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

[sheshe2]

Spandan Chakrabarti | February 14, 2016

snip//

The funny part is that the President doesn't even have to nominate a consensus candidate like Srinivasan to paint the Republicans into a corner. Republicans have already helpfully handed the President all he needs to paint their opposition to his eventual nominee as political and not substantive with their incredibly shortsighted to demand right away that President Obama stay away from nominating a new Justice.

snip//

Harry Reid, I am certain, has other tricks up his sleeve to frustrate the Republican leadership by essentially ending the Senate's business until the President's nominee gets a vote. He could use executive sessions (the motion is non-debatable) to halt business, block unanimous consent requests for short breaks or recesses, and pull every parliamentary maneuver to make Republicans go on record. Even worse for the GOP, by constantly asking for procedural votes on the nomination, he can force Republicans to show up and be on the Senate floor.

And no Democratic Senator will pay a political price for standing with Reid and President Obama on this. It will be like the GOP's government shutdown, part deux. Democrats will coalesce around the Constitutional principle of giving the president's nominee a vote, and Republicans will be seen as the party of destruction, endangering the very operation of government itself. And this time, there won't be a malfunctioning website to go after when it's done.

snip//

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.

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

GoBama!

[Iliyah]

1. K & R

[shraby]

2. He'll put the screws to them and they won't even know it until after the fact, and he will have

his nominee on the court. That's how he does things.

[sheshe2]

3. Even with their obstruction he has run circles around them

For seven years.

Thanks shraby, he is that good!

[shraby]

4. It will be a sight to behold. A work of art.

[brer cat]

5. He is absolutely the best

at playing the long game.

[sheshe2]

9. It will be check...

then checkmate!'
'

[sarge43]

6. I believe it was Biden who warned, "Don't play poker with this man."

Repugs: So easy, so much fun.

[sheshe2]

11. It is fun to play with your toys.

And sarge, the gop are toys.

[lindysalsagal]

7. Sure hope this Spanden knows what he's talking about.

Another round of GOP/ Obama rope-a-dope.

No-drama Obama knows exactly when to make his move. No wonder they despise him so much.

[skepticscott]

8. The Supreme Court does not hold the notion

that "money is speech". It never has, and I defy you to show otherwise.

They have held that the ability to raise and spend money is inextricably linked with the constitutionally protected right to disseminate political messages, and that a restriction on the former amounts to an (unconstitutional) restriction on the latter.

[blackspade]

10. Oh, this is too good.

I hope that Obama goes for it.

[INdemo]

12. and..............if the Democrats show some backbone and back President Obama on this 100%

We will retake the Senate because voters will see the Democrats are finally standing up to the Rpukes.

[scottie55]

13. 40 Years Of Judicial Tyranny Ending

Smells good.

Just Do It.

PBO.

[Dont call me Shirley]

14. Hope so.

[Kokonoe]

17. +1

😡

[sheshe2]

21. This is THE BARACK OBAMA GROUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kokonoe]

53. Please forgive my rudeness.

The truth can only be absorbed in drops.
Lets give our elected progressives every opportunity to shape the future with the 360 plus days at their disposal.

President Obama will balance the opinions of every American official to nominate a great leader, as it should be.

[Cary]

18. Really?

You have to go there?

Good grief.

[sheshe2]

33. It is okay, Cary.

I asked for a delete. They kindly did so.

I am a host here.

[Cary]

38. Thanks

I was vague but you understood. It's good to know.

[sheshe2]

19. Thank you so very much for...

This assumes Dems with spines who will fight.

View profile


This has not been my experience over the last 2+ decades. They have been too busy worshipping at the altar of bipartisanship.

Coming into the Barack Obama to drop that. Yup, Obama is spineless! Dems are spineless! Spread your spineless crap in GDP, you will be adored. Why are you all on Democratic Underground when you despise Democrats.

If memory serves, I blocked you once and you asked me to reinstate you so you could apologize. I did.

Me, I actually appreciate my President. Why? He has been abused and disrespected from both sides of the aisle. BOTH! The filth that has been tossed at him, so effing disrespectful. Yet he carries on despite that. He has given us so many amazing things. Sad no one gives a shit about that. Do I need to post the list????? It is pretty long.

Please delete your post now. I will not reinstate you again.

[Kelvin Mace]

22. You are correct.

Sorry, I really need to not post when tired.

[sheshe2]

25. Thank you.

Please delete all yours posts here.

They are so hurtful to our group. One safe place we have to go.

[sheshe2]

34. Thank you.

[RBInMaine]

23. The RePUKElicans are playing with FIRE with this one. GO OBAMA !!

[NBachers]

24. They're flying right into the Spider's Web

I can't wait to see the Arachnobama advancing on each of these flailing, screaming little flies as he eats them alive in front of us.

hellllp meeeee! helllllllp meeeeeee!!!

[Kelvin Mace]

26. It is my sincere hope that this the case

[sheshe2]

30. My sincere hope as well. Please make it so!

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.

[Duckfan]

27. And just to think that this soon we have the possibility of cleaning

up some of the most disgusting white-wing rulings in our lifetime--without having to wait for another president. It's a late Christmas present, but I'll take it.

It's also wonderful to see the President tell McTurtle and his ilk F-you.

[AllyCat]

28. I started thinking last night: we almost can't lose

Even if PBO does what the GOP wishes (and I hope he doesn't) and DOESN'T nominate a successor to Scalia...there are a lot of important cases coming up that would, at best, end up in a 4-4 split and many if not all would likely or possibly go 5-3 in favor of the people, not the conservatives.

[FreakinDJ]

29. yep we win the White House and the SCOTUS

[d_legendary1]

31. If this is his play then Obama is playing chess

while the cons are playing checkers. Glad this man is our president. Hopefully he nominates a flaming liberal and then the court could reverse its Citizen's United decision.

[3catwoman3]

42. They are not even playing checkers.

They are playing Whack-A-Mole.

[d_legendary1]

52. Must be painful

whacking each other in the head.

[pscot]

32. Let it be true!

[Tarheel_Dem]

35. And aren't we lucky to also have a sitting Senator, running for the "Democratic" nomination who...

can use his powers of persuasion on his opposition colleagues to give us a preview of his awesome influence. He seems to imply that unlike Obama & Hillary, he has some special sauce that would allow him to win them over.

[sheshe2]

36. Lol~

I have seven hearts left, you just got another. Dayum that was funny!

[Tarheel_Dem]

39. !!!

[Cha]

37. Oh Good you made this into an OP, she.. I posted it in my thread in Hill's Group last night..

I thought it was a brilliant take from the People's View(Spandan).. on what's happening right now, and how the rwingers are making it too easy for President Obama to paint them into a corner.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1107&pid=47590

Thank you!

[sheshe2]

41. Sorry,

Missed yours last night, Cha.

Agreed, it was a brilliant take and come hell or high water he will get this done.

[yallerdawg]

40. Now THIS is a legacy issue!

President Obama and Harry Reid can end the conservative bent of the Supreme Court for at least a generation!

This is a fight worth having!

It's like my Republican Senator Shelby is advertising - Obama wants to remove the Second Amendment and take away all the guns God has so graciously given us ( ) - and we can't do that without at least 5 liberal Godless justices!

[sheshe2]

48. It certainly is a legacy issue, yallerdawg.

If anyone can make this happen, it will be Obama.

[JustAnotherGen]

43. I has a happy

Reading this!

[sheshe2]

44. I has a happy too!

[awoke_in_2003]

45. On more than one occassion

I have underestimated him and questioned his tactics. I wouldn't bet against him again.

[sheshe2]

47. Thank you for that awoke.

I have two hearts left, you get one of them.

[awoke_in_2003]

49. Thank you, she

[mcar]

46. K&R

[Hekate]

50. There's an LA Times article today suggesting that O might shoot for the moon in his nomination....

If the GOP had played it straight and not like thugs, Obama would have chosen a moderate such as Sri Srinivasan. But since the GOP has announced they intend to reject everyone, the author of the article speculated that Obama might throw caution to the winds and do a recess appointment of a genuine liberal.

Hey, that works for me.

Whatever happens, this particular segment of the campaign season is turning into premium spectator sport.

[sheshe2]

51. Scoot over on that sofa.

I'll bring the wine and watch the GOP whine!