Posted on 02/22/2017 6:56:01 AM PST by Helicondelta
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D., N.Y.) broke away from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) on Tuesday night when she was asked about the Democratic strategy for handling President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch.
"What is the Democratic strategy on this? There has been a lot made of this. Do you try to filibuster Gorsuch and risk the Republicans going for the so-called nuclear option, which would basically eliminate the filibuster now and forever?" NY1 reporter Bobby Cuza asked Gillibrand. "That seems like an equally bad outcome from the Democrats' perspective."
Gillibrand said she hopes her Democratic colleagues in the Senate will vote their "conscience" and that there will be an up-or-down vote on Gorsuch.
"I hope we do vote him down, but make no mistake, if we do hold the line with 60 votes, Mitch McConnell will change the rules the next day, so it will be Mitch McConnell's decision," Gillibrand said. "I do not have any hope that he will not change the rules the minute he doesn't get his way."
"It will likely be 51 votes regardless at any given time that any nominee is blocked, but I expect our colleagues to vote their conscience and to really look at his record and see if he's the kind of nominee that's worthy of our support," the New York Democrat added.
Gillibrand's position differs from that of Schumer, who has said Gorsuch should only be confirmed with a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority
(Excerpt) Read more at freebeacon.com ...
Off year elections reduce the Democrat-Felon vote and they can lose.
The Dems want to get rid of off year elections.
Democrats will have to BORROW a “conscience” if they are going to examine it and vote accordingly.
I bet the supply can’t keep up with the demand on the Hill; they probably wouldn’t even know a conscience if they tripped over one!
“We in Montana are watching Jon Tester (D), “
You need to do a whole lot more than “watch” him. You need to do what it takes to vote him out of office.
Gorsuch is a Trojan Horse folks. Unfortunately he is getting in l don’t se
any way he won’t get in.
Kennedy in 2020 YOU KNOW!
There is a logical disconnect in those words.
The Dems continue to further marginalize themselves.... They are dumber than dirt....
They have had their arses handed to them since 2010... and they still don’t get it.. They are on their way to being permanent minority, only viable in coastal big cities and the occasional college town.
They don’t realize that they are so far outside of mainstream america that they are literally becoming a non starter in 60-70% of the nation.
No, I think she’s worried about the Dems being further shoed into irrelevance.
If all SC nominees require 51 votes in the future, they are both hapless and helpless.
She wants to avoid that. The idea is to allow Grouch see a vote and get to 60.
Then he does the SC seat and in the future, the nuclear option is not on the table.
That’s what this is about. At least she’s not a moron and understands that much.
It’s a trump card, the President holds. And the squishy Turtle.
“and end up having the “nuclear option” deployed by the Republicans ... thereby turning the Democrats into an irrelevant minority for a long time.”
It never ceases to amaze me that the GOPe does not want to make this move. If the roles were reversed, the RATs would (and already have) gone “nuclear!” The damned “repubicans” simply don’t want to have to lead.
No. She just sees reality in the senate.
The constitutional requirement to be confirmed is a simple majority. The 60 vote threshold is to stop debate and take a final vote on confirmation.
The GOPe is on the SAME TEAM as the Rats...it’s quite simple.
In the Bitterroot here. Haven't heard of the reservation victory margins. Would like to follow as well. Have any links?
There isn’t a democrat safe in 18, other than those in the BLUEST of BLUE districts.... they keep this crap up, they are going to be slaughtered... the map is already against them in the Senate... but they keep this crap up... they may have the privilege of being a part OUT OF POWER LOSING SEATS IN A MIDTERM!
They are certifiable at this point... their invented reality has crashed down around them and they truly just can’t deal with it.
I live in NY and I’ll bet if you take a poll fewer than half of the people here would even be able to identify her as their Senator and maybe 1 in 20 could pick her out of a lineup. Months go by without her name appearing in the media, something that is never said about Schumer. It’s not so much that she’s incompetent, it’s that she’s invisible. This might be one of her periodic efforts to remind people that she actually exists.
Not so tough anymore, are you, Kirsten?
Gillibrand is setting up for a presidential run in 2020. As a senator, she’s more popular than Schumer.
Shes in fear of her seat in NEW YORK STATE???
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She should be in fear, the Clintons are back in town. Hillary could easily take that seat, plus Chelsea Hubble might want it too.
Confirmation hearings for him scheduled to start March 20.
Please explain
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