Tuesday News: GOP "Tantrum" Over SCOTUS Is a "Gift to Democrats;" VA Senate GOP Tries to Roll Back Ethics Reform

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, February 16. Also, check out the results of the new CNU Wason Center poll of Virginia; Clinton leads Sanders 52%-40% and Trump leads Rubio and Cruz by a 28%-22%-19% margin, with Carson, Kasich and Bush far behind. And note the poll results a bit further down: by a 38%-24% margin, Republicans would be MORE likely to support a candidate who wants to bar all non-citizen Muslims from entering the country, while Dems by an 83%-1% margin would be LESS likely (and independents by a 50%-19% margin would be LESS likely as well). Finally, by a 52%-5% margin, Virginians would be LESS likely to vote for a candidate who is a "Democratic-Socialist."

• Battle over Scalia’s replacement spilling into Senate races ("With Republicans saying they will block any attempt to confirm a new justice this year, the party faces the prospect of political damage to some of its embattled Senate incumbents up for reelection this fall.")

• Reid to GOP: For the good of the country, stop your nakedly partisan obstruction
• Republican obstructionism is nothing new ("Blocking any effort by President Obama to fill Justice Scalia’s seat is more of the same from the GOP.")
• Senators, do your job and vote on the next Supreme Court nominee
• The Republican Supreme Court tantrum is a gift to Democrats, especially to Hillary Clinton
• What Scalia’s Death Might Mean for Climate Change
• Rand Paul: It’s A ‘Conflict Of Interest’ For Obama To Nominate A Supreme Court Justice (The fact that many political pundits thought Rand Paul was a rising Republican star tells you everything you need to know...about those pundits.)
• Trump Threatens Independent Run If RNC Doesn’t Condemn Cruz’s Attacks (Cool!)
• Scalia’s death could doom McDonnell and Menendez ("The Supreme Court tumult increases chances of prison for the ex- Virginia governor, and could complicate the New Jersey senator’s trial.")

• Editorial: Two Va. GOP congressmen to bid their seats good-bye
• Poll: Trump and Clinton lead in Virginia's presidential primary contests
• Senate defeats constitutional amendment on charter schools
• Senate OKs coal tax credit extension with veto-proof margin (Propping up a dying, planet-killing industry with taxpayer money...great idea, guys!)
• Maryland to fight Dominion plan to release coal-ash water into Va. creek
• Bill meant to pave way for marijuana- oil production advances in Virginia
• Gun safety advocates are wrong to rebuff Gov. McAuliffe’s gun control victory
• General Assembly Notebook: House passes bills to revamp or dismantle COPN system (Stupid.)
• Senators vote to undo parts of ethics reform law (Veto!!!)
• Icy roads and sidewalks for drivers and pedestrians for Tuesday morning
• Virginia House approves lighter punishment for dogs that kill chickens
• Icy, treacherous start, then much warmer and very wet today