I know there are two sides to this argument:
Senate Democrats have about a month to figure out what they want to do about Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s pick to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
Right now, they’re being pulled in different directions: On one end is a base calling out for absolute obstruction, and on the other are moderates who fear that picking this fight could ruin their ability to stop Trump at a more critical juncture in his presidency.
If Democrats filibuster Gorsuch, it’s likely Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will invoke the nuclear option ― disrupting the rules of the Senate in order to push through Trump’s nominee with only 50 votes. That opens the door for McConnell to make a few other rule changes and further hurt the Democratic minority.
One Senator is willing to take the risk and understand why, the other one needs to get with the program:
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) also plans to vote against Gorsuch, but didn’t want to discuss the possibility that McConnell could change the rules of the Senate, or that that could affect the upper chamber.
“I think that he has an obligation to show a breadth of support to get 60 votes ― period,” Brown said. “Whatever happens after that, we’ll see.”
But there’s no denying the uneasiness among Democrats as they chart the path ahead. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) wouldn’t say how she plans to vote, but is “concerned about the rules.”
“No question it’s important for the future of the Senate,” she said of preserving the filibuster. “That’s how we get people to work together.”
I can understand her concerns. I really do. The filibuster is a blessing and curse but at this point, I’m willing to sacrifice it. Get the Senate majority back and you can do a lot of good, Senator. You could get your Bring Jobs Home Act passed without a filibuster getting in the way. Click here to contact Stabenow’s office and tell her to resist Trump’s SCOTUS nominee.