SCOTUS Vacancy

November 25th, 2020 at 6:07:48 AM permalink
Dalex64
Member since: Mar 8, 2014
Threads: 3
Posts: 3687
How contentious Biden's cabinet position confirmations are should give an indication as to whether or not a supreme court justice should consider retiring.
"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts." Daniel Patrick Moynihan
November 25th, 2020 at 6:21:04 AM permalink
SOOPOO
Member since: Feb 19, 2014
Threads: 22
Posts: 4157
Quote: Dalex64
How contentious Biden's cabinet position confirmations are should give an indication as to whether or not a supreme court justice should consider retiring.


I hope they let the majority of his picks get confirmed. I hope Yellen is unanimous. Only name I’ve heard that I hope loses 52-48 is Sanders. Appointing an avowed socialist to any ‘labor’ position must be fought by all who care about the future of America.
November 25th, 2020 at 9:20:33 AM permalink
Pacomartin
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 1068
Posts: 12569
Quote: SOOPOO
I hope they let the majority of his picks get confirmed. I hope Yellen is unanimous. Only name I’ve heard that I hope loses 52-48 is Sanders. Appointing an avowed socialist to any ‘labor’ position must be fought by all who care about the future of America.



I am aware of only two cabinet level positions filled so far.
Antony Blinken -State
Alejandro Mayorkas - Homeland Security

Antony John Blinken (born April 16, 1962) is an American government official who served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State from 2015 to 2017 and Deputy National Security Advisor from 2013 to 2015 under President Barack Obama. Blinken is now a global affairs analyst for CNN[1] and has been chosen by President-elect Joe Biden for the position of Secretary of State.

Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas (born November 24, 1959) is an American lawyer and former government official. Born in Cuba, he grew up in California and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley as well as Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. During the Clinton administration, Mayorkas served as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. During the Obama administration, he served in the Department of Homeland Security, first as Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (2009–13) and then as Deputy Secretary (2013–14). In 2016, he became a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, a Washington, D.C. law firm. On November 23, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden announced that he has nominated Mayorkas to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security in the his Cabinet.

Cabinet-rank status and White House staff
Ron Klain - Chief of Staff
Avril Haines - National Intelligence Director
Jake Sullivan - National Security Advisor
Linda Greenfield - UN Ambassador
Special Envoy for Climate - John Kerry

November 30th, 2020 at 6:41:45 PM permalink
terapined
Member since: Aug 6, 2014
Threads: 73
Posts: 11786
We may be in an era where the WH must have the senate to appoint a justice.
I can see us going down to 8 or 7.
No way a republican senate will allow Biden to pick a justice. The political climate is that bad.
On the flip side there is talk among republicans to boycott the GA senate races due to perceived election corruption.
Sometimes we live no particular way but our own - Grateful Dead "Eyes of the World"
November 30th, 2020 at 7:14:50 PM permalink
Pacomartin
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 1068
Posts: 12569
Quote: terapined
We may be in an era where the WH must have the senate to appoint a justice. I can see us going down to 8 or 7.


That's a very interesting observation. It does look like Clarence Thomas is the only sitting member of SCOTUS confirmed where POTUS and SENATE majority were different parties.

If we do go down to 7, then when simultaneous parties get control again will there be two nominations in a shorter period of time?

Will the Supreme Court survive such politicization? Will some laws finally be enacted giving timelines to the process?

Sonia Sotomayor August 6, 2009 (68–31)
Elena Kagan August 5, 2010 (63–37)
POTUS Barack Obama
111th Congress (2009-2011)
Majority Party: Democrat (57 seats)
Minority Party: Republican (41 seats)
Other Parties: 1 Independent; 1 Independent Democrat (both caucused with the Democrats)

John Roberts September 29, 2005 (78–22)
Samuel Alito January 31, 2006 (58–42)
POTUS GW Bush
109th Congress (2005-2007)
Majority Party: Republican (55 seats)
Minority Party: Democrat (44 seats)
Other Parties: Independent (1 seat) (caucused with the Democrats)

Stephen Breyer Blackmun July 29, 1994 (87–9)
POTUS Bill Clinton
103rd Congress (1993-1995)
Majority Party: Democrat (57 seats)
Minority Party: Republican (43 seats)
Other Parties: 0

Clarence Thomas Marshall October 15, 1991 (52–48)
POTUS George HW Bush
102nd Congress (1991-1993)
Majority Party: Democrat (56 seats)
Minority Party: Republican (44 seats)
November 30th, 2020 at 7:45:23 PM permalink
DRich
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 51
Posts: 4944
Quote: terapined
We may be in an era where the WH must have the senate to appoint a justice.
I can see us going down to 8 or 7.
No way a republican senate will allow Biden to pick a justice. The political climate is that bad.
On the flip side there is talk among republicans to boycott the GA senate races due to perceived election corruption.


On CNBC this morning a commentator was discussing whether Biden would prefer a republican win that race that way he would not have to implement the far left agenda of the democratic party. It was an interesting discussion.
At my age a Life In Prison sentence is not much of a detrrent.
November 30th, 2020 at 8:03:41 PM permalink
terapined
Member since: Aug 6, 2014
Threads: 73
Posts: 11786
Quote: DRich
On CNBC this morning a commentator was discussing whether Biden would prefer a republican win that race that way he would not have to implement the far left agenda of the democratic party. It was an interesting discussion.

If the Dems win the Senate
I really don't see a far left agenda
That's fear mongering from the right.
Take reparations, it's just not going to happen.
We will go back to common sense Obama era, it's the logical prediction. The base of the Dem party is pretty centrist just like me.
Sometimes we live no particular way but our own - Grateful Dead "Eyes of the World"
December 1st, 2020 at 5:11:23 AM permalink
SOOPOO
Member since: Feb 19, 2014
Threads: 22
Posts: 4157
Quote: terapined
We may be in an era where the WH must have the senate to appoint a justice.
I can see us going down to 8 or 7.
No way a republican senate will allow Biden to pick a justice. The political climate is that bad.
On the flip side there is talk among republicans to boycott the GA senate races due to perceived election corruption.


I will bet you any amount of money that if a SC vacancy becomes available during Biden’s first 3.5 years he will have a SC justice confirmed by the Senate.

Of course, if it becomes available in the very end of his Presidency the Senate will expect to wait until after the next Presidential election. You know, to be consistent....

Bet, Ed?
December 1st, 2020 at 6:23:43 AM permalink
AZDuffman
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 135
Posts: 18136
Quote: SOOPOO
I will bet you any amount of money that if a SC vacancy becomes available during Biden’s first 3.5 years he will have a SC justice confirmed by the Senate.

Of course, if it becomes available in the very end of his Presidency the Senate will expect to wait until after the next Presidential election. You know, to be consistent....

Bet, Ed?


A good prediction as historically the GOP does not make a war out of every nomination and try to destroy a nominee they do not like.
The President is a fink.
December 1st, 2020 at 7:02:09 AM permalink
SOOPOO
Member since: Feb 19, 2014
Threads: 22
Posts: 4157
Quote: AZDuffman
A good prediction as historically the GOP does not make a war out of every nomination and try to destroy a nominee they do not like.


On a matter such as this, I think you can throw out ‘historically’. But if the Dems have 48 or 49 guaranteed ‘yea’s’, then unless it is clearly a bad pick, there will be a few Republicans who would vote to confirm. If Repubs held Senate 55-45, then, I might agree with Ed.

We will see how it goes with Cabinet nominees. Other than Bernie, let him put who he wants in.