McConnell, sounding rattled, says give the people a voice

[BeyondGeography]

Spinning like a top on the Senate floor right now. Says, "Give the people a voice." Well, here's what the people say, and that was before the President nominated the most qualified, least politically-charged candidate available:

Majority of Public Wants Senate to Act on Obama’s Court Nominee

In the high-stakes battle over replacing Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court, a majority of Americans (56%) say the Senate should hold hearings and vote on President Obama’s choice to fill the vacancy. About four-in-ten (38%) say the Senate should not hold hearings until the next president selects a court nominee.

http://www.people-press.org/2016/02/22/majority-of-public-wants-senate-to-act-on-obamas-court-nominee/

And then there's a big spiel about the Biden Rule, which people will look at as so much Beltway speak.

This will be fun.

[malaise]

1. Yep

Get the popcorn

[still_one]

2. His argument, they don't want to politicize it, they just want to make this part of the Presidential

election.

ok. I am a little slow, but perhaps someone can explain to me how making the SC nomination part of the Presidential election is NOT political

hmmmmmmmmm

[Wounded Bear]

8. When a politician says he doesn't want to politicize an issue...

he already has.

[still_one]

11. That answered my question, thank you

[edhopper]

14. Plus there is Senate election every two years

so we can't have a nomination on any even year.
Or it would be "politicized".

[C_U_L8R]

3. All McConnell has are spitballs

His argument is total BS. If he were honest, he'd admit his partisan motivations.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. He doesn't have an honest bone in his body. n/t

[blm]

5. McConnell, sounding rattled, says Presidents must be limited to court picks in first 3 yrs of term.

If McConnell truly believes this is a case of principle, then he should write the legislation seeking a constitutional amendment that will do what he says must be done.

Presidents shall nominate Supreme Court justices ONLY in their first 3 years of office.

Come on, Mitch - if this is what you and the Senate are demanding then put it up for a vote.

[liberal from boston]

22. Senator McConnell

Mitch McConnell -- the people have already spoken --they have elected President Obama TWICE by overwhelming margins.

[blue neen]

6. McConnell ought to sound rattled.

He has been leading his party into terribly wrong decisions for quite some time now...and now they are starting to pay for it.

[flygal]

7. How are they getting away with this?!

I know the answer - decades of hate radio convincing their people that anything against the Democrats is good.

[Solly Mack]

9. Let's get ready to rumble

We've had the unexpected blessing of a title opening up. We've had the grandiose bellowings from supporters of the former title holder.

Now we have a new contender.






Well, it does sound like a boxing match, sorta.

I've been up all night, so I'm punch drunk.

See what I did there?

I slay me.

I'll shut up now.

[deathrind]

10. I am going to miss

President Obama. I appreciate the way he can put the screws to republicans now and again. It is going to be fun to watch the republicans contorted positions on why they will not hold hearings for this SC nominee.

I have never even heard of this judge but apparently he is the least objectionable nominee the President could put forth. Which is going to leave republicans wrestling to find one adult reason or another for not holding a vote on him.

[glinda]

12. Ya wait til Trump nominates Judge Judy.

[ffr]

13. 38% get a D- in Civics.

The senate is suppose to hold hearings to vet presidential nominations. And then, if they don't like the approved nominee, they can filibuster.

It doesn't say that the senate can refuse to hold hearings if...like for instance, the senate majority leader is a white racist bigot and doesn't like the president is half white.

Mitch McConnell, you are derelict in your duties. Do your job!

[Jenny_92808]

15. Biden's office has released the following statement:

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/02/22/3752298/no-joe-biden-didnt-say-that-the-senate-should-block-supreme-court-nominees-during-an-election-year/

"Nearly a quarter century ago, in June 1992, I gave a lengthy speech on the Senate floor about a hypothetical vacancy on the Supreme Court. Some critics say that one excerpt of my speech is evidence that I oppose filling a Supreme Court vacancy in an election year. This is not an accurate description of my views on the subject. Indeed, as I conclude in the same statement critics are pointing to today, urged the Senate and White House to work together to overcome partisan differences to ensure the Court functions as the Founding Fathers intended. That remains my position today."

[oldandhappy]

16. Senate should hold hearings and vote

We elected you to be our voice and to do your work.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. The people decided in 2012

that they wanted Barack Obama to fill SCOTUS vacancies for the next 4 years. Not for the next 1, 2, or 3 years but FOUR YEARS! Neither the Constitution nor any law enacted since limits a President's appointments only to non-election years. Also, just because Republicans like to sometimes throw it out there, the 2014 midterms did NOT alter/change anything about President Obama's judicial appointment powers either. Republicans are trying to invent limitations/precedents that simply DO NOT EXIST just to prevent Scalia's replacement on SCOTUS from being one they didn't get to choose (and may not even be able to choose for the next four years either)!

[Jack Rabbit]

18. When McConnell says "the people," he means only artificial persons

Anything organic is excluded.

[0rganism]

19. hmm, seems like we spoke pretty clearly about this in 2012

go ahead Mitch, don't do your jobs, see how that plays. Garland's highly qualified, low-key and moderate, so opposing him on the merits will be extremely difficult, but go right ahead. if you're super-lucky and end up with a GOP majority in the senate and a GOP president next year, yeah you could get a conservative nominee. OTOH, if things play out as the odds suggest, expect to be running minority opposition to whomever the Democratic president thinks will be a liberal answer to Scalia.

[spanone]

20. the voters spoke in 2012 mitchie....were you sleeping?

[Surya Gayatri]

21. He really was showing some flop sweat there on the Senate floor.

Obama has backed these obstructionist assholes into an extremely uncomfortable corner.

[BeyondGeography]

25. He certainly was

[spanone]

23. oh, republicans don't care about THOSE people.

[AgadorSparticus]

24. THEY DID, you lying POS!!! We the people elected Obama

And it is his duty to nominate a scotus. It is YOUR duty to accept or REASONABLY reject a scouts nominee. I really hate the right.....

[Codeine]

26. It was called the last election, Dickwad.

Your creepy religious cultist lost, so just shut your damned turtle face and get to work.

[Vinca]

27. I just contacted my Senator re the "Biden" rule.

After thanking her (Ayotte) for blocking the nominee because he isn't liberal enough for me, I asked her where one might find the "Biden" rule in the Constitution and why this "Biden" rule takes precedence over the Constitution. If you are unlucky enough to have a GOP Senator, maybe you could email and ask why Joe Biden's 14 year old speech is more important than our Constitution.

[UTUSN]

28. Yet the low information wingnut sheep will believe "the BIDEN rule" is actual *law*.

By the bye, "low information voters" was originally coined (I think in 2004?) to describe the Faux Propaganda Network demographic, but LIMBOsevic has done his trademarked number of turning language 180, applying it to Libs.

[yellowcanine]

29. Be interesting to see what the polls say now that there is a nominee.

My guess is that even among Republicans there will be more support for holding hearings and even confirming Garland. I suspect Mitch and his No buddies are going to get an earful from the people back home in the coming weeks and months.

[liberalfromaustin21]

30. McConnell should STFU

Hypocritical fascist.

[Rex]

31. No doubt all of 3 people still believe that shit from McTurtle.

He should go snort some more coke and get back with us.

[Takket]

32. Dumb question maybe but........

Can the democrats just hold a hearing without the GOP? What's stopping them form just getting a conference room, setting up a table, inviting the media, and asking this guy some questions? Let America hear what this guy has to say. If they don't like him, let America demand a rejection vote. If they don't like him, let America demand an acceptance vote. Doesn't have to be all formal and on the record if not officially called by the chairman of the judiciary committee.

I know they control the Senate but I find it hard to believe no one can even talk to this nominee without the GOP saying its okay.

[B Calm]

33. The people voices elected Obama not once, but twice.