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Trump Stooge Hugh Hewitt Makes Incredible Explanation About SC Seat

  

Category:  Op/Ed

By:  john-russell  •  4 years ago  •  64 comments

Trump Stooge Hugh Hewitt Makes Incredible Explanation About SC Seat
This blatantly phony "argument" assumes that no one from the other party would ever vote for a nominee from the presidents party, and no one from the presidents party would ever vote against his nominee.  This is blatantly anti-democratic, small d. 


I just happened to hear Hugh Hewitt, the conservative pundit who endlessly makes excuses for the Republicans and Trump explain why it's ok for Trump to name a new Supreme Court justice now but it wasn't ok when Obama tried to do it in 2016. 

According to Hewitt, Obama didn't have a majority in the Senate, and Trump does, therefore Trump can have his nominee receive a Senate vote, but Obama's nominee could not. 

This phenomenally bad "logic" is based on this-  in 2013 the Democrats voted to change the required vote to confirm judicial nominees to 50% instead of the 60% it had been .  According to Hewitt , this means in order to confirm a SC nominee a president must have 50% or more of the Senate from his own party. 

This blatantly phony "argument" assumes that no one from the other party would ever vote for a nominee from the presidents party, and no one from the presidents party would ever vote against his nominee.  This is blatantly anti-democratic, small d.  

What is surprising is that a high profile GOP surrogate like Hewitt would spit this bile out on television. He is claiming that any judicial appointment is DOA unless the president's party is also the party with a majority in the Senate, BECAUSE every senator can be assumed to vote, always , with a 100% party line. 

What the hell is happening to America? 

By the way, at least two Republican senators have already said they would vote against a new Trump nominee. 


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JohnRussell
Professor Principal
1  author  JohnRussell    4 years ago

The GOP has no good argument for their hypocrisy, so they are resorting to blatantly offensive nonsense like this hoping the American people are too stupid or apathetic to see what is going on. 

 
 
 
The Magic 8 Ball
Masters Quiet
1.2  The Magic 8 Ball  replied to  JohnRussell @1    4 years ago
the American people are too stupid or apathetic to see what is going on. 

nah, everyone can see what is going on:

people who burn cities and destroy countless lives do not get to govern our country or pick supreme court justices.

( write that down it is on the test )

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
1.2.1  author  JohnRussell  replied to  The Magic 8 Ball @1.2    4 years ago

Hugh Hewitt, speaking for Republicans and conservatives, says that unless a president has a Senate with a majority from his own party, he shouldn't waste his time nominating a Supreme Court justice . 

That is the topic, not riots. 

 
 
 
The Magic 8 Ball
Masters Quiet
1.2.2  The Magic 8 Ball  replied to  JohnRussell @1.2.1    4 years ago
speaking for Republicans and conservatives, says that unless a president has a Senate with a majority from his own party, he shouldn't waste his time nominating a Supreme Court justice

true enough... 

what's the problem?

 
 
 
Greg Jones
Professor Participates
1.2.3  Greg Jones  replied to  JohnRussell @1.2.1    4 years ago

He does, and he will.

The nomination process has already begun behind the scenes

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
1.2.4  author  JohnRussell  replied to  The Magic 8 Ball @1.2.2    4 years ago

Well for one thing, there is no such rule in the senate.

Secondly, it is anti-democratic, as it assumes votes before they are made. 

 
 
 
The Magic 8 Ball
Masters Quiet
1.2.5  The Magic 8 Ball  replied to  JohnRussell @1.2.4    4 years ago
Well for one thing, there is no such rule in the senate.

who cares. 

 it is anti-democratic,

this is not a democracy. it is a republic.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
1.2.6  author  JohnRussell  replied to  The Magic 8 Ball @1.2.5    4 years ago

lol.  A "democratic" vote within the Senate would be a vote where the 100 senators vote on their own volition, and their vote is not assumed before it happens. 

The media can say " this will receive a party line vote" prior to a floor vote, but the leaders of the two parties should not assume the result as part of the procedure the senate uses to set it's schedule. 

If you can't see the problem then god help ya. 

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Guide
1.2.8  Dulay  replied to  The Magic 8 Ball @1.2    4 years ago
people who burn cities

Name those who are running for election who qualify.

and destroy countless lives do not get to govern our country or pick supreme court justices.

So Trump is disqualified. 

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Guide
1.2.9  Dulay  replied to  JohnRussell @1.2.6    4 years ago

Garland is a perfect example of that. Clinton nominated him and the GOP Senate brought him to the floor for a vote. He was confirmed 76-23 with many GOP votes. 

 
 
 
The Magic 8 Ball
Masters Quiet
1.2.10  The Magic 8 Ball  replied to  Dulay @1.2.8    4 years ago
So Trump is disqualified. 

other than the TDS crowd...  who's life did trump destroy?

can you even name one business trump set on fire and burned to the ground?

be specific please : :)

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
1.2.11  author  JohnRussell  replied to  The Magic 8 Ball @1.2.10    4 years ago

Your arguments are growing weaker by the minute. [Deleted]

 
 
 
The Magic 8 Ball
Masters Quiet
1.2.12  The Magic 8 Ball  replied to  JohnRussell @1.2.11    4 years ago
Your arguments are growing weaker by the minute

if my arguments are so weak...    you should have no problem answering my question.


other than the TDS crowd...  who's life did trump destroy?

.

.

.

.

.

.

john the truth is your arguments rarely have anything but thinly veiled personal attacks.

[Deleted]

 

 
 
 
arkpdx
Professor Quiet
1.2.13  arkpdx  replied to  JohnRussell @1.2.4    4 years ago
Well for one thing, there is no such rule in the senate.

There is no rule that says he can not either. Just like there is no rule that say the Senate majority leader can not consent to a president's nomination or has a time frame in which to do it. 

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
1.2.14  author  JohnRussell  replied to  The Magic 8 Ball @1.2.12    4 years ago

Tell us what Trump's qualifications are to be president, other than that he is over 35 and was born in Queens NY. 

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
1.2.15  author  JohnRussell  replied to  arkpdx @1.2.13    4 years ago
There is no rule that says he can not either.

Cannot what? 

This is not a complicated issue. Hewitt says that unless the sitting president is of the same party as the majority in the senate, he should not bother nominating someone to the court. 

What is the explanation for this belief that is based in senate protocol?  There is no such rule. 

 
 
 
The Magic 8 Ball
Masters Quiet
1.2.17  The Magic 8 Ball  replied to  JohnRussell @1.2.14    4 years ago
Tell us what Trump's qualifications are to be president

pre covid trump set all time historic records in minority employment - and will do it again

that alone makes trump more qualified than any other president in our lifetimes.

but he did not stop there...  among many other things and very unlike every other president, trump also is securing our border and has ended the shit trade deals, he is ending the never ending wars, and he is actually working to bring peace to the middle east.

why didn't obama and biden do that?

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
1.2.19  author  JohnRussell  replied to  The Magic 8 Ball @1.2.17    4 years ago
pre covid trump set all time historic records in minority employment - and will do it again that alone makes trump more qualified than any other president in our lifetimes.

lol, thats all i can say. 

 
 
 
arkpdx
Professor Quiet
1.2.20  arkpdx  replied to  JohnRussell @1.2.19    4 years ago

I'm sure you will find  something else to say you'll be wrong then too.

 
 
 
The Magic 8 Ball
Masters Quiet
1.2.21  The Magic 8 Ball  replied to  JohnRussell @1.2.19    4 years ago

[deleted]

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Guide
1.2.22  Dulay  replied to  The Magic 8 Ball @1.2.10    4 years ago
can you even name one business trump set on fire and burned to the ground

I think the solar industry would count and I bet that quite a few family farmers would raise their hand too. 

 
 
 
arkpdx
Professor Quiet
1.2.23  arkpdx  replied to  JohnRussell @1.2.4    4 years ago
Secondly, it is anti-democratic, as it assumes votes before they are made

Here's news for you. The Senate majority leader is pretty sure he knows how the members are going to vote before something hits the floor for a vote, especially the votes if his own party. 

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.3  devangelical  replied to  JohnRussell @1    4 years ago

hewitt is nothing more than a right wing jag-off that's still trying to give tricky dick a positive spin.

 
 
 
JBB
Professor Principal
2  JBB    4 years ago

Hewitt is a simple minded hypocrite impersonating a scholar. He seems reasonable...with the sound off!

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
3  Sean Treacy    4 years ago

Garland didn’t have a majority for confirmation,  so he wasn’t confirmed. If trump’s nominee does, she will be.   It’s not that hard to understand.

the Democrats borking of Bork didn’t mean they couldn’t confirm a nominee republicans objected to, did it?

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
3.1  author  JohnRussell  replied to  Sean Treacy @3    4 years ago
Garland didn’t have a majority for confirmation

Really? and you definitively know that how? You sound exactly like Hugh Hewitt, an affliction I hesitate to wish on anyone. For all you actually know, Merrick Garland may have charmed the necessary handful of Republicans in the senate into voting for him, in committee or in the full senate. 

It boggles the mind that Hugh Hewitt, or you, think you have offered a good reason for treating Garland and this vacancy differently. 

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
3.1.1  Sean Treacy  replied to  JohnRussell @3.1    4 years ago

He wasn’t confirmed was he? 

boggles the mind that Hugh Hewitt, or you, think you have offered a good reason for treating Garland and this vacancy different

Nominating a justice and confirming him with majority support is the normal process. To not nominate someone to fill a vacancy would be to treat it differently.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
3.1.2  author  JohnRussell  replied to  Sean Treacy @3.1.1    4 years ago

You seem to have your heart set on trying bamboozle your readers. That may work on the Trump supporters but that is the extent of it. 

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
3.1.3  Sean Treacy  replied to  JohnRussell @3.1.2    4 years ago

Do you think history started in 2016? It's amazing how you and others just gloss over 30 years of escalating attacks and procedural hurdles on Republican nominees (while Republicans gave Democratic nominees free passes) and think the rejection of Garland happened out of thin air.  As Obama's pastor likes to say, Democratic chickens finally came home to roost in 2016. 

 
 
 
Old Hermit
Sophomore Silent
3.1.4  Old Hermit  replied to  Sean Treacy @3.1.1    4 years ago
He wasn’t confirmed was he? 

Because McConnell never allowed the Senate to vote. 

Garland was highley respected and had the votes needed to become a Supreme Court Judge.

What Happened With Merrick Garland In 2016 And Why It Matters Now

President Barack Obama quickly named Merrick Garland, then 63, to fill the seat. Garland had long been considered a prime prospect for the high court, serving as chief judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit — a frequent source of justices that is sometimes called the "little Supreme Court." Widely regarded as a moderate, Garland had been praised in the past by many Republicans, including influential senators such as Orrin Hatch of Utah.

The fact that Garland had the votes is exactly why McConnell blocked the Senates Constitutional duty to give or withhold their consent.  

By locking the whole process Mitch's anti Constitutional actions against Merrick Garland stole a Supreme Court pick from the majority of Americans who had chosen President Obama to fill judgeship's in our American courts, not some piss ass Senator, elected by a few thousand people in one State.

But Mitch's contempt for the American voters didn't start with Garland it just peaked there, (well until RBG passed).

Mitch has been stealing judges from the American voters for years.

In the battle over the US supreme court, Democrats can still have the last laugh 

“M y most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.” Such was the dying hope of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a wish the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, is determined to deny the late, great justice.

Recall: this is the same Mitch McConnell who, in the wake of Antonin Scalia’s death nine months before the 2016 election, solemnly announced: “The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next supreme court justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.”

Never mind that the “McConnell rule” lacked grounding in constitutional materials and historical practice. The constitution empowers the president to nominate justices and tasks the US Senate with confirming or rejecting them. In a 150-year span – from 1866 to 2016 – the Senate never once prevented a president from filling a US supreme court vacancy. But armed with a rule of his own invention and a Republican majority in the Senate, McConnell brazenly refused to so much as grant a hearing to Merrick Garland, Barack Obama’s eminently qualified nominee to fill the supreme court vacancy left by Scalia.

But no sooner had news of Ginsburg’s death broke than McConnell promised a Senate vote on Donald Trump’s replacement nominee – notwithstanding the fact that we are but six weeks removed from a presidential election and early voting has already started in some places. It turns out that the McConnell rule had a serious catch – it only applies when different parties control the Senate and the White House. And so the McConnell non-rule can be stated crisply: Republican incumbents in election years get to fill supreme court vacancies, but not Democrats.

To accuse McConnell of breathtaking hypocrisy is to waste our breath. The charge sticks only if the hypocrite feels a tug of conscience for failing to follow their pronounced principles. In McConnell’s case, one senses nothing but a cynical, chuckling pride in applying and abandoning made-up rules to justify whatever result he wants.

And chuckle he should. McConnell’s cynical distortion of the Senate’s role in judicial confirmations has served his party well .

In 2017, McConnell used the so-called “nuclear option” to end debate on Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the supreme court. (Gorsuch was Trump’s pick to fill the vacancy that Obama had chosen Garland to fill.) McConnell insisted this was simply payback for Harry Reid’s use of the same option, in 2013, to remove obstacles to Obama’s lower federal court appointments.

But McConnell’s tit-for-tat argument obscured how he and his fellow Senate Republicans had weaponized the use of the filibuster during Obama’s presidency. From the time that cloture rules were introduced into the Senate in 1917 until the end of Ronald Reagan’s presidency, the filibuster was deployed 385 times. During Obama’s presidency, Senate Republicans launched over 500 filibusters , many of them to block Obama’s appointments to the federal bench. Reid’s use of the nuclear option was something of a desperate response to Republican obstructionism – or, more precisely, nullification. When it came to shutting down a Democratic filibuster of Gorsuch’s confirmation, McConnell then used the very poisoned conditions that he had helped create to justify a yet more extreme act of partisanship.

..........
 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
3.1.5  author  JohnRussell  replied to  Old Hermit @3.1.4    4 years ago

Good comment. 

=====================================================

Lets look at Lindsey Grahams weasely thoughts

b1RnM8w3_bigger.jpg
Lindsey Graham
@LindseyGrahamSC
·
18h
US Senate candidate, SC
The two biggest changes regarding the Senate and judicial confirmations that have occurred in the last decade have come from Democrats. #1 8.4 7.6K
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Lindsey Graham
@LindseyGrahamSC
·
18h US Senate candidate, SC
* Harry Reid changed the rules to allow a simple majority vote for Circuit Court nominees dealing out the minority. * Chuck Schumer and his friends in the liberal media conspired to destroy the life of Brett Kavanaugh and hold that Supreme Court seat open. #2
3.4K
5.5K
17.7K
Lindsey Graham
@LindseyGrahamSC
·
18h
US Senate candidate, SC
In light of these two events, I will support President in any effort to move forward regarding the recent vacancy created by the passing of Justice Ginsburg.
 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
3.1.6  author  JohnRussell  replied to  JohnRussell @3.1.5    4 years ago

The Republics are consolidating their excuses around the highly dubious explanation that because there is a Republican majority in the senate they can do whatever they want. That is essentially precisely what they are saying. 

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
3.1.7  author  JohnRussell  replied to  JohnRussell @3.1.5    4 years ago

Let's look at Lindsey Graham's "argument" for confirming a nominee in the last month before the presidential election, or , if Trump loses, in his lame duck period before the inauguration. 

* Harry Reid changed the rules to allow a simple majority vote for Circuit Court nominees dealing out the minority. * Chuck Schumer and his friends in the liberal media conspired to destroy the life of Brett Kavanaugh and hold that Supreme Court seat open. 

Harry Reid "changed the rules" in 2013.  When Graham said, in 2018,  that there should be no nominee in 2020 , it was five years after the rule change.  So Graham's logic is pure bullshit. 

It may or may not be sad that the Democrats "destroyed the life" of Brett Kavanaugh, but it is totally irrelevant to the issue of having a Supreme Court confirmation hearing a month before a presidential election. 

Graham couldn't with a grammar school debate with that kind of "logic". 

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
4  Tacos!    4 years ago
This blatantly phony "argument" assumes that no one from the other party would ever vote for a nominee from the presidents party, and no one from the presidents party would ever vote against his nominee.

That's actually not such an unreasonable fear. SCOTUS approval votes have been very partisan in recent years, especially for Republican nominees. 

Kavanaugh was approved 50-48. Only 1 Democrat voted for him. Gorsuch was approved 54-45. Only 3 Democrats voted for him.

It goes back further than that. Nominated by President Bush, Samuel Alito was approved 58-42. Only 3 Democrats voted for him. 

John Roberts had bipartisan support, but before him, Clarence Thomas, nominated by Bush the Elder, was approved 52-48. As many as 8 Democrats were able to make themselves vote for him. 

Looking the other way, justices nominated by Democratic presidents have also been subject to partisan votes, though somewhat less so.

Obama nominated Kagan and Sotomayor, who were approved on votes of 63-37 and 68-31 respectively. But only 4 Republicans voted for Kagan, while 8 managed to vote for Sotomayor. 

The two justices nominated by Clinton - Breyer and Ginsburg - were approved with 87 and 96 yays, respectively.

None of that makes proper what has gone on in the last few years with nominations, but it's certainly understandable.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
4.1  author  JohnRussell  replied to  Tacos! @4    4 years ago
none of that makes proper what has gone on in the last few years with nominations, but it's certainly understandable.

It's not understandable at all. Mitch McConnell holds an extremely powerful position and he should use it correctly.  You cannot fairly assume that because a nomination comes from a president without a senate majority the nomination doesnt even merit a hearing.  It's absurd and it should be offensive to every American. 

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
4.1.2  author  JohnRussell  replied to  Texan1211 @4.1.1    4 years ago

[Deleted]

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
4.1.4  Tacos!  replied to  JohnRussell @4.1    4 years ago
It's not understandable at all.

I don't understand your reply. Democrats repeatedly avoid voting for Republican nominees and you don't find it understandable that Republicans would fear the trend would continue? It's perfectly logical to recognize a trend and expect it to continue.

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Guide
4.1.6  Dulay  replied to  Tacos! @4.1.4    4 years ago
It's perfectly logical to recognize a trend and expect it to continue.

Which seems irrelevant since the GOP has the majority and have changed the rules so that's all they need for confirmation. Trump takes pride in nominating unqualified judges and makes no attempt to build consensus or nominate 'moderates' like Garland. The quality of Judges on the Federal bench has deteriorated and intentionally so. 

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
4.1.7  Tacos!  replied to  Dulay @4.1.6    4 years ago
Which seems irrelevant since the GOP has the majority and have changed the rules so that's all they need for confirmation

It's not irrelevant. It's why there is such concern for (as in the article),

why it's ok for Trump to name a new Supreme Court justice now

They want to argue that it's ok to do it now because - in their minds - it's necessary to do it now. Urgent, even.

If they wait until 2021, they may not have control of either the White House or the Senate and they will only be able to watch as Biden nominates some extreme liberal to the Court. And then the Democratic Party in the Senate will rubber stamp them. Just like the Republicans want to. So, they need to get this done now.

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Guide
4.1.8  Dulay  replied to  Tacos! @4.1.7    4 years ago
It's not irrelevant. It's why there is such concern for (as in the article),

Your comment is what's irrelevant:

Democrats repeatedly avoid voting for Republican nominees and you don't find it understandable that Republicans would fear the trend would continue?

There's nothing about that in the seed, that's all on you. 

Again, the GOP has a majority and that's all they need, trend or no trend.

The GOP is actually gleeful that the how the Democrats vote is irrelevant. 

Your comment about the content of the seed should be addressed to the author. 

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
4.1.9  Tacos!  replied to  Dulay @4.1.8    4 years ago

There's nothing about that in the seed, that's all on you.

Actually I QUOTED the seed and then responded to it. If you don't see the connection that's your problem. 

Your comment about the content of the seed should be addressed to the author. 

I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. It doesn't appear to be related to anything I said. You're the one who came into this thread to question my comment. I didn't address anything to you before that.

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Guide
4.1.10  Dulay  replied to  Tacos! @4.1.9    4 years ago
Actually I QUOTED the seed and then responded to it. If you don't see the connection that's your problem. 

Since what you quoted is NOT connected to your claim that how Democrats vote is relevant, NO, I see no connection. Yet that isn't MY problem since you are the one failing to get your point across

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
4.1.11  Tacos!  replied to  Dulay @4.1.10    4 years ago
Yet that isn't MY problem since you are the one failing to get your point across

Oh wait. You think I care if I get my point across to you? jrSmiley_10_smiley_image.gif

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Guide
4.1.12  Dulay  replied to  Tacos! @4.1.11    4 years ago
Oh wait. You think I care if I get my point across to you?

So I'm your only audience Tacos!?

I'm honored. /s

 
 
 
GregTx
Professor Guide
4.1.13  GregTx  replied to  Dulay @4.1.12    4 years ago

So you do know what a sarc tag is.......

[deleted]

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
4.1.14  Tacos!  replied to  GregTx @4.1.13    4 years ago

And yet apparently still managed to get the comment from me exactly backward. Go figure. jrSmiley_86_smiley_image.gif

 
 
 
GregTx
Professor Guide
4.1.15  GregTx  replied to  GregTx @4.1.13    4 years ago

Whatever...

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
4.2  Sean Treacy  replied to  Tacos! @4    4 years ago

Keep in mind the most partisan democrats, like  Obama, tried to filibuster bush and Trump’s nominees for no reason other than ideology.   Another escalation of the confirmation process by Democrats after republicans rubber stamped Clinton’s nominees.

the only way to end this is to go back to the way it was pre Bork.  Absent Corruption issues or lack of qualifications, senators should vote to confirm a presidents nomination. 

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Guide
4.2.1  Dulay  replied to  Sean Treacy @4.2    4 years ago
Keep in mind the most partisan democrats, like  Obama, tried to filibuster bush and Trump’s nominees for no reason other than ideology.  

Is it your posit that Judges should be nominated based on ideology? 

Another escalation of the confirmation process by Democrats after republicans rubber stamped Clinton’s nominees.

Your concept of a 'rubber stamp' differs from mine since they only confirmed 4 out of 20 of Clinton's federal district judges. 

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
5  Ender    4 years ago

Basically it's, we are in power and going to do whatever the fuck we want, even if voted out, we will get it done before we leave.

 
 

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