As the House continues its hearings on the Gorsuch nomination to the Supreme Court, reports circulate that the Democratic leadership does not see an effective way to oppose the nomination. Horsefeathers! The Republican leadership made up a slogan, “Let the people decide” to justify refusing even to give Garland a hearing. The last year of the Obama Presidency became a lame duck year, with no consideration of his nominee.
The Senate Majority Leader even said that if Hillary Clinton won the election, then Republicans would refuse to consider any of her nominees for the full four years of her term, preferring to keep the Supreme Court seat vacant rather than holding a Democratic nominee. This unprecedented violation of the Senate’s duty to advise and consent, a Constitutional duty, should not be allowed to stand.
Democrats need no reason to oppose the Gorsuch nomination, other than that it is a Trump nomination. Democrats need to hold fast and “Let the people decide” again in 2018 and 2020. It is that simple.
If the Republicans choose to eliminate the Senate filibuster to seat Gorsuch, then this precedent will apply when the Democrats again are in the majority. The nuclear option affects everyone with its fallout.
If the Democrats choose to cave, as they have so often, then it may be time to organize to deny those who vote to approve Gorsuch any Party re-election funding, individual campaign donations, and organizational campaign funds. More, it may be time to find candidates to run against anyone who votes to approve Gorsuch.
Take a bitter leaf from the Tea Party. Form the Green Tea Caucus (“Healthier than the other drink”) and mount the opposition to Democrats who cave. We need to stand together to save the country from the extremists now in power.