by Robert Reich:'Don't fall into the trap of debating Gorsuch's credentials
or his ideology. That normalizes the Trump presidency.
Instead, insist that no vote be made on Gorsuch until Trumps legitimacy as a president is established. Which means the Senate intelligence committee and F.B.I. must first conclude that Russian operatives were not responsible for Trumps electoral victory, Trump must reveal his taxes, and he must put his assets into a blind trust.
Mitch McConnell wouldnt even permit a vote on Obamas pick, Merrick Garland, on the ground that Obamas term would end in 10 months. Here, we have a president whose term itself may not be legitimate.
A Supreme Court pick is the most important nomination a president can make, affecting how the Constitution and laws are interpreted, and potentially affecting generations to come. There should be no cloud over the legitimacy of the president who makes such a pick.
Senate Democrats (and responsible Senate Republicans) have two tools: They can filibuster, and not produce the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster (which means, of no Republicans break ranks, they'd need 8 Democrats to join them). Or, if Senate Republicans use the "nuclear" option and alter the Senate rules requiring cloture and allow Trump's pick to proceed with 51 votes, Democrats should vote against consent orders to proceed with the nomination.'
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