Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Dead at 79

Contemplating Justice

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Via Reuters↱:

The White House has narrowed its search for a Supreme Court nominee to three federal appeals court judges, Sri Srinivasan, Merrick Garland and Paul Watford, a source familiar with the selection process said on Friday.

Srinivasan, an Indian-American who served under presidents of both parties before President Barack Obama named him as an appellate judge, and Garland, considered but passed over for the Supreme Court twice before by Obama, are considered the leading contenders, according to the source and two other sources close to the process.​

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It was unclear whether the other two other candidates who had been expected to be interviewed by Obama, federal appeals court judge Jane Kelly and federal trial judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, were now out of the running altogether.​

There is, additionally, some talk that a nomination could come Monday; the White House says not necessarily, as The Hill↱ reports; Senate Democrats are pushing for a nomination soon in part because the Senate hits spring break on the nineteenth.
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Notes:

Edwards, Julia, Jeff Mason. "White House narrows search to three for Supreme Court". Reuters. 11 March 2016. Reuters.com. 11 March 2016. http://reut.rs/1nEbAjM

Fabian, Jordan. "Obama SCOTUS pick 'not necessarily' coming next week". The Hill. 11 March 2016. TheHill.com. 11 March 2016. http://bit.ly/1Wg7iuZ

 

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Scalia bound in servitude to the oligarchs. What will be interesting is whether the leadership in congress will be allowed to shirk there constitutional duty over losing the ace in the hole Supreme Court Justice.

 

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Ironically, Republicans may be setting themselves up for an ever larger loss. If Republicans hold firm and refuse to confirm Obama's nominee, I think it likely Democrats will take over the Senate next year. And if a Democrat is elected POTUS, Democrats would be free to appoint an avowed young liberal to the court. Republicans would have passed over a very acceptable older centrist judicial appointment in favor of a younger more liberal appointment to the court. I mean, you gotta love it. How stupid can Republicans get? The Republican Party is in disarray, with a contested convention on the horizon, it doesn't look good for Republicans. The party could well split this year. Trump could run as an independent if he doesn't win the Republican nomination. And many Republicans are threatening to stay home if Trump is the nominee. The Republican Party is in shambles, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. I think it very likely Democrats could well win the senate this year.

One more thing to think about, the lower courts now have a preponderance of Democratic appointees. Ironically, a deadlocked Supreme Court empowers the lower courts. More and more decisions will be made by the lower courts rather than the Supreme Court. And thanks to Obama's judicial appointments early in his tenure, when Democrats controlled the Senate, Democrats have a numerical advantage in the lower courts.

In a backhanded way Republicans might be doing Democrats a favor.

Placating the Republican entertainment led base is proving to be quite costly not only to the nation, but to the Republican Party as well.

 

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I like your analysis. Especially the fact about the courts. So Obama did use the bully pulpit, somewhat, when he had the chance. The only group Republicans aren't doing favors for are themselves. Intelltual bankruptcy would be a compliment relative to their performance.