Albuquerque Journal

There’s no heist, folks - its just how politics works

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The New Yorker Magazine is calling it a “Shameful Supreme Court Heist to fill RBG position,” and I’m like, really?

Imagine, if you will, that the roles were reversed, and Justice (Antonin) Scalia, prior to taking his last breath in this world, allegedly said that his fervent wish was for his seat not to be filled until after a new president was installed, and the Democrats held the majority in the Senate. Would President Obama have refrained from putting forth a nominee and would the Senate have abstained from confirming that nominee?

Of course not. Nor would they be expected to. If the party of the president holds the Senate, your guy or gal is probably getting confirmed . ... Furthermor­e, how sure are we that Justice Ginsburg even uttered those words? I mean, she was a Supreme Court justice for almost 30 years. The woman knew the Constituti­on inside and out, which meant she knew the Constituti­on didn’t give a damn about anyone’s “feelings.” To insinuate that the Constituti­on should take a back seat to the personal feelings of a woman who lived and breathed the document makes absolutely no sense. At least, not to me.

Lastly, nowhere is it written a president in an election year has to “hold off” filling a seat. As Justice Ginsburg so astutely pointed out, the president doesn’t stop being president just because it’s an election year. Historical­ly, if the party of the president holds the Senate and a seat becomes available, it is filled. If the opposite party holds the Senate, there’s a better than average chance it will be blocked . ...

It’s not shameful nor a heist — it’s politics and the way it all works . ... Sometimes it goes your way; sometimes it doesn’t . ... Now go be excellent to one another.

CHERI FROST Albuquerqu­e

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