Knockout: Why Obama Wants a Supreme Court Fight and How Republicans Blew It Before It Starts

[kpete]

..................

The political cornering of Republicans will be especially important because this is an election year. The longer Republicans drag out this fight, the more it will galvanize an electorate favorable to the Democratic party. As Ted Cruz helpfully reminded everyone at last night's CBS debate:

“We are one justice away from a Supreme Court that will strike down every restriction on abortion adopted by the states. We are one justice away from a Supreme Court that will reverse the Heller decision (on individual gun ownership]... We are one justice away from a Supreme Court that would undermine the religious liberty of millions of Americans [Read: require employers to butt out of women’s health care decisions.]”

We are also just one justice away from the Supreme Court no longer holding the notion that money is speech. We are one justice away from restoring the Voting Rights Act's protections for minorities.

All of these issues - women's right to reproductive care without interference from their states or their bosses, gun safety, money in politics, voting rights - play in favor of a blue electorate, if only they come out to vote. A high profile fight over the President's nominee to replace Scalia - especially one in which Republicans are seen as political obstructionists rather than conscientious objectors - will insure those voters come out. And they will come out to punish the Republicans even if - perhaps more accurately, when - the President eventually wins the fight to seat his nominee.

In other words, Republicans may end up with the worst of both worlds: President Obama's appointee replacing Scalia, and a 16-year Democratic rein in the White House.

Oops.


MORE:
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/main/2016/2/14/why-obama-wants-scotus-fight

[nichomachus]

1. And also

by declaring that they will block any Obama nominee, means that they've pretty much said their opposition is political and not on principle. They're just attacking because they're attacking -- not because they find the candidate lacking.

They failed to heed Michael Corleone's advice -- "Never let anyone else know what you're thinking."

[unblock]

3. exactly. once upon a time, republicans knew how to play this game.

they announce that they'll be cooperative until they hear the name of the nominee, and only then say, whoa, *that's* the nominee? well, we'll have to examine that one very, very closely, this may take some time....

but this sort of delaying and obstructing has been working so well for them that they forget where they are and simply announce in public what is a routine statement for them behind closed doors.

[cui bono]

6. shhh...

don't remind them.

.

[unblock]

7. ha! republicans getting ideas from liberals. i'm not worried.

they no longer think rationally. they think in tribal terms, and we're the enemy, so everything we do or say is evil.

doesn't matter, for instance, that obamacare is a right-wing, pro-capitalist, insurance industry subsidizing, "market-oriented" alternative to government controlled alternatives such as medicare-for-all or hillary's plan from the 90's. they oppose it simply because it was proposed by the "other" tribe.

so if they dared to look through du and found my post, they'd simply discard it as more liberal drivel.

well, if they knew the word "drivel", anyway....

[dmr]

38. I kinda think it's a race to be first to denounce anything Obama or Democratic.

You know they open their big mouths to immediately show their so-called base they are fighting for them.

Besides the presidential candidates, the others are afraid they'll be 'Cantored', or primaried out.

Other than that, they've all lost their wacky minds.

[Helen Borg]

12. That's too subtle for these morons...

[GeoWilliam750]

13. Far better to overestimate one's opposition than underestimate it

However, they achieved it, these morons are in control of both houses of congress, most of the state legislatures, and until recently, the Supreme Court. They are one seat from having EVERYTHING.

Whilst we may disagree with just about everything they say and do, it is they, rather than us, that have nearly all that they want, so it is difficult to call them stupid.

It is for us, rather, to be dedicated to the work which we have just begun.

[0rganism]

34. underestimation enshrined in the OP's article

that simple phrase, "because this is an election year", has been the doom of us.
Republicans figured this out decades ago, apparently Democrats are slow on the uptake.
EVERY YEAR IS AN ELECTION YEAR and until we take this seriously we're going to have these problems over and over and over again.

[Kablooie]

27. Well, at least they are being honest.

No more diddling around with this politics stuff.
Take a lesson from Trump and just blurt it all out.
To hell with the consequences.

[LiberalLovinLug]

30. And yet another angle

is that they announced that it should be the electorate that decides who will be in charge to nominate the next judge (forgetting logic for a second in that Obama is the current elected President). If everything goes as it looks, with both Sanders and Clinton the favorites over any of the clowns from the other side, then barring a downright steal, we should have a Democratic President. And if they follow up on their statement...the people have spoken! (So by rights they should not put up a fight with whomever is nominated)

[longship]

2. One can only hope, and I do.

I think this is a clusterfuck for the GOP, but they are so entrenched in state governments I am still a bit wary.

People here seem to focus so strongly on the White House, and I do not blame them. However, those who state that they will not support the Democratic nominee ignore the fact that the GOP has just about all the rest. And there is talk about a ConCon in the GOP state houses, which is a danger none of us should want to risk.

That is why I will vote straight Democratic Party yet again this November, no matter who is the nominee.

[Unknown Beatle]

15. There's a reason the GOP is entrenched in state governments,

that's because they've perfected the art of stealing elections. Kansas, Wisconsin, Texas, Florida, Michigan, and a host of others have been artfully stolen for the GOP. They're becoming masters at the game of deception and theft. They leave all kinds of clues behind, but who's going to look into it? The state government?

[longship]

31. Stealing via Gerrymander.

I do not believe for a second that voting machines can be responsible. In MI we have paper ballots with mark sense readers, so that recounts can be hand counted. That is the way with many, many states.

So I will not abide by the stolen election conspiracies unless there is significant evidence beyond the "my candidate lost , therefore stolen" argument.

Plus, vote counting is universally public and bipartisan. When there are paper ballots, fraud ain't easy.

In Michigan, there will be no stolen elections. We have paper ballots here. As do many states.

[Unknown Beatle]

33. In Texas there's no paper ballots,

and voting machines are partly responsible for election theft. I have indisputable evidence (my wife, the precinct chair and myself witnessed the voting machines flip votes from dems to repugs) that voting machines stole the gubernatorial election in 2010, Perry vs White. The three of us raised hell to the County Elections Department but it fell on deaf ears. The person in charge of the elections department also didn't believe that voting machines steal votes.

Google Electronic Voting Fraud and you'll come us with thousands of hits.

Electronic Voting Fraud: A Real Threat to Any Democrat Running for President

ELECTION FRAUD: It's the Voting Machines, Not the Voters

That's just two of many. many more.

[phantom power]

4. Are Democrats finally learning that the secret to defeating the GOP was always...

... to just tell the truth about them?

[safeinOhio]

5. The whole trick to it is to

keep giving them more rope and when they hit rock bottom, toss em a pick and shovel.

[saturnsring]

8. that is gonna require the bernieBros and the hill-shills to vote for whoever wins the primary

[Andy823]

20. Yes

And anyone who has a lick of sense knows this. Those who continue telling others they WON'T vote if their candidate does not win, those who keep up the meme, both sides are the same so why vote, and anyone who tries to get others to "WRITE" in the name of the candidate that lost, are not really trying to make sure this country does not fall into the hands of the morons in the GOP clown car. This election is one of the most important ones we have had, now that there is a seat open on the SCOTUS. If a republican wins they get to put the next judges on the court, and then that my friends is not going to work out well for our country, or the people who live here.

[B Calm]

9. Obama speaks for the majority of Americans. I say majority because the majority of Americans

voted for him. If the cons block his Supreme Court nominees, the majority of voters will punish them in November.

[Human101948]

10. Don't forget that we can sandblast all the war memorials as well!

And sell baby parts! Wahoo!

[Xolodno]

11. Don't forget the...

...concentration camps that FEMA is setting up and Obama declaring marshal law and appointing himself as President for life.

Last July I went to Brianhead (close proximity to Bryce and other National Parks)....at the bar of the resort we were staying, couple friends of ours were lightly joking about politics....then the bartender interjected about Obama instituting marshal law and staying as President....

I turned to him and told him "No way in hell, to do that he would need full support of the military, FBI, CIA, etc." His response "I don't know, I think he could pull it off"....we paid for our drinks and left.

I would say people are really are that stupid, but I know full well...he's a victim of Nazi like propaganda.

[Moostache]

14. Propaganda? Yes....but also a healthy dose of racism to fuel the idea in his mind...

The country was far too quick to forget "YOU LIE!" being shouted at the president during a joint address to Congress and all the other subtle and not-so-subtle jabs at President Obama from Day One of his presidency.

Its one thing to be misled...its another to seek out reinforcement from someone cashing in on your desire to hear something in the first place...

[lastone]

16. Thanks KPete!

I thought the same thing as soon as I heard all these r-wing buffoons saying they were going to shut down the process regardless of who Obama nominates, fukc the repblicans and all who vote for them...

[AikenYankee]

17. K&R nt

[Mustellus]

18. And in the meanwhile......

The court is a four-four tie if Kennedy breaks conservative, which means no decision...

or....

The court is a three-five liberal if Kennedy breaks the other way.

The morons don't win by obstructing, either. Now is the time to load up the court's docket with all the challenges we can think of.

[IronLionZion]

19. Any candidate is going to be declared a left-wing extremist

so we should totally nominate the most liberal candidate we can find.

The Onion has a good take on this:
http://www.theonion.com/article/obama-compiles-shortlist-gay-transsexual-abortion--52361

[pangaia]

21. These loons would make terrible poker players.

[L. Coyote]

22. A conservative US Supreme Court died with Scalia. That's why so reactionary!

They know this is the end of their control of that branch of government, one they abused and manipulated into an Executive coup of the government in 2000. Their power just evaporated into the spirit world.

[navarth]

23. That site

was less than credible to me. Not referring to this particular article, but rather some of the other articles listed: referring to Bernie's 'halo' for one.

I do not wish to diminish the honorable kpete's thread, but I merely wanted to mention as an aside that this site....meh. Not even handed at first glance.

[pinboy3niner]

40. That blogger was PPRd here by EarlG as a troll

He posted as michigandem58, excerpting and linking his blog posts--and he got tons of criticism from members here.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=292212&sub=trans

[drm604]

24. It's what Republicans do these days.

They refuse to do their jobs. Any business would fire them.

They collect a paycheck from us taxpayers and do nothing in return for it. They're nothing but a bunch of welfare queens.

[Ferd Berfel]

25. PAnic! Oh Heaven forbid....

Rafael Cruze: We are also just one justice away from the Supreme Court no longer holding the notion that money is speech. We are one justice away from restoring the Voting Rights Act's protections for minorities.

Oh God...NOT THAT!!!




BTW - his real name is Rafael. Let's start calling this that

[me b zola]

26. Swing for the fences, President Obama, swing for the fences!

[PatrickforO]

28. I don't think they understand how offensive that meeting Republicans had on

the very night of Obama's inauguration in 2009. You know, the one where they engaged in sedition by agreeing to oppose Obama in EVERYTHING instead of worrying about what is best for the American people.

I'm still FURIOUS about that shit, and now they are saying, "Oh, let's stall on a new Supreme Court justice until AFTER the election???"

Fuck that!

[JudyM]

35. +1. Certainly not what the Framers intended, not by any stretch of the imagination.

It is subversion of the Constitution and should be prosecuted somehow, IMO.

[Egnever]

29. I disagree

I think this might be the only thing that can save the GOP this election.

I think there is a large portion of the GOP electorate poised to sit out this election because all of their candidates suck.

The idea that your average Republican voter wants to see a liberal supreme Court Justice is silly.

In a race between Hillary and trump with two candidates that have high negatives the supreme Court pick could be enough to make the difference of who is motivated enough to show at the polls.

[JudyM]

36. That was my thought, exactly, but my O.P. didnt meet with much agreement.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511227619

I still think we're right, unfortunately.

[Egnever]

37. Yup

I think you nailed it. Did not see your post before.

It might be the only thing that can save the clown car.

[JanMichael]

32. Wait until they are counted out before declaring victory. Rousey v. Holm.

Everyone was declaring Rousey the new mma Mike Tyson, and all but guaranteed she would beat Holm, but the only one that got ktfo was Ronda.

Nothing ensures nothing.

Sure hope it works though.

[vkkv]

39. I think you are right- if Americans are still smart and aware.. in any way at all.. ________ n/t

[librechik]

41. GOP should go away and re-invent themselves as human beings

instead of plaster dummies of rich people.

[Kber]

42. What I don't understand is that this can't have been a knee jerk reaction.

Scalia was in poor health. It was certainly within the universe of possibility that Obama would have the chance to replace him (or goddess forbid, RBH) in the near future.

As Senate Majority Leader, this has to have crossed Mitch's mind. He must have thought about it and had a response ready to go "just in case".

And this is what he and his Cracker Jack staff thought was the best course of action??