Republicans May Block All Supreme Court Nominees Of A President Clinton, McCain Says

[Stonepounder]

Source: Huffington Post

The main pretext Republican senators have offered for leaving open the Supreme Court seat of the late Justice Antonin Scalia is that the next president, not Barack Obama, should be the one to fill it.

But now that his party’s nominee, Donald Trump, seems headed for a loss in November, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) appears to be changing his tune ― and may be signaling that more unprecedented obstruction is on the horizon if Hillary Clinton wins the White House.

“I promise you that we will be united against any Supreme Court nominee that Hillary Clinton, if she were president, would put up. I promise you,” McCain said Monday, according to CNN.
...
“This is the strongest argument I can make” for Pat Toomey’s re-election, McCain said, and that is “so we can make sure there is not three places on the United States Supreme Court that will change this country for decades.”

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/john-mccain-hillary-clinton-supreme-court_us_58050653e4b0162c043d4c9a

---

So it doesn't matter to Republicans what VOTERS want, just what THEY want. I used to have a modicum of respect for McCain. He has managed to make me lose it all.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Even with a democratic majority in the Senate, how many republicans

could block debate with a filibuster?

[upaloopa]

7. Didn't Reid change the rules so nominees

can't be filibustered?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

11. IIRC that didn't include SC nominees for some reason.

[charlyvi]

16. Only lower court nominees

The SC was excluded, but with a majority in the Senate, that could be changed as well if the obstruction continues.

[groundloop]

20. Hopefully Harry Reid will remember this movie and pass rules for the next Senate accordingly

Damned obstructionist repubs, cry and pitch a fit when they can't get their way. I know it's 20/20 hindsight but I wish Pres. Obama had kicked the shit out of them when they were down in 2009. I understand that it was a noble gesture to try to work with them, but there's no reason to repeat that after seeing for the last 8 years how they operate.

[TheDebbieDee]

29. Harry Reid won't be there, will he?

[kairos12]

44. Not for SCOTUS nominee.

[upaloopa]

2. There is a good chance McCain will have to

go pound sand

[atreides1]

3. I had respect for McCain, once!

Now, I wouldn't piss on him if he were on fire!!!

[reflection]

23. I would.

But I'd piss on the parts of him that weren't on fire.

[Democat]

4. Let them try

Hopefully Democrats will grow a spine and learn to fight.

[tavernier]

5. Republican definition of democracy.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. He's talking tough for the Trumpkins who would have supported him

for reelection, but he's unendorsed Trump so he has to say something extreme and stupid to get them back.

[meadowlark5]

8. He sure is some maverick

I guess that description died when he unleashed Palin on the world. I wish he'd lose his senate race.

I used to like McCain. But after he lost to Obama in 2008, he sure turned into am mean, ugly old man.

[ffr]

9. Statement actually may ease the minds of alt-right voters

We know it's wrong, but they may think of it as soothing.

I'm okay with it, because so long as we can retake congress, his comments won't matter.

GOTV! Every vote. Every state!

[cstanleytech]

12. If they do then perhaps its time for the President to sue them for obstruction and

dereliction?

[jberryhill]

52. The Senate has no obligation to consent to a nominee

I'm surprised at how often I see this on DU.

There are inherent tensions and conflicts in our system of government.

If the people would like to have a Senate that will consent to the President's nomination, then it is nobody's job but the VOTERS to elect a Senate which will do that.

If the people would like to have a Senate that will not consent, then the people can elect a Senate that will not consent.

But, no, nobody can sue the Senate to make them consent to a nominee if they don't want to.

It is nobody's fault but the people who elected them.

[cstanleytech]

57. *sigh* I know but I still kinda wish it could happen or

that it could be grounds for there being removed from office.

[jberryhill]

58. It's a feature, not a bug

Look, bottom line - the American people have to come to a consensus on a few things. We're not doing that, so this is what we get.

This is how the political system is supposed to work. And by "work", I mean "not work" when the American people don't use it well.

It's in our hands to fix this.

[Old Vet]

13. Has McCain lost his fucking mind, Really, doesnt he know Trump has NO coat tails...

Its just a shame now that anything he spews is bullshit.

[jberryhill]

59. His point is PREMISED on Trump not having coat tails

The argument here is "We know Hillary is going to beat Trump, so we have to elect R Senators to oppose her."

That Trump will lose is a foregone conclusion in the argument McCain is making here. He's implicitly conceded that Hillary will win.

[sba]

14. Take the fight to them

Thais is why it is VITAL to get down ballot Dems elected. Please join me in donating, volunteering, and making calls to not only get Hillary elected, but a Dem controlled Senate, and, dare I dream, House.

https://www.hillaryclinton.com/

http://www.workingamericavotes.org/daily-kos/sign-up

https://act.moveon.org/survey/mo-dk-txt-team/

Hillary can't do it alone. Give her you vote, and a Congress she can work with
.

[riversedge]

15. McCain walked back his comments Monday afternoon,...................................

...................As with many other things this campaign season, none of this may matter. Later on Monday, McCain, through a spokeswoman, reversed course on his earlier remarks about future Clinton nominees and noted he’d “vote for or against that individual based on their qualification,” according to Talking Points Memo.

The comments come amid a push by the Clinton campaign to spend aggressively in McCain’s home state, where Clinton is inching up on Trump in the polls, as well as plans for first lady Michelle Obama to visit Arizona on Thursday and do what she does best.

As for where Clinton and Trump stand on the Supreme Court, both candidates will likely be asked about it again at the third and final presidential debate on Wednesday, where Fox News’ Chris Wallace is expected to dedicate 15 minutes to the subject.

................................

McCain walked back his comments Monday afternoon, and this article has been updated to reflect that.

[Old Vet]

22. Thanks for the update riversedge, Didnt see that anywhere else............

[angrychair]

35. Hard to believe he means the walk back

Did he mean it then or does he mean it now? He was pretty unequivocal in his statements about not voting for any USSC nominees. I disregard his walk back and take him at his original statement that he and other republicans want a coup d'é·tat of our government and rule my authoritarian mandate.

[Helen Borg]

17. At least, a 4/4 SCOTUS...

Won't do any more damage.

[world wide wally]

18. Dear Arizona Voters

It would be the humane thing to do to put the old goat out to pasture before he leaves us for good. Go vote!

[kairos12]

46. I am from AZ and I will do my part. I visted his Office once as a courtesy being from the State,

his staff were as rude and dismissive as he is.

I can't stand him.

[Feeling the Bern]

66. Already voted for Kirkpatrick!

[Renew Deal]

19. He better hope there's not a Democratic majority

[Marthe48]

21. 2 things

1. If Hillary wins in a landslide, that's a mandate, the peoples' voice. Any further obstruction will be dealt with in 2018, 2020 and beyond.

2. Let them obstruct. By obstructing, the asses are allowing things to stand as they are decided by lower courts, and I personally have been delighted to see so many cases left in our favor.

[awoke_in_2003]

43. RBG can't hang in forever. nt

[PSPS]

24. Empty threat. We'll take the Senate this year and gain a supermajority in 2018.

[Jim Lane]

32. The Democrats will almost certainly suffer a net loss of Senate seats in 2018

We'll have many Senators up for re-election in red states. They won with Obama's victory in 2012, but now they'll be bucking the usual GOP edge in midterms, along with the tendency of the President's party to lose seats (I'm assuming Clinton will win next month).

The biggest factor is the numbers. We have good prospects for a gain this year because the Republicans are defending more seats. In 2018 it's the reverse, with many more Democrats up for re-election.

We have good odds of a Senate majority in 2017-18. I don't think we can take a big enough edge to withstand the Republican gains in the midterms, though.

[BumRushDaShow]

42. These are the 2018 seats

(includes (I)s Bernie and Angus)

The immediate concerning ones for me would be MT & ND.

[Jim Lane]

50. Thanks for the map, very helpful!

I agree with you that Montana and North Dakota will be tough. I'd add Florida -- Nelson will be 76, will he run again? -- and Indiana, where Joe Donnelly won only after a bitter Republican primary that ousted Richard Lugar and produced Richard Mourdock, who put his foot in his mouth about rape.

The Republicans are defending seats in red states except for Nevada. There, Dean Heller, as a recent appointee to a vacant seat, won narrowly in 2012 while Obama was carrying the state. In 2018 he'll have the advantage of longer incumbency and the more GOP-friendly electorate. I don't see much prospect for any Democratic gains to offset losses.

[onehandle]

25. Hillary will be President longer than McCain will be in office. nt

[Bradical79]

26. Sounds like a fool proof plan

at least if your goal is a Democratic supermajority after the 2018 elections. I know it's hard to get out the vote during midterms, but I think 2 more insane years of not filling the Supreme Court vacancy (or vacancies by then) might just do the trick.

[dmosh42]

27. Rules for filibuster must be changed, especially for justice appointments, but I wonder if Dems....

have the spine. Reid allowed it to continue in spite of blockade of any real legislation by the Repukes, and...
resulted in country being set back in many ways.

[Botany]

30. Aricle 2 section 2 US Constitution

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, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law: but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments.

[bucolic_frolic]

31. These REPUBLICAN CLOWNS swore an oath on the Bible

to protect and defend the US Constitution and faithfully carry out their
duties

This is TREASON

[Egnever]

33. I hope they do

But I doubt it. Gramps is throwing red meat to the dogs nothing more.

[emulatorloo]

34. So Maverick-y of him.

He has no shame.

[Blandocyte]

36. The Clintons are formidible

It won't be any easy ride for the Repubs. This will not be Hillary's first rodeo.

[tanyev]

37. Gosh, remember when every other word out of Republican's mouth was "up or down vote?"

Upperdown! Upperdown! Upperdown! I guess those particular parrots have ceased to be.

[TonyPDX]

38. How very patriotic of him.

[JoePhilly]

39. Voting GOP is like pouring sand into an engine, and expecting it to work.

[Moonwalk]

40. They're hoping Ruth dies and, with no one in her seat, they get back the majority....

...four conservatives, three liberals. Then again, if Thomas goes, the majority will be liberal and the republicans will very much be screwing themselves by not adding new ones.

Personally, I think McCain is just blowing smoke because so long as there is a 4-4 deadlock, lower court rulings stand and those favor liberals.

[patricia92243]

41. There have been as few as five Supremes, so the Repubs can definitely hold

out on not nominating anybody. I wonder how low a number they would let the court get to before they felt like they need to do something.

[Divine Discontent]

55. really... wow.

[BlueMTexpat]

45. Hopefully, Republicans will NOT

have a Senate majority and hopefully McCain will be taking a long-deserved retirement from being a Senator at all.

[MsMAC]

47. Well, I HOPE that McCain loses

his bid for re-election!

[hollowdweller]

48. Really makes me worry about our country

The way the GOP has come to power, by using emotion instead of issues and the base they have created.

I really worry we may be in for an actual civil war eventually.

[mdbl]

49. It's way past time to get rid of the Repuglican senate

and vote in some common sense.

[Jarqui]

51. "If you want change in Washington, vote Dems in for the Senate

the GOP plans are to just carry on with their obstruction and provide no solutions!"

That's the kind of discussion McCain is stimulating outside of the hardcore GOP

[bullimiami]

53. She sould just go ahead and appoint one without them.

They can take her to court over it.

[Divine Discontent]

56. yep, if they wanna play their game, she gets to use her powers, too

[Divine Discontent]

54. Pure Obstruction. That's good reason to show him the door in AZ, I hope they can get the votes!

[bagelsforbreakfast]

60. Isn't this getting really close to TREASON?

Willfully conspiring to bring down one of the 3 essential branches of the U.S. government?

[jberryhill]

61. No

Are you suggesting that "consent" means that a Senator is compelled to give it?

No, it is not treason to disagree with the President.

[milestogo]

62. Aiming for new heights of obstructionism

[lonestarnot]

63. Never have liked the asshat and never will.

[Rochester]

64. Then Hillary will have to do what Obama should have already done

Nominate someone, and if there isn't a vote in a reasonable time, install that person on the court and dare the Senate to do something about it.

[Kablooie]

65. Constant obstruction has served the GOP well. It gave them Trump.

If all they do is obstruct, nothing gets done, the country suffers, voters get angry and someone like Donald Trump is elected.

They'd better rethink this strategy.
Deliberately making government dysfunctional is a recipe for political suicide.

[Stuart G]

67. So..here it is, the truth..

but earlier he said he would vote for her Supreme Ct appointees....total asshole...