Democrats are a bunch of predictable bastards. If a thunderstorm came across DC, they would ask for a postponement because they left their umbrellas at home. Fuck’em All! The long, the short, and the tall!
Source: ZeroHedge
Democratic lawmakers and progressive advocates demanded on Friday and into Saturday that the Senate Judiciary Committee postpone Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearing for the U.S. Supreme Court after at least three Republican senators tested positive for the coronavirus.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) announced his positive result on Saturday morning, a day after two Senate Judiciary Committee members—Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)—were also diagnosed with Covid-19.
Johnson did not attend the White House gathering last Saturday where President Donald Trump announced his nomination of Barrett, but he has been attending lunches with other Republican senators three times per week, including this past week. Lee and Tillis have also been attending the gatherings, suggesting that they may have exposed several of their Senate colleagues. Democratic senators have suspended their in-person lunches in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
The progressive advocacy group Demand Justice was among those who called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to postpone Barrett’s hearings, which are set to begin Oct. 13.
“They need to postpone the hearing because voting on Barrett before the election would gravely damage the legitimacy of the Court itself,” wrote Susan Hennessey, executive editor of Lawfare. “Rushing to have the hearing under these circumstances just shows that Republicans know they won’t have the votes after Election Day.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) tweeted late Friday that with at least two Covid-positive Judiciary Committee members, “The Senate cannot safely proceed on the Supreme Court nomination. We must focus on containing this virus to protect members and staff.”
- Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, issued a joint statement Friday along with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), noting the “bipartisan agreement that a virtual confirmation hearing for a lifetime appointment to the federal bench is not an acceptable substitute” for an in-person hearing and calling on committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) postpone the hearing.
- “All circuit court nominees have appeared in person during the pandemic, and there is far more at stake for the American people with this Supreme Court nomination, including the Affordable Care Act being struck down and more than seven million Covid survivors being denied health coverage,” the lawmakers said. “It’s critical that Chairman Graham put the health of senators, the nominee and staff first – and ensure a full and fair hearing that is not rushed, not truncated, and not virtual. Otherwise this already illegitimate process will become a dangerous one.”
The statement followed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s indication that Republicans intend to move “full steam ahead” with Barrett’s confirmation. McConnell made his statement before Tillis announced his positive test result.
Republicans intend to move “full steam ahead” with Barrett’s confirmation
Mitch McConnell
- “How many Senate Judiciary Committee members need to test positive to get Lindsey Graham to postpone Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearing?” asked UCLA political scientist Miranda Yaver after Tillis’s diagnosis became public.
David Segal, executive director of progressive campaign group Demand Progress,called for the hearing to be postponed while urging voters to “prepare to push for further postponement thereafter.”
- “Call your senators, no matter where you are,” Segal tweeted.
Democrats Make Unified Demand To Postpone Barrett Confirmation Process, Citing GOP Covid Cases
TD