Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, and the Republican Party have gone too far.
They have made the absurd argument that, in an election year, a twice-elected president should not be allowed a hearing for his Supreme Court nominee. This flies in the face of history. Six justices have been confirmed in an election year since 1900, including Anthony Kennedy in 1988. The larger issue is the constitutional responsibility spelled out in Article II, Section 2. The “Party of No,” which so often professes its unyielding, undying love for the Constitution, cannot rationalize away such clear language.
President Obama has done his job, submitting a superbly qualified jurist. The Senate, including Gardner, should now do its. I have already written to Sen. Gardner about this issue and received an unsatisfactory, evasive non-answer.
Perhaps all of this is not surprising, given the behavior of Republicans in the House and their 60 time-wasting, useless votes to repeal Obamacare. It is another instance of the ideological exhaustion of the Republican Party. Without being able to constructively engage in governing, they are reduced to making Nancy Reagan’s famous saying into a political activity: Just Say No.
Gardner and the Senate must live up to the Constitution they have sworn to uphold. Anything short of that is unacceptable.
John Wallace
Durango
