America’s five worst Senators
Trump is not the only problem
This November, we face a momentous election. Obviously, replacing Donald Trump has to be priority number 1. But without the Senate, such a move will be pointless.
Consider poor Merrick Garland. Universally agreed to be an exceptionally qualified jurist, he was not even granted a hearing by the Republican-controlled Senate when he was nominated to the Supreme Court. President Obama had apparently hoped that nominating a well qualified, moderate judge to the Court would mute Republican objections. In response, Republican leader Mitch McConnell blocked the nomination, bragging later that this action was his “proudest moment.”
Lest you think McConnell’s position was some kind of principled stand, he repeatedly stated publicly that the Senate would confirm a Trump nominee to the Court this year despite his claim that such action was inappropriate when the nomination was Obama’s. In other words, McConnell’s action was an exercise of pure political power, nothing more. He was able to take this action because Republicans had the majority in the Senate.
Thus, even if we win the White House and retain the House of Representatives, little will change unless we win a majority in the Senate as well.
