Colorado s Cory Gardner says he will likely stand by fellow GOP senators in blocking any nominee by President Obama to replace Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. (Associated Press file)
Re: Cory Gardner: Pick a Supreme Court nominee the GOP wants, or punt, Feb. 16 news story.
When Cory Gardner ran for Senate, he went to great lengths to claim he would represent all the citizens of Colorado and not be a part of the extreme end of his party. Now I see he has joined the extreme party line and said that President Obama should not nominate a replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia, but allow the next president to do so.
This is obviously a naked political ploy by the conservatives, who hope they win the next election and replace Scalia with another conservative activist judge. Unfortunately, the timing of a judicial vacancy, particularly for such an important post, does not wait for political machinations. The president has a constitutional obligation to appoint a replacement, and the Senate has a constitutional obligation to advise and consent on the appointment.
Martin Ward, Littleton
This letter was published in the Feb. 19 edition.Perhaps Sens. Cory Gardner and Mitch McConnell, as well as certain Republican presidential contenders, have forgotten President Reagan and his winning confirmation of his nominee to the Supreme Court in an election year. The Constitution requires the president to nominate a successor for any unfilled Supreme Court and for the Senate to vote on his nominee. The Reagan nomination was confirmed in 1988. Should any senator refuse to vote or hold a vote on President Obama s nomination, it is a clear dereliction of duty and that senator should lose his or her Senate seat.
Gwyn Green, Golden
The Denver Post has run several articles about Justice Antonin Scalia s replacement, and the Republicans request to wait for a new president, as it is rare for a president to replace a justice during his last year in office. President Obama wants to replace Scalia and mentioned Tuesday that Justice Anthony Kennedy had been installed during Ronald Reagan s last year in office. However, that vacancy occurred 18 months before the end of Reagan s term. There was a long delay because Reagan s first nominee, Robert Bork, a highly qualified judge, was blocked — Borked — by Sen. Ted Kennedy and his fellow Democrats for political reasons.
It seems the Republicans are inclined to return the favor. In fact, if they delay as long as the 1987-88 period, more than nine months, we will have elected a new president.
Richard Postma, Littleton
This letter was published in the Feb. 19 edition.
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