Obstruction Works
February 1, 2017 By Taegan Goddard
First Read: A year ago, it was Senate Republicans refusing to even grant a hearing to Barack Obamas Supreme Court pick, and Democrats complaining of obstruction. And now the roles are reversed: Senate Democrats are vowing to filibuster Gorsuchs nomination, while Republicans are the ones demanding a fair hearing
But heres the reality of things in the U.S. Senate: 100% obstruction works, and the offending party pays almost no price. (You could argue that, in 2012, Mitt Romney paid a price for GOP obstructionism, but the senators and congressmen never did.) Thats how Republicans won in the 2010 and 2014 midterms, and how theyre on the brink of replacing Antonin Scalia with Neil Gorsuch instead of Merrick Garland. And its why Democrats will probably dig their heels here, even if it will be difficult (if not impossible) to deny Gorsuch confirmation.
Jonathan Chait: Democrats have an extremely simple choice. They can make McConnell abolish the filibuster, or wait for the day when McConnell attacks them for doing it. It is McConnell, his extraordinary blockade tactic, who has functionally changed the rules of the game. He should be forced to do it in name.
###
https://politicalwire.com/2017/02/01/obstruction-works-senate/