Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)

Subject: BS: Obit Justice Anthony Scalia 2016
From: Wesley S
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 05:30 PM

(CNN)U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has died at the age of 79, a government source and family friend told CNN on Saturday.

Scalia died in his sleep during a visit to Texas.

The first Italian-American to sit on the nation's highest court, Scalia was a conservative in thought, but not in personality.

The jaunty jurist was able to light up, or ignite, a room with his often brash demeanor and wicked sense of humor, grounded always in a profound respect for American law and its constitutional traditions.

"What can I say," was a favorite phrase of the man colleagues knew as "Nino." As it turned out, quite a lot.

"Justice Scalia had an irrepressibly pugnacious personality," said Edward Lazarus, a former Supreme Clerk law clerk who wrote about the experience in "Closed Chambers."

"And even in his early years of the Court, that came out at oral argument when he was the most aggressive questioner. And behind the scenes, where the memos he would write-- what were called 'Ninograms'-- inside the court had a real galvanizing effect on the debate among the justices."

A sharp mind combined with a sharp pen allowed Scalia to make his point, both to the pleasure and disappointment of his colleagues and the public.

"He could be belligerent, he was obviously very candid about he felt about things," said Joan Biskupic, a USA Today reporter who wrote a biography of Scalia. "He loved to call it as he saw it, completely not politically correct. In fact, he prided himself on not being PC on the bench in court."

His New York and Mediterranean roots -- "I'm an Italian from Queens" he was fond of saying-- helped fashion a love of words and debate, combining street smarts with a well-calculated conservative view of the law and its limits on society.

"He was very good with audiences that weren't predisposed to like him," said Paul Clement, a former Scalia law clerk. "He was incredibly disarming and charming in his own way."

Former CNN Supreme Court Correspondent Bill Mears researched and wrote much of this obituary prior to Justice Scalia's death. CNN's Steve Almasy and Kevin Bohn contributed to this report.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit Justice Anthony Scalia 2016
From: Wesley S
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 05:34 PM

And the battle begins when Obama tries to replace him. You want to see an uproar? Just wait until the President tries to nominate his successor and get it approved through congress. Get the popcorn!!

Subject: RE: BS: Obit Justice Anthony Scalia 2016
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 05:40 PM

This should be classic....both sides trying to pay off somebody, who is supposed to be a judge!...and the payoffs all come from the same crooks!

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Obit Justice Anthony Scalia 2016
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 06:25 PM

Sure is not a 'convenient' time this.... for either party.

The news cycle will be chaos for months.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit Justice Anthony Scalia 2016
From: gnu
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 06:38 PM

It bodes badly to speak ill of the dead.

Good fuckin riddance you nasty piece of shit.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit Justice Anthony Scalia 2016
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 06:49 PM

"Mere factual innocence is no reason not to carry out a death sentence properly reached."

-Antonin Scalia.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit Justice Anthony Scalia 2016
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 07:03 PM

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Antonin_Scalia


lots to consider there.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit Justice Anthony Scalia 2016
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 07:13 PM

You left out this one:

"In the eyes of government, we are just one race here. It is American."-Anthony Scalia

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Obit Justice Anthony Scalia 2016
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 08:07 PM

How Supremes are appointed. Obama will be able to name someone, but the Senate will no doubt drag their feet and hope to have a GOP in office next year for a different outcome.

Scalia was as obnoxious on the Supreme Court as Strom Thurmond was in the US Senate.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit Justice Anthony Scalia 2016
From: Greg F.
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 08:18 PM

Now, on to Clarence Thomas, another nasty piece of shit.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit Justice Anthony Scalia 2016
From: Padre
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 09:03 PM

May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercies of God, Rest in Peace. Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him. Amen.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit Justice Anthony Scalia 2016
From: Mrrzy
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 09:22 PM

Hmmm, and political life gets even more interesting.

Nonetheless, my condolences to his family.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit Justice Anthony Scalia 2016
From: gnu
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 09:40 PM

Certainly... condolences are appropriate. Nonetheless, he was a scourge on justice. Clarence Thomas was just mentioned. He doesn't even rate as high as a "nasty piece of shit". How this garbage get's on the bench of the highest court of the USA is bewildering.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Anthony Scalia 2016
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 10:21 PM

Like Thomas, Scalia was appointed by Ronnie Reagan.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 10:34 PM

It was interesting to hear on NPR that Scalia was a close friend of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a notorious liberal on the Supreme Court. NPR reporter Nina Totenberg gave an interesting assessment of Scalia that showed both negative and positive sides of Scalia:

http://www.npr.org/2016/02/13/140647230/justice-antonin-scalia-known-for-biting-dissents-dies-at-79

So, now President Obama has an opportunity to appoint a Supreme Court Justice. The Republican Senate may be reluctant to confirm an Obama appointee. But on the other side, Obama may appoint a moderate likely to win Senate approval; and next election may give us a Democratic President and Senate who would be likely to appoint somebody far more liberal.
So, it will be interesting to see what happens. May Justice Scalia rest in peace. It's clear that he represented his perspective well.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 11:06 PM

Despite their political differences, I've heard on numerous occasions that the justices generally get along well. I remember how broken up Sandra Day O'Connor was when Rehnquist died, despite their judicial disputes.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 01:21 AM

He represented his perspective well but I question the ethical purity of a justice who will not recuse himself from cases in which he has personal involvement. He also had a habit of showing up where no unbiased person should have been. His absence will probably turn many critical cases, such as Friedrichs, into 4 -- 4 decisions.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Greg F.
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 08:45 AM

let light perpetual shine upon him

It sure as hell didn't shine upon him while he was alive.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 09:28 AM

I dissent that the fight for appointment begins with Obama's choice...

It began with Mc Connel when he claimed Obama can not select a replacement in an election year in an unprecedented mere 6 hours after discovering Scalia's body. (before he was cold)

Perhaps Obama's term as a black President is only 3/5s a long in Mc Connell's mind, but President does have the responsibility and duty to appoint a justice,


Scalia is known for being the longest serving Justice and an originalist interpreter of the Constitution which is much the same as how a fundamentalist interprets the bible. His most famous cases all involved guns.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 11:11 AM

Voting Rights hangs in the balance.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 12:10 PM

I think Jane Kelly is certainly in the running.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 02:57 PM

My parents taught me to only say good things about the dead...




Does "good riddance" count?

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 03:07 PM

Stare decisus here we come.
What will Clarence Thomas do without his leader? Will he finally develop a voice of his own . . . or just carry on?

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Wesley S
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 03:16 PM

If you want to see a republican's head explode - just tell them that Michelle Obama has been nominated to replace Scalia.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 03:58 PM

There is a petition afoot to nominate Anita Hill: Sign Here

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 06:20 PM

I wonder what a strict originalist like Scalia would think of a majority of the Senate deciding to effectively insert "except during presidential election year" into one of the key provisions of Article II, Section 2 of The United States Constitution?

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Greg F.
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 09:19 PM

Its not the Repulsicans' fault - they just can't help themselves being complete assholes.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 10:49 PM

It would be cruel to Anita Hill to have to spend the rest of her professional career working with Thomas (until he departs in some form or fashion). I conjecture that she wouldn't do it.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Ebbie
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 11:50 PM

Given the age and health of several others of the Justices there is the potential for another death on the Court in the near future. What then? Surely, the Wrong, not Right, wing of the Court would not condone leaving that large a gulf in the body.

This is an interesting time to be alive...

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 11:55 PM

Obama could make a recess appointment. The congress is out until Feb. 22.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Ebbie
Date: 15 Feb 16 - 12:51 AM

Good idea! Imagine the hullabaloo! But it could be done. However, wuld that mean that the President would have to reappoint him every year. I believe that is what is required in other appointments.

What do you think of Sri Srinivasan? I like what I have read of him.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Feb 16 - 07:33 PM

No, there are quite a few over the years. Rehnquist was a recess appointment. But making the appointment now would probably blow up many GOP heads and give them momentum to complain and get their voters out, so I doubt Obama would do it.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST,Obnig Hrobdog
Date: 15 Feb 16 - 07:35 PM

Good riddance to the fucker. The Uncle Tom next, I hope. OBAMA WOULD MAKE A VERY GOOD SUPREME COURT JUDGE. Sorry about the capslock. Not too sure about that smart chap from the District Appeal court - Sri something. I do not get a good feel from his biogs.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Feb 16 - 07:37 PM

Srinivasan sounds like he's a brilliant jurist.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: CupOfTea
Date: 15 Feb 16 - 07:52 PM

Lord help us all. I cringe to think that political hand waving would cause the choice to be held up till after the election, and have been having nightmares about Trump successfully "getting out the vote" by registering the legions of never- been-bothered- to- vote yahoos who would enjoy having a mean spirited egomaniacal whackaddle in the White House. This is one very scary political time.

Joanne in Cleveland (who doesnt buy her governor's "Jimmy Stewart" act)

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Feb 16 - 08:29 PM

The Republicans have maneuvered the rules to allow calls for Senate sessions every 3 days, whether anyone actually attends or not. This complex of rules was approved by SCOTUS itself using the Republican controlled court.

"...President Obama may ponder the possibility of putting on the Court a new Justice of his choosing, to serve temporarily. The problem, though, is that less than two years ago, the Supreme Court severely narrowed the flexibility of such temporary appointment power, and strengthened the Senate's capacity to frustrate such a presidential maneuver."

from here: http://www.scotusblog.com/2016/02/is-a-recess-appointment-to-the-court-an-option/

The goal is simple... to rig the Senate rules, the electoral college, the public voting rights, the Gerrymandering routines so that they have total control over the important parts of how the country functions... much like actual dictatorships... with only pro forma 'rights' for the general public. When they can win elections, even when they lose the majority, the situation becomes..... interesting.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Greg F.
Date: 15 Feb 16 - 08:57 PM

Gotta love them Repulsicans dontcha - always prating on about The Constitution....

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Donuel
Date: 15 Feb 16 - 09:12 PM

I am able to separate the man from the mean streak that inhabited his old timey ideas of prejudice. To grow up Italian in America during the thirties is a hateful place for a young boy can put a chip on ones shoulder for life.

He basked in the glory of honoring his culture in the form of singing Italian opera with two other Tenors at the Washington Opera Ball.
He said it was the highlight of his life.

I could have been friends with him just as I could enjoy the company of many of the flagrant gun nuts here.

Until you separate people from issues you will not know true empathy.
It is not a requirement but it is a human achievement better than straight hate.

Like yourself everyone gets damaged in some way. Sometimes in helpful ways and sometimes not.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 15 Feb 16 - 11:29 PM

Wonderful post Donuel, I am glad you have expressed it so thoughtfully.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Greg F.
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 08:00 AM

To grow up Italian in America during the thirties is a hateful place for a young boy can put a chip on ones shoulder for life.

So that justifies the evil shit he was responsible for?

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 11:39 AM

"So that justifies the evil shit he was responsible for?"

The point, I take it, was to help explain how a good guy can get locked into some bad ideas. Almost everyone who knew Scalia says he was a good guy to know, even when they shook their heads at his positions. The problem with his judicial philosophy was that it was VERY consistent internally. He had a clear and reasonable answer for everything he did....once you understood that he had 2-3 basic premises that, by themselves were NOT clear and obvious. This made him particularly dangerous... but not 'evil'.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 11:50 AM

Just when I was so appalled at the depravity of a few on this thread, Which debases both Mudcat, and many of those who embrace some sort of political nonsense over compassion and human life, Donuel posted his last post.
Bravo, Donuel!!

GfS

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 01:59 PM

I have not come to praise Anton I have come to bury him.

I do not offer justice for the Justice.

I have known Italian friends who have tried so hard to assimilate that they thought taking on common hatreds would advance their status more than common likes. Bad choices can make bad ass holes but that is beside the point of sentience and high office. To understand what made the cat mean is more important than defiling a defiler.

We need calmer cats, nature supplies enough variety for survival of the species as it is.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Greg F.
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 03:11 PM

Almost everyone who knew Scalia says he was a good guy to know

The same was said by many about Hitler, and he liked and was kind to dogs, as well.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 04:17 PM

Rational thoughts seldom shin in the dark side.

Countless times in court Scalia would make. a remark that would cause the audience to audibly gasp and groan.

If you looked closely, Scalia would grin so slightly as if he were responding to a tickle that did not work.

greg; dogs & Hitler really. Think about it. Dogs died along with their caretakers. Watch how dogs responded to Hitler on film.
You need to see souls via body language and eyes.
Then you would know better.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 04:19 PM

That was NOT said seriously by very many about Hitler.... and there is no rational comparison to someone like Scalia.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Greg F.
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 04:53 PM

Point is, Bill, that just because someone sez he's "a nice guy" don't make it so.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 05:14 PM

It was a great shame for the USA that he lived fifty years longer than the society he tried to impose on others.

Who are the next most likely to drop off their perches?

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 05:18 PM

The fact that Justice Ginsburg considered him one of her best buddies shows that some people have the generosity of spirit that enables them to separate a person's humanity from their ideology, a quality sorely lacking in some of Mudcat's posters.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 06:25 PM

"Sometimes if you live long enough the bastards will die right in front of you"

A. Schlemiel.


Who knew Rancho Finito east of the Diablo Mts in west Texas would be famous?

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Greg F.
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 06:30 PM

separate a person's humanity from their ideology
Except for the fact that Scalia's ideology got in the way of and pretty much negated his humanity.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Wesley S
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 10:52 PM

Conspiracy whack job Alex Jones at Infowars is now telling us that Obama had Scalia killed so that he could - you guessed it - get some laws passed so he could round up all our guns.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Amos
Date: 17 Feb 16 - 08:09 PM

FACT: Six Justices have been confirmed in a presidential election year since 1900.

For more than two centuries, it has been standard practice for Congress to confirm a president's Supreme Court nominee, whether in a presidential election year or not. Of the six justices confirmed since 1900, three have been Republicans. The most recent Justice to be confirmed in an election year was Justice Kennedy -- appointed by President Reagan -- who was confirmed by a Democratic-controlled Congress in February of 1988.

FACT: Every nominee has received a vote within 125 days of nomination.

Since 1975, the average time from nomination to confirmation is 67 days. In fact, since 1875, every nominee has received a hearing or a vote. The longest time before confirmation in the past three decades was 99 days, for Justice Thomas, and the last four Justices, spanning two Administrations, were confirmed in an average of 75 days.

The Senate has almost a full year -- more than 300 days -- to consider and confirm a nominee.

FACT: It will be harmful and create unsustainable uncertainty if Congress fails to act on the President's nominee.

The Supreme Court could go the better part of two Terms with a vacancy if the Senate rejects its Constitutional responsibility. It'd be unprecedented for the Court to go that long with an empty seat. Here's why it's harmful:

The Court's 4-4 decisions have no value in establishing precedent on which future decisions can rely. They also cannot establish uniform nationwide rules. That means if multiple courts ruled differently on an issue before it arose at the Supreme Court, a 4-4 ruling would leave those different rules in place in different states. The result is an unsustainable uncertainty -- for the law, for individual liberties, and for our economy.

(Borrowed from a White House blurb)

A

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Greg F.
Date: 17 Feb 16 - 08:16 PM

Amos, don't confuse the Republicruds with facts, eh?

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Feb 16 - 11:21 PM

On the other hand, assuming that the Supreme court will continue to vote on left-right lines, there are two consequences. First it demonstrates beyond doubt that the body is no true court, simply another (but very small) partisan political body. Second, those outcomes will be better than 5-4 victories for the American right-wingers.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Feb 16 - 11:24 PM

And here's another thought. Is it true that Scalia's "hunting trip" (which seemed to involve staying in some deluxe hotel) was paid for by a party with pending business before the Supreme Court? That would look a bit corrupt wouldn't it?

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Amos
Date: 18 Feb 16 - 12:51 AM

It looks very corrupt, as a matter of fact. The jury is still out on the details.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 18 Feb 16 - 02:58 AM

Amos: " It'd be unprecedented for the Court to go that long with an empty seat."

GfS

P.S.....and that was 18 months before the next election.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 18 Feb 16 - 08:51 PM

Yes, but the senate went ahead anyway, confirming Alito.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Greg F.
Date: 18 Feb 16 - 09:18 PM

Now you're trying to confuse Alex Goofus with facts......

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Feb 16 - 09:19 PM

+ Technically the Supreme Court can not be corrupt including the Justices.

There are no ethics laws that apply to the Justices, only an oath to the Constitution.

Recusal is voluntary

Paid vacation gifts are ' anything goes '

it takes a 2/3 vote...
all justices are perfect angels

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 19 Feb 16 - 12:52 AM

Just pointing out that the argument, for, or against a swift appointment, has been argued both ways...by the same people.....as in, hypocrisy as convenience.

GfS

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 19 Feb 16 - 06:52 AM

A fascinating graphic.

The "Martin-Quinn" scores are estimated for every justice serving from the October 1937 term to the present. Currently estimates are available through the October 2014 term.

The original research and description of methodology as on the Berkley.edu site.


CHART

www.i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--MNFDMIbQ--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/qv8vrsuknnulgox0ndiw.png

Sincerly,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 19 Feb 16 - 07:06 AM

Blue clicks problems...try again.

Supreme Court Justice Chart

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 19 Feb 16 - 12:09 PM

Well, judging from the chart, it looks like Scalia was about a 'conservative' as Stevens was 'liberal'. It seems to balance out. The most extreme were, in order of extremes)Douglas, Rehnquist, Marshall, and Portas.....why aren't you railing ALL the extremists, who are already dead??

GfS

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 19 Feb 16 - 12:10 PM

ooops, and Thomas.

GfS

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Greg F.
Date: 19 Feb 16 - 01:50 PM

You bet, Goofus- Thomas is an Ooops, all right.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 19 Feb 16 - 02:17 PM

Go crawl back under your bridge.

GfS

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 16 - 11:27 PM

Turnabout's fair play, Goofus.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 20 Feb 16 - 03:24 PM

Huh??
Makes no sense.

GfS

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 09:31 PM

I almost hope that President Obama fails in his attempt to nominate a successor to Justice Scalia and get the nominee confirmed by the Senate.
Then the next President, most likely a Democrat, can nominate Barack Obama to the court.
Revenge is sweet.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST,Richard Bridge on the Intel Quad Core
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 11:30 PM

That's OK Joe. Get one sensible lawyer onto the court now, then when there is in the near future another Democratic president, assassinate the Uncle Tom. But those women in the abortion laws case! A great temptation to yell "You go, grrrrl!"

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 12:12 AM

We'll read that as hyperbole and not an actual plan; as despicable as Thomas is, no one wishes that kind of departure from the court.

I don't know if Obama is going to be ready to settle down to another job so soon - though putting younger justices on the court has been a good move.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Wesley S
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 11:31 PM

And this just in.


Washington (CNN)The No. 2 Senate Republican warned Monday that potential nominees to the Supreme Court should consider the battle they will be forced to endure if they are picked for the post, suggesting a high-stakes slugfest could damage their reputations in a fruitless pursuit of the top court.

"I think they will bear some resemblance to a piñata," said Sen. John Cornyn of Texas.

"What I don't understand is how someone who actually wants to be confirmed to the Supreme Court would actually allow themselves to be used by the administration in a political fight that's going to last from now until the end of the year," Cornyn told a small group of reporters in the Capitol.

He added: "Because there is no guarantee, certainly, after that time they're going to look as good as they did going in."

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST,piñata
Date: 11 Mar 16 - 08:21 AM

I suspect that the nod to some of the street uses of the word piñata may be intentional. Pretty disgraceful that.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: gillymor
Date: 11 Mar 16 - 09:12 AM

What a disgusting, anti-democratic intimidation tactic put forth by Cornyn. If GOP senators beat up on a well-qualified prospective justice they'll no doubt pay for it in this election year when Congress is already held in such low regard. This is fight they are desperately trying to avoid.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Donuel
Date: 11 Mar 16 - 11:52 AM

Joe you are ALMOST a flannel shirted back woodsman right wing reactionary but as a former Federal worker it is hard to forget the good government does for individuals as well as corporations and private concerns.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 11 Mar 16 - 02:01 PM

While reading this thread and thinking back to playing in Richard III, I had a question peep through: What is the origin of his last name?
Is it a pejorative, meaning one of his ancestors was crooked or had scoliosis or is it a compliment, meaning an ancestor was a scholar but clearly not a monk?

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 11 Mar 16 - 02:23 PM

Ancestry.com says "Scalia" is a "habitational name from Scalea in Cosenza province (Italy)."

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 11 Mar 16 - 03:47 PM

OK, but what does it mean?

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 11 Mar 16 - 05:33 PM

Scalea

The town's name is from the Greek "skala", meaning "steps", after its terraced layout.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Donuel
Date: 11 Mar 16 - 07:15 PM

Scalia voted for the steps of the Court to have a 100 foot security barrier but deny any protective zone for abortion clinics.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 12 Mar 16 - 03:33 PM

OK, I guess Scalia is like Puglia or Corleone.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Greg F.
Date: 12 Mar 16 - 04:26 PM

Actually, its Italian for "putz".

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 12 Mar 16 - 07:16 PM

Greg, I asked about etymology, political "debates."

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 12 Mar 16 - 07:17 PM

That should have read "not political 'debates.'"

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Greg F.
Date: 12 Mar 16 - 08:11 PM

Gotcha. But putz it remains - and that's a moral, logical, and Constitutional critique, not a political one.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 09:25 AM

Merrick Garland, Federal Appeals Judge has been nominated acting deputy scape goat and sacrificial lamb pro temp Supreme Court Nominee,
for President Obama to be a consensus builder, to be ignored by Republican Senators for nine months like a pregnant escort's emails.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 10:53 AM

McConnell just stood in the Senate and said they won't consider the nomination, he kept referring to "the Biden rule" as if it was an actual thing, and not just another mis-statement that Joe has delivered during the years. You can find a Biden opinion on just about anything, and many of them contradict themselves. A hypothetical should not trump the actual event. We love Joe, he's a nice guy, but he frequently has his foot in his mouth.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Greg F.
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 11:25 AM

McConnell's an idiot and worse.

He seems to think that Supreme Court Justices are selected by plebicite.

He might (and I stress the conditional) benefit - as would all the rest of the Republicrap morons - from actually reading the Constitution.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: GUEST,Richard Bridge on the Intel Quad Core
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 01:15 PM

I am ambivalent about Garland. It seems likely that he is a stalking horse, to tease the Repuglitards out of their stalls - but what if he gets accepted? A Republican himself with extremely authoritarian views on law and order. But he is older than most appointees. Maybe Obama knows something about his health that we do not, implying that IF the logjam is broken a sensible progressive judge might get onto the bench.

There again there is the religious makeup. Garland would make the bench 5 Catholics and 4 Jews (am I right?) and therefore no other religion, nor atheism, represented. This MUST be bad with the pressure on the system from the evangelical right.

Then again there is the racial makeup. From Wikipedia - "Many ethnic groups have never been represented on the Court. There has never been a Justice with any Asian, Native American, or Pacific Islander heritage, and no person having such a heritage was publicly considered for an appointment until the 21st century. Legal scholar Viet D. Dinh, of Vietnamese descent, was named as a potential George W. Bush nominee.[43] During the presidency of Barack Obama, potential nominees have included Harold Hongju Koh, of Korean descent, and former Idaho attorney general Larry EchoHawk, a member of the Pawnee tribe.[44]"

This looks like a very sick society.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 02:10 PM

Odds are there are a couple of more justices who will be retiring or otherwise exiting the court one of these days, sooner rather than later. The numbers are in favor of the next president appointing up to three justices. Breyer, Ginsberg, and Kennedy are late-70s/early 80s now. Especially if that president has 8 years in office.

Subject: RE: Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 02:23 PM

Maybe I have this all wrong, but it seems to me to be an advantage to the Republicans to have Obama nominate a candidate now. I don't think their chances of winning the Presidency this year are very good, and maybe they'll lose control of the Senate. Then a Democratic President could pick a liberal nominee who would most certainly be confirmed.

But in the current situation, the Republican Senate can force Obama to pick a moderate or even moderately conservative nominee. If I were a Republican, I'd go for the sure thing and tell Obama to "bring his nominee on."

-Joe-