Hello Everybody,   
      
   Before Antonin Scalia's body was cold, Republicans had already   
   begun shirking their Constitutional responsibilities, stating their   
   refusal to confirm any new Justice nominated by President Obama -   
      
   "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 [Republican] President."   
   - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)   
      
   Never mind the fact that Justice Antonin Scalia was one of the gang   
   of five who had appointed George W. Bush as pResident in Bush v Gore.   
   The vote of the American people did not count in that election.  And   
   neither did the vote of the electoral college.  Only the votes of   
   those justices sitting on the US Supreme Court counted for anything.   
      
   "What is less than zero?  The chances of Obama successfully   
   appointing a Supreme Court Justice to replace Scalia."   
   - Conn Carroll, spokesman for Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), who sits   
   on the Judiciary Committee   
      
   "Justice Scalia was an American hero. We owe it to him, and the   
   nation, for the Senate to ensure that the next [Republican] President   
   names his replacement."   
   - Ted Cruz (R-TX), candidate for president   
      
   Marco Rubio, another Republican candidate for president, echoed   
   the same sentiments as Cruz, saying he wanted the "next [Republican]   
   president" to nominate a Scalia replacement.   
      
   The President has a Constitutional duty and responsibility to fulfill.   
   President Obama has publicly stated his intention to carry out that   
   Constitutional responsibility, and nominate a new justice for the   
   Supreme Court in due time.  It will not be a long wait, as I fully   
   expect that nomination to come before the end of this month.   
      
   The Senate has a Constitutional duty and responsibility to fill   
   vacancies in a timely manner, which means as soon as possible.   
      
   The President and the Senate owe this to the American people.   
   They work for us, the American people.  Not the other way around.   
      
   But it seems the Republican leadership of the Senate has forgotten   
   all about that.  Responsibility means nothing to them.  All they want   
   is power.  Power for themselves - to do with as they want.   
      
   Shirking Constitutional duties and responsibilities is cowardice.   
      
   Kenny Rogers was right -   
      
   Ted Cruz is the coward of the county.   
   Marco Rubio is the coward of the county.   
   Mike Lee is the coward of the county.   
   Mitch McConnell is the coward of the county.   
   Every Republican Senator who shirks his/her   
   duty is the coward of the county.   
      
   --Lee   
      
   --- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb   
    * Origin: news://eljaco.se (2:203/2)