Changing the rules requires a majority vote, and with 3 GOP Senators out with covid, he doesn’t have it.
And with 2 of the Judiciary Committee GOP Senators out, they don’t have a majority on the committee anymore, either.
McConnell is about to learn what happens when he pisses into the wind.
His fate depends as much upon Barrett getting confirmed as does tRump’s, imo. Criminal charges may be coming his way if a new AG and President are in office, even if he wins his reelection. Oversight will be restored and all his Russkie business will be back on the table, and so much more…
McConnell is truly an enigma (or- rather; enema). He has never presented himself as an adherent to any political doctrine. This court stacking of young inexperienced and inept conservative Federalist Society churn-factory lawyers (now this) will not add any measure to his legacy… He is rich beyond measure-courtesy of his wife’s family’s unsavory business dealings…so what is McConnell’s game: JUST BECAUSE HE CAN?
and none of the charm
Haven’t Lee and Tillis already said that they’re going to quarantine for only 10 days, as opposed to the recommended 14? Which would potentially put them in the committee room on the 12th or thereabouts. I agree that we should do everything possible to stop this, and also that McConnell (clearly) will do everything possible to make it proceed, including stepping over (or on) dead bodies. We need to win the Senate + 1 (to offset Manchin and his “protect the decency of the chamber” b.s.) and add at least two judges to the SC.
Or pleasant aroma
Well, maybe not remote but he’ll find a way. He’s diabolical. Pure evil. He’ll find some arcane rule from the 1800’s or something, pre-Civil War maybe. I can’t explain it, I just think he’ll do something, even break rules like he did with Merrick Garland to get what he wants and then plow ahead.
MCCONNELL: Brave, brave Senator Tillis, you shall not have died in vain!
TILLIS: Uh, I’m-- I’m not quite dead, sir.
MCCONNELL: Well, you shall not have been mortally [infected] in vain!
TILLIS: I-- I-- I think I c-- I could pull through, sir.
MCCONNELL: Oh, I see.
TILLIS: Actually, I think I’m all right to come with you, sir–
MCCONNELL: No, no, sweet Tillis! Stay here! I will send help as soon as I have accomplished a daring and heroic [mission] in my own particular…
[sigh]
TILLIS: Idiom, sir?
MCCONNELL: Idiom!
TILLIS: No, I feel fine, actually, sir.
MCCONNELL: Farewell, sweet Tillis!
TILLIS: I’ll, um-- I’ll just stay here, then. Shall I, sir? Yeah.
At this point it isn’t clear whether McConnell has an actual tactical approach for getting this done, or he is just trying to keep the nomination in play and preserve potential options, just in case he gets lucky. He doesn’t win by giving up, even if his odds are getting worse by the day.
McConnell and the broader GOP are getting a lot of push back on the rush to confirm Barrett. He knows if he cannot put her on the Court before the election he may well be faced with the prospect of trying to confirm her in a lame duck session after the GOP has lost both the WH and the Senate majority, a move that could (should) cost the seat of every GOP senator who is up for reelection in 2022. Rock, meet hard place.
Maybe he wants to take credit for going through the motions of jamming this through, simultaneouly protecting the weaker republican senate candidates when the effort fails.
Can imagine him explaining to the country that though the president is in critical condition it is still important to move forward with the president’s top priority.
Mitch can try whatever the fuck he wants.
But it’s pretty clear that the worm has turned, and that he’s not going to have an easy time getting Aimee Semple McBarrett approved.
Let’s keep in mind, as well, that we still don’t know how many R’s will finally come down with COVID. We’re still in the process of discovering the full extent of their infection-fest last week.
These folks won’t be volunteering information if they can help it.
Chuck, no consent. McConnell can twist in the wind til the cows come home.
Chuck, no nothing for Mitch except a toe to the midriff.
It’s truly stunning that he is pushing this, it convinces me that he and I do not have the same DNA, or whatever they call it wherever he comes from.
They’ll still get her approved after the election in the lame duck session. That’s still unacceptable. She’s so awful for the court. You do know she’s like someone out of The Handmaid’s Tale. She’ll be the most ideological rightwing judge on the court and that’s saying something.
They won’t live this down, no pun intended. McConnell is obviously in his crash and burn phase (why they’re not passing a aid bill either) and it is sickening that he will never suffer consequences for this. Not to mention Angel Amy; anyone with any decency would withdraw. But silly me.
Barrett is horrifyingly bad.
Worse than Uncle Clarence.
Putting her on the court after the landslide loss by Trump will be the end of the GOP as a governing party.
And the end of McConnell’s shameful career.
It will also pretty much guarantee that the Supreme Court will have 13 members before the session ends in June.
Could not agree more.