Posted on 09/30/2023 9:02:36 AM PDT by MagillaX
Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s death at 90 creates a vacancy on the powerful Judiciary Committee. Democrats could need 60 votes to replace her, leaving controversial judicial nominees in limbo until then.
Senate Republicans are signaling they won't try and block Feinstein's committee seats from being filled. Back in April, Republicans blocked Democrats from appointing a temporary replacement for Feinstein as she was ailing with shingles and unable to return to Washington for months.
"Under the circumstances, it's kind of follow whatever the precedent is," Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) said Friday.
Typically when a seat is vacant there is no fight about allowing vacant committee seats to be filled. Committee appointments are often done by unanimous consent.
Rules of replacement: If any Republicans were to object to a UC request, Democrats would need 60 votes to appoint a senator to fill Feinstein’s role on the Judiciary panel, meaning at least 10 Republicans would need to vote in favor of filling Democrats’ majority on the panel, assuming they move to do so before someone is appointed to the California Senate seat.
Senators are typically assigned to committees by unanimous consent, but such orders are subject to debate and can be filibustered. Republican senators could slow, or stop, Democrats from filling the Judiciary roster.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
-PJ
I thought Gruesome Newsom had promised the Cauliphonyan “reparations” crowd a black female Senator.
now that she is dead, who will bring surprise letters, she has had for months, to the committee hearings and spring them on everyone at the last minute, when there is no time to investigate.
Filibuster until January 2025.
Linda may help, too.
If anything, with respect to legislation, confirmations etc. THIS should be Republicans’ first priority. NOT ONE confirmation of a leftist judge. And, but that I mean ANY Democrat nominee. Screw this working across the aisle. Democrats have declared war on Americans.
McConnell should ask himself, “What would Schumer do?” if the roles were reversed and President Trump had a SCOTUS nomination to fill?
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It remains to be seen what McConnell will do on this matter. I fully understand that McConnell is persona non grata on FR. However, on the matter of Supreme Court nominations he scores a A.
He boldly blocked Obama from installing Merrick Garland in 2020, eventually giving the country Neil Gorsich instead. Next, he relentlessly maneuvered to ensure that Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barret were installed while Trump was still in office, in the face of toxic Democrat and media resistance.
I for one will always appreciate his efforts on those particular battles.
He’s not appointing any of the candidates so that narrows the field sightly. Could appoint the Sec of State and then appoint a new Sec of State. She just got re-elected but is in her mid 70s.
That horrible creature is finally dead
The issue comes down to minority power in the Senate and the differing philosophies by the two parties on how to wield power.
McConnell is wrapped up in tradition and the "sanctity" of the Senate. This is why he has a history of Democrats reneging on deals with him.
Schumer is all about raw power by any means necessary. Senate traditions are a useful tool to Schumer when he can use them to manipulate McConnell's behavioral tendencies, which for McConnell tend away from conflict.
Remember, when Lindsey Graham was saying that "elections have consequences" and that "Presidents have the right to nominate whomever they want," it was Schumer who said that ideology would be the main factor and that everyone was "outside the mainstream" during the Bush years.
That's why fighting for every advantage on the Judiciary Committee is important.
-PJ
Of course they won't. The Marquess of Queensberry would be most disappointed if they did.
And did she leave behind any votes by mail that can be used by Chuck if and when? You know, "To Whom It May Concern, I Diane Feinstein, vote (Fill in the blank) on (fill in the blank)"?
Schumer is all about raw power by any means necessary. Senate traditions are a useful tool to Schumer when he can use them to manipulate McConnell’s behavioral tendencies, which for McConnell tend away from conflict.
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I agree that Schumer is a ruthless power monger who will stop short of nothing to drag the country to leftist oblivion at all costs.
I do recall Schumer was concerned a few years ago when Harry Reid changed the Senate rules to allow for judicial confirmations to require only a simple majority vote. McConnell famously stated that Democrats would regret that action and may “regret it sooner than you think”. Shortly thereafter, that prophecy came true. Schumer reminded McConnell that he wasn’t supportive of Reid’s prior action, but to no avail. McConnell successfully rammed through many of Trump’s judicial nominations.
My point - McConnell has proven useful on certain major decisions in the recent past.
They never have before for death. I agreed they should have when she was going to sit at home. But death is different.
It was 51-49 two days ago. Now it’s 50-49 democrats.
“I thought the Senate was split 50-50, so doesn’t this death make it 50-49 and make Mitch the Senate Majority Leader until she is replaced with another Dem?”
The Senate was 50-50 before the 2022 midterms. (I’m counting as Democrats the two independents who caucus with the Democrats.) In that election, Fetterman (D-PA) replaced Toomey (R-PA), so the Senate became 51-49. It’s now 50D, 49R until Feinstein’s successor is sworn in.
Of course, one may legitimately ask whether anything would be different if McConnell actually WERE the Majority Leader.
>>I thought the Senate was split 50-50, so doesn’t this death make it 50-49 and make Mitch the Senate Majority Leader until she is replaced with another Dem?
It was until the Rats stole the Pennsylvania seat for the ogre. Then it was 51-49, and now 50-49 advantage commie.
Yes, and most likely would have been ready to go on it.
"Hope the Republicans show some backbone."
Houston, we have a problem.
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