thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--'Not Out Of The Woods' As Rivers, Creeks Rise From Sally's Wrath

Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis urged Panhandle residents not to let their guard down .
“ You ’ re going to see the rivers continue to rise , ” DeSantis said after an aerial tour of the Panhandle .
Most rivers fed by the storm were cresting in Alabama and the Panhandle on Thursday , although the Shoal , in Florida was still rising , said Steve Miller of the National Weather Service in Mobile , Alabama .
Near Crestview , Florida , portions of Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 90 — the two main roadways running east to west @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of flooding from the Shoal , the Florida Highway Patrol said .
Crews carried out at least 400 rescues in Escambia County , Florida , by such means as high-water vehicles , boats and water scooters , authorities said .
Rescuers focused their efforts Thursday on Innerarity Point , a narrow strip of land close to Pensacola that is home to waterfront homes and businesses .
Floodwaters covered the only road out .
Richard Wittig and his family were among scores of people hemmed in by floodwaters on an island at the tip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his house .
“ If I didn ’ t have a working generator , we ’ d be dead .
Nobody can get to us , ” said Wittig , 77 .
He said he and his son rely on oxygen machines to stay alive .
The Florida National Guard said it had deployed about 500 soldiers and airmen to help local authorities evacuate 113 people , though it did not say when and where the rescues took place .
In Alabama , on both sides of Mobile Bay , National Guard soldiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday to rescue at least 35 people , authorities said .
A volunteer rescue group based on Marcos Island , Florida , known as the Marcos Patriots , received three calls for help , including from an 80-year-old woman in Gulf Shores , Alabama , whose roof had blown off .
When a rescue team arrived , “ she was safe and sound with a neighbor but her house was destroyed , ” said group co-founder ErinMia Milchman .
About 35 miles ( 56 kilometers ) inland , a swollen Murder Creek cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brewton and East Brewton , inundating a grocery store , a tobacco shop , a park and more .
Residents behind a police roadblock gazed at the neighboring city across fast-moving water covering a bridge .
East Brewton resident Brenda Davenport said it took only four hours for the water to rise .
“ It could take two days for it to go down , ” she said .
In Orange Beach , Alabama , Janice Sullivan swore she would never ride out a hurricane again .
She and her daughter huddled in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You could hear everything hitting the house , ” she said .
“ You could hear the house moving back and forth .
It was literally moaning and cracking.
” A few people cleaned up in Bristol Park , a creekside neighborhood where as much as 4 feet ( 1.2 meters ) of water-filled brick homes north of Pensacola .
Susan Cutts ’ parents fled rising water inside their home into the garage , where they desperately called for help on a dying cellphone until aid arrived .
“ They were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to them , ” Cutts said .
At least one death , in Alabama , was blamed on the hurricane .
Nearly 400,000 homes and businesses were still without power Thursday night , mostly in Alabama and Florida .
A section of the main bridge between Pensacola and Pensacola Beach collapsed after it was hit by a barge that broke loose during the storm .
At a downtown marina , at least 30 sailboats , fishing boats and other vessels were clumped together in a mass of fiberglass hulls and broken docks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Also on Thursday , the National Hurricane Center said a new tropical depression formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico .
Forecasters said the depression could become a tropical storm as it moves slowly over the western Gulf during the next few days .
Meanwhile , Hurricane Teddy strengthened to a powerful Category 4 storm in the Atlantic .
The storm currently poses no threat to land .
An earlier version of this story was corrected to show that the top rainfall amount was about 2 1/2 feet , not 3 1/2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida ; Wang from Mobile , Alabama .
Associated Press reporters Russ Bynum in Savannah , Georgia ; Jeff Martin in Marietta , Georgia ; Kim Chandler in Montgomery , Alabama ; Tamara Lush in St. Petersburg , Florida ; Curt Anderson in Miami and Janet McConnaughey in New Orleans also contributed .

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis urged Panhandle residents not to let their guard down. “You’re going to see the rivers continue to rise,” DeSantis said after an aerial tour of the Panhandle.
Most rivers fed by the storm were cresting in Alabama and the Panhandle on Thursday, although the Shoal, in Florida was still rising, said Steve Miller of the National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama. Near Crestview, Florida, portions of Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 90 — the two main roadways running east to west through the Panhandle — were closed because of flooding from the Shoal, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Crews carried out at least 400 rescues in Escambia County, Florida, by such means as high-water vehicles, boats and water scooters, authorities said. Rescuers focused their efforts Thursday on Innerarity Point, a narrow strip of land close to Pensacola that is home to waterfront homes and businesses. Floodwaters covered the only road out.
Richard Wittig and his family were among scores of people hemmed in by floodwaters on an island at the tip of the point. Two generators powered his house.
“If I didn’t have a working generator, we’d be dead. Nobody can get to us,” said Wittig, 77. He said he and his son rely on oxygen machines to stay alive.
The Florida National Guard said it had deployed about 500 soldiers and airmen to help local authorities evacuate 113 people, though it did not say when and where the rescues took place.
In Alabama, on both sides of Mobile Bay, National Guard soldiers from high-water evacuation teams used big trucks Thursday to rescue at least 35 people, authorities said.
A volunteer rescue group based on Marcos Island, Florida, known as the Marcos Patriots, received three calls for help, including from an 80-year-old woman in Gulf Shores, Alabama, whose roof had blown off.
When a rescue team arrived, “she was safe and sound with a neighbor but her house was destroyed,” said group co-founder ErinMia Milchman.
About 35 miles (56 kilometers) inland, a swollen Murder Creek cut off access between the Alabama towns of Brewton and East Brewton, inundating a grocery store, a tobacco shop, a park and more. Residents behind a police roadblock gazed at the neighboring city across fast-moving water covering a bridge.
East Brewton resident Brenda Davenport said it took only four hours for the water to rise. “It could take two days for it to go down,” she said.
In Orange Beach, Alabama, Janice Sullivan swore she would never ride out a hurricane again. She and her daughter huddled in a second-floor bathroom as Sally blew ashore.
“You could hear everything hitting the house,” she said. “You could hear the house moving back and forth. It was literally moaning and cracking.”
A few people cleaned up in Bristol Park, a creekside neighborhood where as much as 4 feet (1.2 meters) of water-filled brick homes north of Pensacola.
Susan Cutts’ parents fled rising water inside their home into the garage, where they desperately called for help on a dying cellphone until aid arrived.
“They were on top of their car when they got to them,” Cutts said.
At least one death, in Alabama, was blamed on the hurricane. Nearly 400,000 homes and businesses were still without power Thursday night, mostly in Alabama and Florida.
A section of the main bridge between Pensacola and Pensacola Beach collapsed after it was hit by a barge that broke loose during the storm.
At a downtown marina, at least 30 sailboats, fishing boats and other vessels were clumped together in a mass of fiberglass hulls and broken docks. Some boats rested atop sunken ones.
Also on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said a new tropical depression formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters said the depression could become a tropical storm as it moves slowly over the western Gulf during the next few days. Meanwhile, Hurricane Teddy strengthened to a powerful Category 4 storm in the Atlantic. The storm currently poses no threat to land.
___
An earlier version of this story was corrected to show that the top rainfall amount was about 2 1/2 feet, not 3 1/2 feet.
___
Calvan reported from Tallahassee, Florida; Wang from Mobile, Alabama. Associated Press reporters Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia; Jeff Martin in Marietta, Georgia; Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; Tamara Lush in St. Petersburg, Florida; Curt Anderson in Miami and Janet McConnaughey in New Orleans also contributed.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--Trump To Block U.S. Downloads Of TikTok, WeChat

The bans , announced on Friday , affect only new downloads and updates and are less sweeping than expected , particularly for TikTok , giving its parent group ByteDance some breathing space to clinch an agreement over the fate of its U.S. operations .
WeChat , an all-in-one messaging , social media and electronic payment app , faces more severe restrictions from Sunday .
Existing TikTok users , on the other hand , will see little change until Nov. 12 when a ban on some technical transactions will kick in , which TikTok said would amount to an effective ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Commerce Department , and are disappointed that it stands to block new app downloads from Sunday and ban use of the TikTok app in the U.S. from Nov. 12 , ” the company said in a statement .
“ We will continue to challenge the unjust executive order , which was enacted without due process and threatens to deprive the American people and small businesses across the U.S. of a significant platform for both a voice and livelihoods.
” The ban on new U.S. downloads of the widely popular app could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before it takes effect if ByteDance seals a deal with Oracle that addresses concerns about the security of its users ’ data .
The ban on WeChat , used by over 1 billion people worldwide , bars the transfer of funds or processing of payments to or from people in the United States through it .
Users could also start to experience slower service from Sunday night .
It added it also “ harms the privacy and security of millions of existing TikTok and WeChat users in the United States by blocking software @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the apps more secure.
” The order does not ban U.S. companies from doing businesses on WeChat outside the United States , which will be welcome news to U.S. firms like Walmart and Starbucks that use WeChat ’ s embedded ‘ mini-app ’ programs to facilitate transactions and engage consumers in China , officials said .
The order will not bar transactions with WeChat-owner Tencent Holdings ’ other businesses , including its online gaming operations , and will not prohibit Apple , Google or others from offering TikTok or WeChat apps anywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in response to a pair of executive orders issued by Trump on Aug. 6 that gave the Commerce Department 45 days to determine what transactions to block from the apps he deemed to pose a national security threat .
That deadline expires on Sunday .
WeChat has had an average of 19 million daily active users in the United States , analytics firms Apptopia said in early August .
It is popular among Chinese students , ex-pats and some Americans who have personal or business relationships in China .
The Commerce Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States to remove the apps or stop using them .
“ We are aiming at a top corporate level .
We ’ re not going to go out after the individual users , ” one Commerce official said .
“ The expectation is that people will find alternative ways to do these actions , ” a senior official said .
“ We expect the market to act and there will be more secure apps that will fill in these gaps that Americans can trust and that the United States government won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against.
” “ What immediately is going to happen is users are going to experience a lag or lack of functionality , ” a senior Commerce official said of WeChat users .
“ It may still be usable but it is not going to be as functional as it was .
”

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration will ban WeChat and video-sharing app TikTok from U.S. app stores starting Sunday night, a move that will block Americans from downloading the Chinese-owned platforms over concerns they pose a national security threat.
The bans, announced on Friday, affect only new downloads and updates and are less sweeping than expected, particularly for TikTok, giving its parent group ByteDance some breathing space to clinch an agreement over the fate of its U.S. operations.
WeChat, an all-in-one messaging, social media and electronic payment app, faces more severe restrictions from Sunday. Existing TikTok users, on the other hand, will see little change until Nov. 12 when a ban on some technical transactions will kick in, which TikTok said would amount to an effective ban.
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“We disagree with the decision from the Commerce Department, and are disappointed that it stands to block new app downloads from Sunday and ban use of the TikTok app in the U.S. from Nov. 12,” the company said in a statement. “We will continue to challenge the unjust executive order, which was enacted without due process and threatens to deprive the American people and small businesses across the U.S. of a significant platform for both a voice and livelihoods.”
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told Fox Business Network that “the basic TikTok will stay intact until Nov. 12.”
The ban on new U.S. downloads of the widely popular app could still be rescinded by President Donald Trump before it takes effect if ByteDance seals a deal with Oracle that addresses concerns about the security of its users’ data.
“This is the right move - ratchet up the pressure on Beijing, protect Americans,” said Republican Senator Josh Hawley on Twitter.
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The Trump administration has ramped up efforts to purge “untrusted” Chinese apps from U.S. digital networks amid escalating tensions with Beijing on a range of issues from trade and human rights to the battle for tech supremacy.
The ban on WeChat, used by over 1 billion people worldwide, bars the transfer of funds or processing of payments to or from people in the United States through it. Users could also start to experience slower service from Sunday night.
The Commerce Department order bars Apple Inc’s app store, Alphabet Inc’s Google Play and others from offering the apps on any platform “that can be reached from within the United States,” a senior Commerce official told Reuters.
While the bans are less dramatic than some had originally feared, Commerce officials said additional transactions could be added at a later date.
Oracle shares were down 0.3% after initially dropping 1.6% in pre-market trading.
The American Civil Liberties Union said the Commerce order “violates the First Amendment rights of people in the United States by restricting their ability to communicate and conduct important transactions on the two social media platforms.”
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It added it also “harms the privacy and security of millions of existing TikTok and WeChat users in the United States by blocking software updates, which can fix vulnerabilities and make the apps more secure.”
The order does not ban U.S. companies from doing businesses on WeChat outside the United States, which will be welcome news to U.S. firms like Walmart and Starbucks that use WeChat’s embedded ‘mini-app’ programs to facilitate transactions and engage consumers in China, officials said.
The order will not bar transactions with WeChat-owner Tencent Holdings’ other businesses, including its online gaming operations, and will not prohibit Apple, Google or others from offering TikTok or WeChat apps anywhere outside the United States.
The bans are in response to a pair of executive orders issued by Trump on Aug. 6 that gave the Commerce Department 45 days to determine what transactions to block from the apps he deemed to pose a national security threat. That deadline expires on Sunday.
Commerce Department officials said they were taking the extraordinary step because of the risks the apps’ data collection poses. China and the companies have denied U.S. user data is collected for spying.
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Ross said in a written statement “we have taken significant action to combat China’s malicious collection of American citizens’ personal data while promoting our national values, democratic rules-based norms, and aggressive enforcement of U.S. laws and regulations.”
Apple and Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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TikTok has 100 million users in the United States and is especially popular among younger Americans.
WeChat has had an average of 19 million daily active users in the United States, analytics firms Apptopia said in early August. It is popular among Chinese students, ex-pats and some Americans who have personal or business relationships in China.
The Commerce Department will not seek to compel people in the United States to remove the apps or stop using them. “We are aiming at a top corporate level. We’re not going to go out after the individual users,” one Commerce official said.
Over time, officials said, the lack of updates will degrade the apps’ usability.
“The expectation is that people will find alternative ways to do these actions,” a senior official said. “We expect the market to act and there will be more secure apps that will fill in these gaps that Americans can trust and that the United States government won’t have to take similar actions against.”
Commerce is also barring additional technical transactions with WeChat starting Sunday that will significantly reduce the usability and functionality of the app in the United States.
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The order bars data hosting within the United States for WeChat, content delivery services, and networks that can increase functionality and internet transit or peering services.
“What immediately is going to happen is users are going to experience a lag or lack of functionality,” a senior Commerce official said of WeChat users. “It may still be usable but it is not going to be as functional as it was.”
Commerce will bar the same set of technical transactions for TikTok, but that will not take effect until Nov. 12.
Commerce will not penalize people who use TikTok or WeChat in the United States.
The order does not bar data storage within the United States for WeChat or TikTok.
Some Americans may find workarounds. There is nothing that would bar an American from traveling to a foreign country and downloading either app or potentially using a virtual private network and a desktop client, officials conceded.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--Democrats Warn GOP: Fill Ginsburg's Supreme Court Seat And We'll Nix The Filibuster

Democrats and progressive activists vowed to eliminate the filibuster and possibly even expand the Supreme Court if Republicans fill the seat of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who died Friday from complications of cancer .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made it clear he would move to confirm a replacement for the liberal icon despite blocking former President Barack Obama ’ s nominee , Judge Merrick Garland , in a presidential election year in 2016 .
“ President Trump ’ s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate , ” McConnell said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican did not say whether that vote would take place before or after the Nov. 3 election .
Democrats said McConnell should wait and respect Ginsburg ’ s dying wish that the next president fill her seat .
Some , however , threatened to eliminate the filibuster and possibly even pack the high court if the Democratic Party takes control of the White House and Senate next year .
Sen. Chris Murphy ( D-Conn. ) said the Senate would “ never , ever be the same ” if Republicans fill Ginsburg ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes .
“ It will be changed forever .
I pray tonight that at least a few of my Republican colleagues understand this.
” “ It is going to be very hard after the procedural violence that Mitch McConnell has inflicted on the Senate and the country for anyone to justify us playing it soft next year just to satisfy pundits , ” Sen. Brian Schatz ( D-Hawaii ) added on Twitter .
“ We must use the power that voters give us to deliver the change we are promising.
” Progressive activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care who is influential among Democrats , also called for changing the makeup of the Supreme Court .
Most Democrats were coming around to eliminating the filibuster even before Ginsburg ’ s death , a seismic event that could have significant consequences for this year ’ s presidential election , abortion rights and beyond .
Republicans filling Ginsburg ’ s seat this year after blocking President Barack Obama ’ s Supreme Court pick in 2016 would likely only speed up that process .
The party would need 50 votes in the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While there are still a handful of holdouts , the push to kill the upper chamber ’ s 60-vote threshold on legislation recently picked up momentum with a boost from Obama himself , who said that getting rid of the procedural hurdle would be a fitting way to pay homage to Rep. John Lewis ( D-Ga. ) , the civil rights and voting rights icon who died in July .
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , a longtime defender of the rule , said in July that “ you have to just take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would “ depend on how obstreperous they become , ” referring to Senate Republicans .
Biden said Friday that his position on the Supreme Court vacancy is the same as the one taken by Republicans “ in 2016 when there were almost 10 months to go before the election.
” “ Let me be clear that the voters should pick the president , and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider , ” Biden added .

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Democrats and progressive activists vowed to eliminate the filibuster and possibly even expand the Supreme Court if Republicans fill the seat of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday from complications of cancer.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made it clear he would move to confirm a replacement for the liberal icon despite blocking former President Barack Obama’s nominee, Judge Merrick Garland, in a presidential election year in 2016.
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“President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate,” McConnell said in a statement Friday night. The Kentucky Republican did not say whether that vote would take place before or after the Nov. 3 election.
Democrats said McConnell should wait and respect Ginsburg’s dying wish that the next president fill her seat. Some, however, threatened to eliminate the filibuster and possibly even pack the high court if the Democratic Party takes control of the White House and Senate next year.
Mitch McConnell set the precedent. No Supreme Court vacancies filled in an election year. If he violates it, when Democrats control the Senate in the next Congress, we must abolish the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court. — Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) September 19, 2020
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said the Senate would “never, ever be the same” if Republicans fill Ginsburg’s seat this year, alluding to major changes. “It will be changed forever. I pray tonight that at least a few of my Republican colleagues understand this.”
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“It is going to be very hard after the procedural violence that Mitch McConnell has inflicted on the Senate and the country for anyone to justify us playing it soft next year just to satisfy pundits,” Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) added on Twitter. “We must use the power that voters give us to deliver the change we are promising.”
Progressive activist Ady Barkan, an advocate for single-payer health care who is influential among Democrats, also called for changing the makeup of the Supreme Court.
We will have to expand the Court. — Ady Barkan (@AdyBarkan) September 18, 2020
Most Democrats were coming around to eliminating the filibuster even before Ginsburg’s death, a seismic event that could have significant consequences for this year’s presidential election, abortion rights and beyond. Republicans filling Ginsburg’s seat this year after blocking President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court pick in 2016 would likely only speed up that process.
The party would need 50 votes in the Senate to get rid of the filibuster. While there are still a handful of holdouts, the push to kill the upper chamber’s 60-vote threshold on legislation recently picked up momentum with a boost from Obama himself, who said that getting rid of the procedural hurdle would be a fitting way to pay homage to Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), the civil rights and voting rights icon who died in July.
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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, a longtime defender of the rule, said in July that “you have to just take a look at it” and it would “depend on how obstreperous they become,” referring to Senate Republicans.
Biden said Friday that his position on the Supreme Court vacancy is the same as the one taken by Republicans “in 2016 when there were almost 10 months to go before the election.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--Mitch McConnell Promises Trump’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg Replacement Will Get A Vote

Just hour after Ginsburg ’ s death was announced , the GOP leader said he would be moving forward as soon as Trump does .
This year is different from 2016 , he said , because the Senate and the president are in the same party .
“ Americans reelected our majority in 2016 and expanded it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda , particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary .
Once again , we will keep our promise , ” he said in a statement .
“ President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the floor of the United States Senate.
” The opportunity to replace one of the court ’ s most liberal justices with a conservative is a dream come true for many in the Republican Party .
If Trump ’ s nominee is confirmed , the court would be tilted 6-3 toward conservatives .
“ 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 president , ” he wrote .
The best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucus opposes the nominee , and that a few moderate GOP senators decide to join them .
McConnell could not lose more than three votes from his caucus .
In that scenario , the Senate vote would be tied 50-50 , and he would need Vice President Mike Pence to cast a tie-breaking vote .
Sen. Lisa Murkowski ( Alaska ) , the only Republican to vote against Brett Kavanaugh , has said that she would oppose a Supreme Court nominee in the middle of an election year or during a lame-duck session @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans held off Merrick Garland it was because nine months prior to the election was too close , we needed to let people decide .
And I agreed to do that , ” she said in August .
“ If we now say that months prior to the election is OK when nine months was not , that is a double standard and I don ’ t believe we should do it .
So I would not support it.
” Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-Iowa ) , who previously chaired the Judiciary Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court , said that filling a vacancy in 2020 would violate the standard Republicans set in 2016 , and that he “ couldn ’ t move forward with it ” if he were still the chairman .
Democrats will also be keeping an eye on Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) , one of the few GOP senators willing to break with , and criticize , the president .
He was also the only Republican senator to vote to impeach Trump .
The most pressure will be put on the GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tight races ― particularly Sen. Susan Collins ( Maine ) ― who has long touted her moderate record and support for abortion rights but largely votes for Trump ’ s judicial nominees anyway .
She was the target of an intense lobbying effort during the Kavanaugh fight and will likely be again this round .
But Collins said earlier this month that she would not vote to fill a Supreme Court vacancy in October , or in the lame-duck session if there is a change in presidents , according to New York Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of you who are unsure how to answer , or for those inclined to oppose giving a nominee a vote , I urge you all to keep your powder dry , ” McConnell wrote in the letter obtained by The Washington Post .
“ This is not the time to prematurely lock yourselves into a position you may later regret.
” Republicans have long made judicial confirmations a motivating factor for turning out their base , and they focused on it again at this year ’ s convention ― in contrast to Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show that Democrats are increasingly considering the courts a central issue in their vote for president .

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Nine months out from the 2016 election, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made the unprecedented decision not to let President Barack Obama fill a Supreme Court opening because, he argued, the next president should get to pick the nominee.
He left the seat vacant, handing Donald Trump the political gift.
On Friday, less than two months out from the election, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away.
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This time, McConnell is not waiting around.
Just hour after Ginsburg’s death was announced, the GOP leader said he would be moving forward as soon as Trump does. This year is different from 2016, he said, because the Senate and the president are in the same party.
“Americans reelected our majority in 2016 and expanded it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda, particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary. Once again, we will keep our promise,” he said in a statement. “President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.”
The opportunity to replace one of the court’s most liberal justices with a conservative is a dream come true for many in the Republican Party. If Trump’s nominee is confirmed, the court would be tilted 6-3 toward conservatives.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) tweeted that McConnell should follow the rule he created under Obama. In fact, he used, verbatim, the words that McConnell said in 2016.
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“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 president,” he wrote.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) vowed to give President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee a vote, even though it's so close to the election. Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press
There’s little Democrats can do to stop Trump’s nominee from getting confirmed, at least procedurally. They’re in the minority, and a Supreme Court nominee needs just 51 votes to pass.
The best hope for Democrats is that their entire caucus opposes the nominee, and that a few moderate GOP senators decide to join them. McConnell could not lose more than three votes from his caucus. In that scenario, the Senate vote would be tied 50-50, and he would need Vice President Mike Pence to cast a tie-breaking vote.
But a handful of Republican senators have already signaled they may not be on board with moving a nominee this year.
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Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), the only Republican to vote against Brett Kavanaugh, has said that she would oppose a Supreme Court nominee in the middle of an election year or during a lame-duck session in November and December.
“When Republicans held off Merrick Garland it was because nine months prior to the election was too close, we needed to let people decide. And I agreed to do that,” she said in August. “If we now say that months prior to the election is OK when nine months was not, that is a double standard and I don’t believe we should do it. So I would not support it.”
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who previously chaired the Judiciary Committee and blocked Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court, said that filling a vacancy in 2020 would violate the standard Republicans set in 2016, and that he “couldn’t move forward with it” if he were still the chairman.
Democrats will also be keeping an eye on Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), one of the few GOP senators willing to break with, and criticize, the president. He was also the only Republican senator to vote to impeach Trump.
The most pressure will be put on the GOP senators who are up for reelection in tight races ― particularly Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) ― who has long touted her moderate record and support for abortion rights but largely votes for Trump’s judicial nominees anyway. She was the target of an intense lobbying effort during the Kavanaugh fight and will likely be again this round.
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The Maine senator issued a statement Friday praising Ginsburg as “a trailblazer for women’s rights,” but said nothing about whether she would support filling her Supreme Court seat this year.
But Collins said earlier this month that she would not vote to fill a Supreme Court vacancy in October, or in the lame-duck session if there is a change in presidents, according to New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin.
“I think that’s too close, I really do,” she told Martin, who tweeted the news.
McConnell wrote to his GOP colleagues Friday night, urging them to avoid taking a stance on whether they will vote for a Supreme Court nominee this year.
“For those of you who are unsure how to answer, or for those inclined to oppose giving a nominee a vote, I urge you all to keep your powder dry,” McConnell wrote in the letter obtained by The Washington Post. “This is not the time to prematurely lock yourselves into a position you may later regret.”
He also emphasized that there was enough time to fill the vacancy this year.
Republicans have long made judicial confirmations a motivating factor for turning out their base, and they focused on it again at this year’s convention ― in contrast to Democrats, who did not. But polls show that Democrats are increasingly considering the courts a central issue in their vote for president.
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During the Democratic presidential primary, the idea of packing the court ― adding more justices to the Supreme Court ― gained traction, with candidates including Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Julian Castro backing it. Joe Biden, now the Democratic nominee, did not.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--Ex-Pence Aide: Trump Derailed COVID-19 Meeting For 45 Minutes With Fox News Rant

President Donald Trump once derailed a meeting of the White House ’ s coronavirus task force to rant for 45 minutes about Fox News host Tucker Carlson , a former aide to Vice President Mike Pence has claimed .
Olivia Troye — a former member of the task force who earlier this week endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden with a scathing denouncement of Trump ’ s handling of the pandemic — said the president was focused on getting someone to set Carlson straight over his criticism of former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway while pressing issues about the public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think the only thing that matters is what , at the end of the day , people are saying about him , ” Troye said of the president in a video released Friday by the Republican Voters Against Trump group .
“ While the rest of us are sitting in the room , I saw people looking down at the floor , looking down at the desk or the table in front of them or their shoes thinking , ‘ we have actual items on this agenda that we really need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but instead we ’ re going to go resolve your concern about whatever some news anchor said off the cuff that upset you , ’ ” she added .
Troye , who left the White House last month , on Thursday told The Washington Post that Trump had a “ flat-out disregard for human life ” amid the pandemic that ’ s now killed almost 200,000 people nationwide because he was focused on the economy and his reelection .
In another video released by RVAT ― which often releases videos of Republicans fed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recalled Trump once saying in another meeting that the pandemic could be a good thing because it meant he wouldn ’ t have to shake hands with “ disgusting people .
”

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President Donald Trump once derailed a meeting of the White House’s coronavirus task force to rant for 45 minutes about Fox News host Tucker Carlson, a former aide to Vice President Mike Pence has claimed.
Olivia Troye — a former member of the task force who earlier this week endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden with a scathing denouncement of Trump’s handling of the pandemic — said Trump was focused on getting someone to set Carlson straight over his criticism of then-White House counselor Kellyanne Conway while pressing issues about the public health crisis were still to be discussed.
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“I think the only thing that matters is what, at the end of the day, people are saying about him,” Troye said of the president in a video released Friday by the Republican Voters Against Trump group.
“While the rest of us are sitting in the room, I saw people looking down at the floor, looking down at the desk or the table in front of them or their shoes thinking, ‘We have actual items on this agenda that we really need to discuss and time matters right now but instead we’re going to go resolve your concern about whatever some news anchor said off the cuff that upset you,’” Troye said.
“That is who President Trump is. That’s what he cares about,” she added.
Check out the video here:
Troye, who left the White House last month, on Thursday told The Washington Post that Trump had a “flat-out disregard for human life” amid the pandemic that’s now killed almost 200,000 people nationwide because he was focused on the economy and his reelection.
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In another video released by GOP anti-Trump group ― which has spotlighted Republicans fed up with the Trump administration, including several who worked for it ― Troye recalled Trump once saying in another meeting that the pandemic could be a good thing because it meant he wouldn’t have to shake hands with “disgusting people.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Death Puts Pressure On Critical Senate Races

With Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell already promising to give President Donald Trump ’ s nominee a vote on the Senate floor , vulnerable Republican senators , including Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina , are almost certain to play a critical role in any nomination fight over a Ginsburg successor .
Even races without a direct link to the nomination fight are certain to be reshaped by surges of partisanship and campaign cash .
Republicans have a 53-47 edge in the Senate and can confirm a new justice with only 50 votes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 10 states where national Democratic groups are spending millions on attack ads while only two Democratic incumbents are considered vulnerable .
Among the most vulnerable incumbents is Collins , whose vote for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh directly contributed to her declining popularity in the state .
Collins , a moderate Republican who supports abortion rights but has voted for many of Trump ’ s conservative judicial nominees , is in a tough race with Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon .
Collins told New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin earlier this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close to the election and would also oppose voting on one during a lame-duck session of Congress in November if there is a change in presidents .
“ Over the coming days , we are all going to come under tremendous pressure from the press to announce how we will handle the coming nomination , ” McConnell wrote .
“ For those of you who are unsure how to answer , or for those inclined to oppose giving a nominee a vote , I urge you all to keep your powder dry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lock yourselves into a position you may later regret.
” Though Collins is the candidate most directly endangered by a new fight over the balance of the court , the vacancy is likely to supercharge every competitive race , from liberal-leaning Colorado to swing state Georgia to evangelical-heavy South Carolina .
The vacancy could also alter the major issues debated in an election that has so far focused primarily on the coronavirus pandemic , the related economic downturn and race relations .
Abortion rights and the fate of the Affordable Care Act – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a case on its constitutionality later this year – could move to the forefront .
However , the most immediate effect is likely to be a surge of campaign donations into what are already the most expensive set of Senate elections in history .
The battle over Kavanaugh ’ s nomination energized Democratic small-dollar donors like few other political events : They sent $ 12 million to North Dakota Democrat Heidi Heitkamp , who had raised relatively little from grassroots donors before her vote against the conservative nominee .
( Heitkamp lost to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maine , Gideon has benefited from millions of dollars in small-dollar donations collected in the wake of the Kavanaugh fight for whomever the Democratic nominee against Collins turned out to be .
Collins , on the other hand , has benefited from donors linked to the conservative judicial group The Federalist Society , which has had a powerful influence on Trump ’ s choices for judicial vacancies .
Arizona Gov .
Doug Ducey ( R ) appointed McSally to fill the the term of the late Sen. John McCain until a special election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections are typically seated shortly after their victories , instead of in January like the winners of standard Senate elections .
The Arizona Republic reported Friday that Kelly , who has held a consistent lead over McSally in both public and private surveys for more than a year , could potentially take his seat in late November .
That timing could prove crucial if McConnell waits until a lame-duck session of Congress to hold a vote on a nominee .
But results were more mixed in North Carolina , another state essential to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Voters in the Tar Heel State were split on which presidential candidate they trusted more to pick a new member of the court : 47 % preferred Biden , while 44 % preferred Trump .
Similarly , the race between Democrat Cal Cunningham and Republican Sen. Thom Tillis was tight , with Cunningham leading 42 % to 37 % and a significant chunk of voters remaining undecided .
Graham , as chairman of the Judiciary Committee , will help lead the effort to confirm Trump ’ s nominee .
His role as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contentious 2018 nomination cemented his newfound alliance with Trump , shed his image as a moderate in the style of McCain and poisoned his relationships with many Democrats he had been cordial with .

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The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg mere weeks before the 2020 elections is likely to intensify an already-pitched battle for control of the Senate, putting pressure on key Republicans up for reelection in November.
With Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell already promising to give President Donald Trump’s nominee a vote on the Senate floor, vulnerable Republican senators, including Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, are almost certain to play a critical role in any nomination fight over a Ginsburg successor. Even races without a direct link to the nomination fight are certain to be reshaped by surges of partisanship and campaign cash.
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Republicans have a 53-47 edge in the Senate and can confirm a new justice with only 50 votes. But the Senate GOP is defending incumbents in 10 states where national Democratic groups are spending millions on attack ads while only two Democratic incumbents are considered vulnerable.
Among the most vulnerable incumbents is Collins, whose vote for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh directly contributed to her declining popularity in the state. Collins, a moderate Republican who supports abortion rights but has voted for many of Trump’s conservative judicial nominees, is in a tough race with Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon.
Sen. Susan Collins will be central to any fight over a replacement for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She’s in a tough race for reelection in November. Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images
A New York Times/Siena College survey released Friday morning found a 55% majority of likely voters in Maine opposed Collins’s decision to support Kavanaugh’s nomination, while just 38% approved. The same survey found voters trusted Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to make a Supreme Court pick more than Trump by a 59% to 37% margin.
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Gideon led Collins by a 49% to 44% margin in the poll.
Collins told New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin earlier this month she opposed confirming a Supreme Court justice close to the election and would also oppose voting on one during a lame-duck session of Congress in November if there is a change in presidents.
News: @SenatorCollins told me earlier this month in Maine that she would not seat a Supreme Court justice in October.
“I think that’s too close, I really do,” she said.
She said she’d also oppose seating a justice in the lame duck if there’s a change in presidents. — Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) September 19, 2020
In a letter sent Friday night to GOP senators and obtained by The Washington Post, McConnell instructed his fellow Republicans to avoid announcing their opposition to a vote.
“Over the coming days, we are all going to come under tremendous pressure from the press to announce how we will handle the coming nomination,” McConnell wrote. “For those of you who are unsure how to answer, or for those inclined to oppose giving a nominee a vote, I urge you all to keep your powder dry. This is not the time to prematurely lock yourselves into a position you may later regret.”
Though Collins is the candidate most directly endangered by a new fight over the balance of the court, the vacancy is likely to supercharge every competitive race, from liberal-leaning Colorado to swing state Georgia to evangelical-heavy South Carolina.
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The vacancy could also alter the major issues debated in an election that has so far focused primarily on the coronavirus pandemic, the related economic downturn and race relations. Abortion rights and the fate of the Affordable Care Act – the Supreme Court is expected to hear a case on its constitutionality later this year – could move to the forefront.
However, the most immediate effect is likely to be a surge of campaign donations into what are already the most expensive set of Senate elections in history. The battle over Kavanaugh’s nomination energized Democratic small-dollar donors like few other political events: They sent $12 million to North Dakota Democrat Heidi Heitkamp, who had raised relatively little from grassroots donors before her vote against the conservative nominee. (Heitkamp lost to GOP Rep. Kevin Cramer.)
In Maine, Gideon has benefited from millions of dollars in small-dollar donations collected in the wake of the Kavanaugh fight for whomever the Democratic nominee against Collins turned out to be. Collins, on the other hand, has benefited from donors linked to the conservative judicial group The Federalist Society, which has had a powerful influence on Trump’s choices for judicial vacancies.
Money had already begun flowing to Democrats on Friday night. Crooked Media, the podcast company started by alumni of President Barack Obama’s administration, announced it had raised $600,000 in just two hours for a campaign dedicated to ousting McConnell as majority leader.
“I have never seen the @actblue ticker move this fast ― it’s absolutely insane,” tweeted Mike Nellis, the CEO of the progressive digital firm Authentic Campaigns, referring to the service most Democrats use for online fundraising.
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Beyond Maine, two other races take on newfound significance following Ginsburg’s death: a special election between GOP Sen. Martha McSally and former astronaut Mark Kelly in Arizona, and the race between Graham and Democrat Jaime Harrison in South Carolina.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) appointed McSally to fill the the term of the late Sen. John McCain until a special election could be held. Winners of special elections are typically seated shortly after their victories, instead of in January like the winners of standard Senate elections.
The Arizona Republic reported Friday that Kelly, who has held a consistent lead over McSally in both public and private surveys for more than a year, could potentially take his seat in late November. That timing could prove crucial if McConnell waits until a lame-duck session of Congress to hold a vote on a nominee.
A New York Times/Siena poll of Arizona found voters trusted Biden more than Trump, 53% to 43%, to pick a new member of the Supreme Court. The same poll gave Kelly a 50% to 43% lead.
But results were more mixed in North Carolina, another state essential to Democrats’ path to a Senate majority. Voters in the Tar Heel State were split on which presidential candidate they trusted more to pick a new member of the court: 47% preferred Biden, while 44% preferred Trump. Similarly, the race between Democrat Cal Cunningham and Republican Sen. Thom Tillis was tight, with Cunningham leading 42% to 37% and a significant chunk of voters remaining undecided.
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The fight could also simply send voters back to their partisan corners, making life more difficult for Senate candidates like Republican Sen. Cory Gardner in Colorado, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) and Democratic Senate candidate Barbara Bollier in Kansas, who are depending on voters to split their ballots.
Graham, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, will help lead the effort to confirm Trump’s nominee. His role as a fierce defender of Kavanaugh during the contentious 2018 nomination cemented his newfound alliance with Trump, shed his image as a moderate in the style of McCain and poisoned his relationships with many Democrats he had been cordial with.
National Democrats’ distaste for Graham has been crucial to Harrison’s sky-high fundraising. The former associate Democratic National Committee chair raised $2 million in just 48 hours after a Quinnipiac University poll released this week showed his race with Graham tied.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--Joe Biden Dismantles One Of Donald Trump’s Biggest 2016 Boasts With Campaign Video

Joe Biden firmly debunked one of President Donald Trump ’ s biggest boasts with a new campaign video released on social media Friday .
The 35-second clip takes Trump to task over his 2016 election campaign claim that he would be “ the greatest jobs president God ever created.
” The graphic-style animation begins by showing the number of jobs created under formers presidents from Harry Truman to Barack Obama .
For Trump , it then shows how 5 million jobs have been lost during his time in office .
“ Donald Trump is the worst jobs president in recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the screen .
“ We can ’ t afford another four years of his failed leadership , ” says the caption .
Donald Trump claimed he would be `` the greatest jobs president God ever created . ''
But the fact is he 's the worst jobs president in recorded history .
We ca n't afford another four years of his failed leadership .
pic.twitter.com/uW10KJhMsV — Joe Biden ( @ JoeBiden ) September 18 , 2020 Trump has long made the economy the basis of his 2020 reelection campaign .
But even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus pandemic , the 6.7 million roles created during Trump ’ s presidency paled to the 11 million created during the Obama/Biden administration .
Biden , who proposes to boost the economy with his “ Build Back Better ” plan , has argued on the campaign trail that had Trump taken decisive action at the start of the pandemic , then millions of jobs would not have been lost — and thousands of lives would have been saved .
COVID-19 has now killed almost 200,000 people nationwide and is forecast to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of the year .
Trump in early February admitted in a recorded interview with journalist Bob Woodward ― for the reporter ’ s new book , “ Rage , ” — that he understood the dangers of the deadly virus .
But in public the president chose to lie and mislead the American public by downplaying the threat .

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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden firmly debunked one of President Donald Trump’s biggest boasts with a new campaign video released on social media Friday.
The 35-second clip takes Trump to task over his 2016 campaign claim that he would be “the greatest jobs president God ever created.” The graphic-style animation begins by showing the number of jobs created under former presidents from Harry Truman to Barack Obama. For Trump, it then shows how 5 million jobs have been lost during his time in office.
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“Donald Trump is the worst jobs president in recorded history,” reads text that appears on the screen. “We can’t afford another four years of his failed leadership,” says the caption.
Check out the video here:
Donald Trump claimed he would be "the greatest jobs president God ever created."
But the fact is he's the worst jobs president in recorded history.
We can't afford another four years of his failed leadership. pic.twitter.com/uW10KJhMsV — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 18, 2020
Trump has long made the economy the basis of his 2020 reelection campaign. He bragged about creating the “greatest economy ever” before the coronavirus pandemic.
But even before millions of jobs were lost over the last six months as COVID-19 swept across the nation, the 6.7 million roles created during Trump’s presidency paled to the 11 million created during the Obama/Biden administration.
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Biden, who proposes to boost the economy with his “Build Back Better” plan, has argued on the campaign trail that had Trump taken decisive action at the start of the pandemic, millions of jobs would not have been lost — and tens of thousands of lives would have been saved.
As of Saturday, COVID-19 has killed almost 200,000 people nationwide.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--Donald Trump Calls Ruth Bader Ginsburg 'A Titan Of The Law'

President Donald Trump issued a statement Friday on the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , saying she was a “ fighter to the end ” and a “ titan of the law.
” “ Renowned for her brilliant mind and her powerful dissents at the Supreme Court , Justice Ginsburg demonstrated that one can disagree without being disagreeable toward one ’ s colleagues or different points of view , ” Trump said .
“ Her opinions , including well-known decisions regarding the legal equality of women and the disabled , have inspired all Americans , and generations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was alerted to the justice ’ s death after a campaign rally Friday evening .
Trump spoke for more than an hour after news of Ginsburg ’ s death broke , apparently unaware of what had happened .
“ She just died ?
I didn ’ t know that , ” Trump said .
“ She led an amazing life .
What else can you say ?
Whether you agree or not ... she led an amazing life .
I ’ m actually saddened to hear that.
” President Trump on being told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Wow .
I didn ’ t know that ... She lead an amazing life .
What else can you say ?
She was an amazing woman , whether you agreed or not , she was an amazing woman who led an amazing life .
I 'm actually saddened to hear that.
” pic.twitter.com/LLS29rwfJc — NBC News ( @ NBCNews ) September 19 , 2020 Ginsburg died Friday at age 87 due to complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer .
Her death , about six weeks before the presidential election , will have enormous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to name her replacement , leaving it up to the Republican-controlled Senate to decide whether to move forward with a nomination so close to the election .
“ My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed , ” Ginsburg said in a statement to her granddaughter shortly before her death .
Trump for years held a grudge against the justice after she denounced him ahead of the 2016 election .
“ I can ’ t imagine what this place would be ― I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be ― with Donald Trump as our president , ” Ginsburg told The New York Times in July 2016 .
“ For the country , it could be four years .
For the court , it could be ― I don ’ t even want to contemplate that.
” She later apologized for her statements , calling them “ ill-advised.
” Trump , however , continued to cite the comments as evidence of bias as recently as this year .
Ginsburg , who was nominated in 1993 by President Bill Clinton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the high court , after Sandra Day O ’ Connor .
The liberal icon was particularly known for her decades of legal work on behalf of women ’ s rights .

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President Donald Trump issued a statement Friday on the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, saying she was a “fighter to the end” and a “titan of the law.”
“Renowned for her brilliant mind and her powerful dissents at the Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburg demonstrated that one can disagree without being disagreeable toward one’s colleagues or different points of view,” Trump said. “Her opinions, including well-known decisions regarding the legal equality of women and the disabled, have inspired all Americans, and generations of great legal minds.”
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Read Trump’s full statement below:
Statement from the President on the Passing of Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg pic.twitter.com/N2YkGVWLoF — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2020
The president was alerted to the justice’s death after a campaign rally Friday evening. Trump spoke for more than an hour after news of Ginsburg’s death broke, apparently unaware of what had happened.
“She just died? I didn’t know that,” Trump said. “She led an amazing life. What else can you say? Whether you agree or not ... she led an amazing life. I’m actually saddened to hear that.”
President Trump on being told of Justice Ginsburg’s death:
“Wow. I didn’t know that ... She lead an amazing life. What else can you say? She was an amazing woman, whether you agreed or not, she was an amazing woman who led an amazing life. I'm actually saddened to hear that.” pic.twitter.com/LLS29rwfJc — NBC News (@NBCNews) September 19, 2020
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Ginsburg died Friday at age 87 due to complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer. Her death, about six weeks before the presidential election, will have enormous political consequences. Trump will have the opportunity to name her replacement, leaving it up to the Republican-controlled Senate to decide whether to move forward with a nomination so close to the election.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement Friday he will allow a vote on a Trump nomination.
“My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed,” Ginsburg said in a statement to her granddaughter shortly before her death.
Trump for years held a grudge against the justice after she denounced him ahead of the 2016 election.
“I can’t imagine what this place would be ― I can’t imagine what the country would be ― with Donald Trump as our president,” Ginsburg told The New York Times in July 2016. “For the country, it could be four years. For the court, it could be ― I don’t even want to contemplate that.”
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She also called Trump a “faker” and criticized his “ego.”
She later apologized for her statements, calling them “ill-advised.” Trump, however, continued to cite the comments as evidence of bias as recently as this year.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--Battle Over RBG Seat Could Damage Supreme Court's Reputation, Set Off Legitimacy Crisis

Compared to the other two branches of government , the American public ’ s faith in the Supreme Court is relatively high .
But the reputation of the nation ’ s high court could change in an instant if a highly polarizing president moves to fill a third spot on the bench less than two months before the 2020 election .
The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday instantly raises the stakes of the presidential race .
It could also send the third branch of the U.S. government spiraling even further toward a legitimacy crisis .
Polls last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive public support .
About 68 % of Americans think it will act in the public ’ s best interest , while a majority approve of the job the court does .
Half of the country considered the court moderate .
Most of the American public views the court not as individual jurists but as a collective .
Adding another Trump nominee under disputed circumstances could throw any good faith the Supreme Court has built into question and cause the American public to view the judiciary branch as even more of a partisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Electoral College in 2016 , lost the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million votes .
Two of his Supreme Court nominees have been confirmed by the Senate , the legislative body that has been called “ Affirmative Action for White People ” and “ America ’ s Most Structurally Racist Institution.
” The Democratic-controlled House , which more accurately reflects the will of the American people , doesn ’ t have any say in the process .
President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he arrives for a `` Great American Comeback '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump may try to get a third Supreme Court nominee confirmed before the November election .
Ginsburg ’ s dying wish was that she “ not be replaced until a new president is installed , ” according to NPR .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Kentucky ) quickly indicated he ’ d ignore that wish , issuing a statement hours after her death was announced indicating that Trump ’ s nominee “ will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.
” The precise timing of the process , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election or between the election and the next inauguration , is unclear .
Many Democrats already consider Neil Gorsuch ’ s position on the court a “ stolen ” seat .
Justice Antonin Scalia died nearly eight months before the 2016 election , but McConnell refused to consider President Barack Obama ’ s nominee to replace him .
If Trump wins the election in November and Republicans maintain control of the Senate , the whole thing will be a wash .
But if he loses , or if the Senate swings to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will see it as an illegitimate institution .
If Democrats see the deeply partisan process as fundamentally unfair , it could set off an arms race to pack the court in an attempt to rectify what they see as a corrupt process .
And the Supreme Court ’ s reputation may be permanently , and irreversibly , altered .

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Compared to the other two branches of government, the American public’s faith in the Supreme Court is relatively high. But the reputation of the nation’s high court could change in an instant if a highly polarizing president moves to fill a third spot on the bench less than two months before the 2020 election.
The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday instantly raises the stakes of the presidential race. It could also send the third branch of the U.S. government spiraling even further toward a legitimacy crisis.
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Polls last year found that the Supreme Court has mostly positive public support. About 68% of Americans think it will act in the public’s best interest, while a majority approve of the job the court does. Half of the country considered the court moderate. Most of the American public views the court not as individual jurists but as a collective.
Adding another Trump nominee under disputed circumstances could throw any good faith the Supreme Court has built into question and cause the American public to view the judiciary branch as even more of a partisan tool.
Trump, despite winning the Electoral College in 2016, lost the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million votes. Two of his Supreme Court nominees have been confirmed by the Senate, the legislative body that has been called “Affirmative Action for White People” and “America’s Most Structurally Racist Institution.” The Democratic-controlled House, which more accurately reflects the will of the American people, doesn’t have any say in the process.
President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he arrives for a "Great American Comeback" rally Friday in Bemidji, Minnesota. Trump may try to get a third Supreme Court nominee confirmed before the November election. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
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Ginsburg’s dying wish was that she “not be replaced until a new president is installed,” according to NPR. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) quickly indicated he’d ignore that wish, issuing a statement hours after her death was announced indicating that Trump’s nominee “will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.”
The precise timing of the process, whether the vote will take place before the election or between the election and the next inauguration, is unclear.
Many Democrats already consider Neil Gorsuch’s position on the court a “stolen” seat. Justice Antonin Scalia died nearly eight months before the 2016 election, but McConnell refused to consider President Barack Obama’s nominee to replace him.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Last Wish: That She ‘Not Be Replaced’ Before The Next President

Just days before iconic Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died , she told her granddaughter what she most wanted after her death .
“ My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed , ” Ginsburg said , according to NPR .
Ginsburg died Friday at age 87 from complications of pancreatic cancer .
Ginsburg , who was the second woman to sit on the nation ’ s highest court , after Sandra Day O ’ Connor , was one of the Supreme Court ’ s more liberal justices .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ split between three liberal justices and five conservative ones .
If President Donald Trump is able to nominate and get another conservative justice confirmed , that would cement conservatives ’ hold on the nation ’ s most powerful court , likely for years to come .
When conservative Justice Antonin Scalia — a close friend of Ginsburg ’ s — died in February 2016 , Republicans in the Senate blocked former President Barack Obama ’ s nominee , Judge Merrick Garland of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the selection in a presidential election year .
Now , just over six weeks before the 2020 election , it appears the Republican-led Senate will not be staying consistent and waiting until the next president is chosen before confirming a justice to replace Ginsburg .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) confirmed on Friday : “ President Trump ’ s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.
” After news of Ginsburg ’ s death Friday , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 president ” — which was reportedly a direct quote of what McConnell tweeted after Scalia ’ s death .
After Garland was blocked from Senate consideration , Trump later nominated conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch to the court , who was confirmed in 2017 .
With a Republican-majority Senate , Democratic senators will have no chance of blocking a Trump nominee to the court without some Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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Just days before iconic Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, she told her granddaughter what she most wanted after her death.
“My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed,” Ginsburg said, according to NPR. Ginsburg died Friday at age 87 from complications of pancreatic cancer.
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Ginsburg, who was the second woman to sit on the nation’s highest court, after Sandra Day O’Connor, was one of the Supreme Court’s more liberal justices. With her gone, the court is now split between three liberal justices and five conservative ones. If President Donald Trump is able to nominate and get another conservative justice confirmed, that would cement conservatives’ hold on the nation’s most powerful court, likely for years to come.
When conservative Justice Antonin Scalia — a close friend of Ginsburg’s — died in February 2016, Republicans in the Senate blocked former President Barack Obama’s nominee, Judge Merrick Garland of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, saying the president shouldn’t make the selection in a presidential election year.
Now, just over six weeks before the 2020 election, it appears the Republican-led Senate will not be staying consistent and waiting until the next president is chosen before confirming a justice to replace Ginsburg. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) confirmed on Friday: “President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.”
After news of Ginsburg’s death Friday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) tweeted: “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 president” — which was reportedly a direct quote of what McConnell tweeted after Scalia’s death.
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After Garland was blocked from Senate consideration, Trump later nominated conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch to the court, who was confirmed in 2017.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--What Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Death Could Mean For The Obamacare Hearing Nov. 10

One is that the Affordable Care Act survives without much fuss , the program goes on as it is , and nobody loses coverage .
This lawsuit is so weak that even conservative legal experts who supported previous challenges think it has no basis .
Several or all conservative justices might join liberals in rejecting it .
But the lawsuit has already prevailed in two lower court cases , both times because Republican-appointed judges agreed with its rationale .
And without Ginsburg , who was sure to uphold the law , the odds of the Affordable Care Act surviving go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans don ’ t manage to fill her seat before the hearing .
One possibility now in play is a four-four tie .
If that happens , two legal experts told HuffPost , then the Affordable Care Act could become something like a zombie statute ― one that is unconstitutional but that continues to operate while litigation continues before lower court judges .
What The Lawsuit Says The thinking behind this new lawsuit is that , with the penalty now zero , the mandate can ’ t be a tax ― which means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which means the whole thing has to come off the books .
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit heard it next .
In a 2-to-1 decision , a pair of Republican-appointed justices agreed with O ’ Connor ’ s basic finding .
But they also remanded the case back to him , with instructions to consider more carefully whether perhaps some parts of the law can stay .
At that point , the Supreme Court grabbed it , presumably to put the matter to rest once and for all .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted to take the case ( it takes only four ) or why .
What The Supreme Court Could Do The Supreme Court has already rejected two previous challenges to the Affordable Care Act : the 2012 case and one that it heard in 2015 .
Legal scholars are in wide agreement that this new case is significantly thinner than either one of those .
With Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promising a vote on a Donald Trump nominee to replace Ginsburg , the court could be back at full strength by early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conservative majority to six .
But that is only weeks away , which means it ’ s also possible the court would hear the case with just eight justices .
The liberal judges seem likely to uphold the ACA again , and most experts have thought Roberts would be inclined to do the same , given that he passed up opportunities to invalidate the law when faced with stronger legal arguments .
It ’ s entirely possible some of the other Republican justices would do the same in this case .
Or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they could issue a ruling that finds the mandate unconstitutional but leaves the rest of Obamacare standing .
One candidate to take such a vote would be a Trump appointee , Brett Kavanaugh .
In two cases this past session , he made arguments about a key principle , “ severability , ” that court watchers interpreted as a signal he might vote just that way .
What Might Happen If Her Seat Remains Vacant If there ’ s a 4-4 tie , with Roberts joining the three remaining liberals but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law , the 5th Circuit ruling would stand .
The law would be unconstitutional , but a district judge would have to decide which parts stay on the books ― after which , potentially , there could be another appeal to the 5th Circuit and then maybe even back to the Supreme Court .

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The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a tragedy for the country, which has lost a groundbreaking legal icon, and for the many causes she championed.
It could also be a tragedy for the millions of people who depend on the Affordable Care Act for health insurance because of a lawsuit that the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Nov. 10.
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The case, now called California v. Texas, comes from Republican state officials and has the backing of President Donald Trump. It alleges that the 2010 health care law known as Obamacare contains a fatal constitutional flaw, requiring the justices to wipe it off the books.
Figuring out how Ginsburg’s death will affect its prospects is not easy, and legal experts that HuffPost contacted Friday night cautioned that it may take a day or two to think through the scenarios.
One is that the Affordable Care Act survives without much fuss, the program goes on as it is, and nobody loses coverage. This lawsuit is so weak that even conservative legal experts who supported previous challenges think it has no basis. Several or all conservative justices might join liberals in rejecting it.
But the lawsuit has already prevailed in two lower court cases, both times because Republican-appointed judges agreed with its rationale. And without Ginsburg, who was sure to uphold the law, the odds of the Affordable Care Act surviving go down.
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That is true even if Republicans don’t manage to fill her seat before the hearing. One possibility now in play is a four-four tie. If that happens, two legal experts told HuffPost, then the Affordable Care Act could become something like a zombie statute ― one that is unconstitutional but that continues to operate while litigation continues before lower court judges.
“This should make people think again before (once again) saying that an absolutely ludicrous argument had no chance of destroying the ACA in SCOTUS,” Leah Litman, a University of Michigan law professor and former Supreme Court clerk, told HuffPost.
What The Lawsuit Says
The alleged constitutional flaw in the Affordable Care Act exists because Trump signed a Republican bill in 2017 that zeroed out the financial penalty for people who didn’t sign up for insurance.
That penalty, known as the “individual mandate,” was the subject of a celebrated 2012 case in which the Supreme Court upheld the law, with Chief Justice John Roberts joining the four liberals, on the grounds that the mandate was a constitutionally permissible tax.
The thinking behind this new lawsuit is that, with the penalty now zero, the mandate can’t be a tax ― which means it has lost its constitutional validity, which means the whole thing has to come off the books.
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To say that argument has flaws is generous. It’s genuinely difficult to find a respectable legal scholar who will vouch for it. But in December 2018, it prevailed before a federal district judge, the conservative Reed O’Connor, who agreed that the entire law is invalid.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit heard it next. In a 2-to-1 decision, a pair of Republican-appointed justices agreed with O’Connor’s basic finding. But they also remanded the case back to him, with instructions to consider more carefully whether perhaps some parts of the law can stay.
At that point, the Supreme Court grabbed it, presumably to put the matter to rest once and for all. It is impossible to know which justices voted to take the case (it takes only four) or why.
What The Supreme Court Could Do
The Supreme Court has already rejected two previous challenges to the Affordable Care Act: the 2012 case and one that it heard in 2015. Legal scholars are in wide agreement that this new case is significantly thinner than either one of those.
But Ginsburg was a vote to uphold the law both times. Without her, things become a lot more complicated. For starters, because it’s not clear how many justices will even be on the court for the hearing.
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With Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promising a vote on a Donald Trump nominee to replace Ginsburg, the court could be back at full strength by early November, with a new judge expanding the conservative majority to six. But that is only weeks away, which means it’s also possible the court would hear the case with just eight justices.
The liberal judges seem likely to uphold the ACA again, and most experts have thought Roberts would be inclined to do the same, given that he passed up opportunities to invalidate the law when faced with stronger legal arguments. It’s entirely possible some of the other Republican justices would do the same in this case.
People gather at the Supreme Court on Friday night to honor Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday night. Alex Brandon/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Or, if they want to get creative, they could issue a ruling that finds the mandate unconstitutional but leaves the rest of Obamacare standing. One candidate to take such a vote would be a Trump appointee, Brett Kavanaugh. In two cases this past session, he made arguments about a key principle, “severability,” that court watchers interpreted as a signal he might vote just that way.
“It’s good money that Kavanaugh is unimpressed with this lawsuit,” Nicholas Bagley, a constitutional law professor at the University of Michigan, told HuffPost. “I don’t say that as an advocate. I say that as a craftsman. ... As a matter of legal argument, this case could not be weaker.”
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But, Bagley warned, guessing how judges will vote in future cases is always risky. It’s not at all difficult to imagine Kavanaugh and the other conservatives voting to strike down the health care law.
“Every conservative judge who has heard this case has said it has merit,” Bagley, a former Supreme Court clerk, said. “I think they’re all nutty, but that should give you pause before writing it off.”
What Might Happen If Her Seat Remains Vacant
Here’s where things get even more unpredictable ― especially if it’s an eight-justice court ruling on the case.
If there’s a 4-4 tie, with Roberts joining the three remaining liberals but the other four conservatives voting to strike down the law, the 5th Circuit ruling would stand. The law would be unconstitutional, but a district judge would have to decide which parts stay on the books ― after which, potentially, there could be another appeal to the 5th Circuit and then maybe even back to the Supreme Court.
By that time, the law itself could look different, depending on who runs the White House and Congress and what action, if any, they’ve taken to modify the statute or further reform health care.
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There are several other possibilities. The court could, for example, hear the case, be headed for a 4-4 tie and call for a rehearing with nine justices so that it could deliver a more definitive ruling. Roberts could also push it back on the schedule.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--News Of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Death Interrupts Rosh Hashanah Services Nationwide

We have just a few more prayers to say before the close of our service , but I am sure that many of you have heard by now that Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away today .
Man , 5780 has been hard .
The justice passed away from complications of cancer .
And in moments like this , of course the first thing we do is we are gutted with profound sadness , as we are whenever someone dies .
And we offer our condolences to her family .
It is hard , of course , not to turn our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is already teetering in so many ways .
And we are grateful to Justice Ginsburg for all that she gave to our country over her years of service , and the ways that she protected women and queer people , the ways that she fought for voting rights for people whose right to vote was suppressed , most often people of color .
We are grateful for all the ways that she helped to carry this country .
In the book of Leviticus , when Aaron the high priest is told of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next words are very famous ones .
It says , “ Va ’ yidom Aharon , and Aaron was silent.
” And it ’ s true .
I don ’ t know what the rabbinic words are in this moment , except here ’ s what I know , which are the prayers that we have in front of us .

We have just a few more prayers to say before the close of our service, but I am sure that many of you have heard by now that Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away today.
Man, 5780 has been hard. The justice passed away from complications of cancer. And in moments like this, of course the first thing we do is we are gutted with profound sadness, as we are whenever someone dies. And we offer our condolences to her family.
It is hard, of course, not to turn our thoughts right away to our country, which is already teetering in so many ways. And we are grateful to Justice Ginsburg for all that she gave to our country over her years of service, and the ways that she protected women and queer people, the ways that she fought for voting rights for people whose right to vote was suppressed, most often people of color. We are grateful for all the ways that she helped to carry this country.
In the book of Leviticus, when Aaron the high priest is told of the death of his sons, the next words are very famous ones. It says, “Va’yidom Aharon, and Aaron was silent.” And it’s true. I don’t know what the rabbinic words are in this moment, except here’s what I know, which are the prayers that we have in front of us.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--Barack Obama Pays Tribute To Ruth Bader Ginsburg: She 'Fought To The End'

“ Over a long career on both sides of the bench ― as a relentless litigator and an incisive jurist ― Justice Ginsburg helped us see that discrimination on the basis of sex isn ’ t about an abstract ideal of equality ; that it doesn ’ t only harm women ; that it has real consequences for all of us , ” Obama wrote in a statement published on Medium .
“ It ’ s about who we are ― and who we can be.
” Obama and Ginsburg appeared to have a congenial relationship throughout his presidency .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s State of the Union address , and the president once described the justice as “ one of my favorite people.
” Ginsburg ’ s death , which comes just weeks ahead of the presidential election , gives President Donald Trump an opportunity to nominate another conservative justice to the high court .
On Friday , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) said he will move forward with a vote on a Trump nominee and allow a vote in the Republican-controlled chamber .
Ginsburg , days before her death , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her last wish was “ that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.
” Obama alluded to that wish in his statement , and called on Senate Republicans to stick to the “ invented ” principle they established when he nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court in 2016 — that the Senate shouldn ’ t vote on a Supreme Court nominee during the presidential election process .
“ Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought to the end , through her cancer , with unwavering faith in our democracy and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember her .
But she also left instructions for how she wanted her legacy to be honored , ” he wrote .
“ The questions before the Court now and in the coming years ― with decisions that will determine whether or not our economy is fair , our society is just , women are treated equally , our planet survives , and our democracy endures ― are too consequential to future generations for courts to be filled through anything less than an unimpeachable process.
” “ A powerful legal mind and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been a beacon of justice during her long and remarkable career , ” Carter said .
“ She dedicated many of her 87 remarkable years to the pursuit of justice and equality , and she inspired more than one generation of women and girls , ” Bush said Friday .

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Former President Barack Obama issued a statement paying tribute to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday at the age of 87.
“Over a long career on both sides of the bench ― as a relentless litigator and an incisive jurist ― Justice Ginsburg helped us see that discrimination on the basis of sex isn’t about an abstract ideal of equality; that it doesn’t only harm women; that it has real consequences for all of us,” Obama wrote in a statement published on Medium. “It’s about who we are ― and who we can be.”
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Obama and Ginsburg appeared to have a congenial relationship throughout his presidency. The two embraced every year at Obama’s State of the Union address, and the president once described the justice as “one of my favorite people.”
Ginsburg’s death, which comes just weeks ahead of the presidential election, gives President Donald Trump an opportunity to nominate another conservative justice to the high court. On Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he will move forward with a vote on a Trump nominee and allow a vote in the Republican-controlled chamber.
Ginsburg, days before her death, gave a statement to her granddaughter saying her last wish was “that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.”
Obama alluded to that wish in his statement, and called on Senate Republicans to stick to the “invented” principle they established when he nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court in 2016 — that the Senate shouldn’t vote on a Supreme Court nominee during the presidential election process.
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“Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought to the end, through her cancer, with unwavering faith in our democracy and its ideals. That’s how we remember her. But she also left instructions for how she wanted her legacy to be honored,” he wrote. “The questions before the Court now and in the coming years ― with decisions that will determine whether or not our economy is fair, our society is just, women are treated equally, our planet survives, and our democracy endures ― are too consequential to future generations for courts to be filled through anything less than an unimpeachable process.”
Several other former presidents, including Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush, also issued statements mourning the loss of the liberal icon.
“A powerful legal mind and a staunch advocate for gender equality, she has been a beacon of justice during her long and remarkable career,” Carter said.
“She dedicated many of her 87 remarkable years to the pursuit of justice and equality, and she inspired more than one generation of women and girls,” Bush said Friday.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--Crowds Flock To Supreme Court To Mourn Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Solemn crowds gathered outside the Supreme Court building in Washington to pay tribute to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg after her death Friday at the age of 87 .
Hundreds or more came together at the courthouse to comfort one another in a candlelight vigil — laying flowers , signs and messages , and crying , applauding and chanting : “ Vote him out.
” They periodically sang “ Amazing Grace ” and “ This Land Is Your Land.
” Just left the Supreme Court where crowds were gathered to mourn & honor # RBG .
After carrying feelings of sadness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re not alone in this fight .
I am still frightened by the possibility of what ’ s to come , but there is still so much good .
pic.twitter.com/kVrOpeS09v — Madison Mayhew ( @ madison_mayhew ) September 19 , 2020 The crowd is now chanting “ Honor her wish , ” referring to what Ruth Bader Ginsburg told her granddaughter : “ My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.
” pic.twitter.com/SSyIAcsaKn — philip lewis ( @ Phil_Lewis_ ) September 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to honor the justice who served 27 years in the Supreme Court .
People were sad — as well as fearful about what will happen now on the court and in the nation .
“ Who is going to take care of us ?
” local resident Elizabeth LaBerge had just asked her fiance , she told the Washington Post .
“ It just feels like such a deep loss at this particular time , ” she added .
“ It ’ s a lot to put on a woman of her age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a constitutional democracy.
” The gathering was disrupted for a few minutes when rightwing provocateur Jacob Wohl began shouting into a microphone that “ Roe v. Wade is getting abolished .
RBG is dead .
We ’ re going to have a new justice next week , ” he added .
He left after he was confronted by angry members of the crowd .
As I watch the crowds gather at the Supreme Court in memory of Justice Ginsburg , I am reminded of an unforgettable moment on June 14 , 1993 when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in VT , saw her rush to take a call from President Clinton telling her of her nomination to the SCOTUS .
https : //t.co/sV0CVhgkTt — Norman Lear ( @ TheNormanLear ) September 19 , 2020 In downtown Manhattan an image of Ginsburg with the message “ Rest in Power ” was projected onto the front of the New York State Civil Supreme Court building .
The message also changed to “ Thank You ” and “ Notorious.
” Image of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is projected onto the front of the New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manhattan .
Hundreds of San Franciscans also gathered in the Castro district to honor Notorious RBG , a champion of LGBTQ rights .
“ People came out because they wanted community.
” Alex U. Inn , one of the organizers of the event , told the San Francisco Chronicle .
He said that Ginsburg “ saved our transgender community ” with her last vote .
He was referring to a surprise majority decision in June by the court in Bostock v. Clayton County , Georgia that employers can ’ t fire workers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upset that there was already talk of quickly replacing Ginsburg .
“ Three hours after she ’ s gone , Messed-Up Mitch is talking about her replacement , ” Inn said , referring to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) .
“ Did he even allow enough time for her spirit to rise ?
”

The gathering was disrupted for a few minutes when rightwing provocateur Jacob Wohl began shouting into a microphone that Roe v. Wade, the 1973 high court ruling that legalized abortion rights across the nation, “is getting abolished. RBG is dead. We’re going to have a new justice next week.”
Wohl, a conspiracy theorist who has been widely discredited and who faces facing multiple felony financial fraud charges, left after he was confronted by angry members of the crowd.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--What Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Death Means For A Potentially Contested Election

The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday night leaves the Supreme Court with just eight members — and a potentially calamitous deadlock during a presidential election that could easily produce challenges that reach the high court .
The Supreme Court routinely hears cases and issues opinions during its terms after the untimely death of a justice .
In 2016 , after Justice Antonin Scalia died , it still released opinions on a number of important cases .
So what happens if that case is one that could decide who wins the presidential election ?
And what if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ginsburg ’ s death , there are now five conservatives , all appointed by Republicans , and three liberals , all appointed by Democrats .
Even if Ginsburg were alive and Chief Justice John Roberts adhered to the conservative side , Trump would likely prevail in any election challenge .
But Roberts has been prone to heterodoxy before .
In the event of a tie , the court will usually issue a single-line collective decision , noting that the court simply affirms the lower court ’ s decision .
In this case , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the case before it made its way up to the Supreme Court would win .
This means the presidential election could be decided based simply on the makeup of an appellate court wherever a critical appeal occurs .
That could be good for Trump , as McConnell has used Trump ’ s 2016 victory to turn the Senate into a nonstop judicial appointment factory .
Trump has had 53 appellate court nominees confirmed in his first term , 29 more than Obama had in his two terms combined .
Trump appointees now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court seats .
Cases will wind their way up through the courts based on regional districts .
This means a postelection challenge in Wisconsin would come through a different set of courts than a challenge in Arizona or Florida .
Key swing states , such as Florida , Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , are all under the jurisdictions of appellate courts with Republican-appointed majorities .
Arizona , in the U.S. 9th Circuit , is the only major swing state whose federal appellate court does not have a Republican majority .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election now where this scenario is plausible .
In 2016 , Trump also refused to accept the results .
The Supreme Court also had only eight members after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) refused to acknowledge the existence of President Barack Obama ’ s appointee to replace Scalia , Judge Merrick Garland .
Trump wound up winning by just tens of thousands of votes across three states .
The country narrowly escaped this exact scenario back then .
But President Donald Trump has already set himself up for postelection litigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots is rife with fraud and that all votes counted after election day , a typical process , should not count .
He has also stated that he will not respect the results of the election if he loses .
This all could be avoided if McConnell slams through a new Supreme Court justice before the election .
He could even use the threat of a 4-4 postelection tie in a Trump v. Biden case as a reason , as Rick Hasen , an election law expert at the University of California , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-Texas ) , who is on Trump ’ s list of potential Supreme Court nominees , are already floating this as a reason to appoint a new justice as soon as possible .
( They notably did not make this argument in 2016 . )

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The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday night leaves the Supreme Court with just eight members — and a potentially calamitous deadlock during a presidential election that could easily produce challenges that reach the high court.
The Supreme Court routinely hears cases and issues opinions during its terms after the untimely death of a justice. In 2016, after Justice Antonin Scalia died, it still released opinions on a number of important cases. So what happens if that case is one that could decide who wins the presidential election? And what if it ends in a 4-4 tie?
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With Ginsburg’s death, there are now five conservatives, all appointed by Republicans, and three liberals, all appointed by Democrats. Even if Ginsburg were alive and Chief Justice John Roberts adhered to the conservative side, Trump would likely prevail in any election challenge. But Roberts has been prone to heterodoxy before.
In the event of a tie, the court will usually issue a single-line collective decision, noting that the court simply affirms the lower court’s decision. In this case, that would mean whichever appellate court ruled on the case before it made its way up to the Supreme Court would win. This means the presidential election could be decided based simply on the makeup of an appellate court wherever a critical appeal occurs.
That could be good for Trump, as McConnell has used Trump’s 2016 victory to turn the Senate into a nonstop judicial appointment factory. Trump has had 53 appellate court nominees confirmed in his first term, 29 more than Obama had in his two terms combined. Trump appointees now make up 30% of all appellate court seats.
Cases will wind their way up through the courts based on regional districts. This means a postelection challenge in Wisconsin would come through a different set of courts than a challenge in Arizona or Florida.
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The Supreme Court may well hear a postelection challenge that could decide the presidency. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images
Key swing states, such as Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, are all under the jurisdictions of appellate courts with Republican-appointed majorities. Arizona, in the U.S. 9th Circuit, is the only major swing state whose federal appellate court does not have a Republican majority.
This is, shockingly, the second straight presidential election now where this scenario is plausible. In 2016, Trump also refused to accept the results. The Supreme Court also had only eight members after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) refused to acknowledge the existence of President Barack Obama’s appointee to replace Scalia, Judge Merrick Garland. Trump wound up winning by just tens of thousands of votes across three states. The country narrowly escaped this exact scenario back then.
But President Donald Trump has already set himself up for postelection litigation by declaring that the use of mail-in ballots is rife with fraud and that all votes counted after election day, a typical process, should not count. He has also stated that he will not respect the results of the election if he loses.
This all could be avoided if McConnell slams through a new Supreme Court justice before the election. He could even use the threat of a 4-4 postelection tie in a Trump v. Biden case as a reason, as Rick Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California, Irvine, suggested. Republican senators, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who is on Trump’s list of potential Supreme Court nominees, are already floating this as a reason to appoint a new justice as soon as possible. (They notably did not make this argument in 2016.)
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