The Democrats are such drama queens. Who are the 8 who have not announced yet? Are they Red state Democrats who are trying to drag out the inevitable?
Where is the discipline?
From what I hear, Thursday is a key day for all of this.
On Thursday, the Senate is supposed to do the cloture vote, to end debate and proceed to the actual confirmation vote.
If fewer than 60 votes are recorded to end debate, then we have a filibuster.
Then, if Mitch McConnell has his ducks in a row on this, then a motion will be made to change the Senate rules, so that the cloture vote can pass with only a simple majority instead of 60 votes.
And then the clerk will be instructed to call the roll, and a roll call vote on changing Senate rules will occur. If 51 Senators concur, then the vote to end debate will happen, needing only a simple majority, followed by the actual confirmation vote.
And the confirmation vote will be a foregone conclusion. Adding the three Democrats to 52 Republicans, means that Gorsuch will be comfortably confirmed by at least 55-45, if we can get to the vote and past the filibuster stumbling block.
I heard the Senate goes on recess after this week.
Meaning, that if somehow this filibuster stands, and the nuclear option fails, that Gorsuch could be appointed to the Supreme Court as a recess appointment.
A recess appointment would only be in effect through the end of this session of Congress. Gorsuch would still have to be eventually confirmed by the Senate to get the lifetime appointment, otherwise his recess appointment expires.
I wonder if anyone if thinking about this possibility.
The rats would be idiots to force the nuclear option.
Trump might have the opportunity to make several more nominations because several other jusges might not make it to 2020.
I expect at least eight rats will vote for Gorsuch in order to preserve their ability to make mischief with future nominations.
Future nominations will be more important because the liberal-conservative balance will really be in play.
On Chris Wallace’ Fox News Sunday, Senator McConnell made it clear that it is up to the Democrats as to whether the cloture rule remains. If a cloture vote become necessary, the Republicans will change the rule.
Clarence Thomas was confirmed by a margin of 52-48 votes on July 8, 1991.
The Senate needs needs 60 votes for cloture to avoid a filibuster -- and introduction of the nuclear option. Two Democrats have said that they would vote for cloture but still vote against Gorsuch. He already has more than enough votes to be confirmed. The only way the Democrats can block him is with a filibuster. Should they want to?
No.
Despite Shumer's rhetoric, he doesn't want a filibuster, because if Mitch McConnell applies the Reid Rule and goes nuclear for SC justices, too, that ends any influence that the Democrats might have on any future SC vacancies.
Schumer needs to openly appear to work for a filibuster while actually working behind the scenes to avoid a filibuster to keep McConnell from going nuclear.
Everything Schumer says publicly is a complete pile of BS to appease the moonbats in his own party and the MSM (but I repeat myself).
I truly hope they filibuster. I want the filibuster killed. It’s not good for the people. It’s only good for the entrenched powers that be.
It absolutely kills the results of change elections.
Tester, who is up for re-election in Montana, said he’d vote “NO”. At his own peril, I suspect! President Trump carried Montana by 20%.