If Clinton Wins, Republicans Suggest Shrinking Size of Supreme Court
November 3, 20164:22 PM ET
Heard on All Things Considered
With just days until the election, some Senate Republicans are suggesting that when it comes to the Supreme Court, eight is enough. Eight justices, that is.
For the first time, some Senate Republicans are saying that if Hillary Clinton is elected, the GOP should prevent anyone she nominates from being confirmed to fill the current court vacancy, or any future vacancy.
The pronouncements are such a break with history and tradition that they often provoke the response, "Really?" Some see such statements as little more than an attempt to motivate the Republican base to get out and vote. Others, however, see the trend as a further deterioration of American institutions of government.
...
While the GOP blockade drew strong disapproval in public opinion polls, the majority leader held his troops in line, and this summer Garland broke the record set by Justice Louis Brandeis a century ago for the longest wait by a nominee to the court. Brandeis waited 125 days from nomination to confirmation, with much of the opposition based on his Jewish religion. Garland is at 232 days and counting.
Now some Republicans are suggesting the wait for Scalia's replacement could last much longer, perhaps an entire presidential term, or two. Three Republican senators have said directly that they would consider leaving Scalia's seat empty as long as Clinton is in office.
https://www.npr.org/2016/11/03/5005...lock-potential-clinton-supreme-court-nominees
Remember, this is a republican party that has adopted Trump's notion that anything is right as long as it gets what he wants. If he crashes and burns this November, republicans can only pray that democrats will be better Americans than republicans have been. And they very well might not be.
And the republicans will have only themselves to blame.
November 3, 20164:22 PM ET
Heard on All Things Considered
With just days until the election, some Senate Republicans are suggesting that when it comes to the Supreme Court, eight is enough. Eight justices, that is.
For the first time, some Senate Republicans are saying that if Hillary Clinton is elected, the GOP should prevent anyone she nominates from being confirmed to fill the current court vacancy, or any future vacancy.
The pronouncements are such a break with history and tradition that they often provoke the response, "Really?" Some see such statements as little more than an attempt to motivate the Republican base to get out and vote. Others, however, see the trend as a further deterioration of American institutions of government.
...
While the GOP blockade drew strong disapproval in public opinion polls, the majority leader held his troops in line, and this summer Garland broke the record set by Justice Louis Brandeis a century ago for the longest wait by a nominee to the court. Brandeis waited 125 days from nomination to confirmation, with much of the opposition based on his Jewish religion. Garland is at 232 days and counting.
Now some Republicans are suggesting the wait for Scalia's replacement could last much longer, perhaps an entire presidential term, or two. Three Republican senators have said directly that they would consider leaving Scalia's seat empty as long as Clinton is in office.
https://www.npr.org/2016/11/03/5005...lock-potential-clinton-supreme-court-nominees
Remember, this is a republican party that has adopted Trump's notion that anything is right as long as it gets what he wants. If he crashes and burns this November, republicans can only pray that democrats will be better Americans than republicans have been. And they very well might not be.
And the republicans will have only themselves to blame.
