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| Trump: I am the only one who can beat Hillary Clinton — campaign live | Trump: I am the only one who can beat Hillary Clinton — campaign live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.33pm GMT | |
| 16:33 | |
| As we roll towards a merciful close, something not from a talk show. Sort of. | |
| A new CBS/YouGov poll in South Carolina gives Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton solid leads in the state, less than a week before the vote on 20 February: | |
| Note the appearance of Ben Carson (5%, Republican) and Hillary Clinton (59%, Democratic), two shrinking violets who did not appear all over the shows this morning. Possibly for different reasons. | |
| Note also David Smith’s splendid piece from South Carolina, in which he spoke to many voters about Clinton and Sanders and their chances in the primary… | |
| Related: Clinton seeks to build on old strengths as campaign rolls into South Carolina | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.34pm GMT | |
| 4.22pm GMT | |
| 16:22 | |
| And here's what Bernie Sanders said on CBS… | |
| Ed Helmore was watching… | |
| It is “beyond comprehension” that Republicans are threatening to deny President Obama his right to nominate and confirm a supreme court justice to replace Scalia, the Vermont senator said. | |
| “It illustrates the level of Republican obstructionism against Obama from day one. This is not something in debate. The constitution provides for a president to nominate a supreme court justice and the Senate hold hearings to approve that nomination. The idea that Republicans want to deny the president his basic constitutional right is beyond my comprehension.” | |
| Sanders vowed to do everything he could to make the legislative body go through with speeding confirmation hearings. Asked what leverage Democrats have if the Republican majority in Congress decides to “slow-walk” the process, Sanders said the main leverage Democrats have is in “rallying the American people.” | |
| “The issue must be taken to the people,” he said. “Fair-minded Americans, no matter what their political point of view, will say this is absurd, this is obstructionism and not what democracy, or Congress, is supposed to be about.” | |
| 4.14pm GMT | |
| 16:14 | |
| What Bernie Sanders said about the Scalia successor on ABC earlier! | |
| “President Obama, in my view, should make that nomination. I hope he does it as soon as possible and I hope that the Senate confirms and begins deliberations as soon as possible.” | |
| Nice use of the “hopey changey stuff”, there. Evokes nostalgia for 2008, as well as a sort of cold, mirthless laughter. | |
| Furthermore: “I don’t think that Mitch McConnell has it right on this issue. The constitution is pretty clear and that it is the job of the president of the United States to appoint [and] nominate members to the supreme court and the Senate confirms. When there is a vacancy, the president makes a nomination and the Senate deliberates and then votes up or down. I hope that happens.” | |
| And on Scalia? “He was clearly a brilliant man, very outspoken, very forceful.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.15pm GMT | |
| 4.08pm GMT | |
| 16:08 | |
| The shows are now approaching their end – a sad weekly moment signalled by NBC cutting to the panel, a revolving bunch of journalists and “strategists” who wear the haunted look both of people who know there’s nine months of this to go, and people who know Joel Osteen has bought up the next hour of programming. | |
| Still hunting down those darned Democrats. | |
| 4.06pm GMT | |
| 16:06 | |
| Still looking for Democrats. In the meantime, many people on The Internet have noticed that Jeb Bush has taken his glasses off. | |
| I don't think that #JebBush should ever take his glasses off. | |
| However: | |
| #TBT Jeb Bush on eyewear: ‘I’m not going to take off my stinking glasses’ https://t.co/edog4MK2dy | |
| Does this in fact Mean Something? I think we should be told. | |
| 4.01pm GMT | |
| 16:01 | |
| Edward Helmore is now watching Face the Nation, debate host CBS’s Sunday show. I’m surprised the show is running, given the battering the anchors took from the candidates/children in front of them last night, which left John Dickerson with blue smoke coming out of his ears. But still. | |
| Also, there are no Democrats in sight yet. Ed, he say: | |
| Responding to accusations that last night’s debate had been reduced into un-presidential slug-fest, Donald Trump told CBS that since he went to an Ivy League university, he ‘could be so politically correct you’d be bored to tears’. | |
| Instead, he repeated his accusations that President George W Bush had failed to protect America when the Twin Towers were destroyed during his presidential “reign”. | |
| “We weren’t safe,” he said. “The World Trade Center came down and the CIA had said something was going to happen.” | |
| Trump did try to back-track on earlier accusations that the former president had lied on the issue of WMD in Iraq. “If he knew there were no weapons, “that would be a lie. So maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t.” | |
| Either way, Trump added, “we went to war when there when there were no weapons of mass destruction. He thought there were and there weren’t. He shouldn’t have started it. He should have gone to the beach and not done anything. Saddam was not a good person but he made a living killing terrorists.” | |
| The Iraq expedition, Trump concluded, “was a disaster that started a chain over events that could now lead to the destruction of Europe”. | |
| 3.57pm GMT | 3.57pm GMT |
| 15:57 | 15:57 |
| Todd now asks Rubio about his remark onstage last night, that 9/11 was basically Bill Clinton’s fault because he didn’t kill Osama bin Laden. He repeats the charge that chances – four of them, according to the 9/11 report – to take out al-Qaida leadership were not taken. | Todd now asks Rubio about his remark onstage last night, that 9/11 was basically Bill Clinton’s fault because he didn’t kill Osama bin Laden. He repeats the charge that chances – four of them, according to the 9/11 report – to take out al-Qaida leadership were not taken. |
| “It is doubtful 9/11 would have taken place at least on 11 September 2001”, he says, if this had happened. Huh. | “It is doubtful 9/11 would have taken place at least on 11 September 2001”, he says, if this had happened. Huh. |
| Todd isn’t clear. Are you putting 9/11 on Bill Clinton? | Todd isn’t clear. Are you putting 9/11 on Bill Clinton? |
| “No, I’m putting it on his decision not to take out the al-Qaida leader, absolutely.” | “No, I’m putting it on his decision not to take out the al-Qaida leader, absolutely.” |
| Well that makes all the difference. | Well that makes all the difference. |
| 3.55pm GMT | 3.55pm GMT |
| 15:55 | 15:55 |
| Meet the Press now goes on to recorded chats with Rubio and Kasich, about the same things: the supreme court, the beastliness of last night’s debate. | Meet the Press now goes on to recorded chats with Rubio and Kasich, about the same things: the supreme court, the beastliness of last night’s debate. |
| Todd goes again on shouldn’t Republicans in the Senate at least go through the motions on a nomination. Rubio says, flatly, that they just won’t “while this president is in the White House”. Shouldn’t someone ask if they would do this if that president were Republican? | Todd goes again on shouldn’t Republicans in the Senate at least go through the motions on a nomination. Rubio says, flatly, that they just won’t “while this president is in the White House”. Shouldn’t someone ask if they would do this if that president were Republican? |
| “We’re going to have an election, we’re going to have a new position, I believe it’s gonna be me and we’re going to look for someone like Scalia.” | “We’re going to have an election, we’re going to have a new position, I believe it’s gonna be me and we’re going to look for someone like Scalia.” |
| So that’s that. | So that’s that. |
| 3.47pm GMT | 3.47pm GMT |
| 15:47 | 15:47 |
| I can’t find any Democrats. On NBC, we have pre-recorded Cruz. A case of 4,057 Channels (and Nothin’ On but Republicans, Frothing). | I can’t find any Democrats. On NBC, we have pre-recorded Cruz. A case of 4,057 Channels (and Nothin’ On but Republicans, Frothing). |
| Cruz denies that each term of a presidency is only three years long, with the final year a year in which nominations and other business are not allowed. Unfortunately Chuck Todd goes on too long in his question and gets on to the mechanics of a 4-4 court, letting Cruz off a hook of his own making. | Cruz denies that each term of a presidency is only three years long, with the final year a year in which nominations and other business are not allowed. Unfortunately Chuck Todd goes on too long in his question and gets on to the mechanics of a 4-4 court, letting Cruz off a hook of his own making. |
| Shouldn’t the Senate at least go through the process? | Shouldn’t the Senate at least go through the process? |
| “The Senate’s duty is to advise and consent,” says Cruz, “and we’re advising the president now.” | “The Senate’s duty is to advise and consent,” says Cruz, “and we’re advising the president now.” |
| Then he mentions Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, but only really as a means to attack Donald Trump for supporting liberals. And he’s back to the second amendment being written out of the constitution if Trump gets in, which of course it absolutely wouldn’t be. | Then he mentions Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, but only really as a means to attack Donald Trump for supporting liberals. And he’s back to the second amendment being written out of the constitution if Trump gets in, which of course it absolutely wouldn’t be. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.50pm GMT | at 3.50pm GMT |
| 3.45pm GMT | 3.45pm GMT |
| 15:45 | 15:45 |
| Donald Trump is on NBC now – to camera, not on the phone. I’m looking for Democrats, really I am. | Donald Trump is on NBC now – to camera, not on the phone. I’m looking for Democrats, really I am. |
| Who would he appoint? | Who would he appoint? |
| “We need great intellect.” | “We need great intellect.” |
| Well, yeah. | Well, yeah. |
| “Somebody like Justice Scalia.” | “Somebody like Justice Scalia.” |
| Well, quite. | Well, quite. |
| And we’re back to the 2008 “impeach Bush” remark – maybe Trump has a box of buttons like Alvy in Annie Hall: “impeach Bush, impeach Reagan, impeach McCain, impeach any part of humanity that gets in the way”. | And we’re back to the 2008 “impeach Bush” remark – maybe Trump has a box of buttons like Alvy in Annie Hall: “impeach Bush, impeach Reagan, impeach McCain, impeach any part of humanity that gets in the way”. |
| More hammering of Jeb on Iraq. As Nicky Woolf observed yesterday, this must poll well. And more on 9/11 and whether George W Bush kept America safe: | More hammering of Jeb on Iraq. As Nicky Woolf observed yesterday, this must poll well. And more on 9/11 and whether George W Bush kept America safe: |
| “No … I wish he did … I have nothing against George Bush … how did he keep us safe when the World Trade Center came down … that was the worst tragedy in our history.” | “No … I wish he did … I have nothing against George Bush … how did he keep us safe when the World Trade Center came down … that was the worst tragedy in our history.” |
| Could Bush have prevented it? | Could Bush have prevented it? |
| “Yes, the answer is he should have known.” Trump blames “the agencies” that were fighting each other. | “Yes, the answer is he should have known.” Trump blames “the agencies” that were fighting each other. |
| Look, I wrote about Osama bin Laden in 2000 in a book. | Look, I wrote about Osama bin Laden in 2000 in a book. |
| Chuck Todd tells Trump this is a risky strategy, attacking George W Bush on 9/11 and Iraq and WMD. | Chuck Todd tells Trump this is a risky strategy, attacking George W Bush on 9/11 and Iraq and WMD. |
| “I didn’t call anyone a lier,” says Trump. “I said maybe there were lies.” | “I didn’t call anyone a lier,” says Trump. “I said maybe there were lies.” |
| Will this cost Trump South Carolina? Trump says the Republican party is rejecting the war in Iraq and is with him, despite his attack on a popular ex-president. He still thinks he’ll win. | Will this cost Trump South Carolina? Trump says the Republican party is rejecting the war in Iraq and is with him, despite his attack on a popular ex-president. He still thinks he’ll win. |
| 3.36pm GMT | 3.36pm GMT |
| 15:36 | 15:36 |
| “It was like a demolition derby but the good news is that my car’s still going round the circuit.” | “It was like a demolition derby but the good news is that my car’s still going round the circuit.” |
| So sayeth Kasich, bringer of civility and aw-shucks expressions of wonder at the viciousness of the Republican race. | So sayeth Kasich, bringer of civility and aw-shucks expressions of wonder at the viciousness of the Republican race. |
| “By the way, I think these debates are ridiculous. This is not a way to pick a president. You want to pick a president, come to a town hall.” | “By the way, I think these debates are ridiculous. This is not a way to pick a president. You want to pick a president, come to a town hall.” |
| He did more than 100 of those in New Hampshire, where he came in second, invigorating his campaign – although his South Carolina numbers ain’t, by any stretch of the imagination, great. | He did more than 100 of those in New Hampshire, where he came in second, invigorating his campaign – although his South Carolina numbers ain’t, by any stretch of the imagination, great. |
| Kasich says he is familiar with the process of nominating a supreme court justice, or at least justices to the supreme court in his state, Ohio. “It’s pretty interesting,” he says. | Kasich says he is familiar with the process of nominating a supreme court justice, or at least justices to the supreme court in his state, Ohio. “It’s pretty interesting,” he says. |
| Stephanopoulos agrees. | Stephanopoulos agrees. |
| Kasich has that effect: he’s agreeable, people agree with him, and now he says he understands the president’s intent to nominate. He would do the same. But he wants “broad consensus across the country” to “start the healing process”. | Kasich has that effect: he’s agreeable, people agree with him, and now he says he understands the president’s intent to nominate. He would do the same. But he wants “broad consensus across the country” to “start the healing process”. |
| My colleague Jeb Lund doesn’t buy Kasich’s presentation, though: | My colleague Jeb Lund doesn’t buy Kasich’s presentation, though: |
| John Kasich’s performative appeals to political civility [are] all about maintaining a brand. | John Kasich’s performative appeals to political civility [are] all about maintaining a brand. |
| So sayeth the Guardian’s Jeb – the one, true Jeb – here. | So sayeth the Guardian’s Jeb – the one, true Jeb – here. |
| Related: Thanks Jeb Bush. You just made my life as a Jeb even harder | Jeb Lund | Related: Thanks Jeb Bush. You just made my life as a Jeb even harder | Jeb Lund |
| 3.30pm GMT | 3.30pm GMT |
| 15:30 | 15:30 |
| Rubio is speaking on ABC now – the magic of television! – and he says he too would filibuster any Obama nomination, but won’t need to because Mitch McConnell won’t let any nomination happen. | Rubio is speaking on ABC now – the magic of television! – and he says he too would filibuster any Obama nomination, but won’t need to because Mitch McConnell won’t let any nomination happen. |
| He also dodges the question when asked – twice, incisive anchor fans – if he will support Trump if he is the nominee. The nominee is going to be him, you see. | He also dodges the question when asked – twice, incisive anchor fans – if he will support Trump if he is the nominee. The nominee is going to be him, you see. |
| Kasich next. | Kasich next. |
| 3.29pm GMT | 3.29pm GMT |
| 15:29 | 15:29 |
| Rubio speaks on Fox News Sunday | Rubio speaks on Fox News Sunday |
| Edward Helmore | Edward Helmore |
| This from the aforementioned Ed Helmore… | This from the aforementioned Ed Helmore… |
| Marco Rubio warned that Senate legislators would not move forward to confirm any nominee President Obama puts forward, arguing that there needs to be a debate [-not another one of the damned things, surely – ed] and the decision over Scalia’s replacement should be part of voters’ calculus in November. | Marco Rubio warned that Senate legislators would not move forward to confirm any nominee President Obama puts forward, arguing that there needs to be a debate [-not another one of the damned things, surely – ed] and the decision over Scalia’s replacement should be part of voters’ calculus in November. |
| “The president can nominate any candidate he likes, and we can debate, but the Senate will not move forward on it. Period,” he said. \ | “The president can nominate any candidate he likes, and we can debate, but the Senate will not move forward on it. Period,” he said. \ |
| In the event that he is elected president, Rubio said he would appoint a nominee “in the mold of Scalia – one of the great jurists in history.” | In the event that he is elected president, Rubio said he would appoint a nominee “in the mold of Scalia – one of the great jurists in history.” |
| Presented with the argument that President Reagan nominated a new supreme court justice in the waning months of his administration, Rubio said it did “not matter” what Reagan did. | Presented with the argument that President Reagan nominated a new supreme court justice in the waning months of his administration, Rubio said it did “not matter” what Reagan did. |
| “That as in 1987. Obama has 10-11 months left in office. There’s going to be a debate onwhat a new justice should be and voters are going to weigh in.” | “That as in 1987. Obama has 10-11 months left in office. There’s going to be a debate onwhat a new justice should be and voters are going to weigh in.” |
| The president, he said, “should allow the next president to appoint a justice”. | The president, he said, “should allow the next president to appoint a justice”. |
| 3.22pm GMT | 3.22pm GMT |
| 15:22 | 15:22 |
| Trump calls in | Trump calls in |
| Trump is on the phone and he is bashing Cruz’s smashes right back: Cruz has no friends, he committed electoral fraud in Iowa with the Carson thing: “This is not a man who should be president.” | Trump is on the phone and he is bashing Cruz’s smashes right back: Cruz has no friends, he committed electoral fraud in Iowa with the Carson thing: “This is not a man who should be president.” |
| Does he still believe George W Bush should be impeached over Iraq, as he said in 2008 and which came up rather explosively in the debate? | Does he still believe George W Bush should be impeached over Iraq, as he said in 2008 and which came up rather explosively in the debate? |
| “I didn’t endorse anything,” says Trump, before repeating his Iraq attack lines against Jeb Bush from last night. “And by the way, Obama got us out of there the wrong way.” | “I didn’t endorse anything,” says Trump, before repeating his Iraq attack lines against Jeb Bush from last night. “And by the way, Obama got us out of there the wrong way.” |
| “Even though I’m the most militaristic person there is, I said don’t do this war. That’s why we have the migration and all the other problems we have right now.” | “Even though I’m the most militaristic person there is, I said don’t do this war. That’s why we have the migration and all the other problems we have right now.” |
| Stephanopoulos returns to the impeachment remark – see, he’s insistent – which is on tape from CNN. “I don’t even think about it,” says Trump, before thinking about it and discussing it. But he doesn’t repeat it, and goes on to his thing about loving the veterans and wanting to “bomb the oil”. Which would be messy if nothing else. | Stephanopoulos returns to the impeachment remark – see, he’s insistent – which is on tape from CNN. “I don’t even think about it,” says Trump, before thinking about it and discussing it. But he doesn’t repeat it, and goes on to his thing about loving the veterans and wanting to “bomb the oil”. Which would be messy if nothing else. |
| About Scalia and Trump’s support for his sister: “I said it jokingly… it’s obviously a conflict. My sister happens to have a little bit different views from me.” | About Scalia and Trump’s support for his sister: “I said it jokingly… it’s obviously a conflict. My sister happens to have a little bit different views from me.” |
| He likes Diane Sykes from Wisconsin. He doesn’t like Justice John Roberts, who “twice could have ended Obamacare and didn’t do it”. We have Obamacare because of Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush, he says. | He likes Diane Sykes from Wisconsin. He doesn’t like Justice John Roberts, who “twice could have ended Obamacare and didn’t do it”. We have Obamacare because of Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush, he says. |
| And he is the only Republican who can beat Hillary, and he expects success in South Carolina because he is self-funding and not in the pocket of donors. | And he is the only Republican who can beat Hillary, and he expects success in South Carolina because he is self-funding and not in the pocket of donors. |
| What I said about Beckett plays. The same lines, again and again, from a ragtag bunch of scarecrows in a post-apocalyptic landscape. One of them may soon end up in a bin, like Woody Allen’s best mate Tony Roberts when I saw Endgame off Broadway an aeon ago. | What I said about Beckett plays. The same lines, again and again, from a ragtag bunch of scarecrows in a post-apocalyptic landscape. One of them may soon end up in a bin, like Woody Allen’s best mate Tony Roberts when I saw Endgame off Broadway an aeon ago. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.26pm GMT | at 3.26pm GMT |
| 3.15pm GMT | 3.15pm GMT |
| 15:15 | 15:15 |
| Ted Cruz will 'absolutely' filibuster any Obama nomination | Ted Cruz will 'absolutely' filibuster any Obama nomination |
| We have a replay of the fieriest bits of Saturday night’s debate, including Trump-Bush on 9/11 and Iraq and Rubio and Cruz on who speaks Spanish or not. It’s entertaining, in a loathsome sort of a way. | We have a replay of the fieriest bits of Saturday night’s debate, including Trump-Bush on 9/11 and Iraq and Rubio and Cruz on who speaks Spanish or not. It’s entertaining, in a loathsome sort of a way. |
| But here’s Cruz! | But here’s Cruz! |
| Anthony Kennedy was confirmed in February 1988, late in Reagan’s last term, Stephanopoulos points out. Cruz plays his shots: | |
| “It was the Democrats who dragged it out for many months to make it that late,” he says, mentioning previous defeated nominations including that of Robert Bork. | “It was the Democrats who dragged it out for many months to make it that late,” he says, mentioning previous defeated nominations including that of Robert Bork. |
| He adds: “This next election needs to be a referendum on the court, the people need to decide … we should not a lame duck president capture the court.” | He adds: “This next election needs to be a referendum on the court, the people need to decide … we should not a lame duck president capture the court.” |
| Does this mean Cruz will filibuster any appointment? | Does this mean Cruz will filibuster any appointment? |
| “Absolutely.” | “Absolutely.” |
| Yikes. We’ve been here before. Brush up on your misunderstood readings of Doctor Seuss. | Yikes. We’ve been here before. Brush up on your misunderstood readings of Doctor Seuss. |
| “Democrats understand the stakes,” Cruz says, saying lefties push for lefty justices but Republicans do not push for righties – and they should. He then tells the voters of South Carolina that their second-amendment gun rights are at threat from a liberal nominee, or from a president whether “it’s Hillary, Bernie or Donald Trump”. The last-named is not a proper conservative, he says… again. | “Democrats understand the stakes,” Cruz says, saying lefties push for lefty justices but Republicans do not push for righties – and they should. He then tells the voters of South Carolina that their second-amendment gun rights are at threat from a liberal nominee, or from a president whether “it’s Hillary, Bernie or Donald Trump”. The last-named is not a proper conservative, he says… again. |
| And we’re off into some sustained Trump bashing – Trump said his sister could be a good supreme court choice and his sister was appointed as a judge by Bill Clinton. So. Cruz also points out Trump’s support, partial, for Planned Parenthood, which he expressed rather remarkably on stage last night. | And we’re off into some sustained Trump bashing – Trump said his sister could be a good supreme court choice and his sister was appointed as a judge by Bill Clinton. So. Cruz also points out Trump’s support, partial, for Planned Parenthood, which he expressed rather remarkably on stage last night. |
| Is Cruz concerned about Trump’s polling lead? He ignores the question to trumpet his record. | Is Cruz concerned about Trump’s polling lead? He ignores the question to trumpet his record. |
| “Justice Scalia’s passing changes the contours of this race,” he says. “The time for the circus and the reality show is gone.” | “Justice Scalia’s passing changes the contours of this race,” he says. “The time for the circus and the reality show is gone.” |
| Doesn’t seem to be, Ted. | Doesn’t seem to be, Ted. |
| He smashes some more overheads towards Trump. | He smashes some more overheads towards Trump. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.19pm GMT | |
| 3.05pm GMT | 3.05pm GMT |
| 15:05 | 15:05 |
| It’s ABC This Week time! | It’s ABC This Week time! |
| … and the comparatively-insistent-and-incisive-when-it-comes-to-questioning-the-pols George Stephanopoulos is our host. Kasich, Rubio and Sanders are up. | … and the comparatively-insistent-and-incisive-when-it-comes-to-questioning-the-pols George Stephanopoulos is our host. Kasich, Rubio and Sanders are up. |
| The ABC intro is great: a bit WWF, a bit Day Today, a bit Barnum & Bailey with bombastic announcer, whooshing graphics and all. Anyway. | The ABC intro is great: a bit WWF, a bit Day Today, a bit Barnum & Bailey with bombastic announcer, whooshing graphics and all. Anyway. |
| They play the debate clip of Trump reciting every 1990s Washington politician’s favourite Dylan song: “Delay, Delay, Delay.” Such jokes become inevitable when one is waiting, anxiously, for Marco Rubio to start shouting about socialism. | They play the debate clip of Trump reciting every 1990s Washington politician’s favourite Dylan song: “Delay, Delay, Delay.” Such jokes become inevitable when one is waiting, anxiously, for Marco Rubio to start shouting about socialism. |
| 2.55pm GMT | 2.55pm GMT |
| 14:55 | 14:55 |
| Justice Scalia’s biography is called American Original. I still want to write an American version of George and Weedon Grossmith’s brilliant Diary of a Nobody. It will be called American American. | Justice Scalia’s biography is called American Original. I still want to write an American version of George and Weedon Grossmith’s brilliant Diary of a Nobody. It will be called American American. |
| 2.51pm GMT | 2.51pm GMT |
| 14:51 | 14:51 |
| Interesting question arising today already: will intransigence leading to an eight-justice supreme court for a year or more cost the Republicans with the American public? Will they lose the Senate that way? Does the public hate this kind of thing as much as liberal beardy British journos do? | Interesting question arising today already: will intransigence leading to an eight-justice supreme court for a year or more cost the Republicans with the American public? Will they lose the Senate that way? Does the public hate this kind of thing as much as liberal beardy British journos do? |
| They might lose the Senate anyway, of course, given the biannual merrygoround of seats up for grabs in November. They might also lose the next presidential election. | They might lose the Senate anyway, of course, given the biannual merrygoround of seats up for grabs in November. They might also lose the next presidential election. |
| This and more scintillating analysis distilled, just for you, over the next two hours or so. I do love the Sunday talk shows. Really. | This and more scintillating analysis distilled, just for you, over the next two hours or so. I do love the Sunday talk shows. Really. |
| 2.46pm GMT | 2.46pm GMT |
| 14:46 | 14:46 |
| It’s time for speculation about potential nominees. On CNN, former Obama White House adviser David Axelrod mentions Kamala Harris, the attorney general of California, but doesn’t seem to think that’s going to happen. We also have some chat about Sri Srinivasan and Jane Kelly, both sitting, serving federal judges confirmed 97-0 by the Senate. | It’s time for speculation about potential nominees. On CNN, former Obama White House adviser David Axelrod mentions Kamala Harris, the attorney general of California, but doesn’t seem to think that’s going to happen. We also have some chat about Sri Srinivasan and Jane Kelly, both sitting, serving federal judges confirmed 97-0 by the Senate. |
| Axelrod points out that won’t matter, because Republicans now, in the current circumstances, will not approve anyone who is suggested by Obama. QED. | Axelrod points out that won’t matter, because Republicans now, in the current circumstances, will not approve anyone who is suggested by Obama. QED. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.48pm GMT | at 2.48pm GMT |
| 2.43pm GMT | 2.43pm GMT |
| 14:43 | 14:43 |
| NBC is trailing its chat with Ted Cruz, in which he says: | NBC is trailing its chat with Ted Cruz, in which he says: |
| We’re advising that a lame-duck president in an election year is not going to be able to tip the balance of the supreme court. | We’re advising that a lame-duck president in an election year is not going to be able to tip the balance of the supreme court. |
| We knew that. For some further reading, Cruz is a bit of an originalist when it comes to the US constitution, and praised Scalia for being one too. Here’s what Ben Jacobs found out about that the other month, when Donald Trump was saying Cruz was not qualified, by his Canadian birth, to be president: | We knew that. For some further reading, Cruz is a bit of an originalist when it comes to the US constitution, and praised Scalia for being one too. Here’s what Ben Jacobs found out about that the other month, when Donald Trump was saying Cruz was not qualified, by his Canadian birth, to be president: |
| Related: Harvard scholar: Ted Cruz's citizenship, eligibility for president ‘unsettled’ | Related: Harvard scholar: Ted Cruz's citizenship, eligibility for president ‘unsettled’ |
| 2.34pm GMT | 2.34pm GMT |
| 14:34 | 14:34 |
| The conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt says Patrick Leahy may have been being economical with the actualité just now when he talked about voting through nominations from Republican presidents. | The conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt says Patrick Leahy may have been being economical with the actualité just now when he talked about voting through nominations from Republican presidents. |
| Well… it’s not unlikely a politician of any stripe would do that, is it? | Well… it’s not unlikely a politician of any stripe would do that, is it? |
| Related: Hugh Hewitt: is he Donald Trump's arch nemesis – or the antidote to Fox News? | Related: Hugh Hewitt: is he Donald Trump's arch nemesis – or the antidote to Fox News? |