Ronald Reagan Has a Message For Obama-Blocking Republican Senate

The death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia almost immediately devolved into a political train wreck when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) took the occasion of his first statement on the tragic loss to announce that the Senate would no longer be adhering to that whole U.S. Constitution thingy, and would instead wait for a white president to consider a replacement.

In among the conspiracy theories and other subplots, a battle of old Supreme Court quotes has erupted, with McConnell’s own words being used against him, Sen. Chuck Schumer‘s completely different remarks being hammered into the round “both sides” hole, and everyone pretty much ignoring the oldest quotes of all on the subject, those in the United States Constitution.

Is there anyone who can save us? Is there no voice from whom Republicans will take guidance when it comes to the President’s constitutional right to appoint Supreme Court justices, and the U.S. Senate’s duty to consider those appointments? Maybe that guy they were just comparing Justice Scalia with, I believe his name was Ronald Reagan.

Here’s a little bit of what ol’ Dutch had to say about Supreme Court nominations, back before America started electing young bucks like Barack Obama for president:

Wow, that guy’s right. He might not be the first guy you want negotiating a deal with Iran, but when it comes to the Supreme Court, he’s really on top of things.

Of course, the Republicans won’t listen to anyone, but if they follow through on their plan to block President Obama from even having his nominee considered, they’ll be mapping out a slippery slope that already has its next marker, as Ted Cruz has already laid out the argument that it’s the last midterm election that should have consequences. Pretty soon, if a justice doesn’t die while he or she is swearing you in, Republicans will be wanting you to let the next white guy do it.

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.