Posted on 02/01/2017 9:30:01 AM PST by AU72
President Donald Trump said he will urge Senate Republicans to scrap filibuster rules, or take the so-called "nuclear option," if Democrats in the increasingly tense chamber use them to block his nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.
After Trump nominated the 49-year-old conservative appeals judge to the top U.S. court Tuesday night, Democrats signaled they could delay the process. If they filibuster, Republicans, who have 52 Senate seats, would need 60 votes to confirm him unless they cut that rule.
Trump told reporters Wednesday that he would encourage Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to take that route, which would require only a simple majority.
"Yes, if we end up with the same gridlock that they've had in Washington ... if we end up with that gridlock, I'd say, if you can, Mitch, go nuclear. Because that would be an absolute shame if a man of this quality was caught up in this web," Trump said at the White House.
Trump's choice sets up a second straight year of bitter partisanship over the court seat, which was left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia last year. Then-President Barack Obama nominated Washington, D.C. appeals judge Merrick Garland for the spot, but the Republican-controlled Senate never held a vote on him.
I think this was Trump telling his voters that if the ball(s) get(s) dropped, then we know whom to blame.
A slightly misleading headline. Mr. Trump would not “tell” him to do it, as if he had the authority to command. He said, “if you can” and “it’s up to Mitch, but...”
where in the article, is the quote in the headline, mentioned ?
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