They are in a bind.
Every single Democrat, including these vulnerable Democrats, could vote against Kavanaugh, but he could get confirmed anyway, with united GOP support. So what would be the point, of hurting their own re-election efforts, in a losing cause?
And, longer term, why would Schumer want to see the Democrats lose Senate seats, in a losing cause against Supreme Court nominees??
Suppose somehow Kavanaugh doesn’t get confirmed, but the Democrats lose Senate seats in November? In that case, the next nominee to the court, who will be just as objectionable to Democrats as Kavanaugh, will be voted on by a Senate with more Republican members.
Chuck Schumer is many things, but he’s not a stupid politician, and he knows how to count and evaluate things just as I have noted here.
Though I do wonder, why Schumer chose the Gorsuch nomination to filibuster? All he did, was trigger the “nuclear option”, so that the filibuster option is gone for Supreme Court nominees. If that filibuster was still in place now, he might actually have had some leverge to manuever on this nomination of Kavanaugh.
“Chuck Schumer is many things, but he’s not a stupid politician, and he knows how to count and evaluate things just as I have noted here.
Though I do wonder, why Schumer chose the Gorsuch nomination to filibuster? All he did, was trigger the “nuclear option”, so that the filibuster option is gone for Supreme Court nominees. If that filibuster was still in place now, he might actually have had some leverge to manuever on this nomination of Kavanaugh.”
Dilbert, don’t you think your comments above are talking at crossed purposes with one another? If, as you say, Schumer IS a “smart politician,” how do you square that comment with him triggering the “nuclear option?”
Because now, when it begins to be more important than ever ( can you say Ruthie’s replacement), Schmucky Chucky has given away his hole card.
Trump will likely replace four (or perhaps more if Thomas decides to call it a day, or the Wise Latrina has to drop out due to her Type 1 diabetes) Justices.
The only person we have to worry about now is McScrotumneck!
My guess is Schumer chose the filibuster as a test of Yertle's resolve, and as an early test of Trump the President. He lost, bigly. However, the man may have gotten smart after that spanking. He DID get the budget he wanted and he HAS tried to meet with Trump on DACA.
If Schumer has learned anything - he may be dumb but he ain't stupid - he has already passed out the Kabuki Theatre scripts to the Dem Senators. That is, he's said:
"Look, we can defeat this nominee if we all vote against AND pick off Collins or Paul or Murkowsky. But we'd lose up to 3 Senate seats which means we are doomed when RBG or any of 'our' Justices dies or retires. So, let's give the people a little political theater...Manchin, you talk tough against me to win political re-election points, I'll remain a looney on MSNBC . Yea, we will lose this confirmation (the guy may be a stealth Dem a-la Roberts anyway...thankfully he isn't a Gorsuch) but we will keep our 3 seats on the bubble and be strong in 2019 and prepare for the 2020 Presidential run."
Not only that, but a vote for Kavanaugh will certainly depress
RAT votes in WV.
Old Joe is certainly in a bind.
It's about perception.
President Trump is winning at every turn. Most importantly, he clearly enjoys winning, makes no apologies for winning, and makes winning fun!
Meanwhile, Democrats, angry and unhinged, are growing depressed. When they roll over for Kavanaugh, they will further demoralize their base while Trump increases his momentum as a victor, picking up independents who want to be part of a winning team.
It is quite a bind.
I don’t think Schumer is all that slick. Look at how he screwed up the one day gubmint shutdown. I don’t think he is as adept at running things as Dingy Harry was when he ran the Senate Rats.
Indeed, if several Democrats were unseated, there is no reason the Senate could not vote on confirming Kavanaugh again once those new Republican Senators arrive.