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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#335501: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:05:09 PM

And it's official: Amy Coney Barrett has been voted in 52-48, only Collins (ME) joined the Democrats in voting against her, every other Republican voted to put her in.

She'll be sworn in in a matter of moments.

[down] I'm not being defeatist, I'm just informing everyone that it is now official.

Edited by DingoWalley1 on Oct 26th 2020 at 8:17:40 AM

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#335502: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:12:40 PM

Obligatory: Dems have refused to rule out court-packing and the Supreme Court's power relies on its legitimacy.

This is bad but defeatism is counterfactual and serves no purpose.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#335503: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:18:13 PM

I really doubt the dems will do it.

BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#335504: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:22:33 PM

A dark day for America.

Do not obey in advance.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#335505: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:24:27 PM

I really doubt the dems will do it.

Cool, I don't.

When politicians repeatedly refuse to rule something out then it's just shoving one's head in the sand to assume that it's impossible.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#335506: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:25:22 PM

From Politico: Supreme Court won't extend Wisconsin ballot deadline

The Supreme Court has declined to reinstate a court-ordered extension of the deadline for the receipt of absentee ballots in Wisconsin, siding with Republicans in a pitched battle over election procedures amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The justices split, 5-3, along ideological lines, with all the court's Republican appointees voting to reject the six-day extension a U.S. District Court judge issued last month in the key presidential swing state.


And while browsing Politico, I found something else. It's from a few days ago but I don't think it was posted here (if it was, apologizes). Trump executive order strips protections for key federal workers, drawing backlash

President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that would remove job protections for many federal workers, in a move that unions and other critics denounced as an attempt to politicize the civil service.


The order, signed Wednesday evening, targets workers that are involved in developing policy. It would reclassify workers "in positions of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character" that are "not normally subject to change as a result of a Presidential transition" into a new category called Schedule F, according to the text.

Under the new schedule, they would be exempt from protections that apply to most federal workers - allowing agencies to hire and fire them more easily and quickly.

Hopefully this is one of the things that can easily be undone under a Biden presidency.

Edited by nova92 on Oct 26th 2020 at 5:29:26 AM

Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#335507: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:37:09 PM

[up][up] The political blowback will likely be huge if they do it.

That and it still requires Biden to win.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#335508: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:38:44 PM

Which at this time is more likely than not

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#335509: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:40:39 PM

The political blowback will likely be huge if they do it.

That and it still requires Biden to win.

Of course, it needs Biden to win. That should be obvious.

He's well on the way to doing so.

Furthermore, the blowback would only be huge if the public still believed in the court. And the more damage it does the less chance of that. Democrats aren't going to attempt court-packing if it's not justifiable.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Oct 26th 2020 at 5:41:01 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#335510: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:43:49 PM

The blowback would depend on how it’s packed, strait up adding justices as a one time thing will have blowback unless the Supreme Court has already destroyed its own legitimacy. But reform that say guarantees Biden gets to make appointments (and that presidents after him are also guaranteed appointments), I think that could be gotten away with.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#335511: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:45:16 PM

Ultimately none of us can see the future, assuming that it's definitely going to fail only makes sense if one has some kind of deeply counterproductive desire to assume the worst. Concern is understandable, defeatism is not.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#335512: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:49:01 PM

Well, I gue4ss that's that for the Supreme Court, then? The road forward seems clear, unappealing though it might be: court packing, if Biden wins. If he doesn't... well, I don't know what you could do then.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#335513: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:49:07 PM

Would there be any possible way to remove Amy Barrett and replace her with someone else if Biden is elected?

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#335514: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:49:55 PM

Would there be any possible way to remove Amy Barrett and replace her with someone else if Biden is elected?

No.

Impeachment requires 2/3rds of the Senate. Suffice to say that's not going to be possible.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#335515: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:50:11 PM

Democrats have been hedging a lot on whether they would be willing to rebalance the courts or not. I don't know if they'll do it (again, no one does), it's entirely possible that all they'll do is some weak surface-level reforms. But moderate/centrist Democrats like Angus King and Joe Manchin are out there talking about the unfairness of the current system. It feels to me like the tide is shifting.


The blowback would depend on how it’s packed, strait up adding justices as a one time thing will have blowback unless the Supreme Court has already destroyed its own legitimacy. But reform that say guarantees Biden gets to make appointments (and that presidents after him are also guaranteed appointments), I think that could be gotten away with.

I understand why that's the politically palatable move, but it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, as it means accepting the current stolen Supreme Court seats.

Edited by nova92 on Oct 26th 2020 at 5:50:46 AM

SatoshiBakura (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#335516: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:50:12 PM

A lot of Democrats are tweeting support for court expansion, so it’s definitely not out of question. Although IMO, it’s better as a short term solution than a long term solution. What do people think of justices having term limits?

Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#335517: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:50:50 PM

Impeachment would require 66 senators... THAT ain't going to happen and I really doubt anyone is going to argue for that.

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#335518: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:52:09 PM

I could go for a retirement age, which was how FDR suggested packing the court, at a certain age justices either had to retire or the court would be temporarily enlarged by 1 seat.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#335519: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:52:49 PM

[up][up][up] Term-limits has broad support, even among Republicans at the moment (that could change if Democrats actually start pushing for it.) AFAIK, straight-up imposing term-limits would require a constitutional amendment, which is a no-go. But there is a work-around of having term-limits for the Supreme Court and then retiring Justices to the lower Circuit Courts. It's been proposed in the House, but I don't know how much support it has among the Democratic caucus so far.

Edited by nova92 on Oct 26th 2020 at 5:53:08 AM

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#335520: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:54:31 PM

[up]x4 Nice in theory, bad in practice (If we had the "replace every 18 years" policy in the 80's, then the Supreme Court today would only have Conservatives, thanks to 6 years of recent Republican Dominance in the Senate), impossible to do anyways because it requires an Amendment.

We need to pack the courts and we need serious, legitimate reforms. Term limits look appealing, but in actuality are just going to encourage more radicalization of our politics.

Edited by DingoWalley1 on Oct 26th 2020 at 9:01:48 AM

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#335521: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:55:29 PM

Or you use the temporary expansion loophole that FDR was looking at. If a justice doesn’t choose to retire after x number of years then the court temporarily expands by one seat, until said justice does either retire or die.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
WillKeaton from Alberta, Canada Since: Jun, 2010
#335522: Oct 26th 2020 at 5:56:38 PM

Don't know about other countries, but in Canada we have nine Supreme Court Justices, and mandatory retirement at 75.

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#335523: Oct 26th 2020 at 6:07:00 PM

Impeachment requires 2/3rds of the Senate. Suffice to say that's not going to be possible.

2/3rds of the senate and a reason at least a majority of the public is going to buy. We cannot neglect that part. How they sell a potential impeachment to the public is important. It was important for Trump's impeachment as well.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#335524: Oct 26th 2020 at 6:10:04 PM

Why even waste any more time on this USA acquaintance who has taken a nosedive into the Trump Flavor-ade?

It's not like you have to spend time with this person, right? This isn't a case of a family member or anything. You can choose your friends, after all.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#335525: Oct 26th 2020 at 6:11:28 PM

How much of a problem will Barrett be id Biden is elected?


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