There is no better example of diminishing support for Republicans in Congress than the issue of Merrick Garland. Far too many GOP politicians seek office and enjoy their privilege to do absolutely nothing unless it benefits them personally. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is the leader of this failed group in the Senate.
Before the President had finished his introduction of Merrick Garland as his Supreme Court nominee, the Chief Justice of the Appeals Court, McConnell informed the American public that no hearings to appoint a ninth justice would be held until after the November election. The public does not agree with him.
Sixty-nine percent of the American people believe that hearings should begin immediately. The reasons to perform their job are multiple, and serving the needs of the American people is in the forefront.
Without nine members presiding over cases the Supreme Court faces, a four-to-four tie makes the Court dysfunctional. Without a definitive decision, cases revert to a lower court’s decision. This has already affected several briefs heard by the Court, and caused disappointments among both conservatives and progressives.
Judge Garland is considered a ‘moderate’ and has been praised by both Democrats and Republicans for his past decisions.
The primary reason for the increased number of Garland supporters occurred when Trump became the presumptive nominee of the GOP. Fear that he will likely lose to Clinton in November, created concern that she would nominate a far more liberal candidate for the empty seat on the Court.
Thanks to McConnell and other extremists on the Republican side of the Senate, there exists a serious possibility that Democrats will regain control of the Senate. After losing the majority in 2014 thanks to a low Democratic voter turnout, and an ‘anti-Obama’ campaign, liberal voters are now ready to return to the polls in larger numbers.
Arizona, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin are all expected to have competitive elections. The Republican stance to not conduct hearings for Garland will be in the minds of voters at the polls in November.
The very creation of “Trumpenstein” is the result of voter’s anger at the party which has failed to accomplish anything of substance for the last seven years. Voters will no longer accept inaction from our elected officials while they accept costly salaries and benefits from the American people.
Legislators are elected to serve the people of the United States. Sadly, they take action which affects themselves first, and their party second. The fact that many Trump detractors now support him is proof that the Party is the priority for Republicans, and not the American people. They are fully aware that Trump is unqualified, a racist, a bigot, and lacks the intellect and temperament to lead our nation; but he will be the leader of the Republican Party.
Republican voters have been brainwashed to vote for any candidate with an “R” next to his or her name. We Independents will not vote for a party; we will choose the most qualified candidate, and the man or woman who is most closely aligned with the needs of the majority.
That eliminates any and all offerings for the Republican Party.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of Senator Stabenow
The Truth With No Restrictions 