The death of The Honorable Antonin Scalia has left a vacant Supreme Court seat. Regardless of what Republicans may say, Barack Obama is going to nominate someone to fill that seat. Any President would and probably should. But, regardless of what Democrats say, the Senate is not obligated to confirm a nominee or even let it go to a vote. The dishonorable Elizabeth Warren has pointed out that Americans voted for Obama again in 2012, so he should choose Scalia's successor, rather than the next President. However, she failed to mention the massive mid-term losses for Democrats in 2014, where America chose Republican majorities in both the House and Senate. Thus, they have a right to not confirm any of Obama's nominees. And if the shoe were on the other foot?
Well, it has been... In fact, Joe Biden led the Democrats in successfully blocking Ronald Reagan's nominee, Robert Bork, from confirmation. Barack Obama tried to filibuster to block Samuel Alito in 2006. Chuck Schumer preemptively encouraged blocking any George W. Bush nominee, when there wasn't even an opening on the Supreme Court (nor did one occur between Schumer's statements and the end of Bush's term). Of course, all of them now believe that the current Democratic President should be the one to choose Scalia's successor. That's because they are all Democrats. If the President was Republican, they would believe the opposite, just like the Republicans would believe the opposite of what they are saying now if the President was Republican.
Like it or not, both parties play these games. And if you want to compare who has played them dirtier historically, it's the Democrats by a mile. And they are now going to have to deal with the probable scenario of Obama nominating someone who will not be confirmed or even be voted on while he is in office, at least not prior to the election. Too bad. And let's face it, America would look a lot different right now if Bork had been confirmed for the spot on the court that ultimately went to Anthony Kennedy. The Democrats have appointed (and had confirmed) more consistently liberal justices, compared to the Republicans having appointed (and had confirmed) more moderate-to-conservative, rather than conservative justices. The Republicans really have no choice but to block an Obama nominee, unless it's somehow someone who has a proven record of not being liberal.
Of course, if the Democrats take the White House again in November, this all becomes a moot point. And the Republican Party is kind of a mess right now, so that is certainly a possibility, even with Hillary Clinton as the person in America who is least qualified to be President. But here's hoping that our second amendment rights are not taken away and we find a way to stop so many lives from being ended before they start... It'd sure be nice if Presidents from both parties nominated intelligent moderates though. Can someone find a nominee who is pro-life, pro gay marriage, pro gun, and pro pot? That would be a real accomplishment.
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