On Wed, 27 Jun 2018 16:19:13 -0400, Keyser Soze
wrote:

On 6/27/18 4:15 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 6/27/2018 4:09 PM, Keyser Soze wrote:
On 6/27/18 3:52 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 6/27/2018 3:22 PM, Keyser Soze wrote:
Mr. Luddite wrote:

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement
Wednesday, giving President Donald Trump the chance to cement
conservative control of the high court.

The nuclear option was exercised to get Justice Neil Gorsuch
confirmed so Trump's nominee to replace Kennedy will face a Senate
process in which Republicans hold the slimmest majority, but Democrats
can't delay confirmation.

Making America Great Again, huh Harry?


It is perfectly ok with me if this country continues its slide to
the far
right and fascism, racism, and xenophobia. I’m an old guy, and it won’t
change my life. The changes will assure my wife plenty of clients. Let
other smarter countries lead the world as the USA slides into the
abyss.



I've been watching MSNBC since shortly after Kennedy's announcement.
It's sorta funny in a way.Â* It's like MSNBC called an emergency meeting
of all their political pundits.

Chris Matthews was getting all worked up a while ago trying to come
up with any way the Democrats can delay confirmation hearings until
after the mid-terms, obviously hoping for a shift in power.

There also is a Yale law professor on the panel.Â* He said that the
list of potential replacements that has been circulated
in the event of an opening is actually populated with some very
impressive and qualified potentials.Â* Some were students of his.
He's a Democrat but was making the point that the list he's seen
has some very good people on it.



I don't know what the Dem's strategy will be, but I am pretty sure the
party will do whatever it can to stall the decision until after the
November elections, with the hope they can retake the Senate, which is
a long shot.

I'm sure Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch is "good people," but that
doesn't mean I think he ought to be on the high court. To me, he's
just too partisan. Retiring Associate Justice Kennedy is a
right-winger, but on some important issues, he had an open mind and
voted that way.

If the Dems do retake the Senate, Trump's ability to nominate to the
High Court will end.


I suspect you will see a short list circulated very soon, a "pick" and
confirmation hearings in very short order.Â* Then a Senate vote
of 51 to 50 (Pence voting to break tie).Â*Â* This will likely be
done by late September - mid October.



There are at least two female Republican U.S. Senators who will defend
Roe v. Wade, and are not positive votes for a Trump nominee.


It does beg the question if Trump picks a judge who is soft on
abortion but otherwise textualist (the Constitution is really silent
on abortion) would it be a fairly easy confirmation?