Senate Republicans are doing all they can to destroy the legitimacy of the Supreme Court

[dajoki]

The Kavanaugh hustle
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-kavanaugh-hustle/2018/09/09/4d537010-b2c4-11e8-aed9-001309990777_story.html?utm_term=.b6c0a6216d59

<<snip>>

While Trump is destroying the honor and reputation of the presidency, Senate Republicans are doing all they can to destroy the legitimacy of the Supreme Court.

When it comes to this last line of appeal in our legal system, the GOP has treated court appointments in the same way machine politicians once treated jobs in city sewer departments: If you have the clout, you use it to place your people. Period.

<<snip>>

The talk of civility is laughable in light of the Republicans’ refusal to give Garland — a judge whose quality Kavanaugh himself extolled — either a hearing or a vote. That was not just incivility, it was an abuse of power reflecting the political right’s determination to seize control of the court by any means necessary.

Two Republican senators could derail their party’s court-packing: Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. Moderates and progressives appreciated their willingness to break with their party in previous instances, particularly in saving the Affordable Care Act.

But by voting to confirm Kavanaugh, they would be ratifying everything in politics they claim to be against. This is not just about their pledges to protect the right to choose on abortion. It’s also a test of whether they mean what they say about wanting politics to be less partisan and more consensual. Caving in to the power brokers and ideologues on this will follow them for the rest of their careers.

If the Trump era produces a backlash so strong that a Democratic president and Congress pass breakthrough economic and social policies, conservatives will count on their court majority to block, dismantle or disable progressive initiatives. And short of impeachments or court-packing, there will be nothing officials elected by the people will be able to do about it.

This is a fight about democracy itself. Right now, democracy is in danger of losing.

[njhoneybadger]

1. The Koch brothers will legislate from the Supreme Court bench.

Kavanaugh being confirmed is the Death Knell of America

[SCantiGOP]

2. In addition to the two Democratic Senators the OP lists

What about Flake, Corker and Sasse? First two are retiring out of disgust with Trump and his supporters, and Sasse admitted that he has considered leaving the GOP as a protest against the Trump takeover.
The three of them could get together and say that they will vote against Kavanaugh unless he submits a written pledge to the Committee that he will recuse himself from any matters dealing with the Special Counsel investigation or legal matters dealing with Trump's Russian ties and obstruction of justice. While that would not be legally binding on him as a judge once he was sworn in, it would leave him open to easy impeachment for lying to the Committee.
What do they have to lose? There isn't a damn thing Trump could do about it, except to start trashing Kavanaugh for not agreeing to protect him like he wants Sessions to do, or withdrawing his nomination, either of which would have to cut Trump's support to the absolute bare minimum, maybe 25%.

[dajoki]

3. 25%-that's what I thought from the start n/t