A Brief Reflection on Scalia Passing

A brief reflection on the passing of Supreme Court Justice, Antonin Scalia. I didn’t know Justice Scalia personally, but from what I have heard through the media, he was a good man, a family man, a man of great intellect and good humor, a legal mind who interpreted the Constitution in a conservative light. Personally, never having had first-hand issues with Roe v Wade and not being a gun-toting right-winger, I never had the occasion to follow the legal wrangling of our Nation’s highest court. Scalia was one of five conservative justices on a nine-justice Supreme Court bench.

Needless to say, Senate Republicans and that party’s presidential candidates were greatly disturbed that lame-duck, Democratic, President Barack Obama, would likely exercise his constitutional duty and submit a more liberal replacement for Senate confirmation before his term in office expires. This political firestorm erup- ted almost immediately after news of Scalia’s passing hit the airwaves. Hopeful of a Republican presidential victory in November, Senate Majority Leader, Republican Mitch McConnell, offered that the Supreme Court nominating process should  wait until after a new president is sworn into office. Other Republican Senators have threatened to squash or delay any nomination from President Obama.

Here we go again. For the past seven years the Republican majority in Congress has fought the President tooth and nail on many key legislative issue. These Partisan Congressional Pirates have their own agenda based on blocking any legislation proposed by the Democrats and a Progressive Democratic President. Is there any wonder that the gridlock in Washington, Congresses’ ability to at least negotiate equitable solutions in the interest of all Americans has been a profound disgrace to our Nation?

This great country of ours, Conservative, Moderate and Progressive alike, will certainly mourn the loss of Antonin Scalia, the man, the brilliant and witty Associate Supreme Court Justice. This year our vote has greater meaning and impact in that we, the electorate, will play an instrumental role in determining the posture and long-term direction of our Supreme Court.

And as for the problematic gridlock in Washington? I am hopeful that our votes will strongly and decisively speak to that.

Chris Hanch