With just 1,373 days until Americans vote in the 2020 election, responsible thing to do is wait until then to consider any #SCOTUS nominee.
— Jason Kander (@JasonKander) January 30, 2017
Don’t care how good he looks as a potential reality-teevee character, let the Repubs defend their Talibangelical sock-puppet… at length.
The Democrats should treat Trump's SCOTUS pick with the exact same courtesy the GOP showed Merrick Garland. Don't flinch, don't back down
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) February 1, 2017
Every Democratic senator should just pin this photo to their lapel for the next few days of GOP whining. pic.twitter.com/6MayoFT8W5
— Schooley (@Rschooley) January 31, 2017
https://t.co/Nsn4Xyqm1Q pic.twitter.com/CiDImryUIb
— Jaime Fuller (@j_fuller) February 1, 2017
Plain-spoken @BenSasse: "Senator Schumer is about to tell Americans Judge Gorsuch kicks puppies, heckles piano recitals. That's Hogwash."
— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) February 1, 2017
tbh he'll probably focus on Roe, Chevron, death penalty, etc https://t.co/DtGLBljouJ
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) February 1, 2017
btw of course Dems should filibuster any SCOTUS pick after that travesty with Merrick Garland. Taking high road /= unilateral disarmament.
— Rogue Rogue One Acct (@ZeddRebel) January 31, 2017
Longer we stand up, more time there will be for the inevitable skeletons to tumble out of Gorsuch’s legal closet…
Neil Gorsuch’s crusade against Planned Parenthoodhttps://t.co/oOjTXaPrSf pic.twitter.com/E5xExIsUuP
— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) February 1, 2017
God, he clerked for Sentelle, too? Conservative legal terrarium is productive.
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) February 1, 2017
Seen on the B train. #SCOTUSpick #SCOTUS pic.twitter.com/qofAxAxsxx
— Julianne Cuba (@Julcuba) January 31, 2017
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I’m not usually one for symbolic pins and ribbons, but that might be some good trolling for TV cameras.
Leaving Texas
Here’s a story from the front line that will help you decide whether Trump is team evil or team incompetent: Talked to a friend today who works in an executive agency. He said they got an EO to reduce the number of regulations by requiring that any new regulation be accompanied by the retiring of two existing regulations (there were also some unusual restrictive budget requirements). Typical R pipe dream stuff.
But get this: he says the EO was so overly inclusive that it defined discussion of policy as “regulation”. He says because of that they are afraid to send internal emails to each other about some topics because the emails would be considered new regulation. They won’t even send emails to each other about the EO itself because that would violate the EO. It makes the head spin, doesn’t it?
He described the new work situation as seriously disrupted if not chaotic. The chaos isn’t intentional, either, because his agency is appreciated by the business community, a group the administration is purportedly trying to help. Team Trump is really breaking the government right now.
lamh36
@SenFeinstein
JUST NOW: On Sessions attorney general nomination: “I must vote no.”
YES!!! I know can’t hope for a Blanket NO for ALL of Trump’s picks…but this one feels more personal…ANY Dem that votes YES on Sessions..needs to go
lamh36
#TeamPerez
BJ Lurker
Watching the SCOTUS announcement has broken my heart. For most of my adult life, I worshipped the court. Of course, that ended with Bush v. Gore. What occurred to me tonight was my endless willingness to support the Democratic party, no matter what, in order to protect the country from bottoming out. The loss of over a 1000 seats, combined with the loss of the court for the rest of my lifetime, let alone the election of the Pervert-in-Chief means that I don’t have to vote for the Dems anymore. We’ll bottom out over the next four years.
Screw it. If they want my vote, they’ll have to earn it. I’m old enough that I can probably financially survive anything. Fuck it.
Baud
@BJ Lurker: We don’t. Good bye.
crosspalms
Caught a few minutes of that new “Law & Order: STFU,” but wasn’t impressed. Lead actor is really bad, I just wanted to punch him in the face.
guachi
If I were a Democratic Senator, I’d state that if Trump nominated Garland that I’d not block whatever person Trump nominated next. I’m sure you’d get many Democratic Senators to go along with that.
? Martin
I think Schumer should simply invoke McConnells rule that we don’t vote on nominees during the campaign. Given that Trump filed for reelection already…
Baud
@? Martin: Ha! Love it.
BJ Lurker
Baud: I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be on the sidelines with a glass of wine and a bag of popcorn watching the Dems let the country down yet again.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@BJ Lurker: what an odd little manifesto. I’m sure you think you have a point.
Baud
@BJ Lurker:. Sad!
Aleta
removed–didn’t see the top of the screen ….
(He filed an IRS doc of intent to run, so he can collect donations. Means he is technically in a campaign it’s said.)
debbie
@lamh36:
I’m with Perez. Let them whine, bitch, and moan about being treated like they treated Democrats.
EBT
So now that everyone is falling in line the feds have decided being brown is enough for extra-legal detainment.
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Feds-detain-Katy-High-School-student-from-Jordan-10897205.php
Lizzy L
@? Martin: Martin for the WIN!
Immanentize
@BJ Lurker: please do let the door hit your ass on the way out. Priveleged damn defeatist.
debbie
@? Martin:
It would be fun if he did issue such a statement.
weaselone
@BJ Lurker:
I’m trying to figure out how the Dems let the country down. The country voted for the Republicans despite some fairly clear demonstrations of why that is a horrible idea in general. It’s now going to get what it voted for good and hard.
JPL
The Republicans said let the people decide. Hillary won the popular vote, so I agree. The people decided that they want Garland.
Adam L Silverman
@EBT: Jordan isn’t even on the block list.
debbie
@weaselone:
No, the country didn’t. Stop saying that lie.
EBT
@BJ Lurker: Fuck you, you over privileged piece of shit. You should have been a blow job and the best part of you dried on your dog of a mother’s thigh. Go eat a shotgun shell.
Corner Stone
@BJ Lurker: Maybe some good hand lotion and Kleenex as well? You could still type your masturbations here while you actually masturbate.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Do not tempt it! I’m sure it’s just dying for a chance to speak the sacred name
EBT
@Adam L Silverman: Brown is brown that is enough now. Plus even the FBI is opening up with the fact law enforcement has been filled with KKK and Nazi sub human filth.
lamh36
@debbie: I don’t follow Ellison on twitter, so I’m not even sure if he has even been issuing statements…
Mary G
@BJ Lurker: How’s the weather in Moscow this week?
gene108
I am of the opinion that if a Republican wanted rename a Post Office in his district, Democrats should unanimously vote no.
Don’t give them anything.
Another Scott
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Yup.
Trollin’ Trollin’ Trollin’ …
Cheers,
Scott.
amk
@debbie: yes, it did. by voting + nonvoting.
Corner Stone
@BJ Lurker:
You mean by having the lowest uninsured rate, ever? Unemployment of under 5%? Longest monthly job growth, basically ever? First time in decades wages are rising? Record highs in the stock market?
weaselone
@debbie:
I know it’s a pleasant fiction, but something like 72% of voters either didn’t vote, voted for Trump, or voted for someone other than Clinton. That means that a pretty solid majority either voted for him, or decided there was no real difference between the two of them. Not voting is a choice.
BBA
Over 30 years ago, one of Reagan’s cabinet members said something like, “It’s not about Democrats and Republicans, it’s about liberals and Americans.”
In that frame of mind, anything somebody on their side of the aisle says about “the American people” makes more sense.
Major Major Major Major
@Leaving Texas: this doesn’t help me decide at all. It makes me think incompetent AND evil.
dm
@weaselone: It’s simple. The Dems let the country down by all living in small, gerrymanderable urban hell-holes in a few states, instead of spreading out across the country. Transplant a couple of city blocks of Manhattan to South Dakota and South Dakota would get better politics and better bagels both.
Rommie
If the Republicans find eight spineless jellyfish to vote for this guy, they’ve won a flawless victory. Hell, they’ll have nothing to stop them from adding 2 more justices and cementing the SCOTUS for a generation.
There’s no fallback position here, no bigger win to trade this for. The Democrats, and the Party, either fight this fight or eat dirt. Bring a friggin’ Wave Motion Gun to this gunfight. Make them kill the Filibuster or kill the Nomination. Anything less is capitulation to the GOP, Trump, and all they stand for.
Lizzy L
This showed up on FB today.
For everyone who DID something, small or big, your efforts have been successful!
Because of you:
1. Federal hiring freeze is reversed for Veterans Affairs.
2. Partial stay of the immigration ban for those with valid visas.
3. Green card holders can get back in the country.
4. Uber pledges $3M and immigration lawyers for its drivers after #DeleteUber trends on Twitter.
5. Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) enrollment ads are still airing.
6. The ACLU raised 24M over the weekend! Wow!
7. HHS, EPA, USDA gag order lifted.
8. EPA climate data is no longer being scrubbed from website.
9. More people of different career/religious/economic/race backgrounds are considering running for political office than ever before.
10. MOST importantly, since we live in a participatory democracy, the people are engaged.
While more is needed, sometimes you have to celebrate your wins.
Stay vigilant, but also, take self-care seriously. Activist burnout is a thing. Marathon, don’t sprint. RESIST.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I’m wondering whom he’s thinking of… Bennet’s wobbly, but just got re-elected. Warner’s a Blue Dog, but VA is trending blue and I doubt if he wants to piss off the base. Choice is the one issue I really trust Feinstein on. Nelson’s not really from a blue state, McCaskill certainly isn’t. Coons is bit of a surprise, and Carper has a suspect history. I’m wondering Godfather Biden can put the squeeze on them.
Corner Stone
@Rommie: But…our gunpowder? Shouldn’t it be dry?
Leaving Texas
@Major Major Major Major:
Well yes, but if they’re too incompetent to actually accomplish evil…
lamh36
SMH…As pissed off as I am…I just don’t have it in me to say FUCK EM all. Nope, as angry as I am…my inclination is to fight like hell…even if I lose, at least I VOICED my opposition and tried to damn well do something about it…
Baud
@weaselone: I don’t think it’s fair to count people who never vote. People who never vote simply never vote.
Leaving Texas
@Lizzy L: thanks for that ?
Major Major Major Major
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: we need to make it clear that voting for cloture IS voting to confirm. The precedent of leaving a seat open with a filibuster won’t matter because republicans don’t give a shit about precedent any more.
@Leaving Texas: I don’t think we’ll be seeing much more of the too incompetent to be evil stuff happening, to be honest. They’ll learn their lesson from this refugee dust-up and make sure to do real lasting damage next round. Meanwhile a bunch of stupid shit like this one-two regulation BS will happen to keep Trump amused. He clearly wrote it himself after all.
karensky
@Leaving Texas: and Bannon is so happy
GTC
@BJ Lurker: Glad you got your heart broke. Anyone who thinks they can sit sidelines and cluck and snack while the next generations drown was never a Democrat.
Yarrow
This guy’s also running for head of the DNC. Mayor of South Bend, Indiana:
debbie
@lamh36:
His most recent tweet was 3 hours ago, and it was about the Muslim ban.
Lurking Buffoon
@Mary G: That is the perfect response to any troll these days.
Mary G
I wasn’t well enough to go, but more than 100 people protested at Darrell Issa’s main local office today. Some good signs. I liked “Douche Barrell Darrell.”
I wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper about his censorship at the telephone town hall yesterday and also tried a tweetstorm, but I did it wrong. I’m learning, though.
Jeffro
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I wonder if Diamond Joe can come out and put the squeeze on ALL of them…after all…
1) Trump did already file for re-election, and apparently we don’t even vote on SCOTUS nominees during a campaign
2) Cruz – CRUZ! – is already wanking about Democratic obstruction, as if he wasn’t prepared to fililbuster a HRC SCOTUS nominee for four fucking years
3) “Mid-terms are now about 21 months away…it looks like the Dem base is pretty fired up and now knows that Trump means what he says, and that the so-called religious right will indeed deal with the devil to try and take away your freedom…that’s what I might have called a big Biden deal a ways back…”-JB
Come on Joe, this thing is made for you, help put some steel in those spines!
Russ
Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame has what I believe is a good theme song for the resistance.
https://youtu.be/QWLBtMz5OuY
Has all the right stuff.
Iowa Old Lady
Something has happened in my head. I look at this guy, all smooth and gray haired and avuncular. And I think I am sick and tired of having people like you–ie well off, older, white man–run things. The population is ahead of the politicians on things like gay rights because power positions are all filled by the most conservative demographic in the country. Sit down and shut up and learn something.
So that’s a big broad, I guess.
Leaving Texas
@Major Major Major Major:
You’re not wrong about that.
I still love it. What a buffoon.
NotMax
Not that it means a damn thing other than being silliness, but in Klingon Gorsuch would roughly translate to “visit to a planet’s surface.” (Technically would be spelled ghor such.)
lamh36
White House ices out CNN
Maybe now CNN will do some real fuqn’ reporting!
yeah right…
JMG
Assume the reality-based worst. Roe v. Wade overturned, yeah, I can see that. All Trump’s anti-immigrant and Muslim orders upheld, I can see that. Birthright citizenship? Think that stays. End of labor unions? That could happen. Gorsuch is going to be confirmed. The only line Democrats can and should take is a fruit of the poisoned tree approach. Illegitimate President, illegitimate Court. Two can play the wrecking institutions game. Besides, odds are good Trump will defy a court judgment sooner rather than later. After that, its authority is gone.
debbie
@weaselone:
It’s a choice not to vote, not a vote for Trump.
Another Scott
And now, a message from Dr. Jerry Mandering – OneVirginia2021.org
Well done.
Eyes on the prize folks…
Cheers,
Scott.
Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (Formerly Mumphrey, et al.)
Shit. The Republicans made this new rule. I think it would be wrong for the Democrats not to follow it.
In all seriousness, though, the only way these shitstains are ever going to learn anything is for the Democrats to makes things hurt for them. I hope they have the guts to follow through on this.
Baud
@Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (Formerly Mumphrey, et al.):
That kind of has to start with the voters. Maybe one day.
Corner Stone
@lamh36: Wonder how Lil Jakey Tapper will feel when all his “fellow sister organizations” are more than happy to keep booking WH guests that are icing out CNN.
EBT
@debbie: Intentions versus Outcomes.
amk
@debbie: Look up Plato.
Baud
@Corner Stone: Yep.
schrodingers_cat
@Lizzy L: Thanks for the list. I have been a bit under the weather since I moved almost 3 months ago, which turned into a full blown medical emergency last Friday. That list perked me up.
Baud
@schrodingers_cat: Oh no. I hope you are on the upswing.
NotMax
JMG
From A Man for All Seasons:
Timurid
@Adam L Silverman:
So just how many court orders did those cowboys violate?
I love the smell of contempt citations in the morning…
Jim, Foolish Literalist
decent group of Dems on the Judiciary committee
I hope Franken’s feeling his oats and Leahy gets a new staffer to help him develop questions (I like him but it seems to me he can ramble a bit). On the R side– all men. Ted Cruz, Grassley, Mike Lee… a good chance for somebody to say something that will piss people off.
(note that “Democrat members” is from the official c’tee website.)
oldster
The Dems must fight, and will.
They should filibuster, and force McConnell to destroy the filibuster. Good–it was more useful to conservatives than liberals in any case. When we regain the majority, we’ll be grateful we don’t have to listen to that nonsense any more.
Yup, bad things are coming down the road. But the Democrats should fight every bit of it.
amk
Bupalos
@JMG: agreed. If the hardcore are dead set on fighting now, the fire needs to be concentrated on the source. The argument should be that trump doesn’t have legitimacy to make this nomination. The branches of that are 1. Because he lost the popular vote, when the republicans deferred on garland because they said this had to be a peoples referendum on sc. 2. Because Trump may be a Russian agent, and the sc may need to rule on that
Adam L Silverman
@Timurid: I’m not even sure they violated a court order. They just broke Federal immigration law.
lamh36
Democrats Will Insist On 60 Votes For Trump’s High Court Nominee
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer laid down a threshold that suggests Democrats are ready to filibuster Neil Gorsuch.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/democrats-60-votes-trump-neil-gorsuch_us_58913cc4e4b02772c4ea2adf
Wormtown
@crosspalms: you win the thread
Sab
@BJ Lurker: Troll?
schrodingers_cat
@Baud: I was in December. Things got bad in mid-Jan. Last Thursday was the worst. Seems to be stress related.
Corner Stone
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Leahy is a yooge Senate fanboy and believer in it being a sacred institution. I would also be worried about him.
gene108
@Adam L Silverman:
I have heard of Indian H1-b visa holders getting sent back, in the last few days. Their employer has been subcontracted to work for a client.
So Bob Singh works for Jim Patel Consulting. JPC has a contract with Another Company, who is providing services for Accenture. Accenture is doing a turnkey project for Citibank.
Bob Singh works at the Citibank office. CBP agent decides Bob should either be working directly for Citibank or at JPC’s office or go home.
Bob’s been in the country for years and has filed his Green Card. His visa is approved, but now he’s out of a job and going back to India.
EDIT: LEO’s can let their racist freak flags fly now, it seems. Even complying with the law doesn’t get you much.
Leaving Texas
@karensky: IPU help us.
Lizzy L
@schrodingers_cat: Sorry to hear you’ve been sick. Glad I was able to provide some cheer.
Major Major Major Major
@amk: oh, solved the trolley problem once and for all, did he?
Baud
@schrodingers_cat: I hate to say it, but you might want to take a break from this place (and every other place).
Adam L Silverman
@gene108: I’ve seen reporting that a number of companies are relocating their H1B visa holders to their Canada offices ASAP.
NotMax
If Gorsuch is confirmed, he would be the first Gen X justice.
p.a.
Josh Marshall is requiredreading, even moreso than during W’s Justice Dept shenanigans.
schrodingers_cat
@Baud: Husband kitteh is of the same opinion.
Jeannedalbret
@weaselone: You must not be from around here….not voting is a choice 40-50% of us make every presidential election.
Corner Stone
Before Gorsuch gave his acceptance speech he turned around and watched Trump hug Mrs. Gorsuch. It’s clear he was worried Trump may grab her by the pu$$y, or maybe relent and just slap her on the ass ala Ivanka.
Baud
@schrodingers_cat: I’ve been debating a similar step for some time. It’s not easy.
amk
@schrodingers_cat: time for tea break? I meant the real tea.
Corner Stone
@NotMax:
What is his special mutant power?
Major Major Major Major
@NotMax: that alone is reason enough to oppose him.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
like the picture of Garland, this is trolling but every little bit helps, or might…
Mike J
@Adam L Silverman: IETF has said future meetings will be held outside the US.
schrodingers_cat
@amk: Too late for caffeine right now. Of course I make real tea with tea leaves, in a teapot.
lamh36
So this dude really just got lucky in business then…cause ain’t he supposed to be “smart”
EBT
@Major Major Major Major: Speaking of which, I haven’t seen my favorite deadbeat donnie poster post here in weeks.
Major Major Major Major
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: that’s what I’ve been saying!
@Corner Stone: able to make huge logical leaps in a single bound.
Baud
@lamh36: Sounds like Cuban is used to deals being honored in business or dishonored only with repercussions. That’s not how it works in Trumpworld.
amk
@schrodingers_cat: is there any other way?
Major Major Major Major
@EBT: who’s that? Gimme a hint.
schrodingers_cat
@amk: With tepid water and a sad Lipton tea bag, if you make the mistake of ordering tea in a restaurant.
Millard Filmore
@lamh36: Good. Makes room for Democrats on CNN.
lamh36
@Baud: right…smh…
NotMax
@Corner Stone
The ability to twist anyone’s briefs into any shape or form he envisions.
amk
@lamh36: whoever is this Mikel is, go Mikel.
Baud
@Millard Filmore: With MSNBC going downhill, it’s an opportunity for CNN to return to its glory days. I doubt they’ll seize it though.
frosty
And what do I get on the ad banner right now?
Butter wouldn’t melt etc etc
ETA: Now it’s Chinese LadyDate. What next?
amk
@schrodingers_cat: that’s weak tea. literally.
Corner Stone
@Baud: Cuban’s twit feed make him sound stupid on this issue.
Another Scott
@schrodingers_cat: I hope you’re feeling better. Be good to yourself.
We all need to be strong for the battles ahead.
Keep an eye on ScienceMarchDC.
Cheers,
Scott.
? Martin
My GOP congresswoman just ran an ad to call her to show support for repeal/replace. I never saw an ad for her during the campaign. I think she’s feeling a bit under fire right now.
Adam L Silverman
@Mike J: Not surprising.
khead
@BJ Lurker:
Can I borrow some money before the heart transplant?
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: When I signed up for Sling TV, I dropped MSNBC.
Peale
@? Martin: maybe you should call her in support of replacing her.
D58826
If the D’s don’t grow a spine and use every procedural tactic left to them to block the rest of Trump’s cabinet picks and SCOTUS nominee they will have seen the last dollar I will every send them. I will use the money for something more useful – like the next drunken homeless person I see.
Why give money to an organization that will not stand up for it principles. They will probably lose but at least go down fighting – you know remember the Alamo kind of thing.
At this point iy looks like it’s going to be a long long battle. Most of the institutions/checks and balances are falling in line behind Trump. DOJ/federal marshals are now refusing to enforce court orders. What little GOP opposition to the visa ban over the weekend has been mostly over the rolloutr and not the substance. They are already talking about changing immigration laws to prevent ‘people who don’t adhere to our way of life’ (translation POC and/or Muslims) from entering the country legally. They also are talking about deporting legal immigrants if the start to draw on what will be left of the safety net programs. The courts will bew packed with Scalia/Alito types that will return us to the Lochner era in which progressive legislation, even at the state level, was declared unconstitutional. Given the comments on the TV tonight about the nominee, the supposedly liberal MSM is falling in line as well. Some GOP state legislatures, in addition to voter-id and TRAP laws, are now looking into ways to subvert the peoples 1st amendment right to protest. SD is looking into making it legal for someone to run over a protester with their car and other states are looking into charging demonstration organizers for the police overtime pay.
In the mean time it seems that the Russians are back on the military offensive in the Ukraine but Trump is talking about eliminating sanctions.
Congresscritter Chaffetz has a list of things he wants to investigate but not one involves Trump or his conflicts of interest. BUT he does have Hillary’s e-mails near the top of his list of things to investigate. And the Senate will approve as Sec. of Ed. a plagiarizer.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@amk:
I’d rather they march on Trump Tower, Peter King’s office or Kushner’s dad’s house….
Svensker
@schrodingers_cat:
Stay well!
D58826
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Ah why bother then. The game is over if they vote for cloture. The GOP has 52 votes, once the filibuster is broken then this jerk is on the court. It has to be stopped at the 60 vote threshold or make Turtle nuke the SCOTUS vote as well.
D58826
@NotMax: BY birth date he may be Gen X but by temp[erment he would be quite happy at the court of King George III.
hilts
@D58826:
Yeah, the same Chaffetz who pretended to be offended by the Access Hollywood tape because he has daughters. He’s a clueless, spineless douchebag.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@D58826: I wouldn’t call a reporter’s vague speculation the end of the game. I was wondering what blue state Dems he has in mind.
Corner Stone
@hilts:
He is a spineless douchebag but I would disagree clueless. He obviously thinks he has a great read on which way the wind is blowing each morning.
D58826
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: My point was even if all 48 democrats vote against the nomination, if they provide the 60 votes for cloture then the game is over. Rereading the comment I may have been reading more into it than the reporter meant. If a few vote for cloture but the total is less than the 8 needed, then obviously the nomination will not proceed. Any D that votes in favor of this nominee, even it is only to wish him a happy birthday should be primaried.
XTPD
@EBT: As an avid hip-hop connoisseur, I can vouch for the fact that most diss lines in the genre are nowhere near this cold. Consider this stolen.
PPCLI
@? Martin: Excellent! I’m sure you’ve told everyone you know to pass it on: each time you see that ad, call her office immediately to support the ACA. Put her office number on speed dial.
Omnes Omnibus
@D58826:
Not quite. Pelosi (in the House, I know) would get her ironclad vote count and, if she had enough votes, she would release some folks to vote the other way if their conscience or political needs required it. I would like unanimity, but a Manchin is better than a GOPer.
Morzer
@NotMax:
And what happens when the Devil is the one making the laws?
Aleta
From CNN: T asks everyone”Where’s Giulliani?” (A: sitting facing him).
Omnes Omnibus
@Morzer: To be fair, the play was set during the reign of an authoritarian narcissist.
Texasboyshaun
@BJ Lurker: здравствуйте товарищ! Как погода в Москве сейчас?
? Martin
@Peale: Oh, we are – visiting her office as well. We’re trying to force her out to do some town halls.
James Powell
@debbie:
The choice is defined by the outcome. While not voting is not a vote for Trump, it is a conscious decision not to prevent Trump. I condemn all who made that decision just as I condemn those who vote for Trump.
Omnes Omnibus
@James Powell: Harrumph.
prob50
The Democrats definitely OWE the Rethugs as much obstruction and delay as possible in return for the Garland fiasco. Drag the hearings out and make him answer every question possible. This is a case where straight “NO” is called for and necessary from the DEM side.
dww44
@? Martin: LOL! But true.
prob50
To be fair the Democrats should say they will gladly vote for any nominee MORE qualified than Merrick Garland. I’m pretty sure Trump & Co have no such person to offer under those conditions.
Viva BrisVegas
@prob50:
I saw this somewhere else, but why don’t Democrats simply say that they are happy with 8 Justices instead of 9, and not consider anybody. Keeping open the option to bring the court numbers down even more in future.
Then the Republicans can start negotiating.
Originalists should be happy because, as I recall, the US Supreme Court started in 1789 with 5 Justices. What’s good enough for John Jay, etc, etc.
Omnes Omnibus
@Viva BrisVegas: Procedure does work that way. The Dems only option is to deny deny cloture – the filibuster. Keep the vote under 60 and the nomination doesn’t get a floor vote.
Omnes Omnibus
@Omnes Omnibus: Shit. Poor typing. “Procedure does not work that way.” Also too, iggy the second deny.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@Omnes Omnibus: Eh, they would probably get it anway, but the fight alone is worth it since this is clearly wearing the Trump admin down.
Omnes Omnibus
@Enhanced Voting Techniques: Yes, fight everywhere. Worst case, we show that we fought.
Viva BrisVegas
@Omnes Omnibus:
Yes, but there is difference between Democrats saying that some future Republican appointment may be acceptable and them saying that no appointment is necessary. It’s no more radical than what the Republicans did to Garland.
But then I come from a place where party solidarity is a thing.
Omnes Omnibus
@Viva BrisVegas: I do not think that you understood what I said. Or what it meant.
Viva BrisVegas
@Omnes Omnibus: Quite likely.
TenguPhule
@Rommie: Its either the Democrats make their stand here and now or else its fuckall for law and order and get ready for CW II: Burn the South. No point in trusting a legal system that doesn’t work and is obviously weighted against you. Violence will become the only solution.
TenguPhule
@NotMax: When the Devil has the law, the court and the enforcement on his side, you don’t follow the law, you waste his ass.
Anne Laurie
@schrodingers_cat: Oh no, I hope you’re feeling better soon!
One minor possibility: since this seems to have gotten worse since your move, maybe you want to talk to your doctor about testing the indoor air? I know it sounds somewhat crystal-bunny, but tightly sealed New England homes in winter can grow some very strange spores. And it doesn’t have to be old moldy basements either — even off-gassing from new wallboard/carpeting/floor sealants can make people who are susceptible for other reasons (like stress!) ill with a range of ugly symptoms….
Barney
Obama Gallup approval figure when he nominated Garland: 51%
Trump for Gorsuch: 45%
Clearly, Trump has no ‘mandate’ to nominate anyone for a lifetime appointment, by Republican standards.
bluegirlfromwyo
@Viva BrisVegas: Let’s go all the way with this. We see that Ted Cruz and other originalists have a point, and we should gradually bring the SCOTUS back to 5. Gets all those elite lawyer types out of Washington and cuts government spending in the bargain. Let them squirm their way out of it. #ownyourshitGOP
DesertFriar
Let’s go one better for the “Originalist”. The Air Force is not mentioned in the Constitution. So the Federal Government should not have one. So the Republicans just “saved” $120.4 Billion by eliminating the Air Force. Bigly! And they just cut 492,000 jobs off of the Federal Government!
Why won’t those Democrats/Liberals do what the Constitution says. SAD!
JDM
I’m gonna go with what the GOP told me last year:
1) we don’t need the Supreme Court to have a full roster
2) any decision should be put off until the American people have their say about who is in the WH
Therefore, we should wait until there’s someone in the WH who got the majority of the votes cast.
pattonbt
Obstruct at all costs. Bide for time. Let the nuclear option happen. The D’s are pretty much doomed the next two years barring 2 or 3 Republican Senators growing morals and ethics (ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha – like that’s going to happen). So might as well make it hard while you can.
The R’s will never negotiate in good faith so no act of partisanship by D’s in the next two years will be rewarded with anything other than a shit sandwich in return. At least go down fighting and hope the fight shown pays dividends in 2 years with the House or Senate flip.
But if the D’s give in on this, it’s the lose lose.
I think the D Senators saying once Garland has had his vote and is seated, they will consider the next pick. No more no less.