Live data from Hacker News

Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died

npr.org

541–550 of 1001 posts

Re: Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died

#541
post #430
post #266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Four. Whatever trump got plus one for Garland. Also make DC a state on day 1.

I for one, hope to all hell, this doesn't happen. It would make the supreme court just an extension of any party in power of presidency and senate. This is also, not to say I want freaking TRUMP to appoint the next justice. I just don't want to see it become a game of who's got the most votes. I was very opposed to Obama losing his appointment. I just don't want the precedent of 9 to change.

> I for one, hope to all hell, this doesn't happen. It would make the supreme court just an extension of any party in power of presidency and senate.

I completely agree, but at this point I think it's inevitable.

Re: Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died

#542

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then it's time to fight back. Make it absolutely clear to McConnell and Democratic leaders in the Senate that if McConnell fills this seat in an election year, then the Democrats must increase the size of the SCOTUS. McConnell needs to fear the reprisal more than he fears the delay. Because you're right, this is about power. Nothing else matters to them. So make them fear this.

So why wouldn’t the Republicans do the same thing next time they win an election? Or would the Democrats somehow guarantee that never happens again?

There are ways to do it. Expand the court and then pass a legislation banning court expansions without supermajority

Re: Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died

#543

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Stop with these kind of comments. Do you honestly think the Supreme Court would allow a President to win a 3rd term? “We can all be certain” should be translated to “I feel like making a crazy rant here”. “Experiment is over” - the election is in 7 weeks, let’s hold off on the “get out while you can” comments until it’s over. How confident are you in your statement that the “American experiment is over”? Care to bet…

Understanding how modern societies fail was my professional field. The United States is following in the footsteps of many countries that transitioned from democracy to authoritarianism. The judiciary was the last remaining bulwark that had been slightly slowing the erosion of democratic rights. With the judicial balance of power now in the hands of a president who has both taken steps to conduct an unfair election a…

> the erosion of democratic rights.

Can you name which rights have eroded in the recent years? Like, 70, 15, 4 years?

Re: Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died

#544
post #316
post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re doing exactly what the Republicans want: they don’t need you to support them as long as you don’t get in their way. Unless you share their goals, you might want to reconsider this strategy.

I'm sorry but how exactly did they democrats get in the way last time when Obama was president? Rolling over and saying whats suppose to happen doesn't qualify as anything meaningful as far as I am concerned. If the democrats want support, they need to grow a fucking backbone and show us they deserve it.

> I'm sorry but how exactly did they democrats get in the way last time when Obama was president?

How could they? They didn't have the votes, because people didn't vote for democrats. You want democrats to have power in the government: make sure they have a majority.

Re: Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died

#545

Due to a really old technicality in our electoral system, we keep putting people in the presidency that the American people didn't actually vote for. Both Bush and Trump were not elected by a popular vote. The majority of American are being held hostage by a minority of voters with a disproportionate amount of political power. These un-elected presidents have had such incredibly far-reaching influences on the America…

> Both Bush and Trump were not elected by a popular vote.

Neither was Clinton. Sometimes it goes your direction, too.

Re: Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died

#546
post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They do not give a fuck Something that the Democrats need to realize is that they (especially Obama) assumed too much good faith in the congressional GOP. You can stick to your principles while doing it but, when you are against a party who now considers its last nominee (Romney) a radical BLM leftist, when they go low you need to be ready to kick them in the head.

I don't know about head kicks. I think you just need to be a political realist. The reality is that you need (edit: cooperation of the) Senate and Presidency to get a Justice nominated. Obama didn't have the Senate and didn't get his pick for Justice. Trump does, and will get his pick. The whole "Republicans are hypocrites" thing is true - but obviously so. Whatever was said about not doing it in election year was si…

Merrick Garland was recommended to Obama by Republican senator Orrin Hatch as a reasonable candidate, before the death of Scalia.

Re: Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died

#547
post #460
post #334

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most likely because the founding fathers didn't expect the justices to be split on party lines. They were intended to be impartial judges ruling on a limited set of federal laws.

I would assume also because people also just didn't live as long back then. Life was in general a 20 year term. Average life span in 1800 of 50 years. Today it's 78.6. https://clickamericana.com/topics/health-medicine/us-life-ex... https://www.everydayhealth.com/senior-health/what-life-expec... Those probably aren't the best places for me to get numbers, but I think they're good enough for a rough example of what I m…

The average adult life span may be a better metric if child mortality rates were high.

Re: Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died

#548

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This idea that either the Republicans or Democrats have faith or principles is absurd. The Democratic brand is one of principles and altruism, but their actions do not reflect this.

Wrong. Democrats are principled to a fault.

Oh, the old "the reason my party can't get anything done is because they are too principled".

Re: Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died

#549
post #86

For every one of the coming takes that Republicans will be hypocrites to appoint and confirm a justice (which they will) They do not give a fuck. That’s not how they see power and it is why they have a far disproportionate share of power/representation than their support across the electorate. This is about power. In politics, nothing else matters.

Legitimacy matters.

Re: Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died

#550

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This idea that either the Republicans or Democrats have faith or principles is absurd. The Democratic brand is one of principles and altruism, but their actions do not reflect this.

Wrong. Democrats are principled to a fault.

The only people I've seen principled is Justin Amash, Rand Paul, Ron Paul and Ben Sasse. Beyond those few, everyone else is pretty much playing power games.

Very very few people in Congress do anything but vote along party lines on pretty much everything.

I don't know how you can democrats are principled to a fault with a straight face when you have Nancy Pelosi who is just the Democrat's McConnell.

Post reply on HN