General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe pressure campaign on Justice Sotomayor needs to stop!
This entire notion that everything can be gamed out in advance is a fiction, based on the mistaken notion that it would have made a difference if Ruth Bader Ginsburg had only retired while Obama was president. It would not have. McConnell was hellbent on preventing Obama from naming a third justice to the court, and would have used every procedural and parliamentary trick in the book to prevent it from happening. It is true that Democrats held the Senate through 2013, but they still had the filibuster on Supreme Court nominees, and McConnell wouldnt have hesitated to use it.
Besides, what with Manchin and Sinema still in the Senate, it is unclear whether Democrats could even seat a justice at the present moment!
And in any case, Sotomayor is just 69 years old. Yes, she is a type 1 diabetic, but she has managed that condition since she was 7 years old! And there are no other reports of any particular illness currently dogging her.
Doc Sportello
(7,529 posts)With Manchin and Sinema there. If someone has better math on it, I'll listen.
Mister Ed
(5,944 posts)She's bright enough to calculate whether she can best serve the nation and serve justice by resigning or by staying on.
For god's sake, people, give her some credit.
ripcord
(5,537 posts)Some people are just disgusting.
Hope22
(1,868 posts)Also since Covid people boldly tell seniors when it is time to dry up and blow away. Across the board in our society.
Only the Dems
Autumn
(45,120 posts)There's no reason for it. When this country was founded educated people who knew the laws were few and far in between and a lifetime appointment made sense. Now lawyers are a dime a dozen.
Lovie777
(12,330 posts)hlthe2b
(102,378 posts)Age and managed health conditions are becoming the cruel stereotype-based political weapons--even among Democrats. sigh...
Yes, some will attack those of us who feel this way as being "naive'" and foolish, but I know the risks. I also seek to be better than the RW and an actual compassionate human. I also know that tomorrow is promised to NONE of us--whether 20 yo or 80.
we can do it
(12,196 posts)mopinko
(70,238 posts)hes the oldest member of the court, iirc. not to mention the dirtiest.
Johnny2X2X
(19,118 posts)The Republicans would have allowed Obama to replace her. They weren't going to allow Obama to replace Scalia with a liberal.
Bev54
(10,074 posts)Why is it still always the women they go after or blame.
usaf-vet
(6,213 posts)Bev54
(10,074 posts)good care of herself and lived until her late 80's. We are not the judge of her health, she is, so like abortion it is her choice.
usaf-vet
(6,213 posts)It addresses all my concerns for my family and others.
In her case, it is not only her body, her health, and her choice.
In my individual case, I do not owe a responsibility to the liberal, progressive, or left-wing ________ (fill in the blank) Americans.
But, in their cases, I think SHE and RBG need(ed) to step up and address that responsibility while there is/was time.
When you join the military, you swear an oath and acquire an unwritten allegiance to your fellow comrades. You put your life on the line to protect them, and they have the same allegiance to you. This is often called unit cohesion. It's not written in any document; it's just understood.
Our political actions put her and RBG on the SCOTUS bench.
In my mind, they both also owe it to everyone who did their part to get them there. She needs to consider helping prepare a path for someone to replace them when unforeseen circumstances step in.
Personally speaking:
For four years as a military medic, I had the privilege of helping, in a small way, any woman who entered the surgical suite I scrubbed in that day to have her choice carried out.
It embarrasses me to listen to Congress members making decisions regarding healthcare when they have no idea what they are talking about, especially when it comes to reproductive rights and women's healthcare.
tritsofme
(17,401 posts)He faced many calls from Democrats to resign, to not repeat the tragedy of RGB.
Trying to make this about gender is disingenuous.
Bev54
(10,074 posts)and work at making sure the republicans do not regain power and push the dems to expand the court.
mcar
(42,376 posts)brooklynite
(94,742 posts)SocialDemocrat61
(640 posts)https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/joe-manchin-treating-bidens-nominees-worse-trumps-rcna144953
https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/13/politics/julie-su-nomination-joe-manchin/index.html
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-10/manchin-theatens-more-biden-nominees-as-he-blasts-white-house
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senator-manchin-vote-against-biden-nominee-head-irs-statement-2023-03-08/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/05/10/manchin-biden-epa-power-plant-emissions/
Zeitghost
(3,871 posts)n/t
SocialDemocrat61
(640 posts)dont count?
Zeitghost
(3,871 posts)"Name a Democratic-nominated Justice that Manchin and Sinema didn't support."
SocialDemocrat61
(640 posts)Its a dishonest question when there has only been one.
Zeitghost
(3,871 posts)n/t
SocialDemocrat61
(640 posts)There have been no other nominees to the Supreme Court by a democratic president while Manchin and Scinema have been in the Senate. Manchin was sworn in in November 2010. Scinema in January 2019. Prior to Jackson-Brown the last nominee to the Supreme Court by a democrat was Elena Kagan, who was sworn in in August 2010.
So it is a completely dishonest question.
Zeitghost
(3,871 posts)Manchin has supported both Democratic nominations in his tenure. There is nothing indicating that he or Sinema would not support a Biden nominee.
SocialDemocrat61
(640 posts)November comes after August.
So both Manchin and Scinema have only had one nominee of a Democratic President. Presidents nominate a lot more people than just to the Supreme Court. So to limit the question to only one nominee is dishonest.
elleng
(131,138 posts)usaf-vet
(6,213 posts)tritsofme
(17,401 posts)the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees, just as he did for all other presidential nominees only two years earlier in 2013.
There is absolutely nothing McConnell could have done to prevent Obama and Senate Democrats from confirming a justice prior to 2015.
Ginsbergs decision not to retire then had catastrophic consequences, I see no purpose for engaging in denial here.
I fear in Sotomayor, we have not learned from that tragic lesson.
This summer may represent the last opportunity for a decade Democrats will have to fill a SCOTUS vacancy.
It would not be surprising if a reelected Biden was forced to face a Republican Senate for the remainder of his term, and there is a high probability for the White House to change party hands after two terms.
This could be Sotomayors last chance to retire and ensure a like-minded replacement for a very long time.
She could even make her retirement contingent upon the confirmation of her successor, if Manchin/Sinema play games, she simply stays put.
It might not be fair, but again, this is not an issue we can pretend or wish away. I hope she gives serious consideration to retirement.
All Mixed Up
(597 posts)I do take solace in the fact she seems relatively healthy so it's not as dire as it looked with RBG at times.
Assume Biden wins in November but Republicans win in 2028. That would put her at 74, or about the ages of Alito and Thomas now.
If the WH flips after four years, she's 78 and probably fine to retire. If not, she'd be at 82 if Democrats won after a two-term Republican and about the age Breyer was when he retired.
I wouldn't be opposed to her stepping down but it's not a dire situation right now.
All Mixed Up
(597 posts)RBG could have retired then but decided to chance it. That was well within her right. But it doesn't mean we can't be critical of her decision process. She took a big gamble and we're now paying for it.
Demsrule86
(68,696 posts)Manchin.
tritsofme
(17,401 posts)Not sure this is a real concern.
Groundhawg
(556 posts)So neither is Sotomayer.
tritsofme
(17,401 posts)Whether it is Biden or a Republican president who chooses that successor will be hugely consequential.
Groundhawg
(556 posts)tritsofme
(17,401 posts)Scrivener7
(51,021 posts)terms. A big difference.
But she was much older than Sotomayor is now, and she had many health issues.
There is no reason for Sotomayor to retire.
Freethinker65
(10,061 posts)tritsofme
(17,401 posts)Its when the Supreme Courts term ends.
Mad_Machine76
(24,438 posts)And I don't like it much, nor do I think it's super practical at the moment. I understand the stakes involved but we can't keep demanding people leave office left and right when they still appear to be plenty capable of doing their jobs and they're not especially old/ill for that matter.