General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: What MIGHT Have Dems Done To Stop GOP On The Fillibuster? (title change) [View all]JHB
(38,315 posts)Threatening something down the line is so much hot air. We might do it, when we can, but to bring it up now would have done nothing.
They held up Garland in hopes of getting a conservative-approved nominee under Jeb. By the time Jeb had flamed out and they were looking at Trump, he'd at least offered them a slate of justice nominees hand-picked by the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society. Even when it looked as though Hillary would win the election, they talked about hearing Garland in the lame duck time, because it was after the election, and working with Obama would have less of a price for them than working with Hillary. When Trump got in due to interference, they were free and clear to go with the nominee designed to cater to them.
The Democrats had only one option, and that was complete resistance, even if the enemy overcame it.