Why is filibustering this potential judge better

[babylonsister]

than just saying no?

I want to know why that's not allowed given the current climate.

Dems filibustering isn't a sure thing Gorsuch won't be elected.

dt is under federal investigation. Why isn't that enough to call a halt to this?

[SharonAnn]

1. The GOP controls the Senate. A Filibuster is the way to say "no".

[babylonsister]

3. How about refusing to rule on this?

I'd prefer that. And maybe it'd be setting a precedent, but do that, too.

I don't want a sliver of an option of this guy getting on the SC.

[herding cats]

9. We don't have the numbers.

I'm not speaking of defections, but raw numbers.

They have the majority, and as such control the process. They have the majority on the committee to bring this to a full senate vote. It's not called the "power of committee" for nothing. Being in the majority gives you MUCH more power. They also have the majority vote locked in the senate, which means our only option is a filibuster.

They may go nuclear, if so we lose that option, too. They may live to regret it, but who knows with them now? I suspect there's plans in the works for at least one other conservative SC judge to step down this summer. Clarence Thomas is my guess. So, they'll get two slots (three if Ginsburg has any health issues over the next 4 years) to fill and just may consider it worth it. They're gambling they'd own the court for another full 20- 30 years . It's not a bad gamble if you look at it from their perspective.

Basically, were screwed and can't actually prevent them from seating judges like they did President Obama. It's all about who wields the power of committee, and they have all the power now. Not just the power of Congress like before, but the pen to approve their nefarious deeds in the POTUS.

If they can prop Trump up long enough to get their judges seated, which is their goal, our country as we know it won't exist for decades to come. Let's pretend they don't reduce even further the voters rights to cast their ballots to a point Dems can be elected (remember, the SCOTUS is who has kept their attempts in check so far) the SCOTUS will be in charge of all the challenges to laws attempted by Democrats in the future.

It's really quite the pickle we've gotten ourselves into. Sadly, we can't just obstruct our way out of it because he have nothing but the filibuster to restrain them, and they know that all too well.

[Hortensis]

10. Excellent explanation. But the long-term doomsday scenario...

160 million voters aren't doing to descend into something a lot more like third-world existence than the various personalized versions of Ozzie and Harriet most want for themselves and their children.

Disaster that hurts the voting classes enough would force changes. Unfortunately, too many have to feel it personally to wake up. The Great Depression was the kick in the butt to voters that gave us FDR's New Deal, Truman's Fair Deal, LBJ's Great Society and much more.

1929 crash. 1932 Republicans out, FDR in. 1933 the beginning of a very long list of progressive actions to repair and advance.

That conservative-engineered disaster lead to 50 years of liberal progressive dominance. Ozzie and Harriet, including rise of black and other minority group middle classes.

Avoiding a redux is the Republicans' dilemma. They technically have the power to dismantle Social Security and Medicare, eliminate most federal taxes, civil rights and labor laws, roll the clock back to 1920. But HOW to accomplish this while they can without destroying themselves for decades?

And that would include a constitutional amendment to fix a hard-right SCOTUS by instituting term limits. A large majority of voters already believe it is needed, and le deluge hasn't even hit yet.

[babylonsister]

11. Thanks for that logical explanation. nt

[FBaggins]

2. Of course it's "allowed"

You just need 51 senators to vote against his confirmation.

[MFM008]

4. It is the only tool

We have at the moment..
If turtle head does the nuke option
Sure that gets Gorsuch on the bench but they had better
Stay in power forever because WHEN we get senate back and we will, the pendulum ALWAYS swings back, they will regret it.
Especially if it's next year.
Especially if it involves
IMPEACHMENT.

[uponit7771]

5. +1, The KGOP can ram through laws all they want but if they FULLY nuke the filibuster they're asses

... are grass and dems are lawn mowers if they get back in power (sans Russia)

[babylonsister]

6. Gorsuch on the bench should not be an option, period. nt

[forgotmylogin]

7. Because Trump is under FBI investigation.

We can't let Trump make a lifetime appointment if it turns out his entire administration is invalid.

And because McTurtle already set the precedent that it's not critical for the SC to have all nine seats filled - it's a political option.

[HoneyBadger]

8. What they might do is take Gorsuch off the table and filibuster a harder conservative instead

More of a Ted Cruz. Lot of moving parts in this scenario.