After the untimely death of Antonin Scalia, it quickly became apparent that President Obama was about to break the noble American tradition of not nominating a new Supreme Court justice in an election year. Oh, wait a minute, there is no such tradition and it’s been done about, oh, eight times. Welcome to an election year that just got a major dose of crazy-politics steroids. Scalia’s body was hardly cold and people were already going nuts and fabricating bogus “rules” out of thin air.
Besides all the conspiracy theories about Scalia’s death, I am baffled by the speed at which the Republican leadership started condemning Obama for even letting the word “nominate” enter his brain. Aren’t these the same guys who are always calling for us to not politicize mass shootings until the bodies are at least in the ground?
Picking a Supreme Court justice is naturally a political act (and Democrats will of course politicize this as well) but conservatives are tripping over themselves to prevent Obama from doing what a president is supposed to do. Sorry, it’s his job. Bonus conspiracy theory fodder I came across today: the owner of the Texas resort where Scalia died owns a company that makes parts for . . . hearses. Enjoy the cartoon, and remember, you can help support my work and go behind the scenes here!