The U.S. Constitution: Obama TRUMPS Obama, Biden agrees, HilLIARy concurs

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, headed by Chairman Chuck Grassley, have sent a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell confirming unanimously that they will not hold hearings for an Obama Supreme Court nominee to replace Justice Antonin Scalia.

The letter in full (bolding is mine):

Dear Majority Leader McConnell,

As we write, we are in the midst of a great national debate over the course our country will take in the coming years. The Presidential election is well underway. Americans have already begun to cast their votes. As we mourn the tragic loss of Justice Antonin Scalia, and celebrate his life’s work, the American people are presented with an exceedingly rare opportunity to decide, in a very real and concrete way, the direction the Court will take over the next generation. We believe The People should have this opportunity.

Over the last few days, much has been written about the constitutional power to fill Supreme Court vacancies, a great deal of it inaccurate. Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution is clear. The President may nominate judges of the Supreme Court. But the power to grant, or withhold, consent to such nominees rests exclusively with the United States Senate. This is not a difficult or novel constitutional question. As Minority Leader Harry Reid observed in 2005, “The duties of the Senate are set forth in the U.S. Constitution. Nowhere in that document does it say the Senate has a duty to give the Presidential nominees a vote. It says appointments shall be made with the advice and consent of the Senate. That is very different than saying every nominee receives a vote.”

We intend to exercise the constitutional power granted the Senate under Article II, Section 2 to ensure the American people are not deprived of the opportunity to engage in a full and robust debate over the type of jurist they wish to decide some of the most critical issues of our time. Not since 1932 has the Senate confirmed in a presidential election year a Supreme Court nominee to a vacancy arising in that year. And it is necessary to go even further back — to 1888 — in order to find an election year nominee who was nominated and confirmed under divided government, as we have now.

Accordingly, given the particular circumstances under which this vacancy arises, we wish to inform you of our intention to exercise our constitutional authority to withhold consent on any nominee to the Supreme Court submitted by this President to fill Justice Scalia’s vacancy. Because our decision is based on constitutional principle and born of a necessity to protect the will of the American people, this Committee will not hold hearings on any Supreme Court nominee until after our next President is sworn in on January 20, 2017.

Sincerely,

Chuck Grassley
Orrin Hatch
Jeff Sessions
Lindsey Graham
John Cornyn
Mike Lee
Ted Cruz
Jeff Flake
David Vitter
David Perdue
Thom Tillis

Comment by PHILIP SCHNEIDER on February 23, 2016 at 10:51am: With an unscrupulous leader in OUR WHITE HOUSE like Obama, it's easy to understand why there is uncertainty about (any) honesty in government including the possibility that one of our most conscientious conservative justices has just been murdered and is being treated like his death was from natural causes.

Even an unfortunate homeless wretch found dead on the street gets an "Autopsy" . . . . Antonin Scalia . . . . . not so much, no such luck.

The days grow dim for continued success of our nation. Is the end near?

The U.S. Constitution: Obama TRUMPS Obama, Biden agrees, HilLIARy concurs

BREAKING: Judiciary Committee Confirms Hearings Won't Be Held For Obama SCOTUS Pick

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