No Scalia Replacement until Americans Have Chosen America's Future Path

Barack Obama, State of the Union Address, January 2014 : “So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do." As President, Obama had already vastly expanded the use of executive power to unilaterally defer deportation of younger illegal immigrants, delay enforcement of Obamacare and decline to defend legal challenges against the Defense of Marriage Act, a law barring federal recognition of same-sex marriages. In January 2014, he announced plans to raise the minimum wage for federal contract workers, create a new government-backed private retirement savings plan, and speed up implementation of a previously announced program to connect schools to wireless broadband. The executive orders - notably amnesty and work permits for 5 million illegal immigrants - continue to flow from the pen Obama brandished in the face of a Republican-leaning Congress in 2014. ~~~~~ Obama's refusal or inability to work across the aisle with Congress enormously increased with the GOP's taking control of the Senate in 2014. It left him toothless, leading to an even greater reliance on executive actions and regulations. Most are relatively inconsequential. Those that are serious overreaches of executive power are being challenged in the federal courts, where Obama has yet to win an executive action case. The 'plague' of Obama executive orders has had two consequences. GOP voters -- unable to understand why when voted control of Congress, GOP leaders cannot overturn unpopular laws like Obamacare or prevent more “amnesty” mischief -- have become increasingly vocal, drmanding action against Obama. Ted Cruz tapped into this anger and created an “anti-establishment” campaign, attacking the GOP leadership who, in fairness, could do little in the face of a presidential veto and a Senate Democratic minority large enough to prevent a veto override. The second outcome is that much of Obama’s executive order action has led to lawsuits and he is now at the mercy of the Supreme Court. Among the policies now under review by the Court are Obama’s amnesty orders to protect millions of illegal immigrants from deportation and his EPA regulations aimed at shutting down the US coal industry. Both circumvented Congress and both are considered by many to be an abuse of executive power. The Court’s decision to hear these cases is based on constitutional issues around balance of powers, a question that can only be resolved by the Supreme Court ~~~~~ Obama is now reaping the angry whirlwind of voters who voted for him because they expected economic recovery and brotherhood. What they got was a closet socialist determined to have his way even if it required trashing the Constitution. One facet of their anger was suddenly heightened with the untimely death of Justice Scalia, who was the leader in the battle against Obama's disregard for the rule of law. The liberal-progressive mainstream media is portraying GOP resistance to allowing Obama to choose Scalia's replacement as typical chronic GOP obstructionism. This is untrue, and Republicans need to say clearly and simply that President Obama has acted unlawfully for years, with only the Supreme Court as a brake on his unlawful and unpopular programs. If the American people want to dismantle US energy industries and raise family energy costs, or open US borders to everyone regardless of health, criminal record or terrorist intent, they can vote for Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. If they want rule of law and a government that represents their views, they can vote for Trump, Cruz or Rubio. It is likely the general election choice will be between Trump and Clinton. Trump wants to return America to the rule of law and policies that put Americans first. Clinton wants to expand Obama's socialist lawlessness that will destroy the American system of government. Choosing a President is the preliminary decision America must make before Scalia's replacement is considered. Only the American people have the right to choose America's future.