Scalia just died (really). How will this affect the race?

[Darthpi – Anti-Florida Activist]

RIP TRUMP AND SANDERS, basically.

I don't follow?

He's saying that primary voters will now prioritize November electability over all other issues.

Um, most GOP primary voters think Trump is the most electable candidate.

This is a good point. Also, Trump has the comeback that Cruz supported the nomination of John Roberts, who has the baggage of voting to uphold the ACA.

[Darthpi – Anti-Florida Activist]

An aside: If you're cheering the death of someone solely on ideological grounds, you need some help. He has a family, kids, friends, etc. Scalia is a person, not a political prop, be respectful.

Agreed. I'm not cheering it.

I am probably less sad about it than I would be if Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died, if I am completely honest.

[Darthpi – Anti-Florida Activist]

Justice Henry Baldwin died in office on April 21, 1844. He wasn't replaced for more than two years, partly because of partisan gridlock. (read on twitter)

Since then most Supreme's have been confirmed in far shorter periods of time than Obama has left in office. Still very much a weird situation.

Always encouraging when the closest historical parallels come from the period preceding the Civil War.

[Darthpi – Anti-Florida Activist]

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Just in case anyone thought this election wasn't partisan enough.

At least we now have an answer to the question "Can the Republicans break the government any more than they already have?"

[Darthpi – Anti-Florida Activist]

Just thinking out loud here, I have a suspicion that most Trump voters probably care about lots of other issues more than they care about judicial philosophies of any individual Supreme Court justice. As long as he promises to generically "appoint conservatives" he will probably be fine.

At worst, this may temporarily lower Trump's ceiling a bit while it is still a major news headline, but the impact in the primary is probably being vastly overstated.

[Darthpi – Anti-Florida Activist]

Republicans can block whoever they want to, but they cannot control what consequences come from being incredibly obstructionist. This could cost them the Senate and the Presidency, which would make this obstruction an exercise in futility.

You can't control the consequences either. It can be argued that Obama is just as obstructionist by not naming a centrist judge.

Republicans would not approve a centrist judge, because they want a Scalia clone. Obama could appoint a moderate Republican and they would still not take it up. He'd have to nominate Ann Coulter to placate them.

Maybe you guys should have won the last elections then.

And maybe you guys should have won the 2012 election if you wanted Ann Coulter on the Supreme Court.

In all likelihood, this stunt will cost Republicans the 2016 election, so it really is plus for Democrats. Thanks.

Yes, you're a great prognosticator! AMAZING! Just ask recently reelected Senator Mark Udall.

Or wait....

I corrected your spelling. Maybe I don't get the predictions right all the time, but I'm fairly confident that 2016 will not be a good Republican year if they nominate a crazy person and spend the whole year leaving a vacancy on the court.

We aren't doing anything. We didn't kill Scalia. We will confirm the best person for the position. The balls in your court. Hopefully Obama will be competent for once and nominate somebody who can make everyone happy.

Also, while we have our issues with Trump, your nominee is just as likely to end up in the big house as she is in the White House. Remember that

Such a person doesn't exist.