Discussion for article #245981
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If the contest for President is now fought over the next Supreme Court Justice nominations, then it is possible that young voters can be engaged. If so, then as Bernie says, when the turnout is high, Democrats are elected. When the turnout is low, Republicans are elected.
I wonder if African American feel they are represented by Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court? Then I wonder what the reaction would be to a Black President nominating an African American potential Supreme Court Justice. Obama’s nominee will be blocked, but he or she will be a big issue.
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It totally changes everything about this election - it just got magnitudes more important -
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Does that mean that you’ve changed your mind about not voting if Sanders were the nominee now? 
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Yes, of course! Who would not Donald Trump nominating the next S C J?
(CP, I edited my comment, which changes the sense of your reply?)
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“Civil Rights Debate”?
More like “Civil Rights War”.
If you don’t think that this vacancy will make scorched-earth tactics between now and November look positively congenial, you’re badly mistaken.
The Right WILL almost literally do battle in the streets to protect their precious 5 majority of the anointed Kings of America.
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Speak no ill of the dead? Then no comment.
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What?! How can you not like a man who said:
“Mere factual innocence is no reason not to carry out a death sentence properly reached.”
(ETA: richardnixonhuberthumphrey points out that his actual written opinion is somewhat different.)
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Looks like the duck in the oven just caught FIRE ! ! —
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Obama has a way of getting results in these kinds of situations, so I would not underestimate him. If, for example, Trump and Hillary end up facing each other in the general election, that’s a weak hand for the GOP to play. If a newly elected President Clinton, armed with a mandate for progressive change comes into power with a Democratic Senate, or a closer margin, she will have a mandate and will frankly be obligated to her base to appoint a strong liberal. In that situation, McConnell might want to cut a deal with Obama on a candidate that has the respect of both sides. There are many ways this can play out, so I wouldn’t count out the possibility of Obama getting his way.
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We’ve been saying for years that citizens don’t think their votes are important because they only hear about day-to-day horse race coverage and not policies and the values that drive them. Maybe now it can become part of the conversation.
Having said that, I’d bet a buck that 90% of Trump’s supporters couldn’t name 5 of the remaining 8. I’m not even sure Trump himself could.
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Just out of curiosity, are you saying that the nomination process should be played out until the delegate count shows who the Dem nominee is, or until the election is settled (hopefully in the Dems’ favor)?
The longest it has ever taken to approve a Supreme Court appointment is 125 days - http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/rl33225.pdf The median time is about 70 days. There are about 340 days left in Obama’s term. But those facts won’t stop the Republicans from blocking a regular appointment. I saw one report that the Senate is now in recess - so Obama better do a quick recess appointment if he has any brains.
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Obama should nominate a G. W. Bush appointee who’s established to be non-crazy – someone like John E. Jones, who decided the Kitzmiller v. Dover evolution trial and declared Pennsylvania’s DOMA unconstitutional. (There are surely others?)
This would wrong-foot senate Republicans and would substantiate an obstruction narrative that senate Dems running in November could flog.
Most important issue
Most important issue
GOALS
- SCOTUS going forward for a Generation
- Protecting all social legislation since 1865
HOW ???
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Senate’s in pro-forma session.
Hell Trump supporters couldn’t name one and probably don’t even know what the Supreme Court is.
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Yes it sure does! I hope people wake up – but if they don’t, we will have no choice but to do our best to help our nominee win. I know you feel the same way. I am appalled you keep getting trolled by Carlos, but it reflects badly on him, not you.
“The Right WILL almost literally do battle in the streets to protect their precious 5 majority of the anointed Kings of America.”
Sen Smarmy (Cruz) is already making room in his schedule to go back to Washington and be the lead Senator in the 1st ever filibuster of a SC nominee.
You think I’m kidding?
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