The Senate: The Big Picture

It was going to be a matter of time before the Republicans as the majority party in the Senate would have eliminated the filibuster for Supreme Court Justices, even if Harry Reid had not done the same thing for the lower court justices. Mitch McConnell as a matter of fact would done the same thing if democrats had filibustered Trump's lower court nominees.

It's been incremental, but it appears to me that there has been an effort to transform the Senate into another House where protection of minority rights would be neutralized and there would no longer be consideration by a bipartisan chamber would have cooler, calmer heads instead of passionate, popular rush-to-legislate (as long as it's what republicans want).

This started with Newt Gringrich in the 90s when he brought the concept of passing legislation without a single democratic vote, making republicans unlikely to compromise their principles (and/or their patrons) and vote except in a party block.

Yes, I'm not pleased about Neil Gorsach, but I'm telling you, if not him, it would have been someone else.

I hope I'm wrong when I expect the filibuster to be eliminated for pedestrian legislation. Hell, why even have a debate? If Mitch wants it, he'll get it.