Likely Pub plan for SCOTUS.

[napi21]

Minutes ago, the Associated Press reported, "Cruz suggests leaving vacancy on Supreme Court."

Ted Cruz and John McCain may have given away the Republican game plan on the Supreme Court. And we need to treat it like the constitutional crisis it will be if Democrats don't take back the Senate majority.

McCain said, "I promise you that we will be united against any Supreme Court nominee that Hillary Clinton, if she were president, would put up."

That means the Supreme Court could dwindle to 7, then maybe 6, Justices. It would turn our Justice system and our democracy on its head. The Founding Fathers would roll over in their graves.

I just got this in an email from Harry Reid's office. Can't give a link to an email, but it does say it was reported by AP. I believe this well is their plan. That way, IF they still hold the Senate, they don't have to do anything. IF WE gain the Senate, we'll have to get rid of the damn filibuster for sure, but at lest we should then be able to consent to Hillary's nominees.

[PoliticAverse]

1. The number 9 isn't magic or in the constitution. The number of justices...

has varied from 5 to 10 in US history.

The President could eventually just make a recess appointment during the next Senate recess.

[napi21]

2. I know that, but think a few steps beyond the current 8. It seems likely that the next

Justices to retire will likely be the left leaning ones, just because of age. All the Pubs have to do is let the court retire one more judge and it will be back to a Pub leaning majority! AND it will be an uneven # of justices again. We lose anyway!

[getagrip_already]

5. The Senate doesn't recess anymore.....

And that was upheld while scalia was alive. They merely hold a pro forma meeting and they stay in session with no work or members in town.

That isn't an option.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. HRC wins. We also win the Senate. Schumer ends the nuke option and

Voila!

We win.

[ILFightinDem]

4. That's *if* Schumer chucks the filibuster...

I had a similar post to yours a day or two ago, and the consensus seemed to be "don't count on Chuck".

We can only become nuke free (or limited) on the 1st day the new Senate is in session - if it's not done then, we're stuck with the filibuster for the next two years (when we're expected to at least temporarily lose the majority again).

With all of these promising early voting reports from various states, I'd say the chances are better than the currently predicted 65% that we get the Senate back. So if we blow this opportunity, it's going to hurt. The GOP will know time is on their side and just let the USSC stay at 8 justices and bleed down until one of their own gets to be POTUS again.

Just as bad, lower circuits won't be filled, either. The 'Pugs will just wait on those, as well - like when DimSon got in - all of a sudden, *all* judicial vacancies that languished under Bill had to be suddenly filled - and they stacked the courts for another generation.

I just hope Chuck is more of a fighter than Harry was...

[canetoad]

6. When does it stop?

When the youngest current justice is the only one left standing? They need to think it through.