Democrats wary of appearing to push Justice Breyer out despite their small window to replace him

[DonViejo]

By Ariane de Vogue, Manu Raju and Phil Mattingly, CNN
Published 5:00 AM EDT, Thu May 6, 2021

(CNN) — Senior Democrats are treading carefully around Justice Stephen Breyer these days, worried that a progressive push to get him to retire could either anger him or come off as overtly political – in either case potentially dashing their hopes of getting a young new liberal on the Supreme Court in his place.

The clock is ticking for the party, because the Senate could fall into Republican hands during the midterm elections next year – or, actually, at any moment. Two members of the Democratic majority are near or just over 80 years old, and they hail from a state where a Republican governor would name their replacement if they weren’t able to serve.

But Breyer – at age 82 the senior liberal on the Supreme Court – is keen on keeping the high court free of political influence. And at a moment when a Democratic president gets to nominate any new justice, and Democrats hold the Senate’s tie-breaking vote on confirmation, an open campaign to squeeze him out could have the opposite of the intended effect.

The art of persuasion: How past presidents have tried to nudge Supreme Court justices off the bench
So while many congressional Democrats admit the ticking clock is on their minds, multiple sources tell CNN, they’re almost all keeping a studiously respectful distance.

more
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/06/politics/breyer-democrats-retirement-talk/index.html

[USAFRetired_Liberal]

1. He needs to go!

[genxlib]

2. Controlling the situation

Such that Republicans don't get their hands on that seat IS an act of keeping the Court from becoming even more political.

[EarlG]

3. You know, if he retired tomorrow

Republicans would be like, "We can't appoint a new Supreme Court Justice the year before a mid-term election."

[Hugh_Lebowski]

4. This is frustrating (nt)

[aocommunalpunch]

5. LMAO

Dems seem to be nothing but “wary” these days. Media always paints em on the defensive and the public laps it up.