02/22/2016 – Battle for the Supreme Court

2/16/2016 – Battle for the United States Supreme Court

The untimely death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on February 13, 2016 immediately ignited the latest powder keg of disrespect of President Barack Obama. Mitch McConnell the U. S. Senate Majority Leader within hours of his dead stated the President should hold off nominating Justice Scalia’s replacement until a new President was elected. Justice Scalia a right-winger along with: John G. Roberts Jr., Chief Justice, nominated by President George Bush 2005, Anthony M. Kennedy, nominated by President Ronald Reagan 1988, Clarence Thomas, nominated by President George Bush 1991, Samuel Anthony Alito Jr., nominated by President George Bush, 2009. The remainder of the Court: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, nominated by President bill Clinton 1993, Stephen G. Breyer, nominated by Bill Clinton, 1994, Sonia Sotomayor, nominated by President Barack Obama 2009, Elena Kagan, nominated by President Barack Obama 2010.
The court now dead locked by four conservative judges and four progressive judges presents one of the most important dilemmas in American history. The justices have several issued before them that their decisions will have a profound impact on the future direction of the political landscape of the country. In the balance, will be a strong swing to the right or the left will be afforded with an opportunity to begrudgingly move the country forward for the next four years. Both houses being controlled by Republicans and the possibility of a Democratic President in control of the White and his appointment to the Supreme Court would swing the court progressive. The possibility has driven the Republican Party to their consistent position of obstruction.
The President constitutionally has the responsibility to nominate a Justice to the Supreme Court in the event of a vacancy to fill the 9 seats required by the constitution void of time restraints. There have been 3 instances historically where a “lame duck” Presidents or a President not reelected have nominated a replacement to the Supreme Court. Lyndon Johnson, in 1968, Herbert Hoover in 1932, William Taft in 1912, to be sure a rare incident. The Republican right to include those running for the office of the Presidency hold to the premise that President Obama should not make a nomination to fulfill the vacancy left by Justice Scalia. These are the same people all through the Obama’s Presidency, accused him of violating the Constitution when using his executive powers. Tyrant, King, Dictator were commonly echoed throughout his Presidency from the right. Now they suggest that he violated the Constitution when the Constitution is clear on what his responsibilities are with respect to fulfilling vacancy to the Supreme Court. When someone is talking out of both sides of the neck, their message becomes muttered and confusing deflecting their true position and leaving the listener to make a choice to except the rhetoric or not.
As this important time in our history plays out, I will keep focus on the occurrence’s as they unfold. To the few that read my posting thank you and I hope you are motivated to progressively move forward. I am patiently working on improvements to this project. Until we meet again.

Warren S. Murff
02/22/2016