McConnell preps new nuclear option to speed Trump judges

[workinclasszero]

The Senate majority leader is moving quickly to confirm appointments to the Circuit and District Courts — likely leaving few vacancies for the next potential Democratic president.

By BURGESS EVERETT and MARIANNE LEVINE 03/06/2019 05:05 AM EST Updated 03/06/2019 07:45 AM EST

President Donald Trump’s stream of judges is about to become a torrent.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his GOP caucus have long prioritized confirming conservative judges to lifetime appointments. But they’re about to accelerate their ability to unilaterally approve many nominees in dramatic fashion.

The Senate is on track to confirm the 34th Circuit Court judge of Trump’s presidency in the next week and the GOP has three more ready for floor action; that would give Trump roughly 20 percent of the Circuit Court seats in the country after just two years in office. At this rate, McConnell and Trump could leave few, if any, vacancies there for a potential Democratic president in 2021.

Even more alarming for Democrats, the GOP is also preparing to pull the trigger on the “nuclear option” and change Senate rules once again with a simple majority to allow much quicker confirmation of lower court judges in the coming months.

“The committee is working to put [judges] out on the floor and as soon as they come to the floor the leader’s making it a priority to move them,” said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, McConnell’s top deputy. “It'll be a high priority for the foreseeable future. I mean, it’s one of the things we can do that we don’t need the House’s help with.”

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/06/trump-mcconnell-judges-1205722

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. The story goes on to say:

Trump currently has 128 District Court vacancies to fill, and each one can take multiple days under current rules if any senator demands a delay; if Republicans change the rules, Trump could conceivably fill most of those over the next 20 months.

“What you could witness under Senator McConnell's leadership is a situation where an incoming president has very, very few open seats to fill,” added Leonard Leo, a conservative legal advocate who frequently advises Republicans on judicial nominations. Still, Democrats say some liberal judges will opt not to retire as long as Trump is president.

In an interview Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) outlined a potential compromise to avoid a “nuclear” clash: Reinstate Democrats’ ability to weigh in on home state Circuit Court nominees via the “blue slip” practice in exchange for bipartisan support for shortening debate on Trump nominees.

“My answer to them is restore the blue slips and then maybe we can come to a compromise,” Schumer said, adding that he had spoken to several GOP senators about it. “They’re eroding democracy, they’re eroding bipartisanship and sooner or later, they’ll regret it.”

[KPN]

12. Schumer is unrealistic. The Rs see a path to

creating semi/permanent control of the nation’s highest courts and he thinks they will compromise basically just to get along. Are you kidding me?

[Baitball Blogger]

2. What other game do they have to play?

[workinclasszero]

4. I'm sure when democrats get control we will play by the rules

So the republicans win in the end.

As with the deficit, Trump's is the largest in history because the GOP got every damn thing they wanted especially the tax cut for billionaires and corporations that pay no taxes!

But when we regain control the GOP and many democrats will demand an austerity budget and the dem POTUS will not dare do anything that could raise the deficit!

Already hearing those voices here, can't do Green New Deal, can't do Medicare for all..can't can't can't!

So............

The f**king republicans WIN AGAIN!

[Docreed2003]

3. Wish you could see my face of non-shock

That fucker isn't lying when he states that his greatest accomplishment is stacking the courts. Mitch doesn't give to shits beyond his own pocketbook and scarring the American judiciary for an entire generation

[maxrandb]

5. At what point does the Dem Majority in the House

just fucking shut the entire fucking country down until the Senate stops this shit?

Every fucking option should be on the table.

- Raising the Debt Ceiling? Fuck that until you restore some sanity in the Senate court approval process

- Passing a Budget? Fuck that until you restore some sanity in the Senate court approval process

- Funding for the courts? Fuck that until you restore some sanity in the Senate court approval process

If we don't restore some comity into the Senate, our country is fucking finished.

[leftynyc]

6. I swear

I want to hit each and every person that didn't vote for Hillary with a fucking brick. And this is why.

[The Truth Is Here]

8. Go ahead, and hit me with a brick

But it still does not solve the problem.

Even if Clinton made it in, she would be stuck with a Republican problem.

[leftynyc]

9. I'll just block you instead n/t

[The Truth Is Here]

10. Whatevs.

Ignoring the problem doesn't make it go away.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

19. we do try to educate

Those who were too foolish or too ignorant to vote for Hillary, we try to educate. Those who were and are too stupid, we just pity.

Educate the electorate.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

14. Which is true. There would now be seven Supreme Court justices. The other two positions

would remain unfilled.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

18. use mudballs and cow manure

A brick gets it over too quickly. They need to do some suffering.

[The Truth Is Here]

7. Why not nuke the whole fucking thing

Then we can begin impeachment proceedings for every judge you passed through after the nukes?

Hint: Every single judge that Trump nominated & confirmed will end up either impeached or resigning.

That will include Boofboy and Gorsuck.

[TwilightZone]

20. "Every single judge that Trump nominated & confirmed will end up either impeached..."

Chances of that happening are zero. We're stuck with most, if not all, of them.

Elections have consequences.

[KPN]

13. So what's our long-term Democratic Party plan to right this

wrong? Do we even have one. Schumer’s tactic (described in the article) is naive. He’s still living in the past. The GOP doesn’t compromise, they steamroll. Get real Chuck!

Maybe we should be investigating McConnell.

[COLGATE4]

15. We will write a stern letter

(which McConnell will use to wipe his ass, once he stops rolling on the floor with laughter)

[bluestarone]

16. I've always thought McTurtle is (one of)the keys to this shit

Nail this fucker! His WHOLE ILLEGAL purpose is to PROTECT RUSSIA and RUMP! He needs to put under extreme pressure through subpoenas!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

17. investigate, indict, imprison, impeach Moscow Mitch

[real Cannabis calm]

21. I recommended this topic because it needs more publicity