Here's how I think the Senate will play out.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Democrats successfully filibuster Gorsich.
2. Republicans change the rules for filibuster of voting for a Supreme Court Justice to a majority vote of 51.
3. Democrats win back the Senate in November, 2018.
4. The day after Election Day 2018, Republicans change back the filibuster rule (USSC Justice) to 60 votes for cloture.

[PJMcK]

1. Sounds about right

Good prediction, no_hypocrisy. Given the Republicans' previous behavior, your ideas make a lot of sense.

By the way, did Shitty-Spell-Check™ change "cloture" to "closure"? (wink)

[no_hypocrisy]

2. My bad. Fixed it. Thanks!

[PJMcK]

3. As I indicated, it wasn't your fault! (n/t)

[WinstonSmith4740]

4. Totally agree.

And Mitch McConnell will deny any hint of hypocrisy with a straight face.

[sharedvalues]

8. And Fox News will lie about his hypocrisy. The only way to change this is to beat Fox, Limbaugh

[nycbos]

5. Were not going to win back the Senate in 2018

We have to defend WV,ND,IN, MO and other sates where Trump one big.

[sharedvalues]

7. There is going to be a historic political meltdown. Wait until Trump gets to 20% approval.

GOP is owning everything he does.

The only question is whether Fox News continues to be solid Trump propaganda or not. If progressives can even slightly break into the Fox/Limbaugh/Breitbart bubble there will be a progressive avalanche in 2018 like you have never seen before.

[moonscape]

21. Way too many seats to defend. We'll have to fight to keep them from getting to 60 n/t

[sharedvalues]

6. Yup. But also between now and 2018 DJT is impeached and Gorsuch* becomes illegitimate

Maris*
Bonds*
Gorsuch*

[PoliticAverse]

14. Any decision Gorsuch participates in won't have an asterisk. n/t

[sharedvalues]

17. We can hope - just wait. Stolen seat + impeached/resigned president will cast doubt

esp if he is a Federalist pro-corporate extremist like Roberts and Alito.

Alito is a climate change denier! Stupidity at its foremost.

[tritsofme]

20. The courts were stuffed with Nixon appointees for decades

Unfortunately a president leaving in disgrace doesn't erase the impact of his lifetime appointments.

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. One can only hope that the bastard will drop out

Instead of dragging this out. It's only a hope however.

[unblock]

11. i don't think they'll go nuclear over gorsuch. they'll go nuclear over the *next* nominee.

the next nominee will be at least as disgustingly right-wing as gorsuch, maybe worse; but if we filibuster a second time, they'll have a better story to tell their voters.


in your scenario, then 5. the first day of the new session with democrats in charge, the filibuster rule goes away entirely.

[jmg257]

12. They will. They need a win-bad. They can't

Back down, not after the AHCA debacle.

[PoliticAverse]

13. (4) So what would stop Democrats just making it 50 again? n/t

[dalton99a]

19. +1

[Dawson Leery]

15. 2018 is not going to be easy to win back.

2020 is most likely, especially if the Rethugs mess up, which they will.
I do agree that the Rethugs will change the rules back in the December lame duck.

[hedda_foil]

16. That makes no sense.

If Dems win back the Senate, they get control of the agenda and the Republicans lose the ability to change Senate rules.

[tritsofme]

18. Step 4 doesn't make any sense.

Today's majority cannot bind tomorrow's.

Democrats could do as they please with the rules when they formally took control of the chamber.

The new Democratic majority would pocket the rule change and use it in 2021...