Trump’s court pick will reign supreme

And then there were eight. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, icon of the nation’s top court for over a quarter-century, passed away. The firebrand was as steadfast in her fight for liberal causes as she was in battling aggressive cancer. More than once, many thought her time was up, but time and again she proved them wrong. At 87 years old, however, it was only a matter of time before Justice Ginsburg retired - or succumbed. And while everyone knew that her vacancy would create a highly-charged political atmosphere - Supreme Court nominations always do, especially when the court’s ideological divide is so slim - the timing, being just two months before the election, has created an unprecedented firestorm.

There is much to cover, so let’s get to it.

1) First things first. It is appalling that some on the right have celebrated Justice Ginsburg’s death. To rejoice in the passing of a fellow human being - and to have wished for it for so long - is among the most inhumane thing humans do. It showcases why America is declining, as not even the most cursory dignity is afforded the deceased. Yeah, you disagreed with Justice Ginsburg, and hold her responsible for an America changing for the worse. We get it. But so what? Is that really a reason to run the bus over her? Do these people not realize that her grieving family must endure not just the loss of a loved one, but watch as people viciously denigrate her and her legacy?

Granted, many flags are flying at half-staff, including in Republican parts of the nation. And most people on the Right have shown class by acknowledging Justice Ginsburg’s contributions as a patriot and public servant. But it’s the crass element that makes the headlines, making the right look heartless. Ironically, that’s the last thing they should be doing, as they will need as much good will and public support as possible to get a Trump nominee confirmed.

2) Republican Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell could have shown a bit more restraint, as the body wasn’t even cold yet before he was promising a vote. An extra day or two wouldn’t have hurt, as Justice Ginsburg deserved no less.

As far as the vote, Sen. McConnell is absolutely, positively correct in pushing for a floor vote, as soon as possible, after President Trump nominates a replacement. It was reported that Justice Ginsburg’s dying wish was that she “not be replaced until a new president is installed.”

Sorry, but that’s not how it works.

This isn’t a game, and Supreme Court vacancies cannot, and should not, be treated in an aristocratic kind of way, where nominations are based on the personal whims of a few elitist individuals controlling the puppet strings. It’s not their court - it’s ours. And we the people need it to be fully staffed, as quickly as possible, to decide cases of the utmost importance affecting every aspect of American society, from immigration to guns to life itself.

The reason the left despises Sen. McConnell is because he is so damn effective. A master of both politics and procedure, he gets the job done. If he says the nominee will get a vote, the odds are high that she will and likely be confirmed.

3) The left is falsely claiming that Sen. McConnell is being hypocritical, since he did not allow President Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland in 2016 to move forward. Let’s cut through the whining and call that comparison exactly what it is: Sour grapes, because the Democrats didn’t control the Senate.

The rationale behind Sen. McConnell’s decision was sound - since President Obama was at the very end of his two terms, and therefore could not run again, it made sense that the next president should nominate, and the next Senate should vote to confirm. Let’s not forget something here. When McConnell made that choice, he - and virtually everyone else on the planet - was all but certain that Hillary Clinton would become the president. Likewise, there was the distinct possibility that the GOP would lose the Senate, which, had it occurred, would have rendered McConnell powerless. So postponing the nomination was no guaranteed political victory.

Let’s also remember that the only reason for the constant badgering of President Trump, from the impeachment fiasco to the unprecedented attack on his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, is because he won the election that was “not for him to win.” It was Hillary all the way, and there was no possible way that a boor like Donald Trump along with his “deplorables” could win. Except that he did. And because he rained on the left’s parade - literally - they have never forgiven him. That is why, even now, they claim he is illegitimate.

Here’s an idea for the Democrats that would accomplish their aims, and relieve us of their nonstop crying: Win the Senate! To the victor go the spoils. Republicans controlled it in 2016, and were thus able to prevent President Obama’s nominee from moving forward. Likewise, they control it now, so they can, and should, forge ahead. That’s politics. If you don’t like it, don’t play.

4) One thing is certain: If the situation were reversed, the Democrats would be gleefully ramrodding their nominee through to confirmation. Anyone who disagrees simply doesn’t understand politics. And for the record, that’s exactly what the Dems should be doing, if the cards were in their favor. And yes, the same Democratic complaints being made now - wait until a new president is elected - would be echoed by sidelined Republicans. So let’s stop with the criticism that the GOP is somehow violating the spirit of the Constitution by moving ahead with the president’s nominee.

Along those same lines and this is a feather in the

Dem’s cap - you can be assured that the Democrats would successfully vote to confirm. In other words, they would make damn sure that all hands were on board, and get it done (such as when Speaker Nancy Pelosi passed Obamacare, despite the reservations of many members of her own caucus).

Conversely, several Republican senators stated that they will vote “no” if the vote is before the election. That is certainly their right, but the question is “why.” Is it because they don’t like President Trump? If so, the answer is “grow up,” and put your ego in check, since this isn’t about you, but the future of the country. Be opposed to the process, but if comes to a vote, how in good conscience could you vote against a nominee who is eminently qualified?

The key vote could be Utah Sen. Mitt Romney. If he goes south, it may be because the president has repeatedly mocked him. Crass as the president’s behavior was, that should never enter into the equation. But reality is a different story, as Sen.

John McCain proved when he flew across the country with brain cancer to cast the deciding vote against repealing Obamacare. That wasn’t political - it was almost certainly personal. And Chief Justice John Roberts is likely in the same camp, as several of his recent decisions seem to reflect payback for President Trump’s attacks against him. Again, that should never happen, but, being politics, it does.

If Donald Trump wins a second term, and wants to be more successful, he would do well to learn the values of humility and tact.

5) Finally, we have the left doing what they do best: Being radical. Some are arguing that, if the Trump nominee is confirmed and the Democrats win in November, they should move to pack the Supreme Court by adding more justices.

Well, good luck with that. The last guy who tried that was FDR after the court had rejected some of his New Deal initiatives. The result was his own party delivering him a stinging rebuke - and his relationship with Congress was never the same.

And as far as impeachment - which some still want for Justice Brett Kavanaugh - that will never happen unless the Republicans implode so badly that the Dems capture 67 seats (up from their current 47). So that’s out, too.

Therefore, the verdict is in: President Trump’s nominee should be given a vote, and confirmed, on her merits, as soon as possible. Case closed.