The passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the age of 87 raises the stakes even higher with the 2020 election now just 45 days away.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made it clear Friday evening that he has every intent of trying to get a replacement confirmed as soon as possible, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be able to manage such a feat so close to an election.
Can anything be done to stop President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans from filling Ginsburg’s open seat with a right-wing ideologue who might be on the high court for the next 30 to 40 years?
According to 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, there are things Democrats can do, and she laid those out during a phone interview with MSNBC host Rachel Maddow Friday night. Her words can serve as a roadmap for Senate Democrats and anyone who cares about the future of this republic.
First of all, Clinton noted that one Republican senator, Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, had already issued a statement saying no replacement should be considered until after the next president is inaugurated on January 20, 2021. Clinton said she wouldn’t be surprised if more GOP senators “find the hypocrisy to be more than they can bear.”
Also, Clinton said that any Democrat running against an incumbent Republican in a Senate race should “make this a major issue.” Keep in mind that nearly every incumbent politician fears losing an election, so in states such as Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina with a close Senate race, voting to confirm a justice so close to an election could cost them the election.
Lastly, Clinton pointed to “procedural obstacles” that can be employed by Democrats in the Senate and should be, she added “24/7.”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is gone. But Trump being allowed to replace her is not a fait accompli. We have to stand strong and demand that Republicans follow the same rules they laid out when they refused to confirm Merrick Garland with nearly a year left in President Barack Obama’s second term.
As Justice Ginsburg herself taught us, we must always fight for what we believe in, no matter the obstacles.
Rest in power, Notorious RBG.
Yes time the Dems get mongrel. They are fighting a tyranny of self servers that must keep their incomes steady on the backs of their tax holidays . Just think of all those goodies stashed in the stock markets with the insider stuff that has been going on. Get a bit mongrel dems or! are you getting too old to get nasty. Seems Nice has got you nowhere faster than call Impeachment. Joe Biden showed a refreshing display of integrity and balance and leadership that has long been missing since Pres O’Bama and his graceful wife and family Aren’t you all tired of the chaos and trumps promises of emptiness Is it Over Yet? Are We There?