McConnell confirms he would help Trump fill another Supreme Court vacancy in 2020

[MissMillie]

Source: Washington Post

When President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court in 2016, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) refused to consider him, blocking the nominee until after the year’s presidential election.

He said then that “the American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice.” The tactic cost Garland his spot on the court.

With his party now in the White House, McConnell said Tuesday he’d try to push through any nomination that President Trump might make to the high court — even if it comes during an election year. Some saw that stance, which McConnell has signaled before, as disingenuous.



Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/05/29/mcconnell-says-he-would-fill-supreme-court-vacancy/?utm_term=.3671e5350688

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So much for long-standing practice of holding off on SCOTUS nominees in an election year....

[Mike Nelson]

1. Thank you, WP...

... I really needed confirmation on this issue!

[joshdawg]

2. Three of the most dangerous "men" in America:

trump, barr, mcturtle.

They are trying their best to destroy American Democracy.
And the cowardly, spineless, and incompetent republicans in Congress are allowing them to do just that.

[zaj]

4. Complicit not incompetent

[joshdawg]

28. okay, both then.

[zaj]

3. "some"?

WTF kind of disingenuine framing is that?

[DFW]

5. McConnell isn't even trying to pretend any more

He failed to prevent Obama from winning a second term. He has obviously vowed that no lie, no crooked move, no misery caused to people, no embarassment to the country, is too small for him to engage in, as long as it tastes of revenge.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Well said.

[mitch96]

21. "as long as it tastes of revenge."

He will do anything to sink a Dem.. The hell with the country, it's Party first.. Very evidant by his Derapaska/Vitter deal... Get rid of russian sanctions, Vitter helps (now lobbyist)Derapaska now opens a Aluminum plant in...... where else?? KENTUCKY...McTurttle OK's Vitters wife for a permanent judgeship... Pay to play politics, stop anything that smacks of a Democratic Idea. uffda
m

[Kurt V.]

7. this admission makes the case for the next dem pres to add SCOTUS seats.

[gademocrat7]

8. Mcturdle is a very evil man.

He has no interest in upholding his oath of office. His mantra is party above country.

[Guilded Lilly]

9. McConnell has been arrogantly high on his power for a decade...

and gleefully brags (then acts on) about how he will single-handedly change the rules to suit his personal quest to be the most powerful, corrupt bastard against democracy in Washington.
He is a blatant and manipulative traitor.

[blueinredohio]

10. Why do dems let McConnell change the rules?

[watoos]

15. Watch out, you're going to get in trouble, tread softly.

[mcar]

19. How did Dems let him change the rules?

[blueinredohio]

24. Any other time a supreme court justice dies they are replaced fairly soon.

The seat For such filled was empty for a long time because McConnell says you shouldn't replace them in an election year. Now he says he'll replace a judge in an election year should something happen. Changing the rules.

[mcar]

26. I am, of course, aware of what McConnell did

I'm curious as to why you are blaming Democrats for it. What, specifically, could they have done?

[onenote]

25. What "rules"?

There are no rules requiring the Senate to act on a presidential nomination. There was a norm that action would be taken but the Repubs don’t abide by norms anymore

[blueinredohio]

27. I just thought there was precedent for this and

wondered why McConnell got away with it. Evidently you do whatever you want.

[JackInGreen]

11. Youd think that "I only actually work when we run shit'

Would be, I dunno, tantamount to derilicting your duty or breaking your oath of office.

[rickyhall]

12. The People need a way to remove/recall a senator

[MissMillie]

14. They've got it

but it's up to the people of KY to make the recall of McConnell, which is not likely.

[lordsummerisle]

16. The senate has the power to censure and expel one of its members

not sure if that is a law or a senate rule...

[rickyhall]

30. But The People, the majority, have nothing.

[Lucky Luciano]

13. If the Dems win the presidency, but not the senate, there will be no confirmations...

...if a liberal judge retires. They will then have a 5-3 advantage. Game over.

[watoos]

17. Harry Reid used the nuclear option in 2013

because Republicans were abusing the filibuster. President Obama couldn't get federal judges and cabinet positions approved because of the 60 vote threshold. McConnell said that Democrats would come to regret that move, how prophetic he was when Republicans took back control of the Senate. McConnell used the nuclear option on SC nominees to get Neil Gorsuch approved. Now SC nominees only need 51 votes and Republicans control the Senate.

There is no long standing practice of holding off on SCOTUS nominees in an election year, 6 have been confirmed.

[MissMillie]

18. I knew that the practice (or "tradition") didn't exist

I believe those were McConnell's words, and I was calling him on it.

[mitch96]

22. "McConnell used the nuclear option on SC nominees to get Neil Gorsuch approved"

So if 2020 is a democratic senate, could we not just do the same thing? 51 votes and they are in...
Better yet if we get the house/senate and prez in 2020.. That's my dream..VOTE HIM OUT.
m

[beachbum bob]

20. as if this is a surprise? Need to go full blown charges of racism at McConnel now and his enablers

call it for what it is

[TeamPooka]

23. We need to destroy Mitch

[truthisfreedom]

29. Hate. Hate incarnate.

[itcfish]

31. Who, on the USSC is retiring

in 2020? Or is McConnell planning on killing a justice?

[MissMillie]

32. As far as I know

none of them have announced plans to retire.

However, McConnell was asked what he would do IF there were a vacancy. It wasn't as though he just offered up his statement; he got the question.

[itcfish]

33. Thank you

n/t