John Cornyn just said the GOP would eliminate the filibuster to approve a Drumpf SCOTUS pick

[DemocratSinceBirth]

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Of course they will, they will do it to end Soc Sec and Medicare also.

no question about it.

[Solly Mack]

2. Of course.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. Does that mean we are without options?

[Solly Mack]

6. Congressional Democrats can fight them over it.

But in the end, the GOP has the numbers.

[geek tragedy]

9. We raise holy hell, but elections have consequences.

all we can do really is impose political pain on them

[Initech]

3. God damn them!!!!

So traitor Mitch McConnell denied Obama a SCOTUS pick for an entire year because they don't want to give up control, and now they're going to further ignore the constitution? And they expect us to play nice? Fuck that shit!!!!

[Freethinker65]

4. Then the Democrats better make them do it.

[Longtime lurker 99]

14. Yep

[msongs]

7. democrats eliminated the fillibuster on other nominees. now the job will be finished nt

[herding cats]

8. They're not going to be in power forever.

I'm not sure if they're this stupid, or not.

[JudyM]

13. Their philosophy seems to be grab all you can whenever you can. Not forward-thinkers, that lot.

[herding cats]

22. It would appear they're about to get it all.

For the next two generations, anyway.

[JudyM]

23. Yeah.

This article gave me a little hope today, though, maybe there's something to it ... see what you think: https://shift.newco.co/https-medium-com-peteleyden-why-trumps-inauguration-is-not-the-beginning-of-an-era-but-the-end-72a86833f0a3#.bi6y549vd

[herding cats]

25. I don't know.

I had my own hopes, too, but that article doesn't figure in the Supreme Court and it was written without assuming they'd remove the filibuster.

I'm deeply worried, and I'm not seeing a pretty outcome here.

[JudyM]

27. We have to keep supporting the media outlets that are running herd on this, give them a lot

of retweets/forwards/kudos when they stand up to it. It feels like we are on the brink of something with them, if they can stick it out and not fall back asleep.

[yeoman6987]

32. If our party was forward thinking none of those appointees would be in the cabinet

They'd need 60 and democratic senators would have more say but judges except Supreme Court and appointees were changed in 2013 by the democratic senators. They were supposed to get the majority this last election. Both parties take risks.

[JudyM]

33. Right. Hopefully we have learned how to play ball with the ruffians now.

[DFW]

16. They probably figure solidifying a right wing Supreme Court is worth it

Their buddy PUTUS can supply the small quantities of Polonium or something with even a shorter half life, knock off Bader-Ginsburg and Breyer, and then they nominate and ram through two fifty-ish right wing ideologues. Voilà! An extremist right wing Supreme Court for the next twenty years, ready to bless every right wing court challenge to any reforms a Democratic president might try to implement, even with a friendly Senate and House. Remember Citizens United? Five to four in their favor, but it permitted them to pour enough dirty money into the races of 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016--three our of four of which we got our asses handed to us even with more people sharing our views than theirs.

I used to hear the derision of some erstwhile political allies in the six months prior to the election: sure, sure, the Supreme Court. Is that ALL you got? I used to answer, no, but it's all we'll have if the next president is a Republican. Their answer to that was, "yeah, yeah, you're just another die-hard Hillary supporter." Until she was the nominee, I wasn't, but after the Convention? You had better believe it. Events since last Friday, plus events that will occur in the next four to eight weeks should make this clearer, just in case it isn't already. Two more Scalia clones deciding on voting rights, abortion rights, civil rights and human rights instead of two Ruth Bader-Ginsburg clones. Put THAT in your conscience and smoke it.

Abolishing the filibuster entirely will mean the party that controls the Senate, if it controls the White House, controls most of the nation. Whatever this might mean for the next Democratic President, if the Senate is not to become a rubber-stamp body, this safety switch must be left open.

[herding cats]

21. What you're saying makes sense in our current political climate.

When I stop and think about it, a properly padded SC would also help ensure racial driven gerrymandering, voter ID laws and and potential further infringements on the right of American's to vote. It's a veritable blank check, legally speaking, which could assure Republican control of many areas for the life of those currently elected. I won't go into my vision of the country by the end of that period, I'll just say bleak doesn't do it justice.

I ran into several of those, "is that all you've got" types when explaining why a protest vote was a terrible idea. In many ways they reminded me of Trump supporters. They were so blinded by their own limited and flawed perceptions that they were literally willing to vote themselves into a future of living hell. You couldn't reason with them about how all our gains for the past 50 years will be undone, they simply refused to hear it. Now we're all up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

[JudyM]

28. I haven't lost hope in our new Senate leadership yet. They may be up to the task where

Reid wasn't.

It seems they know what's happening and are willing to get much smarter than they've been. Frankly, the fact that Bernie has a voice in strategy discussions is a comfort, at least to me. He has a broader view of how to get us out of this mess, and we all need to actually participate to make it work. It's going to be a huge struggle but that doesn't mean it's hopeless.

[DFW]

34. Much as I appreciated him, Reid should have retired after his stroke

Not from the Senate, but as minority leader. This is position that requires a 24/7 fighter. Just ask the Republicans. I don't see where Bernie has a view to get us out of this mess. I see him as having a view of what do once we do get out of this mess--if we ever do. McTurtle is no idiot, knows his way around the Senate as well anyone, and he'll be expecting most any move Schumer can make. After all, he spent years making them himself. We have a lot riding on Schumer's skill as a tactician.

[JudyM]

35. 1. Getting people activated has potential to effectively reshape what the Rs try to push through.

2. Working through amendments to reshape legislation is Sanders' other forté.

He's a sharp guy who knows his way around McConnell. He's not snowed and cowed like Reid was; he doesn't underestimate their depravity. He has no one to answer to except his constituents who trust him enough to give him a lot of leeway. And he now has the attention of both the larger electorate and the press.

[uponit7771]

31. After Russia I'm not too sure of that

[dalton99a]

10. And the fascist takeover of all branches is complete

as expected

[Wellstone ruled]

11. This will be the move that ends

two party Elections. Talk about dysfunctional Senate . Never to return as a deliberation body of Congress.

[crazycatlady]

12. 202-224-2934

[LeftInTX]

17. I just contacted Mr. Corny about Trump and his media black outs!!!

If he says something I don't think he is the person to contact. I think it should be vulnerable R senators.

[crazycatlady]

20. The only people they have to listen to is their constituent

Judging from your SN, you are one of his. Google "indivisible guide" to get tips from former COngressional staffers.

We need to blow up their phone lines. The only senators I'm to call are Cory Booker and Bob Menendez. A vulnerable R senator wouldn't listen to me or you.

[C_U_L8R]

15. I don't think this GOP overreach will end well... for them

Their grasp on power is based on deceit, manipulation and pure republican bullshit.
Even if they hold on for a generation, anything this corrupt cannot last.
The GOP may collapse on its toxicity or it may take an uprising of good people.
But history shows over and over that fascist tyrants often end up
hanging by their heels in the public square.

[napi21]

19. OH YEAH! I volunteer to buy the cable to hang 'em on and the leather strap to wrap their

ankles. I need help with wrapping 'em and hoisting 'em on the cable though.

[rzemanfl]

26. Piano wire and meat hooks. n/t

[LeftInTX]

18. Contact your R senators about this

I won't bother with Cornball, he has already made up his mind.

[adigal]

24. We need to start protesting these senators' houses - make them uncomfortable

Just like they did to Pelosi some years back. Im in.

[Trust Buster]

29. Then let them go ahead and do it. Are chance will come again and they won't be able to stop us.

[Captain Stern]

30. He said what?!? That's shocking!....Well, is it really?

They've got the House, Senate, and Presidency now. They're going to do whatever the hell they want to. That's where we are at right now.