(September 18, 2018 at 2:47 pm)Jörmungandr Wrote:(September 18, 2018 at 2:13 pm)RoadRunner79 Wrote: For one, this precedent of Biden’s is concerning the presidency. Two, we are almost always coming up on some kind of election, how far ahead are you proposing? Also, I believe that this was concerning after the election, when a candidate was on their way out.
This was in response to Obama nominating Merrick Garland in the spring of 2016, a full 8 months before the election. This time we're within the 60 day window prior to an election. I'm not arguing that the Biden rule should apply, but rather pointing out McConnell and the Republican party's duplicity in applying Biden's advice in 2016 when it concerned a justice nominated by a Democrat, yet in 2018, they instead prefer to rush through a Republican nominee before due consideration has been applied. Indeed, McConnell has now complained that bringing forth the accusation against Kavanaugh did not observe "standard bipartisan process."
"[E]ven before Obama had named Garland, and in fact only hours after Scalia's death was announced, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared any appointment by the sitting president to be null and void. He said the next Supreme Court justice should be chosen by the next president — to be elected later that year." (npr.org)
Joe Biden's comments were in 1992 regarding a potential supreme court nomination by president Bush. (WashingtonPost.com)
You don't think the midterms are as much an expression of the will of the people as a presidential election? I rather suspect just the opposite. That you do recognize it as an expression of the will of the people, and you'd rather not have that.
I'll remind you that congress is fully recognized as the third branch of federal government, equally as important as the president. The advice and consent of the senate isn't just a formality.
Ok... I was wrong, and thanks for the correction.
It seems a little silly, to hold up supreme court nominees for 2 years out of 4 though. I can understand, if there was an election, if people are on their way out, and their successors will are already decided (talking a couple of months here). For the most part, I'm against this part of politics, when either side is doing it.
It is said that an argument is what convinces reasonable men and a proof is what it takes to convince even an unreasonable man. - Alexander Vilenkin
If I am shown my error, I will be the first to throw my books into the fire. - Martin Luther
If I am shown my error, I will be the first to throw my books into the fire. - Martin Luther