Advice and consent of ...

Yup, he said it. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel:

I can't imagine that a Republican majority in the United States Senate would want to confirm in a lame duck session a nominee opposed by the National Rifle Association, the National Federation of Independent Business that represents small businesses that have never taken a position on the Supreme Court appointment before. They're opposed to this guy.

I know the Constitution says nominees are appointed to the Supremes on the advice and consent of the Senate. I missed the part where the appointment is made on the advice and consent of the NRA.

As I said a couple days ago, Citizens United made it possible for corporations to have so much control of our national government that they will not allow anyone onto the high court who might undo it. Good to hear McConnell actually say that.



Hmm, another way to gerrymander. The inmates of a prison in Jefferson County, Florida cannot vote. When the district lines were drawn in the county the inmates were counted as being part of District 3, making up 43% of the voting age population, even though the inmates are officially residents elsewhere in the state, sometimes hundreds of miles away. That means fewer votes are needed to get someone elected in District 3 as compared to other districts.

The ACLU sued. Voters in other districts say their votes are worth less, violating the constitutional provision of "one person, one vote." Judge Mark Waller of the Federal District Court in the Northern District of Florida agreed. If there is no appeal maps will need to be redrawn before the June primary for county commission and school boards.

Not addressed in this ruling is constitutionality of denying inmates the right to vote.