Obit Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016)

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-