I May Be Proved Wrong About the Nuclear Option

Over two months ago, I predicted that there would be no nuclear option in the confirmation of Judge Gorsuch. (See February 1, 2017 – “There Will Not Be a Nuclear Option”) It now appears that I may be proven wrong. I still find it hard to believe that the Democrats will take this Kamikaze dive.

Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, is one of the strongest advocates of Senate decorum and tradition. On April 2, 2017 Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, McConnell made it crystal clear that Judge Gorsuch will be confirmed.

“Look, what I’m telling you is that Judge Gorsuch is going to be confirmed. The way in which that occurs is in the hands of the Democratic minority. And I think during the course of the week, we’ll find out exactly how this will end. But it will end with his confirmation.”

Perhaps Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is playing a game of chicken. Maybe he believes that there are three Republican Senators who will vote against changing the threshold to end debate from 60 to 51.

If Democrats stand firm in their filibuster, McConnell will exercise the nuclear option. If Democrats force him into taking that option, then they can only hope that President Trump will not have another opportunity to nominate a Supreme Court Justice.

The only rational explanation for this Democrat Kamikaze dive is a long term strategy. Their hope would be to gain a majority in 2018, take the White House in 2020.

If they win the majority in 2018, they would block any nominee. If they take the White House in 2020, then a Democrat nominates and Democrat Senate points back to the Republicans for using the nuclear option in 2017.

The long range strategic theory gives the Democrats credit for operating from some rational basis. It looks more like they have gone off the rails with no rational thinking at all.

The truth is that, if the opportunity presents itself, Democrats will toss decorum and tradition like an empty bag of potato chips. They will exercise the nuclear option.

Mitch McConnell and Republican Senators understand that clearly. It is becoming more apparent every day that my prediction will be proven wrong. This just shows the desperation of the Democrats. It looks like we are going to be in for a long fight on every issue.

Signature-Donald E. Cole

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