# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/121 "2016-02-24T18:19:37Z")
Why should they wait when the Republicans have proudly announced their intentions? They deserve to get slagged and then some, for being so completely obnoxious. And for using the rules of government in ways never intended, not just to reach partisan objectives but to render the government unable to act. Shame on them. And everyone who thinks so should be saying so. Loudly and often! ---
**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 24, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/122 "2016-02-24T19:38:13Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > 1. You guys are wrong. The Senate is not obstructing the President, they are playing politics. My hope is that they think that they will force Obama to nominate a moderate Justice. Senate confirms and Pubs claim victory in forcing Obama to pick the way they want. Senate Republicans are too pussy to even consider this. The Tea Party base has them so scared, they can’t afford to capitulate, not after announcing they absolutely, positively won’t hold hearings. Their base already doesn’t trust them because they say one thing and do another. If Obama gets his nominee confirmed, their voters’ hair will spontaneously combust. The Republican pussies haven’t got the stones to risk that. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/123 "2016-02-24T20:13:23Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > If Obama nominates a moderate judge not a radical leftist, he or she will be confirmed. The leaders of the GOP have said they will not even consider anyone, at all, no way, no how. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/124 "2016-02-24T20:16:31Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > It’s a common derisive name for him. Like calling Bush Shrubya or Chimpy, or Republicans referring to the “Democrat Party”. Nothing wrong with “Democrat Party”. Look at the difference between “Shrubya” and a simple slight shortening of Democratic which still has the same meaning. Tea partiers vs tea baggers is derisive. “Democrat Party” may indeed be \*used \* derisively but in fact it is not. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/125 "2016-02-24T20:16:58Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The leaders of the GOP have said they will not even consider anyone, at all, no way, no how. And no politician has ever lied or had to go back on his bluff, so we know they are speaking the truth! ---
**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, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/126 "2016-02-24T20:25:38Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Nothing wrong with “Democrat Party”. Look at the difference between “Shrubya” and a simple slight shortening of Democratic which still has the same meaning. > > Tea partiers vs tea baggers is derisive. “Democrat Party” may indeed be \*used \* derisively but in fact it is not. Actually, the use of the term “Democrat Party” was actively promoted by Newt Gingrich and Frank Luntz in the 1990s because testing showed that people, for some reason people respond more negatively to the term “Democrat Party.” Its use by conservative organization is not a coincidence. Happy I could fight that ignorance for you! ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/127 "2016-02-24T20:27:17Z")
Has it ever happened that a party has managed to keep a SC seat vacant thru a presidential election? I can imagine it may have happened with some lower-level appointments. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/128 "2016-02-24T20:48:06Z")
This isn’t a GAME! This is about the FUTURE of AMERICAN FREEDOM! -like that, basically ---
**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 24, 2016, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/129 "2016-02-24T21:09:18Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Actually, the use of the term “Democrat Party” was actively promoted by Newt Gingrich and Frank Luntz in the 1990s because testing showed that people, for some reason people respond more negatively to the term “Democrat Party.” Its use by conservative organization is not a coincidence. > > Happy I could fight that ignorance for you! It goes back a bit farther than that, even. Wikipedia has a good article on the [“Democrat Party” epithet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(epithet)). ---
**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, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/130 "2016-02-24T21:50:13Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Senate Republicans are too pussy to even consider this. The Tea Party base has them so scared, they can’t afford to capitulate, not after announcing they absolutely, positively won’t hold hearings. Their base already doesn’t trust them because they say one thing and do another. If Obama gets his nominee confirmed, their voters’ hair will spontaneously combust. The Republican pussies haven’t got the stones to risk that. Like I said, as a non-TeaBagging Pub that scenario #1 was my hope and #3 was my fear. For a while the philosophy of the Pubs has been to push out any moderate. Not only John Boehner for daring to compromise but rank and file voters that are radicals believing the Constitution should run this country not the Bible. Here is the gamble, what if the Dems take the Senate in 2016 (allowing for a 50/50 split and a Dem VP). Then the Pubs need to confirm whomever Obama gives them. ---
**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, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/131 "2016-02-24T21:58:36Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Senate Republicans are too pussy to even consider this. The Tea Party base has them so scared, they can’t afford to capitulate, not after announcing they absolutely, positively won’t hold hearings. Their base already doesn’t trust them because they say one thing and do another. If Obama gets his nominee confirmed, their voters’ hair will spontaneously combust. The Republican pussies haven’t got the stones to risk that. Like I said, as a non-TeaBagging Pub that scenario #1 was my hope and #3 was my fear. For a while the philosophy of the Pubs has been to push out any moderate. Not only John Boehner for daring to compromise but rank and file voters that are radicals believing the Constitution should run this country not the Bible. Here is the gamble, what if the Dems take the Senate in 2016 (allowing for a 50/50 split and a Dem VP). Then the Pubs need to confirm whomever Obama gives them. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/132 "2016-02-24T22:46:14Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Actually, the use of the term “Democrat Party” was actively promoted by Newt Gingrich and Frank Luntz in the 1990s because testing showed that people, for some reason people respond more negatively to the term “Democrat Party.” Its use by conservative organization is not a coincidence. > > Happy I could fight that ignorance for you! Huh…I didn’t know that. I guess ignorance fought. What about shortening it to ‘Dems’? I do that simply to spare my meager typing skills, just like ‘Pubs’. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/133 "2016-02-24T22:53:35Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Actually, the use of the term “Democrat Party” was actively promoted by Newt Gingrich and Frank Luntz in the 1990s because testing showed that people, for some reason people respond more negatively to the term “Democrat Party.” Its use by conservative organization is not a coincidence. > > Happy I could fight that ignorance for you! Assuming that’s true, then stealing it from them makes it so much sweeter. ---
**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 24, 2016, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/134 "2016-02-24T23:00:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Assuming that’s true, then stealing it from them makes it so much sweeter. Of course! When a group of people starts using an epithet against them, suddenly it’s no longer disrespectful! Why didn’t I think of that?\* \*And why hasn’t it worked for every other epithet and slur over the last several decades? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/135 "2016-02-25T03:07:44Z")
The WH is trolling the Senate Pubs with the notion of [nominating a Republican](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/02/24/brian-sandoval-republican-governor-of-nevada-is-being-vetted-for-supreme-court-vacancy/). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/136 "2016-02-25T03:34:23Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The WH is trolling the Senate Pubs with the notion of [nominating a Republican](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/02/24/brian-sandoval-republican-governor-of-nevada-is-being-vetted-for-supreme-court-vacancy/). I certainly hope that president of the United States wouldn’t “troll” the Senate as part of the SCOTUS nomination process. Do you really thing that’s what he’s doing? ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/137 "2016-02-25T03:56:21Z")
It’s not ‘trolling’ exactly, because there’s a point to it all. The point is to float Sandoval out there to make the Republicans look irresponsible and unreasonable when they reject him. In public. During an election year. Sandoval’s being Hispanic is also a nice touch. Sandoval hasn’t been formally asked and is not openly being pursued for anything. Reid talked to him about it, and - oh let me just quote this WaPo article: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/02/24/brian-sandoval-republican-governor-of-nevada-is-being-vetted-for-supreme-court-vacancy/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/02/24/brian-sandoval-republican-governor-of-nevada-is-being-vetted-for-supreme-court-vacancy/) > [@](#): > > A Sandoval spokesman, Mari St. Martin, said Wednesday, “Neither Governor Sandoval nor his staff has been contacted by or talked to the Obama administration regarding any potential vetting for the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court.” > > It is clear, however, that Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid, a fellow Nevadan with whom Sandoval enjoys cordial relations, is playing a key role as intermediary. While visiting Washington for a meeting of the National Governors Association, Sandoval met with Reid in his Capitol office Monday. > > A person familiar with the conversation said that while Sandoval told Reid he had not made a final decision on whether he would accept a Supreme Court nomination, he would allow the vetting process to move forward. Another person in Nevada familiar with the process confirmed that it is underway. > > \ > > But in subsequent remarks to The Post, Reid tempered his praise and said he was “not pushing it with the White House” and was “just responding to people.” > > “He was a good judge. He’s been a very excellent governor. I like him very much. I would support him,” Reid said of Sandoval. “I would rather we had somebody a little more progressive…. I’ll do what I can, but I’m not pushing his name.” So Sandoval hasn’t heard from anyone at the Whitehouse, but he told Reid (who has nothing to do with the search) that he’d be down with being vetted, and now Reid has mentioned his name to the press as someone who is very good, but not quite progressive enough, really, but maybe Reid (who is really not part of this process) will see what he can do. So, yeah. Totally game playing. OTOH, the Republicans took the bait, sooo, fair play to the Democrats. Hey - why should they be the only ones not playing politics with this nomination? That’s politics. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/138 "2016-02-25T04:07:09Z")
Playing politics is one thing. Trolling is another. I voted for Obama twice, even though I am not supportive of the types of SCOTUS justices he would nominate. But if he wants to blow his chances and nominate someone who isn’t going to adhere to his judicial philosophy, that’s fine with me. I wouldn’t respect him much for doing it, but that’s a different issue. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/139 "2016-02-25T04:30:48Z")
Well, again, Sandoval hasn’t been approached by Obama or anyone from the Whitehouse. This is Harry Reid, talking. (Reid, otoh, has undoubtedly been approached by the Whitehouse to just casually mention Sandoval’s name.) The object was to get McConnell stonewalling on the record - they won’t even consider a moderate Republican governor - and it worked. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827/140 "2016-02-25T04:36:39Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > And no politician has ever lied or had to go back on his bluff, so we know they are speaking the truth! Very true. The interesting thing is that McConnell has said the no-hearing thing repeatedly, recently with some added embellishment like “How often do I have to keep saying it?”. Perhaps part of an interesting strategy. Obama finds the most conservative candidate he can stomach, intending to make political hay when he doesn’t even get a hearing. McConnell and the boys “change their minds”, hold the hearing, and confirm said conservative. Bam! Mission accomplished! Doing anything else would seem risky. There are 34 Senate seats up for grabs in November, of which 24 are Republicans. The Senate makeup could change in a bad way for the GOP, plus they have a clown as their presidential front-runner. If they think they’re going to have free rein over a nominee next year, they may be in for a shock. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-gops-long-game-on-filling-scalias-seat-if-hillary-is-elected/746827.md?page=8)