What's the worst that could happen with a filibuster of Alito??

[kentuck]

The people would turn against the Democrats in November's election? The Republicans would bring out their "nuclear option"? They could get someone worse to take his place? Alito's wife attacks Joe Biden with a butcher knife?

[LoKnLoD]

1. Dimson

will declare that he can make a recess appointment of a Supreme Court justice because of National Security?

[TahitiNut]

3. I don't believe a SCOTUS Justice has ever gotten a recess appointment.

That'd be another firestorm at Junior's door. Supreme Court vacancies aren't that critical and often last far longer than a Senate recess.

Nonetheless, the outcome of that would still be BETTER than merely rolling over and letting him in by a 55-45 party line vote. He'd still be subject to the consent of the next session of the Senate at which time his appointment would EXPIRE, lacking confirmation.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

On edit: I'm wrong. Fifteen Supreme Court Justices began their tenure with a recess appointment, the most recent being Justice Potter Stewart in 1958 (Eisenhower).

[lindisfarne]

4. The recess appt thing briefly crossed my mind and I dismissed it,

thinking of course, SC justices can't be recess appointed. I can't believe that they actually can (although at least such an appointment has a limited term).

[LoKnLoD]

6. I forgot the

:sarcasm:

:)

[Rageneau]

2. The worst happens when Dems roll over -- not when they fight.

The worst thing they could do is NOT filibuster.

I really don't think the Rethugs will resort to the 'nuclear' option now that it looks that a Democrat takeover of Congress is possible. They'd be looking down the barrel of a shotgun.

[BlueIris]

5. For the record, there are fewer nominees "worse" than Alito.

I think they'd probably go with Brown next, but--the fact that I don't personally think Hatch managed to find yet another person as slavishly indebted to the Right as Alito is makes me want all necessary steps taken to stop him.