Comments on: Neil Gorsuch Is Trump’s Supreme Court Pick

By: Truthiz1

Truthiz1 — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 21:17:18 +0000

On a somewhat related note……

Looks like the nomination of Betsy DeVos for Education Secretary is in real trouble as 2 Repub Senators have expressed they will vote against her.

"DeVos in trouble"

Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski said Wednesday they will vote against Education Department nominee Betsy DeVos, leaving her with no votes to spare to survive a looming confirmation vote.

No Democrats are expected to vote for DeVos, while a handful of other Republican senators remain undecided. She needs at least 50 votes to win confirmation and there are just 52 GOP senators. Still, senior leadership aides remain confident that DeVos will prevail.

"This is not a decision I make lightly. I have a great deal of respect for Mrs. DeVos," Collins said on the floor on Wednesday. "I will not, can not vote to confirm her."

In an interview, Collins said that she will allow DeVos to advance to a final vote, before opposing her. Likewise, Murkowski said she will oppose DeVos on final passage, a shocking rebellion against President Donald Trump that rippled through the Capitol.

“I have heard from thousands, truly, thousands of Alaskans who have shared their concerns about Mrs. DeVos," Murkowski said. "I do not intend to vote on final passage to support Mrs. DeVos."

DeVos, a GOP megadonor and education advocate who has long pushed for charter schools and K-12 tuition vouchers using public funds, has encountered criticism from both parties since Trump nominated her. […] Politico

However, in other news, the Senate has confirmed Tillerson as the new Secretary of State.

H/T: CNN.com

By: Mr. BD

Mr. BD — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 18:54:10 +0000

I agree with what was already said. This pick isn't going to matter since it will make the court be just like Scalia was still there. But it is the next pick everybody should be worried about. Somebody should be giving vitamins and everything else to Ruth Bager Ginsberg and all the other liberals. We can't lose any one of them.

By: Truthiz1

Truthiz1 — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 16:49:36 +0000

TAC Reader:
{Some people} underestimate the degree to which Democrats are furious about the way the Senate Republicans treated Merrick Garland. He deserved a vote and the Republicans had the votes to defeat him. But many of them did not want to be seen casting that vote and they created a very bad precedent in so doing.

If the Senate Democrats don’t fight on this, the Bernie Sanders wing of the party will accuse them of rolling over and playing dead for the Republicans. And will almost certainly initiate primary challenges against sitting Democratic Senators who are seen as accepting the Garland situation without question. […]

TAC Reader:
Here is the situation for a number of Democratic Senators – I’ll use Manchin of West Virginia as an example. His state voted 68.7% for Trump and 26.5% for Clinton. EVERY COUNTY in West Virginia voted for Trump. A number of Senators whose states voted for Trump, some very decisively, are up for reelection in next year. I heard it reported last night that Sen. McConnell hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Gorsuch’ getting 60 votes. He doesn’t want to use the nuclear option, but he will if he has to. He stated last night, when pressed, that Gorsuch WILL be approved. […]

By: Truthiz1

Truthiz1 — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 16:36:33 +0000

Considering how the Repubs totally disrespected Pres. Obama, especially on this matter, I'm fine with the Dems NOT just accepting any nominee of Trump's right off the bat – as long as the Dems recognize that this ain't the battlefield they want to fight or die on. No need to fight this nomination for too long.

In other words, I agree with Ms. Coates:

"Democrats hoping to preserve Roe v. Wade would be wise to save their battleships for the second (and perhaps third) judicial vacancy that will arise during Trump’s term."