Merrick Garland for SCOTUS

Quote :

For those very reasons, Garland is the least controversial -- and likely the most confirmable -- of all the candidates who were reportedly considered for the vacancy. It is possible Obama chose him for the post to defuse the confirmation fight that Senate Republicans have promised since the moment Scalia died.

Obama seriously considered Garland in 2010 for the opening created by the retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens. He was ultimately passed over for Elena Kagan, then the president's top lawyer before the Supreme Court.

Garland has some pluses that could serve him well in a polarized environment, including knowing Chief Justice John Roberts -- the two clerked for famed New York judge Henry Friendly and participated in cases together on the D.C. Circuit, when Roberts served there between 2003 and 2005.

Wimp move, Barry.

I would've put forward Angela Davis.

Very moving nomination speech by Obama, and very moving acceptance speech by Garland.

If Senate Republicans block a vote there'll be hell to pay.

McConnell already doubled down, no hearing. "Let the people decide," he said, meaning the results of the 2016 election. Completely ignoring the results of the 2012 election.

Dick.

The Democrats will need to come up with a credible threat of some sort before the Republicans allow the nomination to go forward.

Republicans only know one thing: how to win elections. They know nothing about, nor do they care about, governing.

Deeply disappointing nomination. It would serve Obama right if the Republicans pulled a switch and confirmed him. It would screw the country, though.

I would have wished for a known liberal, but there's no chance of a seriously liberal appointment until the Dems take back the Senate with a large plurality.

Garland, while he wouldn't be at the top of my list, can't really be judged accurately. Imagine if you were to ask if Earl Warren would be acceptable to you. Sometimes we get pleasantly surprised. The one thing I'm sure of is that anyone nominated by a Republican would very likely be worse than Garland.

Yeah, I know: I'm an optimist.

Look on the bright side - he's got to be better than Scalia.

_Howard wrote:

Look on the bright side - he's got to be better than Scalia.

He would be if confirmed. But not much chance of that.

One advantage of the Garland nomination, if I understand what I heard this morning. Garland is the Chief Justice of the DC Circuit court, which hears all disputes between Congress and the executive branch (if I heard right). Lawmakers -- particularly lawmakers who are intent on challenging Obama's power to issue executive orders because of their own inaction -- risk getting on the wrong side of a very important ally by refusing to bring his nomination to a hearing.

The Heritage Foundation wrote:

President Obama wants to take advantage of Justice Scalia's tragic death to swing the balance of the Supreme Court to favor his liberal agenda. This is wrong. As an outgoing president with less than ten months left, he should have no say in selecting a new justice who will be appointed for life.

Amazing spin -- simply because of his "liberal agenda" he should not have his constitutional power. Why isn't this blowing up in the Republicans' faces???

NoCoPilot wrote:

McConnell already doubled down, no hearing.  "Let the people decide," he said, meaning the results of the 2016 election.  Completely ignoring the results of the 2012 election.

Deep, deep hypocrisy from Asshole McConnell.

Yeah.  We're all deeply, deeply fucked.

The American Great Experiment is over.

Breyer to retire

All this means is Biden gets to cement his 3-6 minority, instead of letting McConnell put in a 7-2 majority.

McConnell may... probably WILL... try to block Biden's appointment.  He won't have any grounds.  The harder he pushes, the more likely Biden will expand the court to 13 justices.  With court appointments already on cloture (51 votes), expansion of the court will probably be on a party-line vote.

"You know what I am?  I'm your worst fucking nightmare, man."