The Politics Thread

[Vee]

The only options are to take them both and then remake the courts. That's it. You will not find four GOP votes against replacing now. Do not waste time.

[wingwalker]

I think we a total of 4 GOP senators.  Romney is a good bet and according to twitter, he already joined Lisa Lisa Murkowski, though I can't 100% confirm.   Susan Collins is actually probably a good bet, not because she all of a sudden has a spine, but because she's about loose her job. Making the same promise is probably only hail marry that might save her. With those 3, if my math is correct, it makes it 50-50 and Pence can cast the tie breaking vote.  We'll need one more. 

 

 

 

 

[Wendy]

If Collins is trying to SAVE her seat, as she is a Republican, she won't join Romney/Murkowski. And even if she did, there would need to be a 4th. And good luck with that.

[sivad40]

RIP to RBG. Why did RBG retire when Obama asked her to?

[Juliajms]

My guess is she still felt healthy enough to do her job. Who could have imagined the hell that was coming our way? If you think many people here did, go look back at this thread circa fall 2016. I remember being so sure people could not possibly be stupid or evil enough to vote in Trump.

[wingwalker]

 

She's a senator from Maine, not Alabama. The main reason she's polling about 8 point behind is because Maine voters hated that she voted for Kavanaugh and didn't vote to impeach Trump. She can't afford to cast another vote like that before election day. 

 

While I do think getting 4 GOP senators is more possible than people think it is, the best plan is to ensure Biden wins and Dems take back the Senate. They can up the SCOTUS to 11 seats if need be and deal with the fallout later. 

[DramatistDreamer]

There are no words.

[ReddFoxx]

The gauntlet will be thrown down if this appointment is jammed through and the court will be expanded if Biden wins the presidency and Democrats win the Senate. The filibuster will be gone and DC and Puerto Rico will be admitted to the union.

[Juliajms]

Not that there was any doubt.

[Juliajms]

This was on CNN's blog. Not sure I trust them to stick to it:

 

Here is a list of four Republicans senators who have said they will oppose a vote before the election:

1. Maine Sen. Susan Collins told the New York Times, “I think that’s too close, I really do."
2. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski in September said, "Fair is fair," and she would not vote to replace RBG before the election."
3. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham in October 2018 said, "If an opening comes in the last year of President Trump's term, and the primary process has started, we'll wait to the next election. And I've got a pretty good chance of being the Judiciary [Chairman]. Hold the tape." 
4. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley said in July he would follow the Biden rule, "I'm just following what was established by the Biden Rule in 1986 and then emphasized by him in 1992... They set the pattern. I didn't set the pattern. But it was very legitimate that you can't have one rule for Democratic presidents and another rule for Republican presidents."

[sivad40]

I will bet that RBG's replacement with be nominated and confirmed within a month from now.

[Khan]

Even if Biden were to win and the Democrats were to take back the Senate, I really doubt they will move to expand the SC.

 

Face it: a Biden/Democrats victory now means zilch to the nation.

Edited September 19, 2020 by Khan

[Vee]

That's not remotely true and it's not helpful, and I'm not coming here to hear it from anyone.

 

 

 

[Juliajms]

This is one more blow in a horrific year. All day long people have been wishing each other happy new year. Then to listen to the Rosh Hashana services tonight when I knew most of the people "there" didn't even know what had happened was especially galling to me. Just the sheer optimism some people have amazes me and I certainly do not share it, not even be for this calamity.

 

Still, Biden winning does absolutely matter to the nation. It matters to the Muslims who can't have family visit, to the refugees who can't get in, to the women and children in camps on our border, where god alone knows what offenses against humanity are being committed. I could go on and on, but this is no time to give up.

[Wendy]

Crowd in front of the Supreme Court, chanting "Honor her wish!"

 

 

And I guess a "Ditch Mitch or Die Trying!" fund has now passed the $8 million mark.

 

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/getmitch