Sunday, September 20, 2020

Letter to my Senators on RBG seat (feel free to steal)

I am deeply concerned over the possibility of an immediate confirmation of anyone besides Merrick Garland for Justice Ginsberg's seat. Even worse would be confirmation during a lame duck session. Regrettably, I doubt that Leader McConnell has the same concerns - especially if he loses his own seat.

My worry is compounded by the likelihood that Leader Schumer will use losing this fight as yet another electoral stunt. 

When Democrats last had the majority, the call for ending the 60 vote limit was intense. Republicans agreed and now all of the vacancies in the federal judiciary have been filled. There is a lesson in this. We must shoot for 60 or bust.

There is no path to a 60 vote majority unless current Republican chairs are convinced that they will lose their majority in November. After the election, Leader Schumer should welcome anyone who will change parties to do so and thus keep their committee seniority and chairmanships. I am sure there are more than one Senator who can read the writing on the wall. Everyone knows of at least one. If four can be found who will block immediate consideration of the likely Barrett nomination and switch once the election takes place, they deserve such a reward.

This is no time for Schumer to play games with issues to win seats. While some races may be up for grabs, another stunt will have no impact on who wins these seats. These races are profoundly local and any national factor is due to Trump's failures, not some stunt designed to embarrass GOP senators. We tried this with Kavanaugh, the 2010 tax bill vote (that never occurred), immigration reform and personal accounts for Social Security. None of these stunts turned the tide in any races. 

I urge you to prevail on the Leader to start making deals for Chairmanships rather than planning another stupid and useless gesture.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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