Look what happens when I take an afternoon off to visit with my parents and cousins and uncles. Antonin Scalia dies suddenly on a ranch in Texas and all hell breaks loose.

Long time readers of this blog know that I have a Policy of speaking no ill of the dead for a decent interval after their passing, even when we're talking about horrible people.

My policy stands, which in this case means that I can't say virtually anything at all.

My relatives asked me what it means. I told them that it meant that the next President would select his Replacement.

Of course, President Obama has the constitutional duty to name his replacement, and I'm sure he'll nominate someone, perhaps in consultation with Clinton and Sanders. But the Republicans have already announced that no nominee is acceptable. I knew they would do that the moment that I heard that Scalia is dead.

We'll try to shame them, but we all know that they're shameless.

I'll have more to say later.

Discuss