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BREAKING: Senate votes 52-48 to repeal rule allowing filibusters against Supreme Court nominees, clearing the way for Gorsuch confirmation

By now, you're likely aware of the background and dynamics ahead of this brewing Senate battle -- as more Democrats announce their support for Chuck Schumer's anti-Gorsuch filibuster, premised on an imaginary '60 vote' standard he conjured in his head with little factual support. The latest bandwagon-jumper is former Clinton running mate Tim Kaine, whose embrace of this obstructionist tactic is, shall we say, noteworthy, in light of his stance in favor of extending the Reid Rule and further nuking the filibuster on behalf of Hillary's would-be Supreme Court nominees. I'm not sure Democrats' self-interested double standards on these issues can be distilled down...

Senate Republicans had to know there would be a price for their unprecedented theft of President Barack Obama’s final Supreme Court pick last year. On Thursday, Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, named it: Either find 60 votes to overcome a filibuster of President Trump’s extremely conservative nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch, or find another, more moderate choice. The last four Supreme Court nominees — two from Mr. Obama and two from President George W. Bush — all met the 60-vote threshold, Mr. Schumer said, so it was fair to require the same of Judge Gorsuch.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) insisted on Wednesday that Neil Gorsuch, Trump's Supreme Court pick, will need 60 votes to clear the upper chamber. "We Democrats will insist on a rigorous but fair process. There will be 60 votes for confirmation," he said from the Senate floor. "There will be 60 votes for confirmation." Trump's nomination of the well-respected conservative jurist is kicking off a high-stakes battle in the Senate. Five progressive lawmakers, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), have already come out in opposition to Trump's nominee. Schumer said requiring 60 votes for confirmation of Gorsuch is...