Supreme Court Tennis. Obama serving.

[DFW]

He serves a moderate Merrick Garland for the vacant seat.

Garland is so moderate, the Republican-dominated Senate had to expose themselves as unadulterated assholes to their own constituency in order to have the "fun" of spiting Obama one last time. Obama's popularity grew, theirs waned. But the seat remained unfilled. 15-Love Republicans.

All serious Republican candidates for president implode, as well as all but one of the unqualified crazies, practically handing the White House to the Democrats in 2017. 15 all.

Hillary is made out by the media to be anything but a lock, and the Republicans remain intransigent on Garland, not even caring about the ugly, base precedent they are setting. But they still control the Senate. 30-15 Republicans.

The Senate looks up for grabs, especially due to the negative coattails of which their presidential candidate seems to have an inexhaustible supply. 30 all.

Obama doesn't withdraw Garland's name. Republicans don't want to look like they caved, but don't want to have an Obama nominee on the Court either. Advantage Democrats.

Hillary says she might nominate "her own" choice for the Court, and the message is clear--she'll not be nominating another Garland. She'll be nominating another Sotomayor, and probably be presenting her nominee to a Democratic-majority Senate. The Republicans can either confirm Garland before year end, or, within 2-3 months of Hillary's inauguration, immediately face a Court even farther to the left than the one that would have been by confirming Garland.

The Republicans have double-faulted. Game, set and match Democrats.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

1. My prediction: If Hillary wins, Ginsberg will announce her retirement.

Garland is still tapped for the Scalia seat, and Hillary gets to have her own say for Ginsberg's seat.

[DFW]

2. Sounds like a reasonable scenario.

I even suspect Kennedy might not be far behind. I hope Breyer stays. I really like the guy, even if not all of his decisions have been to my liking.

[Orrex]

9. I suggest that we keep a bank of RBG clones on ice for future court appointment

That much raw ass-kicking can't be allowed to retire!

[lame54]

10. Dump Garland and pick 2 seats

[geek tragedy]

3. this all presumes Republicans lose the White House and Senate control. nt

[DFW]

4. It certainly does

If we blow either, we deserve it. They are both ours to lose.

[vlyons]

5. I hope she nominates Obama

It would serve the asshole GOP senators right. Don't know if Obama would get confirmed, but would it be a hoot to watch them erupt with their hair on fire about it? And there is a precedent: Prez William Taft, a republican, was appointed as Chief Justice.

[democrattotheend]

7. Me too

Poetic justice, and I think he'd be a great Supreme Court justice.

[geek tragedy]

6. things are currently trending that way.

Right now we're looking at only two likely Senate pickups (Wisconsin and Illinois) and one likely loss (Nevada).

it's not clear whether Trump is a bigger drag on Republicans than Clinton is on Democrats.

[davidn3600]

8. Part of the issue is the Democrats have serious issues in the states and local governments

Democrats are doing well and kicking ass in presidential elections. But the party has been getting creamed in the states. And it's become such an issue that the party now lacks strong/qualified candidates for higher levels of office.

This party has basically put all its eggs in the executive elections. Here in Florida back in 2014, the state Democratic party spent nearly all its money trying to beat Rick Scott. Not only did they fail, but critical races were deprived of funds. The Democrat running against Pam Bondi for AG didn't get a single television ad sponsored by the party. And the party basically forfeited any attempt to gain seats in the legislature.

I think the party leaders (and voters) have slipped into this mentality that the executive branch is all that matters. Which is totally untrue. This is not a dictatorship. The executive branch represents only 1/3rd of our government. Especially in America where our government has so many separations of powers. The executive is actually quite weak compared to that branch in most other governments around the world.

And we see it on DU all the time. Members here talk constantly about the coming demise of the GOP. Yet they currently hold more control in the states than either party has since World War 2. The party has truly lost focus of the importance of down ticket races.

[geek tragedy]

11. downticket races are largely driven by population distribution

Republicans are more efficiently distributed than Democrats are in terms of maximizing political power.

[bigbrother05]

13. That's called gerrymandering, the GOP picked most of the district lines

A more liberal court should support reinstating the Voting Rights Act to fight off such maneuvers.

[geek tragedy]

14. gerrymandering exacerbates the problem, but

it's also true we'd be suffering from this in the complete absence of gerrymandering--just to a lesser extent

[mnhtnbb]

15. There's a chance Ross might unseat Burr in NC. Polls are close

and I think the race is considered a toss-up currently.

Big news here is that the Governor is likely to go down against Cooper by a pretty big margin. That could have some positive effect for Ross.

[geek tragedy]

16. Hopefully the national ticket can get things straightened out

and pull all three races out there

[awoke_in_2003]

12. Senate dems should be pressing this

every time they have a camera in front of their pie holes. Garland may be moderate, but he sides with reproductive rights. For one, the refusal to even hold a hearing is a disrespect of the highest order, and two- what happens if the media wins this for Trump?

[LS_Editor]

17. Garland should not be on the Court.

Obama should have nominated Attorney General Lynch. Want more proof the GOP elite cave to racists? That's just one of many ways to do it. She is way qualified, and a brilliant political play. Obama failed.

[Hekate]

18. Pretty much as our POTUS planned, imo. Garland is a good pick, on several counts....

...For one thing, Obama called the bluff of the GOP. They named Garland as an acceptable nominee long ago, thinking Obama would pass him over for someone more obviously Left. But so often in SCOTUS history, a moderate justice turns out to be a very thoughtful justice. I can get behind that.

They've been twisting in the wind ever since. Meep-meep!

[DFW]

19. I see the opinions on Garland are...umm. less than unanimous

That's OK. If he's confirmed, so be it. If not, then the next pick will be someone further to the left. I'm sure Obama could have it if he wants it, but I doubt he does. After being POTUS, unless the job really bored him, being tied to Washington with the occasional speaking engagement seems like too sedentary for Obama's taste. Although, still, it might appeal to his academic side.

I just don't see Obama fading into the distance as a political orator for our side, and if he's on the Court, he'll have to abandon that kind of tone. I want to hear his fiery rhetoric on TV, at conventions, rallies, etc. We really have no one else who inspires to his degree. We will, in time, but for now, we don't, and that's a voice we need--out these, visible as well as audible.

[Hekate]

21. I agree about Obama, DFW. As an orator, he's once in a lifetime...

...and he's on our side. I would hate to see that golden voice muffled, which it would have to be if he was on the SCOTUS.

[CK_John]

20. IMO, the GOP will try to reduced the SC from 9 to 5 Justices.

Just to avoid any new appointments for a while about 8 yrs.
Retiring Justice will just not be replaced until they are down to 5.