By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia Ruth Bader Ginsburg—affectionately known as The Notorious R.B.G. (after the famous moniker of the late hip-hop star, The Notorious B.I.G.)—held on as long as she could while fiercely battling metastatic pancreatic cancer. At 87, the popular Supreme Court Justice had battled cancer and several other maladies, for some time. Just days before her death, as her strength waned, Ginsburg dictated this statement to her granddaughter Clara Spera: “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.” Echoing the sentiments of many, both inside and outside of the political spectrum, acclaimed novelist Terry McMillan stated, “I was praying she could hold on.” The author and many others realized that, in sphere of today’s of American politics, where one of the two dominant parties is essentially wholly controlled by President Donald Trump and the hard-hearted Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, if they choose to ignore the Justice’s dying wishes, the Republicans, who control the Senate, have the votes to quickly confirm Ginsburg’s replacement. This is the case even as the president—and possibly McConnell—head toward lame-duck status. In spite of the impending confirmation process and it’s connectivity to an election that will occur in less than 45 days, the life and achievements of Ruth Bader Ginsburg are to be celebrated. America’s loss of one of its notable and most courageous jurists is palpable. “We have lost a champion of justice, an icon and patriot, a woman who lived the concept of building a more perfect union,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser affirmed. “Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought for us until the very end, and it is that fighting spirit—that we were fortunate as a nation to benefit from time and time again—that made us love, respect, and admire her. We are heartbroken.” Hillary Shelton, the Chief Lobbyist of the NAACP, called Ginsburg’s death a sad day for America. “We are losing a real champion for Civil Rights, Voting Rights, Women’s Rights and Human Rights on our Supreme Court,” Shelton posited. Shelton honored Ginsburg for breaking through many barriers to the full participation of all Americans and demanded that Republicans wait until after the election to confirm a successor. “It is our hope that whoever fills her position would have her same values. We also urge that the president withhold the nomination to fill that position until after the election,” Shelton exclaimed. “It was Mitch McConnell who insisted not to allow President Obama to fill a position in his last year in office. We urge that there not be a nomination or consideration by the U.S. Senate until after the November election.” Through her cancer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought to the end with unwavering faith in our democracy and its ideals, and that’s how she’ll be remembered, Obama expressed in a written statement. “But she also left instructions for how she wanted her legacy to be honored,” the popular former president o
