No Independent Commission to investigate Trump Team ties to Russia? No Gorsuch confirmation vote

[Tom Rinaldo]

This should now be a firm non negotiable Democratic position. No more business as usual when Republicans are using their investigatory powers blatantly, inappropriately, in support of what increasingly appears to be a coverup.

Government can not function when the very basis for it is now seriously called into question. Democrats should draw that clear linkage, and use that as a fundamental basis to not "consider Gorsuch on his merits" at this time. A filibuster on principle is now the only responsible position that Democrats can take at least until there is a consensus impartial means established to get to the heart of the questions surrounding the Trump Administration and their potentially illegal activities, both before and after the election.

If the Republican Chairperson of the House Intelligence Committee can shed any pretense of regular order and bipartisanship, Democrats must use all tools possible to see that a true and impartial investigation of Trump's team occurs.and that includes their participation in any Supreme Court confirmation procedures. These matters should now be directly linked, and all Democratic Senators should take that position regardless of what they may otherwise individually feel about possibly confirming Gorsuch - Blue Dogs in Red States included.

[spanone]

1. they should use every tool in the box.

[tazkcmo]

2. No Deal.

We get both. We do not negotiate with terrorists.

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. I am sugesting that any consideraton of any vote on Gorsuch be ruled out now immediately...

based solely on the critical impasse over the need for a true and honest investigation. That still leaves open the option (which you can call "necessity&quot for Democrats to ultimately still filibuster Gorsuch on the merits of his case. This roadblock should go up now regardless, because of the constitutional crisis we are in. It in no way rules out a filibuster later being launched based on issues related to Gorsuch himself.

[tazkcmo]

4. ok

And I'm saying Independent Prosecutor and filibuster Gorsuch regardless of what the GOPee does, says or thinks. Your OP comes across as: if this/then that which reads like a negotiation. If I'm misreading it, I apologize.

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. No problem.

There was room in what I wrote for you to not be sure what I meant. As you may have read from another OP of mine, I am somewhat conflicted about how we should ultimately relate to Democratic Senators in Red State who choose not to filibuster Gorsuch. I won't get into that again here. I support those calling for a fiibuster. I know your position is very clear on all this, and I know your reasons for that clarity are strong.

Here I am not calling for a negotiation. It is simple and clear cut. Any and all consideration of Gorsuch by any Democrat should cease immediately - whether or not individual Senators have or have not finished their deliberation process. Because we need a select committee investigation of this Administration. Period. No promises made about how Gorsuch might be dealt with later. We should all be united on that. Establish an independent commission and then Democrats can move on to deciding Gorsuch's fate - with a filibuster very much still in play.

[tazkcmo]

7. Thank you for your summation.

Indeed we are on the same page. I agree 100%. Forward!

[SickOfTheOnePct]

6. It would be short and good show

and Gorsuch will still be on the court.

Not that it shouldn't be done, but it won't matter.

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. A good show yes, and a dramatic clear way to make an important dramatic point

We need an independent investigatory body without partisan posturing to determine whether or not serious crimes against our nation have been committed. There should be nothing controversial about that, their conclusions would not be preordained, just definitive. Our nation needs that. Any platform Democrats can use to drive that point home should be used. These clearly are not normal times. We can not proceed as if we were. A Supreme Court nomination is high drama in both substance and in form. These dramas, an FBI investigation of collusion with a foreign power, and the filling of a vacancy on the Supreme Court, should fall under the same spotlight. No movement on one without the other. Link them explicitly.

I agree with you that barring some extremely fast breaking dramatic news that Gorsuch will end up on the Court regardless. But the show is more important than ever now. It helps bring the big picture into focus and makes an ultimate coverup that much harder to sustain.

[flamingdem]

8. We get both, NO on Gorsuch, how the hell can an illegally elected party get their pick

and impact all of us for decades to come.

Just say NO