Scalia is dead

[Squirrel]

 

There are a number of people on Twitter who celebrated his death, the doubled down and stated that now they wish Thomas would be next:

http://townhall.com/tipsheet/christinerousselle/2016/02/13/clarence-thomas-trends-on-twitter-as-users-hope-he-dies-next-n2119313

 

I also think the title had an exclamation point for a reason.  The OP can deny it, but it was to be provocative.  If he's trying to say that exclamation point has no meaning then he should edit it out.

 

Just my opinion.

And by the way, those Twitter posts are outrageous.  The fact that these people can openly celebrate his death, put their name and face next to it and then say they hope Thomas is next?  As you say, it is disgraceful

 

It shouldn't have to be said but the explanation in the title of this thread should result in a ban and each and every moderator owes a lot of people an apology for allowing that disgusting title for nearly 24 hours.

I just wrote this in a PM to someone, and I'll write it again, publicly, with some alterations:

 

I was just completely shocked, not just in a death on the court, but his death. It was very unexpected and shocking news that will have major implications making not only the nomination process but this election possibly the most unique and interesting in history. It's historical! My post on FB was similar ... I think it was something like 'OMG ...news! Real news!' and a link to the CNN announcement. Yes, I'm a liberal, and I can't deny being hopeful, now that I've had some time to process some of this, of what this could mean for reversing decisions like Citizens United, but my initial reaction, the one you see above, is what was expressed and what I explained ... it's unexpected and shocking news. Never once was my feeling one of joy. I even commented on another FB post specifically that, that I don't celebrate death as it's not right. I don't even enter that death pool contest in this forum for the same reason. It's bad karma. But this news is what it is ... shocking.

 

Some of your reactions are from perspectives of being conservatives and knowing I'm a liberal, and trying to to place emotions on me that you think I have because you may be dismayed. You are trying to characterize my post as something it wasn't. What I can do is compromise ... I'll take the exclamation point out of the title, but I'm not altering the original post as I think I've explained it. If none of you wants to accept that, that is your problem. If I had made a post that included the words 'Yippee!' or 'Hurray!' that would be concerning, and I'd have already altered it or removed it and given myself a warning ... which I've done with of post of mine in the past.

 

What everyone needs to keep in mind while posting anywhere on this site ... you need to give the other poster the benefit of a doubt because we don't know one another, don't characterize other posters' posts and put your own spin on because you yourself are not objective, and keep it out of the realms of personal as that drives discussions down the wrong path. You don't know anyone's intent, so work to find that out, respectfully, instead of making accusations and guesses. Even now this discussion has become about me and my intent, even after I've already explained it, instead of what will happen next and how this news impacts the future.

[formerly33]

 

Not to mention, anyone who pays attention knows CHI wouldn't cheer the death of anyone, nor would she blatantly lie about her meaning in a post. If anyone around here deserves the benefit of the doubt, it's her.  I don't doubt her integrity.

Amen to that. Chi's about the last person on here I'd suspect of lying about their intentions ... light years above that sort of nonsense, really.

 

And trying to blame Chi for what a bunch of Twidiots said? Really.

[Squirrel]

Okay ... let's move on. Put this thread back on track: Scalia, nominations, impacts.

[Squirrel]

 

There is almost no way that the Republicans with a majority in the Senate will let a nomination by Obama get to a vote, it doesn't matter if the nominee is moderate, conservative or liberal. A conservative would be viewed as a Trojan Horse.

 

This will be about posturing. Republicans will yell loudly that this is "unprecedented" and a "liberal power grab" and more and most will really believe it. I think the Democrats will have the superior case and it wasn't some nefarious way that they got Scalia out of his seat. I was listening to Barrero on the radio and his legal guy says that this will now become the biggest issue in the campaign. I think I agree.

I think they are in a tough spot ... letting a nomination come to vote, letting a nomination pass, or delaying the process until after the election. I read somewhere recently that this is not unprecedented to have a nomination process in an election year, I think I read there have been 14, so delaying by saying 'We can't possibly' isn't really a good reason. So ... what happens? Time will tell ... but I think no matter what, it puts the GOP Senate members in a very tough position ... and it could be impactful on any of their own campaigns, too.

 

Edit: okay, so, this process hasn't happened that many times during a presidential election year, but it has happened.

[Craig Arko]

I deleted my somewhat inflammatory post in the spirit of detente.

 

Still hope Alan Page gets mentioned in the conversation.

[TheLeviathan]

We shouldn't be totally surprised that there are a mix of emotions on something this huge at such a critical time. The Onoin and many others are having some fun poking at his stances in a provocative way, it's sort of natural given the stakes and the passionate ideology of the man. In most places he is either bring reviled or revered. It can be hard to temper those emotions even to faithfully acknowledge the good and bad he achieved. What we can all acknowledge is he may be one of the most influential judges of our time.

 

I really hope another moderate is nominated by Obama before we risk a Republican making the nomination.

[stringer bell]

OK. It is interesting to read the eulogies for Scalia on Facebook. Most of the anti-Scalia comments preface their rhetoric with a comment about personal loss or "Ive been told never to speak ill of the dead, but". Conservatives take offense to criticism before his body is even cold. Good point. Liberals point out that his record is there and the effects of his death are immediate and crucial. Also a good point.

 

It truly seems to come down to "whose ox is gored".

[Craig Arko]

I have to pause and wonder if the same folks getting bent out of shape here also expressed the same humanitarian grief over the deaths of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden.

[DaveW]

I have to pause and wonder if the same folks getting bent out of shape here also expressed the same humanitarian grief over the deaths of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden.

or when Ted Kennedy passed....

[drjim]

I do think it was wise to change the title of the post. I applaud that.

[TheLeviathan]

I wouldn't compare Scalia to Osama bin Laden...that probably is overstating any contempt you may have for his ideology on the court.

[Squirrel]

Can we please move on and discuss the topic? If you can't do so without extreme emotion from either side, walk away from this thread.

[USAFChief]

My guess: Senate Republicans will find a way to prevent this seat from being filled until after the election.

 

And their base won't see the irony in claiming to be about the constitution, while simultaneously putting cheap politics above the constitution.

[Squirrel]

 

My guess: Senate Republicans will find a way to prevent this seat from being filled until after the election.

And their base won't see the irony in claiming to be about the constitution, while simultaneously putting cheap politics above the constitution.

I really think the Republican Senators up for re-election are squirming a bit. What happens to the Court is always on my mind during elections, but it will now be on everyone's mind. I'm sort of in the 'Who cares who is nominated for president, but what of all those Senate elections' mode now.

[USAFChief]

I really think the Republican Senators up for re-election are squirming a bit. What happens to the Court is always on my mind during elections, but it will now be on everyone's mind. I'm sort of in the 'Who cares who is nominated for president, but what of all those Senate elections' mode now.

We'll see. Maybe a few Senators from moderate states. Maybe itll get out more voters, never a good thing for Republicans. But my guess is most who vote R won't see stalling as a bad thing. Ends justify a lot of means.

 

I hope you are right.

[Squirrel]

 

We'll see. Maybe a few Senators from moderate states. Maybe itll get out more voters, never a good thing for Republicans. But my guess is most who vote R won't see stalling as a bad thing. Ends justify a lot of means.

I hope you are right.

yeah, this could just turn into one of the biggest 'get out the vote' campaigns of all times, no matter the 'side' or 'middle' from which you hail.

[Hrbowski]

 

or when Ted Kennedy passed....

Believe me, I had great respect for Kennedy, and was grieved when he died. Another thing I would like to point out is that I didn't celebrate when Hussain and Bin Laden died, although I didn't grieve.

[drjim]

 

We'll see. Maybe a few Senators from moderate states. Maybe itll get out more voters, never a good thing for Republicans. But my guess is most who vote R won't see stalling as a bad thing. Ends justify a lot of means.

I hope you are right.

 

It is actually a tough Senate map for the Republicans this cycle. Lots of them defending seats in swing states. This could absolutely tip the balance against them if they block a clearly competent justice.

 

I agree with the take that they will do the usual delaying stuff until the nominees come into more focus. Republicans would rather have Obama nominate than Clinton or Trump I would think.

[Craig Arko]

Believe me, I had great respect for Kennedy, and was grieved when he died. Another thing I would like to point out is that I didn't celebrate when Hussain and Bin Laden died, although I didn't grieve.

Thank you. I do appreciate the sincere answer.

[USAFChief]

Believe me, I had great respect for Kennedy, and was grieved when he died. Another thing I would like to point out is that I didn't celebrate when Hussain and Bin Laden died, although I didn't grieve.

I'll admit to happiness and relief that Bin Laden was killed. He was an evil man, responsible for much death and suffering around the world. A man who deserved no sympathy or reprieve.

 

He was nothing at all like Ted Kennedy, or Antonin Scalia, flawed but ultimately decent and well meaning humans, like most of us.

[glunn]

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, many newspapers included large exclamation points in their headlines.  This was because the news was shocking and had huge consequences.  It did not mean that anyone was celebrating the event.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pearl-harbor-on-the-nations-front-pages/2013/12/30/a20eef44-2059-11e1-b180-0df42576a2af_gallery.html

 

 

[mikecgrimes]

It would be a risky move, but assuming a somewhat reasonable nominee in the context of who is being replaced the Republicans could approve as quickly as possible, hopefully win the election and then when the next vacancy opens up they make sure to get "Scalia's replacement" in at that point.  Outside of the rulings that might be lost between now and then this would be a net positive for Republicans.

 

Clearly it would be silly for Republicans not to say they intend to block as it's a negotiation at this point.  If Obama waits to long it becomes reasonable to block, but putting the ball in his court allowing him either to make a mistake by not making a reasonable nomination or make a mistake by giving the Republicans to much is the move to make.  Obama's best move might be to bet on a Democrat win and then nominating his ideal choice a few weeks after the election, although he would have to make sure the Democrat nominee is on board with the plan.

[Mike Sixel]

His best move is to nominate someone in a few weeks. That way it is in the news cycle in the convention season, if not the election. The more republicans are seen as a party unwilling to govern, and to follow the constitution they pretend to love so much, the better. It is too bad both sides made this political instantly. What a sad country.

[drjim]

It would be a risky move, but assuming a somewhat reasonable nominee in the context of who is being replaced the Republicans could approve as quickly as possible, hopefully win the election and then when the next vacancy opens up they make sure to get "Scalia's replacement" in at that point. Outside of the rulings that might be lost between now and then this would be a net positive for Republicans.

 

Clearly it would be silly for Republicans not to say they intend to block as it's a negotiation at this point. If Obama waits to long it becomes reasonable to block, but putting the ball in his court allowing him either to make a mistake by not making a reasonable nomination or make a mistake by giving the Republicans to much is the move to make. Obama's best move might be to bet on a Democrat win and then nominating his ideal choice a few weeks after the election, although he would have to make sure the Democrat nominee is on board with the plan.

That strikes me as too long for Obama to wait. There will probably be a nominee in the next couple of weeks.

 

The next term starts in October right?

 

I still think it ends up as a highly competent slightly left of center nominee.

[mikecgrimes]

Probably going to need to investigate the cause of death a lot further. This is a mess hopefully it wasn't a murder but this is a problem for the president.

[twinsnorth49]

 

Probably going to need to investigate the cause of death a lot further. This is a mess hopefully it wasn't a murder but this is a problem for the president.

 

 

http://www.destinyland.org/Fonzie%20jumping%20over%20the%20shark%20on%20Happy%20Days.jpg

[mikecgrimes]

 

http://www.destinyland.org/Fonzie%20jumping%20over%20the%20shark%20on%20Happy%20Days.jpg

 

If finding him with a pillow over his head is not worthy of any further investigation then it can be better explained.  I assume you were unaware of that detail but this is a mess.  Maybe it's time to stop spiking the football.

[USAFChief]

Probably going to need to investigate the cause of death a lot further. This is a mess hopefully it wasn't a murder but this is a problem for the president.

"Hopefully it wasn't a murder"??

 

JHFC.

 

You are upset about the tone of a thread on Twins Daily, but ok with Senate Republicans politicizing it hours after his death?

 

And now you're pimping National Enquirer.

 

Holy cow.

 

EDIT: I stand corrected...National Enquirer would be too respected. WorldNetDaily.

[mikecgrimes]

I'm just going by the words of the guy who found him.  I'm not qualified to tell you what that means, but I do expect those who are to deal with that detail.  Maybe the guy is a moron for stating it that way I have no clue. 

[DaveW]

Maybe the guy is a moron

Occam's razor!