President Obama:"I plan to fulfill my Constitutional responsibility to nominate a successor

[cal04]

President Obama: "I plan to fulfill my Constitutional responsibility to nominate a successor in due time."

"I plan to fulfill my Constitutional responsibility to nominate a successor in due time."

"There’s plenty of time...for the Senate to fulfill its responsibility to give that person a fair hearing and a timely vote"

"These are responsibilities I take seriously, as should everyone. They’re bigger than any one party. They’re about our democracy."

https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse

[sharp_stick]

1. The RNC

and the rest of the puke establishment is absolutely shitting themselves over the potential ramifications of fat Tony's demise.

[DFW]

2. If they were THAT concerned about him

They would have made him quit smoking and curtailed his diet 20 years ago.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

4. How would they make him do that?

[DFW]

7. Zey haff zeir vays........... n/t

[erlewyne]

20. I am glad he was eating and smoking and happy.

He could still be around hungry, nicotine fits, and miserable.
And, we will miss him. We had it good!

[sharp_stick]

5. Fortunately for humanity

the republicans don't believe in science based metrics and figured gawd would keep him breathing until Ronald Reagan was reincarnated or they all got raptured.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

8. Too funny!!!

[liberalhistorian]

13. DUzy!!!

LOL.

[Hugin]

3. As I expected from our President.

Sense. Very Presidential.

Thanks for the sense of calm President Obama.

[Cali_Democrat]

6. Obama

Always the adult in the room.

[Dretownblues]

27. No matter who becomes President

I think we will all miss the professionalism and grace Obama has blessed us with during his presidency.

[TheProgressive]

9. Damn straight he's going to nominate a successor...

And I predict a political War if the republicans fail to act.

[Hortensis]

35. Both sides are trying to figure out HOW best

to use this to affect the election in their direction -- and to not lose it because of this.

I was reading about SCOTUS, though. It can operate indefinitely on 8 justices. In event of ties, the lower court ruling stands and the SCOTUS decision does not have precedent status. As of now, most, but not all, important pending cases have more liberal lower court rulings.

[ebayfool]

10. Yeeeah buddy! That's part of the job description!

And the repubs can bite it!

[scarletwoman]

11. Rec & kick! How Obama manages to stay so calm and reasonable is amazing to me.

I would so want to follow up "I plan to fulfill my Constitutional responsibility to nominate a successor in due time." with: "So SUCK ON IT, Republicans! S U C K O N I T!!!1"

[Hortensis]

36. LOL. When almost the GOP's first statement, from a staffer barely

a minute after receiving the news, was that they would block any appointment, it wouldn't be surprising if behind that calm face Obama was already in full battle mode himself. He must have various preliminary plans already formulated in case this situation arose.

[silvershadow]

12. I hope he delivers a name on Tuesday morning, 8:30 am.

I would say Monday, but it is a federal holiday.

[Drunken Irishman]

33. He's gotta be careful...

I think they need to really vet this choice. I'm sure they've already vetted candidates, but it needs to be amazingly thorough. We can't afford this debate to be derailed by some minor scandal - even if it's insignificant. No fodder should be given to the GOP. Force 'em to vote up/down on the merits. Then he stands a good chance of actually getting someone, as I think you can peel off enough Republicans to get it through. But if you give them any reason to vote no, which they're looking for, it changes the debate. This person is going to be the most scrutinized nominee in history, unfortunately.

[Mariana]

34. I would hope he already has a list

of excellent potential nominees. Given the ages of some of the justices, it would be foolish not to be prepared to replace one or more of them on short notice.

[Hortensis]

37. Yes. I'm sure he does.

[jalan48]

14. I'll never forget Fat Tony going ducking hunting with Dick Cheney.

It was the weekend before the SC was to rule on a case involving Cheney. Good riddance.

[liberalnarb]

15. Republicans: "HOW DARE YOU DO YOUR JOB!"

[Iwillnevergiveup]

16. A respectful suggestion?

A clone of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

[flamingdem]

17. You tell 'em boss!

[SMC22307]

18. I wouldn't expect anything less. (n/t)

[Hekate]

19. Good man, that.

[Marie Marie]

21. Good for you Mr. President.

Oh this will get ugly - the Republican Candidates will have a field day with this politically but I applaud our President for essentially saying: "Fuck dat noise - I'm doing what I was elected to do".

[me b zola]

22. I think Obama has the upper hand here

If the republicans do what they do best, obstruct, they will be swept out of Congress. The public is in no mood for their shenanigans.

[Feeling the Bern]

23. Republicans: We're fucked unless we do something. Our candidates suck, we may lose the Senate

and now we're about to lose the SCOTUS.

Couldn't happen to a worse bunch of bottom feeding pond scum.

[tomm2thumbs]

24. true on all counts

and well-deserved

[BlueStreak]

25. The winning strategy is for Obama to huddle with Hillary and Bernie

They need to agree on a candidate they will all support. Then when Obama names the nominee, both Hillary and Bernie would immediately confirm that if the GOP fails to confirm, they will put forward that very same nominee.

That will force the GOP to either confirm the nominee or else have the election become a referendum on Scalia. Does the GOP really want that to be the number one issue in the election?

The key here is solidarity among Obama, Clinton and Sanders. No daylight between any of them.

[Mister Ed]

29. Very good reasoning. n/t

[SummerSnow]

26. So Obama is saying...f*** you GOP.lol

[deathrind]

28. I am going to miss...

Having him as President.

"They’re bigger than any one party. They’re about our democracy."

I can only imagine (and weep) for where we could be as a nation if republicans (mostly) and democrats had understood the democracy comment above and truly worked in a bi-partisan fashion with this President.

[Blue_Roses]

30. Well said!

And I am going to miss him too.

[d_legendary1]

31. Let's hope he doesn't nominate a corporate shill

The last thing we need is replacing one Scalia with another.

[noiretextatique]

38. there is no reason to, really

Since the GOP plans to obstruct anyway, he should nominate the most liberal justice he can find.

[d_legendary1]

40. From your lips to God's ears

I hope you're right. And a big thanks to DWS for giving us this Republican Congress.

[ellisonz]

32. Thank You President Obama!

[noiretextatique]

39. "there's plenty of time for the senate to fulfill its responsibility"

In your face, GOP.

[Skittles]

41. I SEE WHAT HE DID THERE

hear that, Constitution-obsessed assholes? CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

*IN YOUR FACE*