Scalia Death Exposes Dying Conservatism

There is no reason to prevent the Supreme Court from functioning properly. Before Justice Scalia's body was even cold, Republicans started obstructionism and pledged to block any Obama appointment. Apparently a dying conservatism cares not a fig about the constitution - just clinging to power.

The South Carolina Republican presidential debates exemplify the squalor and extremism of current conservatism. One candidate rightly compared the debate to a demolition derby and commented that his car was still running around the circus. The sad coterie on that stage denies science and even reality. The Republican Party candidates began by praying for Scalia and his family then displaying decidedly unchristian behavior toward each other.

Today, Republicans and conservatives abhor the rough and tumble exchange of ideas that Scalia loved, preferring the dull sound bites of orthodoxy. Within hours of Scalia's death, Senator McConnell promised to block all consideration of a possible President Obama appointment to the court.

More is at risk than the continuing obstructionism and guerilla warfare that has so tarnished McConnell's legacy. Senate Republican leadership realizes that, if hearings are held, the senate majority will be exposed as both extreme and incompetent. Drawn out public hearings for an Obama court appointee jeopardize Republican control of the senate in two ways. First, they could well drive democratic voters to the polls. Second, the hearings, by their very existence, could outrage and inflame the extremist Republican base placing at risk not just the senate but also a possible presidency. Their base would be a no show at the polls.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hal-donahue/scalia-death-exposes-dyin_b_9282196.html