Editorial: Obama can make his nomination

Another Republican debate, another “Sweet Lord, save us” two hours of life wasted.

Six would-be presidents took the stage Saturday night in South Carolina for another round of interruptions, lies, and insults in an auditorium ironically called the “Peace Center.”

South Carolina voters will get to speak soon. Their decision will no doubt continue the weirdness of the 2016 campaign. The Donald won last week in New Hampshire, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich (who your editor likes but dismissed in our last issue as being unlikely) came in second. Polls show Trump leading in the Palmetto state, but anything can happen.

Saturday’s debate came just hours after Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away in his sleep, and as could be expected, replacing the conservative stalwart on the High Court became the center of attention. Unfortunately, that part of the debate showed what’s wrong with the Republican Party… its candidates are crazy.

Some of the candidates actually called for President Obama not to nominate someone to fill Scalia’s seat. He should just wait and let the next president make that decision.

Seriously? So if Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had dropped dead in the final days of the Bush administration, would Republican senators have asked him to wait and let Barack Obama name her replacement? Of course not.

The Constitution is quite clear on this… the president gets to make his nomination, and it doesn’t matter if there are four days or four years left in his administration. That’s his job.

Now can he get that nomination through the Senate? That’s another discussion, but this idea that Obama should just step aside and go play golf when there is a vacancy on the Supreme Court is ludicrous.

It is somewhat typical of the Republicans to wrap themselves in the Constitution and just love it to death. That is, of course, until it doesn’t fit their wants or desires. Then they ignore it just like Democrats often do.

Scalia’s legacy is that of a man who loved the Constitution and interpreted as it was written. Republicans who want Obama not to carry out his executive duty on this matter are dishonoring Scalia by not listening to what the Constitution has to say on this matter.

It is understandable that Republicans want to see Scalia replaced with a conservative justice, but frankly the GOP doesn’t have a real good track record lately of appointing conservative justices. Just look at the traitor Chief Justice John Roberts, who really ought to be removed for incompetence for his Obamacare decisions. At least if Obama nominates a liberal, they stay a liberal and everyone knows it.

Meanwhile…

What a great night it was for Clarendon and Donley County during the annual Chamber Awards Banquet last Thursday!

Your humble editor may be biased on this account since he’s also serving as your Chamber president this year, but there were certainly some outstanding citizens nominated and recognized this year. Saints’ Roost Award winner Frances Skelton is as loyal to Clarendon as anyone you’ll ever meet, and the Man and Woman of the Year – Bob Weiss and Katherine Monroe – are examples of people who give more of themselves than most people ever will.

The young people recognized last week also give hope that the volunteer attitudes exhibited by the adult honorees will continue for generations to come, and the Chamber also started an exciting new tradition with the Business of the Year award given to the Sandell Drive-In.

There are many businesses that make Clarendon and Donley County a great place to live, work, and raise a family, but the Sandell stands out as a landmark that Clarendon is known for and as a family-friendly form of entertainment during the hot summer months.

The members of the Morrow family are to be commended for the work they put in to keep the Sandell going, and the memory of Gary and Nell Barnhill should also be remembered for their roles in starting the drive-in sixty years ago.

Congratulations to all the award winners. You make us all proud, and we thank you for all you do to enrich our community.