# What is the GOP's long game on filling Scalia's seat if Hillary is elected? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 22, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827 "2016-02-22T20:05:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/81 "2016-02-23T19:31:15Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > McConnell and co are doubling down on the “no confirmations before the election” stance. [But he _said…!_](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19124389&postcount=40)😛 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/82 "2016-02-23T19:31:52Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’m not surprised at the political stances – of course the Republicans don’t want Obama to get to replace Scalia. I’m surprised that they’re so blatantly political about it. Why announce it all in advance, rather than just saying “we’ll carefully consider any nominee the President puts forward” while deciding behind the scenes to vote down any nominee? Because if Obama nominates a federal judge from a lower court who has already been confirmed by a majority of Republicans in the Senate, that can be used against them in the general election. One of the candidates many think should be on the short list is Sri Srinivasan, who was confirmed by a 97-0 vote. Hard for Republicans to turn around and say he is now unqualified. So they just want to avoid the vote altogether. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/83 "2016-02-23T19:45:24Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Because if Obama nominates a federal judge from a lower court who has already been confirmed by a majority of Republicans in the Senate, that can be used against them in the general election. One of the candidates many think should be on the short list is Sri Srinivasan, who was confirmed by a 97-0 vote. Hard for Republicans to turn around and say he is now unqualified. So they just want to avoid the vote altogether. Likewise Diane Humetawa, confirmed 96-0 with the support of McCain and Flake. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/84 "2016-02-23T19:53:27Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > Even if they just confirmed after meeting that it is exactly what they will do? > > [http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/23/politics/joe-biden-supreme-court-senate-republicans/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/23/politics/joe-biden-supreme-court-senate-republicans/index.html) > > Do you really think this is an idle threat? They sound pretty sure to me. Man, that is pretty astounding. And Graham says he won’t even MEET with a nominee. I hope the President nominates some tremendously solid moderate, and the Dems just HAMMER the Repubs over this uncesasingly. Of course, we’ve seen before how the Repubs can persuade their loyalists by repeating the big lie… Will really be disappointing if no 5 Repubs will actually do their frigging jobs and govern. Enough Dems voted for the embarrassment that is Thomas, even tho it cost some of them their jobs… Wouldn’t be hard to name someone more qualified and less objectionable that that asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/85 "2016-02-23T19:54:23Z")
> [@XT](#): > > But then you and I aren’t the ones who this is upsetting. Actually, I’m quite upset by this naked obstruction. We were already at a new low in what people can expect of Congress, and the Republican position shows that we were far too optimistic in thinking that things couldn’t get much worse. They have. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/86 "2016-02-23T20:22:50Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > What makes you think they have a long game? If you ever watch _Survivor_, lots of times the contestants are just focused on not getting voted off during the current Tribal Council. Buy me one more day, and I’ll worry about the rest of the game tomorrow. > > Seriously. I don’t know that “The GOP” has a long game. That is, the party as a whole. Starve the beast is at least a mid range game. Supply side economics is so long term that our star will probably supernova before we feel its effects. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/87 "2016-02-23T20:33:57Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Then Congress holds hearings, and either confirms or rejects the nominee, depending on whether or not they think the next nominee is going to be any better. Or just stall until November, and then shoot him down if a Republican is elected or the GOP retains control of the Senate. > > This is just politics. Both sides do it, and both sides complain when the other side does it. That won’t change if Congress and/or the White House changes hands. > > Regards, > Shodan There is a difference between Republican obstructionism and Democratic obstructionism. The Republicans have a reputation for obstructionism. Their decades as the loyal opposition have given them a solidarity that the Democrats never had. Republicans clearly obstructed Obama purely for partisan purposes on at least a couple of occasions and we cannot point to very many cases where Obama got full Democratic support as well as a significant amount of Republican support. The TPP is about as close as we get. Democrats voted to reform bankruptcy in favor of creditors. Democrats voted to repeal Glass-Steagal Democrats voted for NAFTA. Democrats voted for the Iraq War. Democrats voted for more than a few Bush budgets. Democrats voted for the Welfare reform Act of 1996. Democrats voted for a whole slew of shit that would give Bernie Sanders an aneurism. Republicans have voted against stuff that pre-Bush Republicans would have no trouble supporting. So I suspect that Republican obstructionism will come back to bite them in the ass and give Hillary a filibusterproof majority in the senate and maybe even a majority in the house and governor’s mansions. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/88 "2016-02-23T21:00:10Z")
I’m starting to think that the political hard-line from Senate leaders (e.g. no vote, no hearing, no meeting, no possibility of considering an Obama nominee) is out of incredible fear that some of their own might turn “reasonable” for individual political reasons. McConnell and co are desperately afraid that Kirk, Collins, and others might force them into an actual hearing and vote (which might be for an eminently qualified and reasonable candidate like Sri Srivathanan that they voted for unanimously already for a lower court), so they’re trying to jump ahead of that by eliminating any possibility of a hearing, or even a meeting with the nominee. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/89 "2016-02-23T21:11:46Z")
You’re wondering if the leaders Republican Party, the rank and file of which is trying to decide whether Ted Cruz or Donald Trump are the best men to lead the country, is worried about appearing “reasonable”? Uh, yeah. Obviously. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2016, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/90 "2016-02-23T21:14:00Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > You’re wondering if the leaders Republican Party, the rank and file of which is trying to decide whether Ted Cruz or Donald Trump are the best men to lead the country, is worried about appearing “reasonable”? > > Uh, yeah. Obviously. Maybe I misstated it, but I think McConnell is desperately afraid that some GOP Senators might actually call for a hearing (which I’m calling a reasonable action), once Obama names someone, and the ensuing political pressure will force an actual hearing. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/91 "2016-02-23T21:50:54Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > **Shodan** is making a patently outrageous statement that everything done within the context of “politics” is indistinguishable from any other action. No I’m not - I am making the patently obvious claim that both sides are doing or have done exactly the same thing. Regards, Shodan ---
**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 23, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/92 "2016-02-23T22:46:11Z")
My prediction: McConnell is hamboning to make sure the nominee is as illiberal as possible. He will not prevent hearings for 9 months. A moderate is the best he can hope for. ---
**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 23, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/93 "2016-02-23T22:48:31Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No I’m not - I am making the patently obvious claim that both sides are doing or have done exactly the same thing. > > Regards, > Shodan You should provide a cite for McConnell if you believe that. There was a whole list of asymmetrical R behavior upthread. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/94 "2016-02-24T00:52:28Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No I’m not - I am making the patently obvious claim that both sides are doing or have done exactly the same thing. The \*claim \*is obvious, yes. The factual support for it, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/95 "2016-02-24T01:23:48Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The other side is actually doing it. How many of Obama’s SC nominees to replace Scalia has the Senate actually obstructed the nomination on? Oh yeah - ZERO. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/96 "2016-02-24T01:34:14Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > How many of Obama’s SC nominees to replace Scalia has the Senate actually obstructed the nomination on? Oh yeah - ZERO. The Senate Majority Leader and all Republican members of the Judiciary Committee have told the President not to even bother nominating someone (uh, isn’t that a constitutional duty of his? And senators are telling him to ignore his responsibility?). How many times has that happened in history? Oh yeah - ONE. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/97 "2016-02-24T01:36:33Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No I’m not - I am making the patently obvious claim that both sides are doing or have done exactly the same thing. I claim that it is a proven scientific fact that I am a more advanced form of life, with an intellect far beyond what you mortals can imagine. The trouble is, both your claim and my claim are easily disproven. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/98 "2016-02-24T02:10:47Z")
I’ve said this in another, related thread- If I were a Republican, I’d be increasingly concerned that my elected officials seem to think that they don’t need to do the job I elected them to do. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/99 "2016-02-24T02:15:25Z")
There are many, apparently many _more_, Republicans who think their elected representatives are doing _exactly_ what they were sent to Washington to do. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/100 "2016-02-24T03:01:40Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The Senate Majority Leader and all Republican members of the Judiciary Committee have told the President not to even bother nominating someone (uh, isn’t that a constitutional duty of his? And senators are telling him to ignore his responsibility?). How many times has that happened in history? Oh yeah - ONE. So a threat is actual obstruction? Nope - it’s called politics. Maybe Obama should grow a pair and not cave in to the threat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827.md?page=6)