All the huffing-and-puffing by Democrats, like 80-year-old House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), to impeach 74-year-old President Donald Trump for daring to exercise his Article 2 authority to pick a replacement for the late Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Trump moves ahead to name his pick. Trump said he wanted to wait until after Ginsburg is laid to rest out of deference for her family. But Pelosi threatens to block any attempt to replace Ginsburg until after the Nov. 3 presidential election, including impeaching Trump and his Atty. Gen. Bill Barr. Pelosi’s drunk with power knowing that abusing her Artice 1 authority to impeach Trump to block a Supreme Court nomination would be struck down in the High Court. Pelosi talks about the rule of law while she shreds the U.S. Constitution, weaponizing her impeachment power for political purposes before the Nov. 3 election.
Trump announced that he would select a woman to replace Justice Ginsburg, looking at a short-list of highly qualified conservative women, all whom believe that justices apply the law, not legislate from the bench. At top of Trump’s list is 48-year-old Amy Coney Barrett, currently an associate justice with Chicago-based Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, a Catholic graduate of Notre Dame Law School. Barrett was runner up in 2018 to 55-year-old Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Democrats fear that Barrett would vote to end Roe v. Wade, the 1971 ruling legalizing abortion in the United States. Democrats also fear with any of Trump’s nominees would vote to end 59-year-old former President Barack Obama’s March 23, 2020 Affordable Care Ace AKA Obamacare. What Democrat really want is another champion, like Ginsburg, of women and gender rights.
High on Trump’s list but not openly discussed is 47-year-old Neomi Rao, currently Associate Justice on D.C.’s Second Circuit Court of Appeals. A University of Chicago Law School Graduate, Rao has impeccable credentials, though not the same appeal to evangelicals as Amy Coney Barrett. Rao has experience working as legal counsel for 74-year-old former President George W. Bush. She also worked for the Senate Judiciary Committee, eventually picked by Trump to run the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs before tapped for D.C. Court of Appeals. Rao would be a fascinating replacement for Ginsburg since she’s an East Indian who converted to Judaism. Speaking today, Trump acknowledged that he’s considering 52-year-old Cuban American, Miami-based 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Associate Justice Barbara Lagoa, a graduate of Columbia Law School.
Lagoa has all the right stuff, especially since she’s married to lawyer Paul C. Huck Jr., whose father Paul Huck is a U.S. District Court Judge. When you consider Florida as a battleground state, nominating a Cuban American for the nation’s highest court would give Trump as shot in the arm. “She’s excellent, She’s Hispanic, she’s a terrific woman, from everything I know,” Trump said. “I don’t know her. Florida, we love Florida. So she’s go a log of things—very smart,” Trump said, hinting at which way he’s leaning. “I think it’ll be on Friday or Saturday,” Trump told “Fox and Friends,” raising speculation about his pick. All of the hubbub over a new Supreme Court pick could be moot if there’s any more defections from Republicans thinking that a Supreme Court pick should be postponed until after the election, or, more specifically, until a new president is installed.
Democrats led by Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have railed against Trump decision to move ahead with Ginsburg’s replacement before the election. Trump and McConnell have been urged to move quickly to restore the nine-member High Court due to the growing possibility of a disputed election. Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told 77-year-old former Vice President Joe Biden Aug. 25, “to not concede under any circumstances,” meaning that Democrats plan to dispute the 2020 election. Pelosi accuses Trump of doing the very thing that Democrats plan to do, not relinquish power. When it comes to Ginsburg’s replacement, Democrats think a Battle Royale with Republicans leading up to Nov. 3 helps their chances. Trump sees things differently, that flexing his muscle with 78-year-old Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) helps his reelection.
Looking at Trump’s Supreme Court choices, he’s got a tough decision to make in only five days. Asked who he prefers from the press, Trump demurred. “I’d rather not say, but there are two fantastic people,” Trump said referring to Barrett and Lagoa, both eminently qualified for the job. “I’m looking at five, probably four, but I’m looking very seriously. I’m going to make a decision on Friday or Saturday. I will announce it either Friday or Saturday, and then the work begins,’ Trump said, referring to the inevitable fight with Pelosi and Democrats. Trump thinks with Democrats led by Hillary saying they won’t concede the election, it’s more important that ever to have a full nine-member court by Nov. 3. Pelosi’s threat to impeach Trump or shut down the government shows the extreme to which she willing to go to stop Ginsburg’s replacement. Pelosi knows Trump’s well within his Article 2 rights.
