In Schumer's world, that is a win for everyone.

So to be clear, in order to avoid going nuclear, he wants Trump to reverse his nomination.

Knowing Trump as we do, does one suppose that Trump will put up a more acceptable candidate or a less acceptable one?

I suppose it comes down to what other things Schumer is willing to deal on to cut a deal on this.


Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) told Senate Republicans to "come back off the tree" they are sitting atop and work with Democrats to find an alternative Supreme Court nominee to Judge Neil Gorsuch.

Schumer told "Meet the Press" that Republicans are like cats "on top of a tree" afraid to jump down and be hurt hitting the ground, which in this case is compromising on a Supreme Court nominee.

He reiterated his objection to the possibility of Republicans instituting the "nuclear option" which would allow Gorsuch to be confirmed with a simple majority vote.

Schumer said that instead of Gorsuch, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) should insist President Trump choose a more "mainstream" candidate, even if it that person still is a Republican.

He noted that Democrats confirmed President Bush's choices of Justices Samuel Alito and John Roberts Jr.

"When a nominee doesn't get 60 votes, you shouldn't change the rules. You should change the nominee," he said.

Schumer appeared to shrug when host Chuck Todd pointed out Democrats Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota announced their support for Gorsuch.