I was amazed when I heard Justice Scalia died. I actually thought it was a joke. I thought it was some satirical website poking fun at the conservative justice. When I checked multiple sources and realized it was fact, I began to think about the political implications of Justice Scalia's death. I knew that the timing was such that President Obama would nominate a liberal justice that would change the make up of the court. The court was really 5-4 conservative with Anthony Kennedy being the swing vote (unless Chief Justice Roberts is the swing, as in the case of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)).
I was not surprised at the Republican response to the death of Scalia. They seem to think that Scalia was a number on the Supreme Court and not a person. They want Obama to wait and have the next President to nominate a replacement for Scalia. Obama still has almost a full year left in office. It seems to me, if he didn't nominate a replacement for Scalia, he would not be preforming the duties of the President.
Our Constitution gives the President the power to nominate Justices and the Senate the power to confirm them. Waiting a year because it is an election cycle does not jive with the Constitution. Mitch McConnell said that the people should have a say in the next Supreme Court Justice. Well they did, when they reelected Obama for a second term in 2012.
Just because a black man is President, it does not mean white people should object to everything he does. Republicans have become the party of intolerance. How many minorities are in elected office for the so called Grand Old Party? Not many. I bet that Republicans would be cheering for a new Supreme Court nominee if a liberal justice died while a conservative was in the White House. Just because you oppose someone's ideology does not mean you get to rewrite the rules. I don't think Republicans get that,
I know I'm going on a rant like the bleeding heart liberal I am, but I like to think I would understand if the tables were turned. I am a liberal atheist, straight, supporter of gays rights, but I have a patriotic spirit that gets confused when the so called "Patriots" oppose the federal government while sucking at their teat. Politics are a fucked up thing. Politics seem to divide this country more than anything else. Politicians make everything a political point...even the death of a man they respect. RIP Scalia. I disagree with everything you stand for, but I feel sorry for your family' loss.