Cabinet underscores Saudi efforts for international recognition of Palestine State    Culture minister meets French foreign minister in Riyadh    Columbia protesters take over building after defying deadline    Arab-European meeting calls for forming single Palestinian government in West Bank and Gaza    Infinix GT 20 Pro flagship launch: Revolutionizing esports-level gaming and ushering in a new era of the holistic gaming universe    Saudi Arabia and Mauritania sign MoU for energy cooperation    MoH: 25 people affected by Riyadh food poisoning discharged from hospital    WEF Special Meeting ends in Riyadh with calls for global peace and prosperity    Indian MP's 'sex abuse' tapes spark outrage    Passengers stranded as Australian airline enters administration    Tensions grow as China ramps up global mining for green tech    Saudi Electricity Company gains regulatory approval for increased weighted average cost of capital    Crown Prince discusses Gaza situation with a number of world leaders    SFDA: Breast-milk substitute products are sugar-free complying with Saudi specifications    Saudi Olympic team exits U-23 Cup in quarterfinals, loses Paris 2024 Olympics dream    Al Hilal triumphs over Al Fateh in a fierce 3-1 clash at Kingdom Arena    Al Shabab overpowers Al Ittihad with a 3-1 victory in Jeddah    'Zarqa Al Yamama': Riyadh premieres first Saudi opera    Riyadh Season announces first overseas event with boxing gala in Los Angeles    Australian police launch manhunt for Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger    JK Rowling in 'arrest me' challenge over hate crime law    Trump's Bible endorsement raises concern in Christian religious circles    Hollywood icon Will Smith shares his profound admiration for Holy Qur'an    We have celebrated Founding Day for three years - but it has been with us for 300    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Obama to meet with GOP leaders on court fight
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 02 - 03 - 2016

President Barack Obama was to due to meet face-to-face on Tuesday with the Senate Republican leaders vowing to block his Supreme Court nominee — no matter who it is — with the hope of keeping the seat open for a Republican president to fill next year.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, are due at the White House midmorning for the sit-down with Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the ranking Democrat on the committee. It will be the first time the leaders have met since Justice Antonin Scalia's unexpected death last month set off a clash over the Supreme Court.
At another time, the gathering might have been a nod to the tradition of at least limited cooperation in naming and confirming justices to the nation's highest court. The president might have floated potential candidates; Senate opposition might have come armed with their own preferred names.
But in the current fight, gestures of collaboration seem moot. Neither side has indicated it will come with much more than talking points.
"Look, the president is open to a discussion, but it would represent a pretty dramatic reversal in position for Mr. McConnell, who has said that the president shouldn't put anybody forward, to come with a list of potential nominees," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday. "It makes it hard for him to engage constructively, until they change that position."
In a joint statement last week, McConnell and Grassley said they looked forward to "reiterating" their belief that the electorate should weigh in on a decision that could shift the ideological balance of the court for a generation.
They also suggested that the White House might want to fill out the meeting agenda with other items.
"We welcome the opportunity to further discuss matters of mutual interest, like the drug epidemic that's tearing communities apart across our country," they said.
Before McConnell heads to the White House, he is scheduled to address House Republicans at their weekly meeting. The House GOP has been adamant — no hearings, no votes on a nominee.
While the standoff continues, the president spent a significant part of the weekend reading through files on potential nominees and considering his options, Earnest said, adding that the president has not settled on a short list and could still add names to the mix.
Amid the unusually contentious circumstances, the president tapped a close adviser to lead the selection process within the White House. Senior Adviser Brian Deese, who previously led climate change negotiations, will work closely with White House counsel Neil Eggleston throughout the process, the White House said.
For now, the White House is focused on demonstrating that it is making an effort to consult with the Senate — even if there's not much give and take. On Tuesday, Obama plans to discuss with Republican leaders the historical precedent for confirming justices in a presidential election year, Earnest said.
"One of the things the president is interested in discussing is, actually, what happened in 1988," Earnest said, noting Anthony Kennedy's election-year confirmation to the court. Kennedy had been nominated by President Ronald Reagan the preceding year. Both McConnell and Grassley voted in favor of Kennedy's confirmation.
Republicans, meanwhile, are quick to note the history they find relevant: As senators, both Obama and Biden filibustered President George W. Bush's nomination of Samuel Alito. — AP


Clic here to read the story from its source.