Americans say by 2-to-1 that Senate should hold hearings on Obama’s Supreme Court nominee

[sofa king]

16. It's possible.

It's possible that the President plans to nominate one or more "red herring" candidates sooner than that, too. Nominating a Republican would be a classic Hobson's choice for the GOP and guaranteed to harm them no matter what they do.

If they refuse to hold hearings on the Republican nominee, Republican voters are disgusted and may stay home on election day, or jump the fence.

If they do hold hearings and, God forbid, the nominee is favorably recommended to the Senate, some hayseed who isn't up for reelection for five years is guaranteed to filibuster it and keep even more voters at home.

That's a dangerous game, though, because if they pull it together and approve the nominee we get screwed. But really, when is the last time 50-plus Republicans demonstrated competence of any sort? I'd bet every penny I don't have on them f^%$ing it up.