WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer is vowing that Democrats will not allow President Donald Trump to put “a right-winger” on the Supreme Court once they take power, raising the possibility that his party could block a presidential nominee if there is a vacancy in the next two years.
In an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Schumer would not say if he would hold a Supreme Court vacancy open until after the next presidential election, as former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell did in 2016. But he said that Democrats are “not going to allow any crappy nominees” to be confirmed to the Supreme Court — or to the lower courts or Trump’s Cabinet, either.
“The bottom line is we’re not going to allow a right-winger on the court,” Schumer said.
Schumer’s pledge came two days after Democrats won a decisive Senate majority in the midterm elections — a feat few predicted a year ago, when Schumer was facing intense criticism from progressives within his party and Senate Republicans were betting that a favorable map and backing from Trump would help them keep power.
While there is still frustration with Schumer in some corners of the party, the New Yorker is expected to easily be reelected as leader by his caucus after leading them to wins in Republican-leaning states across the country. Democrats could have as many as 56 seats in the Senate if they win Mississippi and Alaska, which still have not been called — “a durable majority,” Schumer predicts, that has been 20 years in the making as he has been directly or indirectly in charge of his party’s Senate campaign operation.
I can’t believe Alito and Roberts didn’t retire in time to be replaced by other fascists. I mean, I can, those people are overall very unlikely to relinquish power but damn, what a terrible fail on their side.
I mean it’s something that both sides of the aisle have in common when it comes to the Supreme Court. Remember that Ruth Bader Ginsburg also refused to retire in 2013 when Obama could have named a Democratic judge to the SC.
Don’t let him put anyone on the supreme court. Do unto them what they did unto us.
Says the guy considered Hard Right in any other political circle.
He’s genuinely further to the right than Tony Abbot and Scott Morrison… People we’d never ever consider anything other than hard-right in Australia.
Schumer is a right winger
Schumer making statements trying to stave off demands for him to hand the reins to someone else.
He’ll be lucky if he’s in the senate after 2028. AOC gonna take that job.
Still absolutely determined to “do his job” - and effectively cut off any true accountability, meaningful change, and undermine momentum. These people don’t understand that (a) the fundamental rules have changed, and (b) both the people and the planet are running out of time.
mehhhh, he’s like Vance, a weathervane, he’ll change when it’s to his benefit, I think he seeing the writing on the wall… finally.
Should have had this platform back in 2017.
Easy talking, in hindsight! 😤
I never ever understood why they let that happen.
Money.
Fuck you, Schumer! The only thing you represent is money! I don’t trust him at all. He should not be in any position of authority or power
Well, he also represents Israel
What’re the chances he’s in the Epstein files unreleased?
100%. Whether he was actually involved with anything nefarious there? Maybe 50%.
Schumer IS a right winger. He should’ve been taken out from the political scene years ago
Alito and Thomas retirements effective November 30th in 3, 2, 1…
Yeah, no. only 20 business days left in session for them. Not enough time to replace.
I am confident that if any of those three retired tomorrow the Senate would rush any old turkey that Trump nominated to confirmation in time for Thanksgiving
We’ll wake up tomorrow with Clarence Thomas riding off into the sunset in a new RV, John Oliver poorer by one RV and $1mil/year, and a supreme court justice that doesn’t need to shave everyday.
P.S.: Someone get word to John Oliver that sooner rather than later might be a good time to rescind his offer!
Unless the Republicans remove the filibuster for SCOTUS then they can’t bring it to a vote.
The filibuster for SCOTUS judges is already dead, Mitch killed it in 2017
oh, thanks.
I wish Mitch McConnell was alive to hear you say that.
He’s still not dead, right?? Just checking!
How would you be able to tell?
Who is to say? Schrodinger’s turtle
Not with that attitude. Legality is a suggestion.
Oh sweet summer child
How long did ACB take?
McConnell rule; it’s too close to the next election for a President of the opposite party.
Sorry! 🤷♂️
Schumer going to have a beer with Kavanaugh after making this strongly worded shitpost.
UNLESS we can Make a Deal with Trump!
-ALSO Schumer!
Oh? Like they prevented Boof Boi? ACB?
I assume that’s the American version of right-wing and not actual right-wing.
Yes; in the rest of the world we would call it extremism or even fascism.
Didn’t seem to bother them when Obama was putting Right Wingers on the court…
I don’t know if it’s just that I’ve heard so much news about Merrick Garland and relatively little about gorsuch, but so far I’ve actually been pretty glad that garland didn’t get confirmed.
Every other trump nominee has been a nightmare, but gorsuch is actually sort of okay.
