Posted on 07/09/2018 2:39:42 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
A trio of red-state Democratic senators have turned down invitations to attend President Trump's announcement of his nominee to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Democratic Sens. Joe Donnelly (Ind.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.) were invited but declined to attend the event at the White House at 9 p.m. Monday.
Donnelly said in a statement that he declined so that his first meeting with Trump's pick will be "in a setting where we can discuss his or her experience and perspectives."
"I appreciate the President inviting me to attend tonight's announcement at the WH. I look forward to meeting the nominee in a setting where we can discuss his or her experience, judicial philosophy & perspective on access to healthcare for WVians with pre-existing conditions," Manchin said in a separate tweet.
ETC..
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
That sure is a long definition of a “total waste of skin!”
“””””That struck me too. Why are they wanting to know someone’s position on specific policy issues? Are we saying there is a constitutional right to coverage of a pre existing condition? What the heck?””””””
They constantly asked Gorsuch how he would rule on things. He just said he couldn’t say and wouldn’t say.
good strategy but in the end the Red State dems will vote for survival.
Tbe dem mafia must be threatening them.
Both are polling behind already, as is Nelson (D-FL) and as Manchin (D-WV) was (but the most recent poll flipped it back by several pts). McCaskill (D-MO) and Tester (D-MT) are both in range as well.
Wheres the picture from?
Same perspective as someone applying for auto collision insurance with a pre-existing wreck.
SO he is extending them a courtesy because all three voted for Gorsuch. Now the party has ordered them to vote the party line. Let’s hope their constituents remember in November.
I’m not even a citizen of Missouri, but I want Claire the Hag out in the worst kind of way. I don’t see how DJT can win Missouri by nearly 19 points, but McCaskill can hold serve on her seat.
I really feel that Donnelly, Heitkamp and Nelson are gone. Tester will be in a close race, and I think Casey will be in for a fight this Fall in PA.
Those ten are:
IN, ND, WV, MO, MT - Trump won each by 19% or more
OH, FL, WI, PA, MI - Trump won OH by 8, and the rest by 1% or less.
The 3 states in bold have the likely GOP challenger ahead in recent polls... but more than half haven't had their Primaries yet. We should be working hard to get at least 5-6 of these stolen in NOV.
On the other side, NEV (Trump was -2), MISS (T +18), TENN (+26), and ARIZ (T +4) all have GOP Senate seats in danger, according to recent polls.
TENN would be a shocker to lose (D leads 46-43 in most recent poll to replace retired RINO Corker).
Ted Cruz in TEX is recently up "only" 10, and is the only other seat that is near single-digits.
The final 20 races are pretty much already decided. 13 DEM (WA, CA MINNx2, VA, CT, RI, MASS, NJ, NY, MD, DEL, HI) and 5 GOP (MISS#2, TX, UT, NEB, WY) and 2 INDEP (Maine and VT)
As of today, it would still be a +1 for the GOP, but the "margin of error" (anything under 4 pct lead) is about 4-5 seats.
Losing all 4 contests in MT, WV, MO, and TENN (where Trump won by an average of 27 pts, but the R is still polling behind as of today), would be startling. Shocking. CNN would have fainting spells. Winning all 4 could help put the Senate around 56-42-2.
GOP wins in TENN and ARIZ would also replace 2 retiring RINOs (Corker and Flake) with more reliable votes, making a stronger lead, even if it is only 53-47. (McCain, Graham, Collins etc all still lurk in the shadows.)
They are simply trying to play both sides. They all know if they don’t vote to confirm they have zero shot at re-election. Confirmation vote will give them a slightly higher than zero chance at re-election.
So pander to the D base and party but will almost certainly vote to confirm just like they did Gorsuch.
They all know their re election odds are slim... if they don’t confirm they all know they are zero
On Fox tonight, there was discussion that the Dems are making a threat that when/if they gain majority in the legislative branch, they will do “court packing”. From what I understand, they will add the liberal judges they want to the existing SCOTUS. The number of judges on SCOTUS isn’t established anywhere, so it can be any number. They’re looking at 11.
If the libs can “court pack”, then so can Trump. Beat them at their own stupid game. (And thank you very much, libs, for showing your hand. If you can do it, so can we.)
I think you may be over thinking it, but more because you are thinking in terms of traditional politics. Trump will use non-traditional methods to bring pressure on the red state dems.
For example, inviting them to the announcement puts their voters on notice with respect to their hostility, and is an opening salvo in the push for the nomination. (And against their reelection)
Incumbent Joe Manchin-D was polling behind Patrick Morrissey-R, by 44-46 (poll taken on MAY 10), but is now up 50-43 (poll taken JUN 19). How could 1/4 of the voters support Trump and yet vote for Manchin 2 years later. Inconceivable! (Hat tip to Vezzini)
Is Manchin off his rocker? What does a Supreme Court justice have to do with healthcare access for those with preexisting conditions? It has nothing to do with Constitution.
Trump’s setting all these Senators up - putting the spotlight on them to make them vote with the Republicans on these nominees (and anger their base and lose) or vote with their base on these nominees (and energize Republicans and lose) - come to think of it - either way they lose.....
Another example of being disrespectful to the office, and this time, even the Supreme Court.
They walked out of the SOTU speech, and other things. This will be remembered.
Like we southerners remember
Deo Vindice
“I almost wish Trump would nominate his second choice (whoever that is). “
How do we know he didn’t nominate his second choice?
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