General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: BREAKING: President Obama going with Merrick Garland for SCOTUS [View all]zipplewrath
(16,698 posts)The GOP will drag their feet. The will not let this get near an actual floor vote.
That is UNTIL they think they can predict the outcome of the general election. At that point, if it looks like Trump/Hillary is going to appoint someone, they'll make a determination of which one will give them their better choice. If it is Hillary, they'll probably approve whomever Obama appoints, because Hillary will either re-appoint them, or appoint a more liberal choice.
If it is Trump, they'll be concerned that the dems will be in a position to block any "conservative" choice, and so they'll get someone more moderate.
Either way, there is little to be lost by appointing someone both younger and more liberal than this choice. If they get confirmed, it won't be because of who THEY are, but because of who the potential president is. If they don't get confirmed, it's because NO ONE was going to get confirmed.
And quite honestly, it is probably as valuable to us that they make a huge mockery of the whole process because we can use it on the down ticket races to get more seats back in the senate. The GOP have calculated that they could lose the senate with this, in combination with Trump, and they are ready to do that. I think we should take them up on that.