Yes, this Supreme Court thing could totally blow up in Donald Trump’s face
This morning, in a sign that even he knows his grip on the presidency is more tentative than ever, Donald Trump woke up and felt compelled to tweet that “I’m not going anywhere.” That’s not something you hear from presidents who think they have job security. Then this afternoon Trump got handed the lucky break of a lifetime – or did he?
Make no mistake, today’s retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is one the most dangerous things that’s ever happened to the United States. It comes at a time when Donald Trump’s behavior has spun completely out of control, as he frantically tries to find new and jarring ways to fend off the political and investigative forces that are closing in on him. Now he gets to pick a new justice who will vote in favor of his continued atrocities toward immigrants and minorities and women, and who will also vote in favor of allowing him to pardon himself.
But see, that’s the problem for Trump. Up to now, he’s just been trying to limp along and survive a full term so he doesn’t have to go down as a guy who was impeached or forced to resign, even as he steals money from the country and plays a lot of golf along the way. He’s been ramping up lately with his immigrant child cages and other horrid antics, to try to give himself bargaining chips for when he is forced out. But now that he’s in position to put someone on the Supreme Court who’s going to personally let him off the hook on everything, it changes everything.
The Democrats have a number of creative and desperate tactics for stalling the confirmation vote – but those methods can only work if the American public gives the Democrats cover by providing overwhelming outcry and protest and pushback, at a level historically almost never seen in this country. If the people do properly rally behind the Democrats in stalling the vote, it’ll prompt mainstream America to view the November elections as a way of saving their own lives.
So there is a scenario in which Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee never does get confirmed, mainstream Americans rally behind the Democrats in the November elections to make sure they take control of the Senate, and the Supreme Court seat remains vacant until after the next President is elected in 2020. This could result in more Democrats in Congress than if Kennedy hadn’t resigned – which would mean greater odds of Trump’s impeachment and removal. How realistic is this scenario? That depends on a lot of factors, most importantly you. But the point is that all is not lost. Today’s events are more of a reason to fight than ever.
