Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died today. The political jousting has begun. The president says he’ll appoint a new justice. Mitch McConnell, Senate majority leader, says not so fast.
The president should listen to McConnell.
Mitch, be careful what you wish for.
The Supreme Court has already decided a number of cases, but hasn’t published (or revealed) its decisions. Justice Scalia’s vote now gets removed. It is my understanding this is how the court has always operated when a justice passes away.
The court has lost its conservative majority. This will continue as long as this seat sits vacant.
All of a sudden the next appointee becomes a presidential election issue. This is a problem for conservatives. Though their base demands very stringent positions from the Republican candidates, the general populace feels otherwise.
Will an open seat be a problem for Trump, Cruz and Rubio? Imagine what they have to say today to get a nomination versus what they’ll need to say in a general election.
Very interesting stuff.