If a Supreme Court member died or quit, how likely is it that President Obama could fill that seat?

[onehandle]

9 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	0%
	5 (56%)
	100%
	4 (44%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[BlueJazz]

1. Said zero at first but lately he's being more aggressive ....said 100%

[customerserviceguy]

8. You can't sign an executive order

to confirm a SCOTUS nominee. Aggression would hurt him in this case, not help him.

We had damn well better hope that the progressive wing of the SCOTUS stays happy and healthy for the next two years at least.

[BlueJazz]

13. I was thinking more of a "you scratch my back, we'll scratch yours" sort of deal.

Perhaps even something not very apparent.
Still...his chances on pushing the right buttons might be anybody's guess.??

[onehandle]

20. Not a chance. nt

[vadermike]

2. Probably not too bad

I only say this cause he could probably get someone confirmed but it would be a center right nominee

[Ken Burch]

15. Or somebody who only had a year to live. n/t.

[Cal Carpenter]

22. I LOL'd

I sorta feel bad about it though

[indepat]

3. Republican senators would doubtlessly support a Roberts-, Alito-, Scalia-, Rehnquist-, Bork-type

nominee, but will block/vote against nominees not in that ideological mold imo.

[rurallib]

5. I think they will block anyone, I mean anyone, Obama puts forward

thinking they can hold on until 2017.
Especially if it was one of the left wingers that left - there would be NO incentive to fix a 5-3 balance.

[onehandle]

18. Correct. nt

[MrScorpio]

4. The magic would happen if he nominated Bill Clinton.

Heads would explode

[Doctor Who]

16. President Clinton was disbarred.

For perjuring himself in front of a grand jury. I honestly don't know if you need a law license to be on SCOTUS. If he really wanted heads to explode, he would nominate Eric Holder.

[MrScorpio]

21. There's no requirement to be a practicing lawyer in order to sit on the Supreme Court

So there's nothing preventing him from serving, were he to be nominated and confirmed.

As for Holder, maybe we can get lucky and two winger seats could open up.

[IdiocracyTheNewNorm]

29. True the only requirement is no requirement; you don’t even have to be a citizen

I would like to see him nominate Dr West for the court, oral arguments would get really interesting.
Beside it would really piss off the pubs.

[Skeowes28]

6. Deoends

Conservative no way liberal yes

[Cha]

7. Another thing those who stayed home didn't give a fig about. And, I have no idea.

[Warren Stupidity]

11. Why did they stay home?

[Warren Stupidity]

9. I'll go with zero.

I see no evidence that the Republican Party is less ruthless now than they were one month ago.

[onehandle]

19. Yep. nt

[tritsofme]

10. It depends on the vacancy. He probably has 12-15 months left to fill a liberal seat.

If one of the conservatives died, it would be very difficult for Obama to get any nominee confirmed.

[HereSince1628]

12. I suspect the great compromise was harder to get than that

and it happened.


But the judge that could be confirmed would probably never even get left enough to be called center

[Ken Burch]

14. Uh...your poll offers choices but doesn't say what the choices are.

It looks like you're asking which color people like better-blue, or green?

[onehandle]

17. On or Off. I or O. Yes or No.

They are in control.

No matter how Liberal or Conservative a candidate is, would the GOPNRAteahadists allow a single win for the black President?

The answer is 0%.

[madinmaryland]

23. If the Repukes were to block a nominee for purely political reasons, it could create the possibility

of a Constitutional Crisis. And who would decide whether Congress had overstepped their bounds. It would not be the SCOTUS.

And would the Repukes basically "bork" any nominee of Obama?

[tritsofme]

24. It would not really be a constitutional crisis

A crisis for the judicial system for sure though.

The Constitution does not demand all vacancies be filled, it is left to the Senate to determine. There are only political consequences, and voters would be the only ones empowered to say that Congress overstepped their bounds by changing the leadership.

[FreeJoe]

25. He could fill it easily...

...if he appointed a right-winger.

[onehandle]

38. Nope.

The seat would stay empty until 2017.

[woo me with science]

26. Yeah, that's all we need (dripping, grim sarcasm)

Chilling Legal Memo From Obama DOJ Justifies Assassination of US Citizens
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101654954

Obama seeks longer PATRIOT Act extension than Republicans (December 2013)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x380450

When it comes to civil liberties, apparently Democrats are just as bad as Republicans.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022101960

NSA's Massive New Spy Center to Track Your Emails, Internet Activity, and Phone Calls
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101620852

Obama Quietly Signs Abusive Spy Bill He Once Vowed to Eliminate
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022104861

Obama repeals Magna Carta, asserting powers our forefathers denied to Kings
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101655620

Obama's Memo on Killing Americans Twists 'Imminent Threat' Like Bush
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101654919

Obama no better than Bush when it comes to security vs. civil liberties.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022355307

Obama Admin Seeks Permission TO LIE In Response To FOI Requests - Even To The COURTS
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2185303

NDAA on trial: Obama Administration fights ban on indefinite detention of Americans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101748688

Obama administration complicit with private prison industry: President Obama's IncarcerNation
http://www.nationofchange.org/president-obama-s-incarcernation-1335274655

Obama, Democrats Push to Make Bush Spying Laws Permanent
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022084702

NDAA, signed by Obama, is a direct attack against legitimate protest and dissent
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022064803

NSA Whistleblower: All Americans under constant surveillance, all info. stored, no matter the post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002193487; http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021935289

Bipartisan Congress Disgracefully Approves the FISA Warrantless Spying Bill for Five More Years
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022087323

While Public & Media Focused on 2nd Amendment, 5th Amendment Quietly Dismantled
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022390581

How the Obama administration justifies extrajudicial killing of Americans,
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022318187

Judge Says Under Law Executive Branch Can Commit Acts That Sure Do Seem Unconstitutional
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022122464

Obama Justice Dept. says wiretap lawsuit should not proceed
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014337039

NDAA Lawsuit- Hedges v. Obama, The Last Thin Line of Defense
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022357078

Federal authorities step up efforts to license surveillance drones for law enforcement
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022383596

Big Banks and FBI worked together vs Occupy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022095056]

FBI Investigated 'Occupy' As Possible 'Domestic Terrorism' Threat, Internal Documents Show
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022061578

FBI Documents Reveal Secret Nationwide Occupy Monitoring (Updated the OP)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022057064

Public Buses Across Country Quietly Adding Microphones to Record Passenger Conversations
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021965291

Street artist behind satirical NYPD 'Drone' posters arrested
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021920967

The Obama DOJ urged the Supreme Court's endorsement of strip searches.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002521527

Obama Administration Fights to Allow Warrantless GPS Tracking
http://sync.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1074474

Anonymous to FBI: hey, dudes, maybe you could take a break from...investigating activists....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022145621

Half a billion dollars for drones to spy on Americans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021876414

From Bradley Manning to Aaron Swartz -- The Government's Inhumane Persecution of Brave Truth Tellers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022276941

The sight of Army helicopters and the sound of gunfire...on Houston's south side
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022276742

Kiriakou and Stuxnet: the danger of the still-escalating Obama whistleblower war
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022275570

Can the DEA Hide a Surveillance Camera on Your Property?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022237059

Social Media and the Stasi
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021888029

Homeland Security Wants to More Than Double Its Predator Drone Fleet Inside the US, Despite Safety/Privacy Invasions
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014312823

CIA Behind Bizarre Censorship Incident At Alleged 9/11 Plotters’ Gitmo Trial
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022280285

“I Am Wearing My Conviction As A Badge Of Honor.”
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022275128

Meet the Contractors Turning America's Police Into a Paramilitary Force
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12525281

How Secrecy Corrodes Democracy
http://election.democraticunderground.com/101655009

Obama Quietly Issues Ruling Saying It's Legal For The FBI To Break The Law
http://election.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7545687

US Pulls Plug on Iran Cable News (Press TV)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014394770

DHS Watchdog OKs 'Suspicionless' Seizure of Electronic Devices Along Border
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022339091

One Of The NSA's Original Whistleblowers Says The Goal Is 'Total Population Control'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025225549

Petition Calls On Obama Stop Intimidation Of Journalists And Whistleblowers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025509395

U.S. Plunges in Global Press Freedom Rankings As Obama Wages War on Whistleblowers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024488178

Obama Promises, Including Whistleblower Protections, Disappear
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014549454

President Obama on Whistleblowers: Then and Now -
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x536574

Obama's unprecedented war on whistleblowers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101613051

James Risen: Obama Is 'Greatest Enemy To Press Freedom In A .
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025401662

An Assault from Obama's Escalating War on Journalism
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025030391

Obama administration to reveal legal justification for killing Americans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014808253

Obama's Memo on Killing Americans Twists 'Imminent Threat' Like Bush
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101654919

NSA Phone Snooping Cannot Be Challenged in Court, Feds Say ..
http://metamorphosis.democraticunderground.com/1014542562

Democratic establishment unmasked: prime defenders of NSA bulk collection
http://metamorphosis.democraticunderground.com/10023337088

NSA can store a billion cell phone calls.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023125853

N.S.A. Examines Social Networks of U.S. Citizens (Decision Made In Secret 2010)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014605329

PBS Frontline Exposes (Softly) Bush's and Obama's Authorization and Coverup of NSA Spying
http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/eric-zuesse/55928/pbs-frontline-exposes-softly-bushs-and-obamas-authorization-and-coverup-of-nsa-illegal-surveillance-of-

Stopping police militarization = confronting corporate politicians (increased under Obama)
...http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025416709

Federal grants drive the militarization of police departments
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025383806

Why Is President Obama Keeping a Journalist in Prison in Yemen
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023300531

James Clapper Calls Journalists "Criminal Accomplices" -
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017174990

Rachel Maddow on David Miranda and the White House
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/19/1232435/-Rachel-Maddow-on-David-Miranda-and-the-White-House

Obama Pentagon Employs Bush-Era Propagandists to Screen Embedding Journalists
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6380567

Obama the Conservative: Little Hope for Change
http://www.obamatheconservative.com/

Obama: After 911, we tortured some folks.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014860709''

Obama and GOPers Worked Together to Kill Bush Torture Probe
http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/12/wikileaks-cable-obama-quashed-torture-investigation

"My Head Exploded When Obama Sanctimoniously Said, 'We Tortured Some Folks'"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025339047

Obama Administration: Further Legitimizing Targeted Assassinations by Drones
http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2012/05/02/further-legitimizing-targeted-assassinations-by-drones/

Washington gets explicit: its 'war on terror' is permanent
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/17/endless-war-on-terror-obama

President Obama’s Dragnet (New York Times Editorial)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022960012

[SamKnause]

28. Exactly x 100000000000000000000000

I often feel like I live in an alternate universe, that or the memories of masses have been erased.

Thank you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bananas]

30. Over at ReaganDemocrats.com they think those are good things. nt

[DFW]

27. If he nominates another Sotomayor, zero. If he nominates another Kennedy, 100%

McTurtle will shoot down ANY nominee not 99.99% to his liking when he is Majority leader.

[onehandle]

35. 'McTurtle will shoot down ANY nominee'

Period.

[bananas]

31. I thought you meant if he could fill it with himself, become a Supreme Court Justice himself.

He is a constitutional lawyer so he's certainly qualified.

[onehandle]

37. Nah. I meant could he get a Justice approved.

The answer is no.

[SteveG]

32. No chance

The republicans would filibuster any nominee that was not wearing a Nazi Uniform.

[onehandle]

36. Yep. nt

[bigwillq]

33. 100 percent

Obama could fill the seat. It just probably won't be anyone too left-leaning.

[onehandle]

34. 100% no wins for Obama Congress.

0% chance.

[NYC Liberal]

39. Recess appointment for 2 years.

[onehandle]

40. Nope. McConnell will twist the rules and take advantage of this ruling.

Supreme Court Limits President's Recess Appointment Power

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday limited the president's power to fill high-level vacancies with temporary appointments, ruling in favor of Senate Republicans in their partisan clash with President Barack Obama.

The court's first-ever case involving the Constitution's recess appointments clause ended in a unanimous decision holding that Obama's appointments to the National Labor Relations Board in 2012 without Senate confirmation were illegal. Obama invoked the Constitution's provision giving the president the power to make temporary appointments when the Senate is in recess.

Problem is, the court said, the Senate was not actually in a formal recess when Obama acted.

Obama had argued that the Senate was on an extended holiday break and that the brief sessions it held every three days were a sham that was intended to prevent him from filling seats on the NLRB.

The justices rejected that argument Wednesday.

The issue of recess appointments receded in importance after the Senate's Democratic majority changed the rules to make it harder for Republicans to block confirmation of most Obama appointees.

But the ruling's impact may be keenly felt by the White House next year if Republicans capture control of the Senate in the November election. The potential importance of the ruling lies in the Senate's ability to block the confirmation of judges and the leaders of independent agencies like the NLRB. A federal law gives the president the power to appoint acting heads of Cabinet-level departments to keep the government running.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/26/supreme-court-recess-appointments_n_5533174.html