There's a nuclear option Pelosi can utilize but it's really fucking risky.

[Drunken Irishman]

If you may recall, the White House and House are in the middle of negotiating a stopgap spending bill. If they do not come to an agreement, the government theoretically shuts down on Oct. 1st.

Pelosi can use this as her trump card (no pun intended) and say they'll only make an agreement if Trump waits until after the election to nominate a justice - or force McConnell to continue with hearings despite the fact the government is shut down and people are going without their SS or paychecks during a pandemic.

BUT it's a very risky move and could dramatically backfire, delivering Trump a second term if things aren't played right.

Just throwing that out there, tho...

[regnaD kciN]

1. And so the Repugs make that deal, we pass the spending bill...

...and they immediately renege on their agreement as soon as the vote is held.

[Drunken Irishman]

5. Maybe...but not like a lot of options are on the table.

[unblock]

2. How does it help us if the government shuts down because of pelosi?

[Drunken Irishman]

4. How does it help us to do nothing?

Do you want to potentially save the seat or not because right now there's not a lot of options on the table for Democrats.

[unblock]

10. Yeah but shooting ourselves in the foot won't help

It would only hurt democrats to shut down the government. It would make it worse. Donnie would love to go around blaming pelosi for taking away people's checks and so on.

And meanwhile they'd confirm a rabid right-winger for the court.

Better to try to shame them into not filling the seat, and in any event, to focus on winning in November and fixing the courts afterwards.

[greenjar_01]

3. After the election doesn't matter...they'll vote in a Trump nutjob in the lame duck if you let them

After inauguration, give up the nomination, period.

[brush]

6. Yep, after the election means nothing. After the inauguration...now we're talking.

But the Speaker doesn't have to force it. If Moscow Mitch forces a vote the whole nation will be aware of the hypocrisy. It's risky for him.

IMO he's boxed himself into a corner and has to have a vote on the Senate floor to save face. Of course if it's not advantageous to be seen as the biggest, no morals hypocrite ever for not giving Obama a vote but giving trump one, he'll make sure he doesn't have the votes (quietly signaling to certain senators) if the polls hold steady in Biden's favor. He doesn't want to lose his Majority Leader post or his Senate seat for that matter, at his own doing.

[standingtall]

7. The whole nation already knows McConnell and republicans are hypocrite

and those vote for them don't care that their hypocrites.

[brush]

8. True. The thing is, trump's base won't be swayed. There are however, independents...

never trumper repugs and us Dems who outnumber them. If we secure enough indies we'll win as we know we have the Dem and never trumper votes.

Biden lead is still holding steady. It's a tricky situation for trump and Moscow Mitch if they force this.

[czarjak]

9. Just hurt the right people, BABY!

[Rstrstx]

11. Why not have Biden strike a deal with a few Republican Senators instead?

That he’d nominate someone more moderate if they agree to hold off approving anyone until after the election? It would take just 4 Republican Senators to agree, and the most vulnerable Senators up now and in 2022 have absolutely nothing to lose by punting until after January - they know that if they have to vote for whichever extreme ideologue Trump chooses their political career is dead. It would also give Biden a chance to show he’s ready to govern in a less divisive manner and make Trump look irrelevant.

[Drunken Irishman]

12. I think this is an option but liberals would not be happy.

[Rstrstx]

13. Oh I know, but we're not in the best position right now

The risk of going nuclear is too great, we’d probably lose the battle and Trump would still get to install his preferred Nazi. If there’s an option that de-escalates this and minimizes a catastrophic outcome I say take it. We’re not going to get an 11-member Supreme Court, that is fantasyland talk. If FDR couldn’t do it who can?

[Mike 03]

14. This seems like a good idea

Listening to MSNBC and CNN last night, I didn't hear anyone suggest this possibility.

We have to do something.

I feel sorry for Biden. No candidate has had so much chaos thrown at him. So many decisions to make now.