The people are left scratching their heads at what looks like a huge betrayal by Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
In a quiet side deal Schumer (N.Y.) sided with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) to rush through 15 nominations for Donald Trumps choices to lifetime federal court seats. Leaving many to wonder why. Apparently, according to reports, the Dems wanted to get get home so they could continue campaigning.
This is a major blow to all the communities the Democratic Party claims to protect, the LGBTQ, women's health groups and minorities in danger of having their voting rights stripped. As it stands now 1 in 7 circuit court seat is occupied by a conservative judge appointed by Trump. If that doesn't terrify you, what will?
The people are furious over this decision and are demanding answers. Many question if the Democratic party is really fighting hard enough or is #Resist is simply a talking point.
Brian Fallon, who used to be Schumer's chief spokesperson, said about the move:"
Trading this many lifetime positions away for a couple days back home in the dead of August is a metaphor for how myopic the Democrats' approach has been at this dark moment in history. An entire branch of government is being lost for generations, and Senate Democrats are willfully blind to it. In the coming months and years, these same Democrats will issue outraged statements about the rulings issued by the very judges that they could not be bothered to try to slow down. It is pathetic.
The people agree. It's pathetic.
Life in America will be drastically impacted by these judges, especially if the Supreme Ct goes to 7-2. This is a v… https://t.co/UCuUSMvaji— Michael Avenatti (@Michael Avenatti) 1535636940.0
@MichaelAvenatti @TheDemocrats wtf is the matter with you all?? @chuckschumer— nylorac (@nylorac) 1535637218.0
@MichaelAvenatti I am so disappointed in Democratic leadership. We are out here in the trenches fighting tooth & na… https://t.co/6mXMjObJgV— Mark Schroeder (@Mark Schroeder) 1535637757.0
@MichaelAvenatti We have to make this clear on Nov 6. Most of Dems & Ldrshp are stuck in the 80-90s. Lame & ineffec… https://t.co/VGJPimLJk1— Just Us (@Just Us) 1535637864.0
@MichaelAvenatti Let's play some hardball, folks. Let's get tough.— Maivillain (@Maivillain) 1535637105.0
@MichaelAvenatti The swamp overfloweth. #Basta— Liberal Librarian 📚🪱 (@Liberal Librarian 📚🪱) 1535636988.0
@MichaelAvenatti EVERYTHING the GOP and trump do during their current reign of terror needs to be completely nulli… https://t.co/ss8uuTAvEH— Katheleen Mitro Artist (@Katheleen Mitro Artist) 1535637214.0
@MichaelAvenatti The is infuriating!!!!!! We are being betrayed by our own party!? .@SenSchumer what is your response!?????!!— Patty 🌊☮🌏🐇🐾🏳️🌈 (@Patty 🌊☮🌏🐇🐾🏳️🌈) 1535637228.0
But others disagreed and thought talk like this would split up the party.
Infuriating & misleading headline - All but 1 of the nominees is uncontroversial & would get confirmed anyhow b/c D… https://t.co/U7RXmbtrkj— Act On Democracy (@Act On Democracy) 1535588087.0
@SpockPersists @MichaelAvenatti Perfectly said Mr Spock! Infighting won’t help. If it drives even one vote away we all lose.— Scarlet 🇺🇸💙 (@Scarlet 🇺🇸💙) 1535642848.0
But Adam Jentleson, Public Affairs Director for Democracy Forward, broke down what the Democrats should have done in a series of tweets.
This comes down to leadership. Senate Dem leaders could take a stand and station one senator on the floor at all ti… https://t.co/mFhT31yu3P— Adam Jentleson 🎈 (@Adam Jentleson 🎈) 1535505052.0
I laid out some of the procedural tools Dems could use here. It's not that complicated: basically, all Dems would h… https://t.co/GrgoWUmvf7— Adam Jentleson 🎈 (@Adam Jentleson 🎈) 1535505339.0
If Dems denied all time agreements (this only requires one senator to object) & forced Republicans to produce all v… https://t.co/fwMPZyMC0w— Adam Jentleson 🎈 (@Adam Jentleson 🎈) 1534509966.0
In Senate speak a “time agreement” is an agreement passed by unanimous consent (ie, consent of all 100 Senators) to… https://t.co/MtmAuBIbMA— Adam Jentleson 🎈 (@Adam Jentleson 🎈) 1534510719.0
Most of the confirmation votes on Trump judges are being held under time agreements. Sometimes the time agreements… https://t.co/vT5nnp2x0T— Adam Jentleson 🎈 (@Adam Jentleson 🎈) 1534510820.0
Pulling something like this off would require enormous dedication and discipline. And it’s entirely possible that… https://t.co/wWJ1C5nzoE— Adam Jentleson 🎈 (@Adam Jentleson 🎈) 1534511693.0
But even when time agreements don’t speed up the process, they do schedule the votes at convenient times of day, he… https://t.co/BLB4CimUlq— Adam Jentleson 🎈 (@Adam Jentleson 🎈) 1534511265.0
I forgot to mention: you’d only need one Democratic senator on the floor at all times to execute this plan. It onl… https://t.co/FYjdCThwyo— Adam Jentleson 🎈 (@Adam Jentleson 🎈) 1534513394.0
Do you think the Democrats are slacking or giving it all they've got?
H/T: Huffington Post,Vox