The Native Iowan

The timing could not have been more poetic. A very short few weeks before The General Election. About four months before the El Presidente’, whom ever it may be, is sworn in. And, very importantly, four years since a very similar situation transpired…

And that drama lasted almost the entire year… From February 2016 to 3 January 2017, Merrill Garland’s nomination expired when the 114th Congress ended. It was a huge battle.

There was much discussion and controversy. The Republican Majority simply refused to consider the nomination. Legal actions were taken but were not effective. In November 2017 a law suit seeking to compel a vote was thrown out of the court.

From a political point of view the Democrat Establishment really fucked up badly. If RBG had retired her seat earlier, Obama could have replaced her. As it was, after the death of Justice Scalia, the Democrat-Machine lost that battle, AND, NOW, They’ve lost Bader-Ginsburg’s seat.

I hear a lot of discussion and a whole lot of noise about the hows and whys of El Presidente’ Trump’s position and ability to make an appointment. It is fun to watch the Democrat side melt down, say the exact opposite of what they were saying four years ago. But most of what is being said, quietly or loudly, does not apply here and now.

Four year’s ago, Obama’s two-term tenure of the Oval Office was coming to an end. He was not going to be President in 2017. It was Hillary v TheDonald and it was a winner take all contest.

This year we have the incumbent president v an opponent. The Donald is president until January. And I am certain this is a moment where he is glad his party holds sway in the Senate. It could be different.

FYI:

Supreme Court justices, court of appeals judges, and district court judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate, as stated in the Constitution. 

The names of potential nominees are often recommended by senators or sometimes by members of the House who are of the President’s political party. The Senate Judiciary Committee typically conducts confirmation hearings for each nominee. Article III of the Constitution states that these judicial officers are appointed for a life term.

The Constitution sets forth no specific requirements for judges. However, members of Congress, who typically recommend potential nominees, and the Department of Justice, which reviews nominees’ qualifications, have developed their own informal criteria.

https://www.uscourts.gov/file/21619/download

So, without a doubt, the appointment of Justices is a political “thing”.

And my prediction is that TheDonald will get an unprecedented 3 Supreme Court appointments in his first term in Office.

Smiles all around