General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says that Dems will block Supreme Court nomination... [View all]Meldread
(4,213 posts)...but really, what other play is there for Democrats here? Democrats can either roll over, sanctioning the theft of a Supreme Court seat, confirm whomever Trump puts forward, or Democrats can go down swinging. Republicans get what they want in the end either way, but by going down swinging at least Democrats can make it painful.
It also sets up what I think should happen next. If Republicans go nuclear there will come a time in the future when Democrats will hold both the Presidency and the Senate. Since Republicans so clearly believe that they are entitled to own a particular number of Supreme Court seats, and they have gone out of their way to make it so partisan, Democrats should not feel obligated to hold to any norms either. It should be very clear that when Democrats hold the Senate and the Presidency again after Republicans go nuclear, that Democrats are going to appoint an equal number of Democratic appointees to the Supreme Court--one for every Republican appointee. Not just to counter whomever Republicans put in to replace Scalia, but for EVERY Republican appointee--that includes Roberts, Alito, Thomas, and Kennedy.
With the nuclear option having been activated, the Democrats will only need 50 votes (plus VP as tie breaker) to get any Democratic Supreme Cout nominee through. This should be the price Democrats make Republicans pay if they go nuclear.