Ruth Bader Ginsburg is about to turn 83

[oberliner]

She has undergone multiple cancer-related surgeries.

It seems fairly likely that she will retire at some point during the next president's term.

If Obama is prevented from nominating someone for Scalia's slot, and a Republican wins the White House, that person will most likely get to nominate at least two justice and the result will be a solid right-wing conservative majority on the Supreme Court for many years to come.

Should Stephen Breyer also choose to retire (he is in his late 70s), then that right-wing, conservative majority will be even more substantial and presumably long-standing.

There could very easily by a situation where there are six rock solid right-wing votes on the court, which has the potential to transform the laws of the land in the US dramatically, especially in concert with a Republican president and a Republican majority in Congress.

We must contemplate this scenario carefully and do everything in our power to ensure that it does not come to pass.

[Rocky the Leprechaun]

1. Two things for sure

1) It won't be the Republicans who'll hold the WH, the Senate or the House.
2) It won't be Hillary Clinton.

[shenmue]

2. Enjoy your stay

[CommonSenseDemocrat]

15. A Bernie Sanders supporting post

I think replies in support of primary candidates don't break the rules.

[spanone]

18. dream on

[Hoyt]

3. Oh yeah Rocky, Sanders is going to wave his arms around and change the Senate and House majorities.

[oberliner]

6. I don't understand this response

Can you elaborate on what you mean?

[Hoyt]

7. I meant to respond to Rocky directly. When I realized error, I put his user name in. My apologies

I agree with your OP completely.

[MohRokTah]

4. If they block Obama,...

Hillary will nominate a very liberal justice and the newly minted Democratic Senate will end forevermore the filibuster on SCOTUS nominees.

She will then replace Ginsburg and Breyer with solidly liberal Justices. Hopefully Roberts will resign after that, unwilling to preside over the most liberal SCOTUS in history and Hillary will then name the most liberal CJ in history.

[mgmaggiemg]

5. women are not like men

they take a beating and keep on ticking...this is a biological truth...so don't count her out until after the election is over....then she may retire.... the dems will be coming out in force because of the supreme court vacancy

[oberliner]

9. O'Connor retired in her mid 70s

For what that is worth.

[mgmaggiemg]

10. yes

I think her husband dies and she decided to retire...but she didn't die on the bench...that is the thing...if she had decided to stay on she could have....

[whistler162]

19. If you mean Justice O'Connor it

was her husbands Alzheimer's that led in part to her retirement. He passed away in 200,9 3+ years after her retirement.

[mgmaggiemg]

20. yeah so I am slightly wrong here

but if memory is corrected (excuse the pun) I remember reading she retired because of her husband...not because she herself had health issues....

[Renew Deal]

8. She should have retired in 2010

[Crunchy Frog]

11. It's not a popular opinion here, but

I'm really bothered by her failing to retire at a time when it would be guaranteed that her successor would be selected by a Dem. We could end up losing Roe v Wade because of that decision.

[milestogo]

12. I wish she would retire this year

so Obama could appoint two justices.

[Crunchy Frog]

14. He may not even be able to appoint one.

She should have retired before we lost the Senate.

I will be furious at her if her replacement ends up being appointed by a Rethug, because it would have been so avoidable.

[LeftyMom]

16. She knows anybody Obama picks would be less awesome than she is.

He's a lousy negotiator, he always starts meeting the Republicans halfway and then gives more away until they concede.

[Crunchy Frog]

17. Yes. Far better that she stick around until she can be replaced by Genghis Khan.

Or someone like that.

[mgmaggiemg]

21. I disagree...

it's much safer for her to stay in...for the dems...

[MineralMan]

13. Yes. Let's come together to elect the Democratic nominee!

Let's do that, please, for everyone's sake.

[Catherine Vincent]

22. Well, I'm hoping a Republican doesn't win the WH