Can Dems Block Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee?

ChurchMilitant.com ^ | June 28, 2018 | Christine Niles, M.St. (Oxon.), J.D

[GonzoII]

The short answer: No

WASHINGTON (ChurchMilitant.com) - With Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's momentous announcement Wednesday that he'd be retiring, the focus now turns to the fight over the new Court vacancy.

Democrats won't have the leverage they've had in the past, as Republicans exercised the "nuclear option" in last year's battle to seat Justice Neil Gorsuch. After heated confirmation hearings, Democrats filibustered the vote, and Republicans made good on their promise to change Senate rules, voting to ensure cloture (the vote to end the filibuster) no longer requires a supermajority.

"This will be the first and last partisan filibuster of a Supreme Court nomination," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed at the time.

The change in Supreme Court rules will guarantee that Democrats can't block Trump's nominee to replace Kennedy via filibuster. But the nominee is not a shoo-in; with a handful of unreliable Republicans in the Senate, Trump's candidate — whoever it might be — is not guaranteed enough votes for confirmation.

Senators to Watch

Senator John McCain (AZ) has been absent all year owing to health reasons, and there is a good possibility he may sit out the confirmation vote, making the balance effectively 50 Republicans to 49 Democrats.

And defection by pro-abortion Republican Senators Susan Collins (ME) and Lisa Murkowski (AK) is a real possibility, especially if Trump comes through on his promise to nominate a solidly pro-life judge.

Senator Jeff Flake (AZ) has been no fan of Trump and has even threatened to block any judicial nominees, while Sen. Dean Heller (NV) is facing a difficult midterm race in a state that overwhelmingly went for Hillary Clinton, and will feel pressure to vote against Trump's pick.

But Democrat defectors could save Trump's nominee, particularly those running in close races in red states...

[familyop]

BS.

June 28th, 2018.

Flake won’t block vote on Trump Supreme Court pick
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/28/jeff-flake-wont-block-trumps-supreme-court-pick-re/

Jeff Flake won’t withhold support for Supreme Court nominee over tariffs
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/courts/jeff-flake-wont-withhold-support-for-supreme-court-nominee-over-tariffs

Jeff Flake Flakes, Says He Won’t Block Trump’s Supreme Court Pick
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/06/jeff-flake-says-he-wont-block-trumps-supreme-court-pick.html

Sen. Jeff Flake says his threat to block judges over trade won’t affect Trump’s Supreme Court nominee
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/28/jeff-flake-says-he-wont-block-trump-pick-to-fill-supreme-court-seat.html

Jeff Flake says he won’t stall Supreme Court pick over tariff dispute
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/06/28/jeff-flake-says-he-wont-stall-supreme-court-pick-over-tariff-dispute/740424002/

[prophetic]

I got a hint in my spirit that 5 Democratic Senators will be voting for Trump’s selection(s) when the time comes.