It’s understandable that Mitch McConnell doesn’t want Barack Obama to nominate the next Supreme Court Justice. I didn’t want Ronald Reagan to nominate Antonin Scalia, or George W. Bush to nominate Samuel Alito or John Roberts.

But that’s the way our government works, and any adult should be willing to live with that.

McConnell is no ordinary adult, however. He acts like spoiled child who thinks he gets to change the rules in the middle of the game if he doesn’t like the results.

We elect a president for four years, and President Obama would be guilty of dereliction of duty if he did not nominate a justice to replace Scalia. And the Senate would fail to do its constitutional duty if they did not confirm the appointment in due time.

While while we’re on the subject of rule changing, let’s briefly look at Paul Ryan’s wish for a “mandate” (JSOnline Jan. 23, 2016).  The GOP cannot have a mandate until they represent the majority of Americans, which, because of gerrymandering and voter suppression techniques like photo ID requirements, they may never do. Wisconsin offers the perfect example. In the 2012 election, Republicans won 47% of the popular vote, but 61% of the assembly seats. (See “Our Votes Don’t Matter.”)

Whatever you may think of the Republicans’ policy ideas, no lover of the American way of self-governance should tolerate the rule-bending and rule-breaking the GOP is conducting in our state and in our nation,