Where Was Dick Cheney This Morning?

I want to apologize, I kind of feel I shouldn't go here. After all, a man is dead. There's no question that Antonin Scalia was my least favorite judge on the Supreme Court but it is probably bad taste to make a joke about it as he was still a human being.

But as he died on a hunting trip you really have to ask about Cheney's whereabouts.

Ok, I got it out of my system. Too bad he died, but it was the way you would want to, of natural causes in his own bed.

"Associate Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was found dead at a ranch in West Texas on Saturday."

"Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) released a statement Saturday confirming Scalia's death, calling him "a patriot" and an "unwavering defender of the written Constitution and the Rule of Law."

"Scalia appears to have died in his sleep of natural causes, according to reports."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/antonin-scalia-dead_us_56bfa5f7e4b0b40245c6f0d9?

Ok, so all do respect for the man who has passed. Moment of silence, and rest in peace.

That done, let's talk politics. For this is what this is about. For 30 years the GOP has controlled the SJC. This gives Obama the chance that no one saw to turn it back liberal again.

Of course the GOP is saying that the nomination of a new Justice should wait until 2017 when they hope they will have the WH again.

"There is likely to be significant pressure on the Senate, which is in Republican hands, to hold off on confirming anyone nominated by President Obama, who is in his last year in office."

"A spokesman for Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), a conservative who sits on the Judiciary panel, immediately sent a message on Twitter that no nominee from Obama should be considered."

"Replacing Scalia with a liberal justice could change the balance of the court under Chief Justice John Roberts."

"If a new justice is not confirmed under Obama, this is something both parties are likely to trumpet as the 2016 contest continues."

"It would mean the election of the president could immediately determine the direction of the Supreme Court."

"Scalia's death comes on the day of the latest GOP presidential debate, the last time the candidates are set to meet before the Feb. 20 South Carolina primary. GOP candidates were quick to put out statements lauding Scalia, who has been a leading figure in the conservative movement for decades."

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/269382-reports-justice-scalia-dead

Assuming the GOP hold to this pledge, what happens in the mean time? Are all cases now to be heard by just eight Justices? How are ties to be broken? Does Roberts as the Chief Justice get to do this?

Even if he's not replaced now, simply the absence of Scalia makes this a much less conservative Court.