After blocking even so much as a hearing on former President Barack Obama’s SCOTUS pick, Merrick Garland, Republicans are now in a tizzy over the fact that Senate Democrats are flexing their filibuster muscles. President Stephen Bannon Donald Trump is set to announce his SCOTUS nominee tonight, but don’t expect a confirmation right away.
‘This Is A Stolen Seat’
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) is among several senators who are finally showing some backbone against the encroaching fascism coming from the Trump administration. Politico reported Sen. Merkley as saying:
“This is a stolen seat. This is the first time a Senate majority has stolen a seat. We will use every lever in our power to stop this.”
Though Senate rules were changed a while back to remove the possibility of filibuster for most executive nominees, Supreme Court nominees are still subject to the filibuster (case in point: Merrick Garland).
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) reminded her Twitter audience of this fact on Sunday night:
Remember this week when Supreme Ct nominee is announced, vote threshold is SIXTY votes, different from the 51 vote margin w/other nominees
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) January 30, 2017
And Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has reportedly said that:
“…He will fight ‘tooth and nail’ any nominee who isn’t ‘mainstream.'”
The Staggering Hypocrisy Of The GOP
After blocking Merrick Garland for nearly a year (his nomination expired on Jan. 3, 2017), the Republicans now have their panties in a bunch over the fact that the Democrats are promising to do the exact same thing.
This, after McConnell said last summer:
“One of my proudest moments was when I looked at Barack Obama in the eye and said, ‘Mr. President, you will not fill this Supreme Court vacancy.'”
Forget the fact that Obama had every right to fill that vacancy. Forget the fact that Republicans shat all over the Constitution with their blocking of Merrick Garland and the new administration seems determined to continue shitting all over it with every move they make.
And, of course, Trump is fully expecting the Senate Republicans to invoke the “nuclear option” if the Senate Democrats filibuster his nominee, whoever that may be.
Folks, it’s time to call your senators.
Featured image via screenshot from YouTube video
