Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Showing Original Post only (View all)Eleanor Clift: Will Obama Ever 'Fess Up to His Merrick Garland Mess? [View all]
In his forthcoming memoir, President Obama will reflect on his no drama Obama governing style, so radically different from that of his successor. But will he acknowledge the limits of his signature restraint? His failed appointment of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court in 2016 lacked both imagination and hard-ball politics, leaving a legacy of what ifs that Obama, if hes being honest, will confront.
I think the Garland episode reflects so clearly the inability of Obama to translate his successful presidential campaigns into governing, and the limits of his philosophy of restraint. A liberal lion like FDR might have pursued appointment to the bench by executive order, says Alexander Heffner, host of The Open Mind on PBS. He makes the case that If Obama had chosen runner-up Jane Kelly, the grassroots activism that propelled Obama into the White House would have kicked into high gear with supporters camped out in Judiciary Chairman Grassleys front yard demanding he give her a hearing.
Kelly, an Iowa native like Grassley, a former public defender and the embodiment of a public servant, had been unanimously approved by the GOP-led Senate for the federal bench in 2013. Just north of 50, she was considerably younger than the 63-year-old Garland. Progressive groups begged Obama to appoint Kelly, whose story touched hearts, but Obama listened to Republican Orrin Hatch instead, who counseled a centrist choice could get seated by the Senate his party controlled and still does.
Who listens to Orrin Hatch? a liberal activist exclaims, still angry at Obama for taking the path of least resistance. He didnt want to make waves. Hatch had given his blessing to President Clinton naming Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Obama thought history could repeat itself. He was fooled by Orrin Hatch, who then turned around and betrayed him, this activist says. He made a terrible mistake, the biggest mistake of his presidency.
At the Democratic Convention in July 2016, Obama spoke eloquently on Hillary Clintons behalf, but did he mention Garlands stalled nomination? Not a word, says the activist. Not one word. If a Republican president had been denied his Supreme Court pick by a Democratic Senate, there would have been hell to pay. Obama kept hoping reason would prevail...
More at https://www.thedailybeast.com/will-obama-ever-fess-up-to-his-merrick-garland-mess?ref=home
I think the Garland episode reflects so clearly the inability of Obama to translate his successful presidential campaigns into governing, and the limits of his philosophy of restraint. A liberal lion like FDR might have pursued appointment to the bench by executive order, says Alexander Heffner, host of The Open Mind on PBS. He makes the case that If Obama had chosen runner-up Jane Kelly, the grassroots activism that propelled Obama into the White House would have kicked into high gear with supporters camped out in Judiciary Chairman Grassleys front yard demanding he give her a hearing.
Kelly, an Iowa native like Grassley, a former public defender and the embodiment of a public servant, had been unanimously approved by the GOP-led Senate for the federal bench in 2013. Just north of 50, she was considerably younger than the 63-year-old Garland. Progressive groups begged Obama to appoint Kelly, whose story touched hearts, but Obama listened to Republican Orrin Hatch instead, who counseled a centrist choice could get seated by the Senate his party controlled and still does.
Who listens to Orrin Hatch? a liberal activist exclaims, still angry at Obama for taking the path of least resistance. He didnt want to make waves. Hatch had given his blessing to President Clinton naming Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Obama thought history could repeat itself. He was fooled by Orrin Hatch, who then turned around and betrayed him, this activist says. He made a terrible mistake, the biggest mistake of his presidency.
At the Democratic Convention in July 2016, Obama spoke eloquently on Hillary Clintons behalf, but did he mention Garlands stalled nomination? Not a word, says the activist. Not one word. If a Republican president had been denied his Supreme Court pick by a Democratic Senate, there would have been hell to pay. Obama kept hoping reason would prevail...
More at https://www.thedailybeast.com/will-obama-ever-fess-up-to-his-merrick-garland-mess?ref=home
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
248 replies, 27724 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (43)
ReplyReply to this post
248 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Eleanor Clift: Will Obama Ever 'Fess Up to His Merrick Garland Mess? [View all]
BeyondGeography
Jul 2018
OP
Ridiculous. Turtle was not going to let confirmation hearings under any circumstances.
Trust Buster
Jul 2018
#1
That was not Clift's main point. Please read the OP. That was after the fact and would have changed
Trust Buster
Jul 2018
#6
It was basic math. The Republicans controlled the Senate and would not allow the nomination to
Trust Buster
Jul 2018
#11
He had the right to nominate anyone he wanted and to fight as hard as he could for his nominee
BeyondGeography
Jul 2018
#16
I could be wrong but there was a recess starting Jan 3 2017. Perhaps Im not the one needing to do
lancelyons
Jul 2018
#239
Well it looks like you have done your research. COngrats.. I still think that 3-4 months
lancelyons
Jul 2018
#243
Why do you think that Mueller has taken so long to find out that "the Russians wouldn't bother?"
ehrnst
Jul 2018
#133
Where did I say Russia "was changing votes." That's your strawman, and you keep on attacking it....
ehrnst
Jul 2018
#215
Who benefits from quashing the idea that Russians directly interfered with the election?
Cha
Jul 2018
#193
She was on the ground in PA and MI in the final week. As well as FL, NC and AZ.
StevieM
Jul 2018
#122
Because if he had mentioned it at the convention that would have made a difference?
EffieBlack
Jul 2018
#75
You ought to be Obama's retroactive Chief of Staff with that 20/20 hindsight
Blue_Tires
Jul 2018
#146
Actually, there has already been almost as much energy expended in this thread
BeyondGeography
Jul 2018
#221
The average voter wouldn't have known who the hell "Merrick Garland" was
BumRushDaShow
Jul 2018
#127
Ahhhh... ODS shit stirring courtesy of someone who is past her "best by" date....
BumRushDaShow
Jul 2018
#15
The "Dem leadership and many of its leading POTUS candidates." are not "journalists".
BumRushDaShow
Jul 2018
#26
If a fucking "man" had written that I would have said the same damn thing
BumRushDaShow
Jul 2018
#32
I have to seriously wonder what an R president would have done in identical circumstances.
Crunchy Frog
Jul 2018
#20
There is nothing they could do if they didn't have power and now that Collins and
Demsrule86
Jul 2018
#154
A sitting R president would certainly have made a gigantic stink out of it.
Crunchy Frog
Jul 2018
#173
For god's sake at least put the blame where it belongs and that's with McConnell.
Vinca
Jul 2018
#49
Once again a Democrat is blamed for a GOP bad action...not listening to this person again...tired of
Demsrule86
Jul 2018
#53
After we lost the house it didn't matter. And they plotted against him in inauguration day...
Demsrule86
Jul 2018
#89
Sequestration was a disaster for us...no one thought the GOP would got for it...but it
Demsrule86
Jul 2018
#153
I thought when defense was impacted they would too...but the extreme right are not typical
Demsrule86
Jul 2018
#166
If he had appointed a liberal darling, GOP would have fought them just as hard
EffieBlack
Jul 2018
#182
No, the scaredy cat Democrats should have stopped running away from him in 2010
BumRushDaShow
Jul 2018
#121
WTF is this? Unless someone can come up with a credible, workable alternative to what happened.....
George II
Jul 2018
#94
The evil smirk on the face of Mitch McConnell this morining at the press conference is the
mfcorey1
Jul 2018
#131
The REAL reason we are in the situation we are today is because JUST ENOUGH of SOME self- identified
still_one
Jul 2018
#162
Screw Clift, she's long ceased being relevant, like the rest of the McLaugh In Group. nt.
Mc Mike
Jul 2018
#220