Howard W. Silbersher, Princeton
I am a senior citizen and I live in Princeton. In July 2015, my wife and I visited the Eisenhower Library and Museum in Abilene, Kansas. A few years ago, we visited the Reagan Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California. Both these presidents were great people and fine presidents. Both Republicans.
Given the leadership of the current Republican Party, I think President Eisenhower and President Reagan would be embarrassed, horrified, and more if they were aware of the disrespect the current Republican leadership is demonstrating before the people of our country, before the POTUS and before the Supreme Court.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell taking the position that he will not allow a Judiciary Committee hearing for Judge Merrick Garland, the nominee President Obama put forth to replace the seat of Justice Scalia, who died one month ago, is obstructionist, unconstitutional, and negligent.
In an editorial in The New York Times this week, Richard Painter, a professor of law at the University of Minnesota and the chief White House ethics lawyer for the George W. Bush administration from 2005 to 2007, writes that President George W. Bush would have nominated Merrick Garland to fill Justice Scalia’s seat on the Supreme Court. In his editorial he writes, “badly behaving senators compounded by badly behaving presidential candidates“ are creating problems in the Republican party. He advocates a senate hearing for Judge Garland.
There was also another remark by Texas Sen. John Cornyn, that is “classic.“ He states: “ the nominee will bear resemblance to a pinata.“ I consider this remark obnoxious, unprofessional, crude, low class, and disrespectful to the POTUS and to the Supreme Court of the United States. The Cornyn “pinata “ remark is more appropriate for a college fraternity party after a brother has downed a few boilermakers! Not pertinent to a responsibility as profound as selecting a judge for the U.S. Supreme Court.
And what is the image of a “pinata.“ Blindfolded children, confused, disoriented, leaderless, wacking at the air to open the pinata. A good metaphor to the poor and lack of leadership of the current Republican party, led by Sen. McConnell.
Pundits, journalists and TV reporters are wondering and analyzing why Donald Trump has gained traction and popularity with the Republican voters and others. I think it is obstructionist behavior demonstrated by Sen. McConnell, and “pinata“ statements made by Sen. Cornyn. Republicans are embarrassed, humiliated and fed up by the “leaders“ in their party.
I have one more suggestion. Sen. McConnell takes the position that since President Obama is in his final year of his presidency, his nominee should not be granted a hearing; that President Obama, months away from his final tenure, should not be involved in the selection. Therefore, if that is the case, perhaps a constitutional amendment, a law should be passed by congress that in the fifth year of their term all Republican senators should be considered lame ducks and should not vote, talk to the press, and be rendered useless, nonparticipating, and generally impotent in the senate. I would like to know what Sen. McConnell would think about that.
Oh, how I wish Alison L. Grimes had defeated him in their election. Donald Trump is exploiting the obstructionist leadership of the Republican Party. The voters in the Republican Party are speaking loud and clear.
Howard W. Silbersher
Princeton
