One could almost sense an audible rumbling sound as the roll was called in the Senate at about half past noon (EDT) last Thursday, with the fate of the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees precariously hanging in the balance.
When the votes were tallied, the infamous “nuclear option” had been triggered; but those expecting a rhetorical mushroom cloud or a lot of fireworks were sorely disappointed. In fact, the moment passed without any kind of fanfare or special notation whatsoever. If one didn’t know better you’d think nothing consequential had just happened.
Many pundits have suggested through the years that there isn’t much that would unify all Republicans—especially those in the Senate—but as America watched the senators vote on the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court, it was evident there is at least one issue that brings the GOP together.
First every single Republican voted to end debate on Gorsuch. Then when the Democrats filibustered every Republican voted for the “nuclear option” to bury the practice for future Supreme Court nominees. From here on out it’s a straight up-or-down vote for Court appointments. It was a good day for America.
In between the initial cloture vote and the procedural moves to press the nuclear button Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tried several times to stall the Gorsuch train. Every attempt was shot down by the unified Republicans.
It was a beautiful thing to witness, though parliamentary procedure isn’t the most entertaining “show” on TV. It’s a darn good cure for insomnia, though.
Susan Ferrechio of the Washington Examiner described the action:
McConnell started the process by raising a point of order challenging the current process for confirming Supreme Court nominees. That process required 60 votes to end debate on these nominees, although Democrats changed the process in 2013 by allowing just a simple majority vote for all others.
To make the change, McConnell contested the ruling of the Senate parliamentarian. A vote was called on whether to maintain the ruling of the chair, or to change precedent as proposed by McConnell, and the Senate voted 48-52 against keeping the current process in place. With that vote, Republicans won the battle.
Boom. In an instant, the hopes of millions of liberals who believed the delusional Democrats when they swore a sacred oath to stop Gorsuch were incinerated. No more signs. No more slogans. No more crying in safe spaces. It’s all gone now.
After the nuclear strike, the rest was really just a formality. The senators voted again to end debate, and Gorsuch prevailed 55-45 with Democrats Joe Manchin (WV), Heide Heitkamp (ND) and Joe Donnelly (IN) voting yes along with all the Republicans.
So in essence the Democrats were fairly united too, though they did “lose” a token three votes to the Republican side (well short of the eight that would have been needed to end debate the old-fashioned way). Before we herald Manchin, Heitkamp and Donnelly too highly, it should be noted they didn’t risk a whole lot by voting in the affirmative for Gorsuch. I’m guessing they were all assured well ahead of time by the Democrat leadership that they could feel free to vote with the Republicans because the Democrats already had the necessary votes to try and stop Gorsuch.
If the vote was ever in doubt, Schumer would have sent the leftist shock troops to their homes to browbeat them into submission.
How do I know? Chuck Schumer’s behavior gave it away. In the lead-up to the Gorsuch vote, the minority leader predicted the GOP would have to answer for its gross manipulation of the system and historic disregard of Senate tradition. The New York senator also predicted it was only a matter of time until the filibuster rules for legislation go up in smoke as well.
It that’s the case, it’s because Schumer is perhaps the biggest liar in Washington. He tried to shove the blame for killing the filibuster over to the GOP when he was the one (along with Harry Reid) who devised all the tactics.
As far as the political repercussions from killing the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees, does Schumer know something we don’t? He isn’t on the GOP consultant payroll and his counsel has never been useful—why should anyone listen to him?
There’s really no way to tell at this point how any of this is going to play out in next year’s election. If I had to guess, I doubt anyone will even be talking about this event as an issue in the campaign.
The 2018 midterm elections are still 19 months away. In between now and then any number of big topics will come up: Tax reform, health care (again and again), the border wall, immigration reform, defense budget outlays, trade policy, energy production, infrastructure, raising the debt ceiling—and the federal budget itself.
That’s not to mention the possibility of more terrorist attacks around the globe, and a wise man would wager there will still be turmoil in the Middle East and Far East.
There will be a lot to talk about between today and November of next year. For Democrats to predict Republicans will suffer because they exercised the “nuclear” option now is pure stupidity.
Each side will likely continue “threatening” the other with electoral ultimatums, such as “If the Republicans pass this budget, the disadvantaged will lose their shelter and food. Millions will be living on the street. Families will be split up. Armageddon is happening. Republicans will have to answer to the voters.”
Meanwhile, Republicans will offer their own pro bono advice to Democrats, basically claiming “You guys made us do it. Our plan is better. Our people are better. The voters will know what to do.”
In the end, Americans will decide who’s right, just as they did last November when they put Donald Trump in office. The vacant Supreme Court seat was a huge concern for many, and it certainly looks as though Trump voters will be rewarded with a new justice who honors the Constitution just the way Justice Antonin Scalia did for 30 years.
And if it took pushing the “nuclear option” button to get him there, it was well worth it. {eoa}
This is an excerpt from an article that was originally published at ConservativeHQ.com. Used with permission.
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