Sen. Mitch McConnell: "This vacancy should not be filled until there is a new President selected."

[KeepItReal]

Source: MSNBC live

Ari Melber said he just got that announcement.

Read more: Link to source

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Outrageous.

Here's more details:

GOP Moves To Block Obama From Naming Scalia Successor

Almost immediately after the first public confirmation that Justice Antonin Scalia had died, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled that the GOP-controlled Senate would block President Obama from nominating Scalia's successor.

"The American people? should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice," McConnell said in a statement. "Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President.”

McConnell's statement came as a chorus of conservatives called for the confirmation process to be delayed until the next President takes office in January 2017.

Minority Leader Harry Reid countered in his own statement Saturday that said the "Senate has a responsibility to fill vacancies as soon as possible." "It would be unprecedented in recent history for the Supreme Court to go a year with a vacant seat," Reid said. "Failing to fill this vacancy would be a shameful abdication of one of the Senate's most essential Constitutional responsibilities.”


http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/conservative-senate-block-noms

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. and consistently predictable. sadly.

[kairos12]

2. Notice he said selected, not elected. He's still dreaming of Shrub 2000.

[Pakhet]

59. that was my first thought

they're planning on *selecting* the next president? only way they can win, I guess, but...

[wordpix]

68. he'll never get a selection now that it's a 4-4 Scotus

[OrwellwasRight]

3. Well that took, um, 5 minutes?

Sooooo predictable.

[wordpix]

69. I know - they try to act so statesmanlike but they're just pure evil

Turtle, it won't work this time.

[joshcryer]

4. I expect nothing less.

In fact I called this an hour or so ago. This is the most fucked up congress in history.

[Scalded Nun]

5. Fuck him and all his obscene pals

The vetting should begin now to get the nomination in as early as possible.

I would imagine with all the talk about RBG there has been ample vetting already.

[wolfie001]

10. Good point! nt

[d_b]

6. And why is that?

[christx30]

31. Because Obama is a lame duck to them.

And they are gambling on getting a new Scalia in there.

[d_b]

32. Then let them say that

until then...I hope the President nominates one hispanic after another.

[christx30]

35. They are going to try to block

everyone they can, and drag this out. They want a nominee by Trump Card or Cruz Control, rather than their political enemy. Nevermind the 11 month vacancy, and the 4-4 rulings in the mean time.

[d_b]

38. It's going to be a freakshow

They have no ground to stand on. Show them as the obstructionist assholes they are.


We're going to win this one.

[christx30]

40. *High-five*

Abso-friggin-lutely. No way the voters are going to forgive them trying to keep the seat empty for 11 months. What happens if there is another religious objection case? Or abortion? Cases need to be ruled on, and the Court is divided. We need a tie breaker vote.

[mpcamb]

56. I like it. Let them vote Hispanics down. Guaranteed to lose votes in general election.

[lastlib]

54. (...and he's a black guy.)

[Thav]

53. Plain and simple: They do not want to do their jobs.

Congressional Republicans plan on not doing their jobs for the next year. They still plan on getting paid, raising their own salaries, and using their expense accounts to the max. They plan on not doing anything until they are in complete power again.

They will spend their time not doing their job complaining about people not doing their jobs.

[Hissyspit]

63. Because McConnell is a hypocritical asshole.

[AngryOldDem]

7. Outrageous, yes...

...but it's oh-so Mitch.

Anything to jam up the process even more.

Is anyone really surprised at this? I'm not.

[Wolf Frankula]

8. No To Bitch McConnell

Any vacancy in the Supreme Court should be filled as soon as possible. That's what you would say if a rethuglican were preznit.

Wolf

[Plucketeer]

57. Mitch - when ya gonna fill that vacancy

between your ears??? Surely - given the shit you say and doo - there can't be anything in that void that THINKS before your mouth makes noise!

[BumRushDaShow]

9. Suprised it took him this long to say it. nt

[Orrex]

11. For what possible legitimate reason?

We all know why he's spouting this bullshit, but is he even trying to justify it by law or precedent?

[secondwind]

12. Eisenhower gave us Justice Brennan in a recess appointment.

[tomm2thumbs]

13. they're gonna hate the Democratic Senate AND President come November

Prolly going to wish that he'd thought it through

[wordpix]

70. we can only hope!

[houston16revival]

14. Impeachable Delay

Unconscionable

[avebury]

15. He has already made it known that the Republicans have no

interest in actually doing any work this year. Trying to obstruct President Obama's efforts to fill the position is nothing new.

[C_U_L8R]

16. Self serving asshole

I am so damn sick of Republican corruption.
I look forward to kicking their asses in the
next election - earning the Presidency, the Congress
and the Court in the name of progress !

[kenfrequed]

17. No Mitch, that is not how it works.

President Obama will put forth his nomination and your asses will advise and consent. We are not going to wait eleven months for your pet conservative.

Citizens United needs to go away right frigging now.

[karynnj]

24. more than 11 months if they win

They need to vet candidates and then there are hearings. I would imagine that would take at least months.

[kenfrequed]

29. The can start putting in names within weeks.

There is no reason to delay on this at all.

[karynnj]

37. weeks of being elected, followed by hearings

I think Alito's personal interviews with Senators, the committee hearing and the debate in the Senate were more than a month.

[kenfrequed]

41. Yes, but we can start the process very soon.

We do NOT have to wait for a new president.

[Qutzupalotl]

42. We'll have a better Senate by January.

And if they wind up waiting for one of Bernie's nominees, they'll be in deeper shit than they would with one of Obama's.

[Skrups]

18. celebration

We need to celebrate Scalia's death, so Mitch McConnel et al get a peek of how we will celebrate their deaths.

[Alhena]

19. The fillibuster still exists for Supreme Court nominees ...

Repukes thought about doing away with it, but it's still there.

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/gop-may-abolish-supreme-court-filibusters-114540

So even if we peel away a few moderate Republican Senators, 40 conservatives can block it.

Bottom line: no chance for a confirmation this year.

[moose65]

48. The filibuster doesn't matter in this case

The filibuster is a tool for the minority in the Senate to use, not the majority! The Republicans don't need a filibuster- they can just vote against any nominee that Obama proposes. Democrats would have to hope that there's a handful of Republican Senators who would be willing to confirm an Obama nominee. There might be enough of the old-school Republicans who would vote to confirm - or maybe some of those in blue states who would do it for political reasons. We shall see. Should be interesting!

[LovingA2andMI]

20. Talk About Grave Dancing...

What did McConnell Say Again?

President Barack Obama has another 10 months and 24 days in office. He fills the appointment of the Late Antonia Scalia. Period!!!

[navarth]

21. Did Mister Turtle say 'selected'?

As in the 2000 selection?

I'm fully confident that President Obama will give Mitchy boy's request all the attention it deserves.

[FailureToCommunicate]

22. Real classy McConnell. Even the fractious, unruly mob here at DU were unwilling to politicize his

death till a respectable while had passed.

And by the way, McConnell, the American people DO have a voice in the selection of SCJs.
It's a little thing called elections.

[47of74]

23. I think there should be an amendment that says to the Senate...

...that while they retain the duty to advise and consent they do not have the ability to delay the process and are required to give timely approval or denial to all of the Presidential nominees. And if they don't they'll be considered to have abdicated their duty and the person shall be considered appointed as if the Senate had approved them - they won't be considered recess appointments.

[Rex]

25. Someone tell that coked up turtle, that it doesn't work that way!

Hey coke head...Obama is going to get a nominee through and you WILL accept it like the good fuckwad that you are!

[wordpix]

71. If this is Turtle coked up, I'd hate to see him without

Can he open his eyes, even?

[Renew Deal]

26. Obama was already selected

It's his choice

[Odin2005]

27. Obscene. Disgusting.

[DonCoquixote]

28. they had a voice

four years ago when they voted Obama.

Mitch, the body is not even cold, and you move on this. Yet you always tell us to ignore the bodies of NRA gun victims.

Start the prcess by MONDAY, and if Miutch tries to fight, let that be a fine reminder of why the GOP needs to go.

[nichomachus]

30. Sorry, turtle boy, but the people did have a say

They elected Obama. That's how it works.

[JFKDem62]

33. We have a president now. eom

[Hulk]

34. And hopefully he'll be in the minority again.

We need to work hard to yank as many of these obstructionists out of Washington as possible. Old turtle-head is such a pathetic sack of human waste.

[roamer65]

36. Fuck off, Mc Connell. N/t

[erlewyne]

39. Warren

[Hotler]

43. Shut the fuck up Mitch. N/T

[blackspade]

44. Fuck yourself McConnell

"The American people? should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice"
They have a voice, that's why Obama is president, asshole.

[Judi Lynn]

45. Do your JOB, Mitch. Serve the PEOPLE, not yourself. n/t

[UpInArms]

46. "selected" ... not "elected"?

n/t

[phylny]

47. My blood is boiling.

I didn't think I could hate Republicans more than I did, but I do. I do.

[sulphurdunn]

50. What these criminal assholes are saying

is that so long as they control the senate no one will be appointed to the court until they get a president and a nominee the want.

Here is what Article II say: He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States

I assume "He" refers to the sitting president. I assume advise and consent means the senate participates in the process of choosing a new justice when a vacancy arises during the term of the sitting president and not until the dice roll their way.

Nonfeasance: A failure to act when under an obligation to do so; a refusal (without sufficient excuse) to do that which it is your legal duty to do.

[strategery blunder]

51. IIRC SCOTUS appointments were a campaign issue in the 2012 election.

The court had already decided Citizens United by then, I believe (2011?).

The American people have already weighed the issue of whom President Obama would appoint and they have voted to return him to office.

Mitch would rather leave SCOTUS unable to decide close cases (an appellate decision would be left to stand in the event of SCOTUS 4-4 split) than do your constitutional duty of advising on the President's nominees. Ironically Mitch's intransigence has already changed the makeup of the court but I doubt he thought about that.

[demwing]

52. "The American people‎ should have a voice" - THEY DID you turtle-faced fucknob

They overwhelmingly re-elected Obama so that he could fulfill the duties of his office.

Would you rather Bernie do it with a newly Blue Senate?

Hmmm...on second thought, Yertle could be right.

[Thor_MN]

55. They do have a voice, you dumbass.

The people used it in 2012.

It would take several months for the next president to bring up an appointment after inauguration more than 11 months from now. Leaving the seat unfilled for over a year would be unprecedented.

[jpb33]

58. More Like 14 or 15 months w/o Functioning Court

This is insanity. A paralyzed Supreme Court because Republicans refuse to due their Constitutional duties. CNN and MSNBC keep saying it will be 10 months w/o an appointment, because the election is in November, but it will be much longer. A new President won't be in office until late January 2017 and by the time the new President chooses a replacement and the nominee goes thru the approval process it could be March or April of 2017 before a new justice is actually on the job! So more like 14 or 15 months without a functioning Supreme Court!

[elljay]

62. Assuming

That they would confirm a nominee that any Democratic President makes. If they get away with not voting now, I see no reason why they wouldn't continue in a Sanders or Clinton administration. In fact, Sanders would nominate a progressive justice, rather than the moderate justices Obama has appointed or whom Clinton would likely appoint. We must push back on this right now, make sure it is the lead story in the news each and every day until they follow the Constitution and do their job.

[wordpix]

72. campaign year, good time to hash it out

otherwise the r's could be seen as obstructing the job of president, as detailed in the Constitution.

[silvershadow]

60. He hardly had time to put his soup soon down before trying to nullify some more. nt

[tclambert]

61. So, what, he hopes to wait for President Trump to nominate Sarah Palin for the Supreme Court?

Really, who would Trump nominate? Nancy Grace? Greta van Susteren? Judge Judy?

[Hissyspit]

64. Just making shit up there, aren't you, Senator?

Typical.

[Joe Nation]

65. Hey Mitch

The American people did get a chance to select the next SC Justice when they overwhelmingly elected Barack Obama.

[Pastiche423]

66. They want to wait until Bernie is president? n/t

[EndElectoral]

67. The President informs Congress of his nominee, it is not the purview of the people.

So much for the GOP being strict consitutionalists.

[TexasBushwhacker]

73. Fine. We'll elect a Democratic and they can appoint

Obama to the SCOTUS.

[Dont call me Shirley]

74. McCONman...