarkable woman. That doesn’t change the fact that her refusing to step down at the age of 80 or so has now put an additional strain on the country at a time when we are already _badly_ strained. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/96 "2020-09-19T01:00:40Z")
Hypothetical vote count - 47 D’s, plus Romney and Murkowski, are likely “no” votes. That means the no’s need two more. If it’s before the election, then Collins would be insane to vote yes. But they’ll still need one more (or maybe two if it’s after the election). Not sure who that could be. Probably not gonna happen. Probably gonna be a 6-3 court pretty soon. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/97 "2020-09-19T01:02:47Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > she did owe it to the country, both now and for the generations to come that will be affected by her death, to bow out at a time that would help guarantee a continuation of her ideals and principles. I repeat > [@Sherrerd](#): > > This assumes that Obama could have gotten a nominee (replacing Ginsberg) approved by the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/98 "2020-09-19T01:03:59Z")
It’s pretty pointless to look back, but the second guess would be if she retired while the Dems still had a senate majority. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/99 "2020-09-19T01:05:13Z")
I have a feeling that some people just want to let their emotions–which for many of us are high–go in the ‘bash that female’ direction, regardless of the likely historical facts of the situation. ---
**Author:** ![ThisIsTheEnd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisistheend/32/4713_2.png) [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/100 "2020-09-19T01:09:16Z")
> **[Chuck Grassley won't consider a Supreme Court nominee from President Trump in...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/10/10/chuck-grassley-supreme-court-nominee-2020/1588100002/)** > > Grassley said that's only fair, given the Senate declined to consider Barack Obama nominee Merrick Garland in 2016. > **[Graham says he’d hold Supreme Court seat open if there is a vacancy in last...](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/409669-graham-vows-to-hold-open-supreme-court-seat-open-if-there-is-a-vacancy-in/)** > > Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Wednesday said he would be willing to hold a Supreme Court seat open until after the election if there is a vacancy during the last year of President Trump’s term.Th… > **[Graham on potential Supreme Court vacancy: ‘This would be a different...](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/498133-graham-on-potential-supreme-court-vacancy-this-would-be-a-different/)** > > Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said the Senate would work to confirm a Supreme Court nominee this year if a vacancy arises, saying the circumstances are different from 2016, when Republicans blocked … ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957/101 "2020-09-19T01:09:39Z")
> [@DeadTreasSecretaries](#): > > Mitch McConnel isn’t actually important. The GOP would use the exact same tactics no matter who was majority leader. Ah, the Dems would, too, if the shoe were on the other foot. I’m a lifelong conservative, but even I don’t welcome this news, as soon as I heard it I knew McConnell would develop a severe case of amnesia, and was confirmed 5 minutes later. I have no predictions, many of the scenarios here are entirely too plausible and possible, I don’t know if Vegas would try to make odds on any particular outcome. Liberal or not, RBG was a lady of honor, I’ve enjoyed reading her opinions, and I think the country has lost a great legal asset. Anyone appointed by Trump will be a hollow shell, I’ve seen the list, none of them impress. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-passed-away/920957.md?page=6)