Ultimately, it’s up to Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa to decide whether or not to hold a confirmation hearing for President Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court. I’m sure Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has strong opinions about the subject, but it’s really Grassley’s responsibility. </p
Despite this, Grassley just announced that he’s making a phony kind of concession to the Democrats:
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said the Senate Judiciary Committee will have a “full-blown debate” Thursday on whether to hold a hearing on a Supreme Court nomination.
“If you want to hear a full-blown debate on this issue, I think we’ll probably have one before our committee tomorrow while we’re also considering three of four judges and a piece of legislation as well,” he said.
The Judiciary Committee will be considering other routine business tomorrow, including nominations to the U.S. Court of International Trade and the District Court of Hawaii. And they’ll probably have a “full-blown debate” on the SCOTUS nominee. But the committee has 20 members, eleven of whom are Republicans. Even if Ted Cruz doesn’t show up, there’s still a 10-9 advantage for the GOP. So, unless a Republican defects, the refusal to hold a hearing will stand.
And I’m assuming a vote on the matter, but that actually seems unlikely. I expect this to be more in the nature of an argument than a vote.
I’m just wondering if they plan to hold it open for 5 yrs if a Dem is elected and they keep the Senate?
I’m not wondering. Anything for power when it comes to Republicans. They really need the Supreme Court for their voter suppression, too. Scalia’s absence is making me remember exactly how batshit crazy the court had become (massive campaign contributions don’t corrupt? Southern states aren’t racist anymore? redistricting based on registered voters in states deliberately deregistering black voters? WTF?!) . It’s one of those Overton Window-type things – after 10 years of a crazy court (since the Alito appointment) I’d just come to expect that the court was crazy. I’m feeling like I awoke from a bad dream.
Its pretty amazing whats happened already. I hope we can get the rank and file to care about the court composition.
It’s a moot point until Obama nominates someone. Maybe Grassley is trying to force his hand here with his timing.
Republican senators are already threatening serious candidates to not get involved in this food fight. It will reflect on their future.
No justice worth the appointment would give a damn what John Cornyn threatens. I have no doubt that Obama will make their lives hell with his pick.
The problem for their threats is that no judge Obama will appoint would ever be appointed by a Republican president, and if they go to total war by completely obstructing the Constitutional appointment process no judge Obama ever appoint would be confirmed by a Republican Senate either. So basically at this point none of these folks have a chance unless there’s a Democratic president and Democratic Senate, and given that, that don’t want to tick off the Democrats by refusing an appointment.
Also, if the Republicans make this all about politics, even if they refuse to confirm Obama’s candidate, the next Dem president with a Dem Senate will face strong pressure to renominate them. These are all great candidates; it won’t be much of a sacrifice.
A problem with going to total war is that it makes a threat to go to total war ineffective.
I would say that the GOP and Sen. Chuck Grassley have decided to put on a read meat show for their base. This most likely will follow with GOP lies pushed by Speaker Ryan. That there is a precedence for no voting during election time. This will be the GOP’s stance and facts seem to not matter to them.
Attempting to validate a meta-debate that, by precedent, shouldn’t be a debate at all.
In the end, they will lose this fight.
The weak link is Grassley. The secret is not to fight or argue with him, but laugh at him.
He’ll cave. This is the first step back. Once they give a step, each other is easier.
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Called it. A loser place for the GOP to plant its flag. Much like the Terri Schiavo flag planting. Difference is that this time DEM officeholders aren’t cowering in their offices and clutching their pearls. Would prefer a less measured response from President Obama because that doesn’t maximize his advantage in the court of public opinion mostly because the matter is allowed to slide in the consciousness of the public. But it does beat DEM SOP that offers mega-concessions to the GOP to get that matter behind them as quickly as possible.