Watching our government operate these days is like watching a slow-motion train wreck.
Ever since Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away the Republicans and Democrats have been dragging up old videos of each other saying they would not have hearings or take a vote on any Supreme Court nominee until after the next election. One side hopes their party will gain control of the White House and they can fill the vacancy with one of "their own", and the party in power wants to confirm one of "their own" to the court in case they lose the White House in the next election. What a bunch of CRAP!
Did you ever see a statue of Lady Justice? She is supposed to personify the moral force in our judicial system. Her attributes are a blindfold, a balance, and a sword.
Why can't our political parties understand that Supreme Court Justices are NOT supposed to be Left or Right leaning? There should be no "litmus tests" to see if they are pro or anti anything. Justice should be blind, hence Lady Justice's blindfold. She/they should make a decision based solely on the facts presented, without bias. No exceptions.
I know nothing about the candidate President Obama has nominated to replace Justice Scalia, but from what I've heard and read he seems to be a widely respected judicial scholar....until now. Now the Republicans are saying they want to wait until their man (Big Donnie Trump?) is elected so they can put another conservative on the High Court. They don't want "blind" justice, or "fair" justice, they want "their" justice.
Our Congress betrayed us years ago, the office of the President is about to be perverted, and now the Supreme Court is slowly but surely becoming hopelessly partisan, too. Thanks Founding Fathers....we've had a nice run, but I'm afraid I hear the Fat Lady singing.
S
It was sad how the GOP said they weren't going to consider the nominee about ten minutes after Scalia died. They should have at least waited until Obama nominated someone to try to find a fault with him/her. And yeah the alternative is for Donald Trump to nominate someone. So if you're Mitch McConnell would you rather have a moderate proposed by Obama or whatever circus freak Trump nominates? They're really between the rock and a hard place. Something I've said elsewhere is the Senate hardly works as it is. I mean they show up what, maybe half the year? For that they get hundreds of thousands of dollars, gold-plated benefits (for life), and all the perks from their corporate masters and yet they're essentially going on strike by refusing to do their job? It's a slap in the face to all the Americans who actually work for a living.
ReplyDeleteThe Democrats have acted the exact same way, including President Obama And by personal knowledge and recorded records, Vice President Biden (in spades unashamedly) that said, I agree the Republicans should at least consider whom ever President Obama nominates and at first blush the nominee may be a pretty good choice, and less political than a nominee that President Clinton might nominate if elected. Might be best to at least give the nominee a hearing.
ReplyDeleteAgree Joe. If the rolls were reversed the Democrats would be the ones stalling. If things worked as the Founding Fathers intended, with checks and balances, the President wouldn't dare nominate a biased person for the High Court, and if he/she did, the Senate (preferably IMO in the control of the other party) would shoot it down. We need judges with no discernible biases.
DeleteI love how Joe continues to think, "Well the other guys do it too!" is a valid justification for poor behavior.
DeleteI don't quite think the Fat Lady is singing yet...we'll have to watch a few more circus performances before that.
ReplyDeleteRepublicans are taking a huge gamble by not giving this qualified individual a fair hearing and up or down vote. If the next president is a Democrat, a far more liberal candidate will be put forward and the Republicans won't be able to reject all liberal candidates for four or eight years.
ReplyDeleteAnd what, pray tell, IS the Fat Lady singing?
ReplyDeleteThat old John Denver song about lost love, "You Done Stomped On My Heart And Mashed That Sucker Flat". (No joke, it's a real song...look it up :)
DeleteOh, I've heard it. Good one. Nearly as good as Loudon Wainright (sp?) singing "Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road!"
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