Republicans Rebel As Mitch McConnell’s Decision To Block SCOTUS Nominee Backfires

[babylonsister]

http://www.politicususa.com/2016/03/15/republicans-rebel-mitch-mcconnells-decision-block-scotus-nominee-backfires.html


Republicans Rebel As Mitch McConnell’s Decision To Block SCOTUS Nominee Backfires

By Sarah Jones on Tue, Mar 15th, 2016 at 4:31 pm

Faced with angry voters who want them to do their jobs, the jobs the voters are paying them to do, which includes as a basic confirming Supreme Court nominees, Republicans are at a loss as to justify and sell McConnell's big lie.

snip//

McConnell has dumped his Republican Senators in the middle of his big lie about how there is no need to even hold a hearing for this incorrectly and offensively implied “illegitimate” President’s Supreme Court nominee. Faced with angry voters who want them to do their jobs, the jobs the voters are paying them to do, which includes as a basic confirming Supreme Court nominees, Republicans are at a loss as to justify and sell McConnell’s big lie.

A rebellion is brewing in the Senate. A few tidbits from a round-up sent by Senator Harry Reid’s office:

Former NRSC Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS): “That decision has already been made,” Moran told the NLJ on Monday. “If the president nominates somebody, I’ll consider them by my constitutional responsibilities, but it’s my understanding there will be no hearings, there will be no meetings.”

http://bit.ly/22izAZB

Senate Republican Conference Vice Chairman Roy Blunt (R-MO): “I certainly wouldn’t mind voting on the nominee that the President has.”

http://bit.ly/1S1OaQc

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI): “I’m not in charge of the process.”

http://bit.ly/1XsCbN6

Republican Senator to the Hill: “What’s the Point of Falling On Our Swords”

http://bit.ly/1XsCbN6

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

SMERCONISH: It’s frustrating because I say, you know, there’s got to be more respect shown for the office than to say we don’t care who you send us.

HATCH: Well, you’re saying that we got to accept anybody this president sends up —

SMERCONISH: No, I’m not. No, I’m not. I’m saying have the dignity to welcome —

HATCH: Yes, you are, you’re saying —

SMERCONISH: — the person into your office and hear them out.

HATCH: I would if we haven’t made the decision that we shouldn’t play a game here and let them know where we are and we’re going to put it over until next year.

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1602/27/smer.01.html

snip//


Republicans have been obstructing Obama because they thought they would get to pick the next SCOTUS. Whatever gave them that idea based on the cage match style debates they’ve been having or their polls is anyone’s guess. But now that Donald Trump is running away with the Republican nomination, it’s obvious to anyone with more than a single cell working, that Republicans will not be making the next SCOTUS nomination. Now they are nervous because they fear Hillary Clinton’s choice, they would rather be stuck with Obama’s choice than Hillary’s.

Republicans will be lucky if they don’t lose the House that they thought they had gerrymandered into safety for the next decade. What can we say, except “You built that.”

[villager]

1. I certainly hope you're right about them losing the house. nt

[Kelvin Mace]

2. They are not going to cave

They would get slaughtered at the polls.

[gratuitous]

4. I think they've painted themselves into a corner

If the Senate Republicans hold firm on refusing to consider any nominee, a large majority of voters aren't going to like it. If they decide to hold hearings after all, they're going to alienate their whackadoo base, the very voters they're pandering to with their obstructionist ways.

The real problem for Senate Republicans is that they have a horrible record of accomplishments to fall back on regardless of which way they eventually go on a Supreme Court nominee. The standard political line to the base or the undecideds is "Well yes, we may not have delivered on Issue W like you wanted, but look at Issues X, Y, and Z! We really came through for the American people there!"

[2naSalit]

3. ...