Republicans Go Nuclear In the Confirmation Wars
The Democrats chose to filibuster Judge Neil Gorsuch’s nomination with complete knowledge that the Republicans would go nuclear, changing Senate rules to allow a simple majority to confirm the Supreme Court nominee. (“GOP goes nuclear in Supreme battle,” April 7).
President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence will be in office at least until 2021. In that time, Trump may nominate more judges, and now the Democrats will have even less power to oppose them.
The Democrats are being complete fools and sore losers; it’s because of their stubbornness that they are weaker and will inevitably lose again. Ed Arzouian Lansboro,Pa.
The use of the “nuclear option” to confirm Gorsuch shows how far we have fallen. Amending the approval process for a Supreme Court justice by reducing the necessary number of Senate votes reeks of partisan politics and immature minds.
If Gorsuch was a controversial candidate, why couldn’t the parties find a suitable compromise to meet the original standards? Alan Swartz Verona, NJ
The bad blood in the confirmation process began with the Democrats. Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s nominee, would’ve been fast-tracked to the bench if Democrats held the majority. Joe Stonbelly Brooklyn
Democrats have no one to blame for the Republicans using the nuclear option but themselves.
They set this precedent by changing the rules to get federal judges appointed under the Obama administration. What goes around comes around. A Democratic Senate majority under a President Hillary Clinton would have done exactly the same thing. I’m glad the Republicans are finally fighting back. Stephan Colasacco The Bronx
Is anyone truly surprised that Senate Republicans chose the nuclear option to confirm Gorsuch?
Their strategy has long been, “If you can’t win, change the rules.” The Republican Party took the same route by changing voter-ID laws in several states that wound up being key in the 2016 election.
When Senate Democrats united to filibuster Gorsuch, the Republicans embraced a vile impulse by changing Senate rules in their favor. Joseph A.J. Felcon Howard Beach
Democrats, still in denial that Trump won the election, are running around the Capitol gnashing their teeth at Gorsuch being confirmed to the Supreme Court.
It was the Democrats who first used the nuclear option to load the lower courts with Obama’s nominees.
I hope Trump supporters are paying attention to the Democrats’ antics. Come 2018, voters have a chance to send the Democratic clowns packing. Walter Goldeski East Brunswick, NJ
The Republican Party was forced to go nuclear because the Democrats insisted on a purely partisan filibuster.
If Sen. Chuck Schumer wants to blame someone, he can hold Harry Reid responsible for weakening the filibuster in 2013. George Pfeiffer Sun City West, Ariz.
The filibuster was an appropriate tool for keeping unworthy judges from being confirmed. But the Democrats used it as a partisan tool, as they use everything.
When Obama repeatedly nominated unworthy appointees to the lower courts, the Republicans rightly filibustered.
According to the Democrats, Gorsuch’s disqualification is that he upholds the constitution, not his feelings. No more gentlemanly agreements on filibusters. Charlie Honadel Brooklyn