You can Thank Harry Reid for giving the Republicans the option to enlist the new SCOUS on a straight party line…He once called the “nuclear option” an “un-American” move that would destroy the Senate and “ruin our country.”But on Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid did it anyway. He took the unprecedented step of gutting Senate filibuster rules for presidential nominees on a straight party-line vote, a high-stakes gambit that could have enormous implications for future presidents, reshape an institution he’s served in for 26 years, and ultimately define Reid’s legacy as one of the longest-serving Democratic leaders in history — one with a penchant for bare-knuckled tactics.On the weekend of Nov. 9, Reid enlisted his top lieutenants, Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York and Dick Durbin of Illinois, to help take the caucus’ temperature. But after several weeks of counting votes, Reid was still encountering skepticism even among his confidants as late as Monday evening. He bucked up his troops ahead of the hugely controversial move.“This is the right thing to do,” Reid told one of his closest advisers. “If I don’t do this, I might as well just walk away.”As some of his fellow Democratic senators remained on the fence, Reid called in a heavy hitter to close the deal: President Barack Obama, according to sources familiar with the matter. Obama personally called senators on Wednesday to back the move, and Reid ultimately won the vote on a slim margin, 52-48. Just three Democrats broke with Reid: the retiring Carl Levin of Michigan, the moderate Joe Manchin of West Virginia and the vulnerable Mark Pryor of Arkansas.
When the seismic moment finally came, shell-shocked senators in both parties couldn’t believe that Reid pulled the trigger — and were grasping to understand the far-reaching ramifications.
So it was Mitch McConnel who set the precedent of not confirming a SCOTUS nominee in an election year. Yes, it is wrong now as it was then, but we must follow precedent. Sorry right side, it’s your baby, live with it.
Except for that, here, we’re talking about a GOP “rule” that SCOTUS seats shouldn’t be filled in an election year, even when the election itself in 9 months away. Now, they have shown that that rule only existed for their short-term political gain.
Reid changed the rules about appointment votes for Judges. McConnell extended it to include SCOTUS when the Senate Dems threatened to break precedent and block all GOP SCOTUS nominees.
And no, ignoring Garland was not a new precedent.
There are multiple cases in which nominees were essentially ignored. There are also a large number in which the Senate made it clear that the nominee would be rejected so the POTUS withdrew the nomination. I have not included any nominee who was subsequently approved.
Lapsed or Postponed: John J. Crittenden, John M. Read, Edward A. Bradford, William C. Micou, Jeremiah S. Black, Henry Stanbery, Stanley Matthews, William B. Hornblower, Merrick Garland
Withdrawn: John C. Spencer, George E. Badger, George Henry Williams, Caleb Cushing, Abe Fortas, Homer Thornberry, Harriet Miers
Reuben Walworth, Submitted 3 times, withdrawn twice and lapsed once.
Edward King, Submitted twice, postponed once and lapsed once.
When Justice John McKinley died in 1852 the DEMOCRAT controlled Senate refused to act on Millard Fillmore’s nominations. They left the seat empty until DEMOCRAT Franklin Pierce took office.
On March 13, 1912, President William Taft, a Republican, nominated Mahlon Pitney to succeed Justice John Marshall Harlan, who died in October of 1911. The Republican-controlled Senate confirmed Justice Pitney five days later on March 18, 1912.
On January 28, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, nominated Louis Brandeis to succeed Justice Joseph Rucker Lamar, who died on January 2, 1916. The Democratic-controlled Senate confirmed Justice Brandeis on June 1, 1916.
Only a month later, on July 14, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson nominated John Clarke to replace Justice Charles Evans Hughes, who resigned from the Court on June 10, 1916. Justice Clarke was confirmed by the Senate on July 24, 1916.
On February 15, 1932, President Herbert Hoover, a Republican, nominated Benjamin Cardozo to succeed Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, who retired from the Court on January 12, 1932. A Republican-controlled Senate confirmed Justice Cardozo on February 24, 1932.
On January 4, 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, nominated Frank Murphy to succeed Justice Pierce Butler, who died on November 16, 1939. A Democratic-controlled Senate confirmed Justice Murphy on January 16, 1940.
On November 30, 1987, President Ronald Reagan, a Republican, nominated Justice Anthony Kennedy to succeed Justice Louis Powell, who retired on June 26, 1987. A Democratic-controlled Senate confirmed Justice Kennedy on February 3, 1988, by a vote of ninety-seven to zero.
hermit48 over 3 years ago
Just because they can doesn’t mean they should. They really do want blood in the streets.
Kurtass Premium Member over 3 years ago
The republicans changed the rule on nominations. Now they want to change it back. Hypocrisy at the highest level.
Patjade over 3 years ago
Sorry, Summers, but the Republicans changed the rules.
KenseidenXL over 3 years ago
You think this is funny?! You are such an asshole, Summers. And an utter hypocrite.
Durak Premium Member over 3 years ago
What logic.
“It’s her own damn fault, she knew what I was when she married me.”
FJB Premium Member over 3 years ago
You can Thank Harry Reid for giving the Republicans the option to enlist the new SCOUS on a straight party line…He once called the “nuclear option” an “un-American” move that would destroy the Senate and “ruin our country.”But on Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid did it anyway. He took the unprecedented step of gutting Senate filibuster rules for presidential nominees on a straight party-line vote, a high-stakes gambit that could have enormous implications for future presidents, reshape an institution he’s served in for 26 years, and ultimately define Reid’s legacy as one of the longest-serving Democratic leaders in history — one with a penchant for bare-knuckled tactics.On the weekend of Nov. 9, Reid enlisted his top lieutenants, Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York and Dick Durbin of Illinois, to help take the caucus’ temperature. But after several weeks of counting votes, Reid was still encountering skepticism even among his confidants as late as Monday evening. He bucked up his troops ahead of the hugely controversial move.“This is the right thing to do,” Reid told one of his closest advisers. “If I don’t do this, I might as well just walk away.”As some of his fellow Democratic senators remained on the fence, Reid called in a heavy hitter to close the deal: President Barack Obama, according to sources familiar with the matter. Obama personally called senators on Wednesday to back the move, and Reid ultimately won the vote on a slim margin, 52-48. Just three Democrats broke with Reid: the retiring Carl Levin of Michigan, the moderate Joe Manchin of West Virginia and the vulnerable Mark Pryor of Arkansas.
When the seismic moment finally came, shell-shocked senators in both parties couldn’t believe that Reid pulled the trigger — and were grasping to understand the far-reaching ramifications.
rlaker22j over 3 years ago
every time you eliminate one of the original rules you just screwed up for yourself later on
thosgpetri Premium Member over 3 years ago
So it was Mitch McConnel who set the precedent of not confirming a SCOTUS nominee in an election year. Yes, it is wrong now as it was then, but we must follow precedent. Sorry right side, it’s your baby, live with it.
wsedrel Premium Member over 3 years ago
Summers strikes (out) again. McConnell’s reasoning: another pathetic GOP excuse.
I Play One On TV over 3 years ago
The fact that it’s legal does not mean it’s right or fair. We have a legal system in this country, not a justice system.
VadimUzdensky1 over 3 years ago
Except for that, here, we’re talking about a GOP “rule” that SCOTUS seats shouldn’t be filled in an election year, even when the election itself in 9 months away. Now, they have shown that that rule only existed for their short-term political gain.
Andylit Premium Member over 3 years ago
Funny. Rules vs Precedents.
Reid changed the rules about appointment votes for Judges. McConnell extended it to include SCOTUS when the Senate Dems threatened to break precedent and block all GOP SCOTUS nominees.
And no, ignoring Garland was not a new precedent.
There are multiple cases in which nominees were essentially ignored. There are also a large number in which the Senate made it clear that the nominee would be rejected so the POTUS withdrew the nomination. I have not included any nominee who was subsequently approved.
Lapsed or Postponed: John J. Crittenden, John M. Read, Edward A. Bradford, William C. Micou, Jeremiah S. Black, Henry Stanbery, Stanley Matthews, William B. Hornblower, Merrick Garland
Withdrawn: John C. Spencer, George E. Badger, George Henry Williams, Caleb Cushing, Abe Fortas, Homer Thornberry, Harriet Miers
Reuben Walworth, Submitted 3 times, withdrawn twice and lapsed once.
Edward King, Submitted twice, postponed once and lapsed once.
When Justice John McKinley died in 1852 the DEMOCRAT controlled Senate refused to act on Millard Fillmore’s nominations. They left the seat empty until DEMOCRAT Franklin Pierce took office.
Radish the wordsmith over 3 years ago
Republicans are liars hypocrites and thugs. Not looking forward to the republican fascist future.
They spread covid and they want to kill health care, they are insane and deadly.
Andylit Premium Member over 3 years ago
Election Year appointments since 1900
On March 13, 1912, President William Taft, a Republican, nominated Mahlon Pitney to succeed Justice John Marshall Harlan, who died in October of 1911. The Republican-controlled Senate confirmed Justice Pitney five days later on March 18, 1912.
On January 28, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, nominated Louis Brandeis to succeed Justice Joseph Rucker Lamar, who died on January 2, 1916. The Democratic-controlled Senate confirmed Justice Brandeis on June 1, 1916.
Only a month later, on July 14, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson nominated John Clarke to replace Justice Charles Evans Hughes, who resigned from the Court on June 10, 1916. Justice Clarke was confirmed by the Senate on July 24, 1916.
On February 15, 1932, President Herbert Hoover, a Republican, nominated Benjamin Cardozo to succeed Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, who retired from the Court on January 12, 1932. A Republican-controlled Senate confirmed Justice Cardozo on February 24, 1932.
On January 4, 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, nominated Frank Murphy to succeed Justice Pierce Butler, who died on November 16, 1939. A Democratic-controlled Senate confirmed Justice Murphy on January 16, 1940.
On November 30, 1987, President Ronald Reagan, a Republican, nominated Justice Anthony Kennedy to succeed Justice Louis Powell, who retired on June 26, 1987. A Democratic-controlled Senate confirmed Justice Kennedy on February 3, 1988, by a vote of ninety-seven to zero.
Radish the wordsmith over 3 years ago
Once another right winger is in the court Trump becomes expendable.
DrDon1 over 3 years ago
Summers must really admire “Moscow Mitch’s” hypocrisy!
buckyteeth over 3 years ago
Changed in 2013 and didn’t include Supreme Court Justices. Moscow Mitch changed it to include justices in 2017.
Just enlarge the SCOTUS. It has to happen folks.
Oh, and Dana Summers, FU
wsedrel Premium Member over 3 years ago
DEMS rule change? Did I read that right? Oh yeah I forgot who I was dealing with.
Ontman over 3 years ago
No more troll sites for me for a while. If I want BS I’ll watch a tRump ‘news conference’.