Im confused. If hes chairman, that means the senate has a GOP majority. Its 2020 before the election and RBG drops dead. Why would Grassley NOT do his job when Trump nominated a replacement? What is his reasoning?
“What is his reasoning?”
He’s stupid. He wants to be liked by the propaganda organs and the Rats.
“What is his reasoning?”
The reasoning is that the Supreme Court justice is chosen by the President in order to be responsive to the voters. The voters elected the President, who serves as the voters’ proxy in selecting the nominee. Bearing that out, Presidents do make a SC picks a major campaign issue.
So, in keeping with that principle, it could be argued that year before a highly contested presidential election, waiting for the election outcome would give a more current sense of voter sentiment.
Grassly is signaling that he is running his committee based on sincere adherence to principles of governance, rather than cynicism and hypocrisy, and that he would apply the same principles he applied to the Garland nomination, when and if the shoe is on the other foot.
Trump has already far exceeded all expectations by selecting two justices in his first two years. He may well pick a third in 2019. If he has to wait until 2020, thats a small price to pay for taking the moral high road.
I commend Grassly for it - AND it is good politics to boot: The people will trust Republicans if they act with integrity. Moreover, having an open spot pending the outcome of the 2020 election will provide a perfect campaign issue for Trump and for legislators running on his coattails.
Trump will get reelected and pick an unprecedented number of justices in his eight years, shaping the courts for generations to come.
We don’t need to get greedy and betray our principles just to get another Trump-chosen justice a year sooner.