The Senate Judiciary Committee is voting Monday whether to approve popular vote loser Donald Trump's nominee of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, and while the outcome is clear—he'll be passed out of committee—Democrats took the opportunity to lay out a detailed, principled case for not only opposing his confirmation, but filibustering it. Two senior senators—Dianne Feinstein (CA) and Patrick Leahy (VT)—with a great deal of influence used the opportunity to announce that they are off the fence, and will filibuster. With the addition of Sens. Mark Warner (VA) and Chris Coons, that gives Democrats the necessary 41 votes to oppose cloture.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) called out Gorsuch for his failure to answer the simplest of questions during the hearings. She continued "Our job is to assess whether the nominee will protect the legal and constitutional rights of all Americans and whether the nominee recognizes the humanity and justice required when evaluating the cases before him. Unfortunately, based on Judge Gorsuch's record at the Department of Justice, his tenure on the bench, his appearance before the Senate, and his written questions for the record, I cannot support this nomination."
Sen. Patrick Leahy, who has never been much of a supporter of changing Senate rules, as the Dean of the Senate now, recognizes that this nomination is too much, and that even if it means Republicans go nuclear, Democrats must block it.
These are extraordinary times, and this is an extraordinary nomination. Last year this Committee forever tarnished its reputation and 100 years of bipartisan tradition to do the Majority Leader and Donald Trump's partisan bidding. Senate Republicans held a Supreme Court vacancy and an eminently qualified nominee hostage with the sole and express intent to deny President Obama an appointment to the Supreme Court. Since taking office, President Trump has focused his attention on targeting the very communities that are most at risk by his choice for the Supreme Court—a nominee who, the White House tells us, shares his agenda. This nominee has since refused to address any substantive issues during his testimony. He has left this Committee and the American people with only unresolved concerns. The Majority Leader is now promising to rush this nominee toward confirmation, depriving Senators of a full debate on the Senate floor. And the Majority Leader has promised to use whatever tactic is necessary to get his way—that Donald Trump's nominee is confirmed, even if that means forever damaging the Senate.I respect this institution as much as anyone. For over 42 years I have devoted myself to the good that it can accomplish. But I cannot vote solely to protect an institution when the rights of hardworking Americans are at risk. I fear the Senate I would be defending no longer exists. I have often said that the Senate, at its best, can be the conscience of the Nation. I must now vote my conscience, both today and later this week. My conscience will not allow me to ratify the Majority Leader's actions—not last year and not this year. I will not support advancing this nomination.
Colorado's Michael Bennet, never a profile in courage, joined Joe Manchin (WV), Heidi Heitkamp (ND), and Joe Donnelly (IN) in saying he'd vote for cloture.
Now the ball is in Mitch McConnell’s court. He will make the decision to go nuclear on the filibuster and his Republicans will follow. To their ultimate detriment.
from Daily Kos http://ift.tt/2nPjjxF
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