Regardless of what Trump and Mitch do, the Democrats will (1) Eliminate the Filibuster, (2) Grant St

[mystery-ak]

Regardless of what Trump and Mitch do, the Democrats will (1) Eliminate the Filibuster, (2) Grant Statehood to D.C. and maybe P.R., (3) Expand the Lower Courts, and (4) Expand the Supreme Court [Updated]

It is a matter of when, not if.

Josh Blackman |The Volokh Conspiracy | 9.19.2020 7:33 PM

For some time, there has been a poorly-kept secret in Washington: as soon as the Democrats take power, they will make four power moves. To date, most prudent Democrats have refused to discuss these four moves aloud. But now with Justice Ginsburg's death, the cat is out of the bag. Jeffrey Toobin lays out the roadmap in the New Yorker:

The question is whether the Republican Senate will violate its supposed principles from 2016 to push one of them through. If the answer is yes—if Trump fills the Ginsburg seat—the next question will be how the Democrats respond. If the Democrats fail to retake the majority in the Senate in November, their options are few except to grin and bear it. But, if they win the majority and Joe Biden wins the Presidency, there are four major possibilities for retribution—which all happen to be good policy as well.

    The first is the abolition of the filibuster, which should have happened decades ago. Even in the minority, McConnell will do everything he can to thwart Biden, and the filibuster will be the tool. This antidemocratic relic should be retired once and for all.
    Second, statehood for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, with two senators apiece, would be another appropriate rejoinder.
    Third, Congress should pass a law expanding the number of lower-court federal judges; that number has not increased since Jimmy Carter was President.
    Finally, the greatest and most appropriate form of retribution involves the Supreme Court itself. The number of Justices is not fixed in the Constitution but, rather, established by statute.

more
https://reason.com/2020/09/19/regardless-of-what-trump-and-mitch-do-the-democrats-will-1-eliminate-the-filibuster-2-grant-statehood-to-d-c-and-maybe-p-r-3-expand-the-lower-courts-and-4-expand-the-supreme-court/

[Bigun]

Which is exactly why those bastards can never be allowed in power again!

[Fishrrman]

Bigun wrote:
"Which is exactly why those bastards can never be allowed in power again!"

Bigun, I take it you're a wise old guy.
Having said that, you (who have spent a lot of time actually involved in politics, correct?) surely understand that the pendulum swings both ways, eh..?

It's only a matter of time before the democrat-communists again gain power. This could come as soon as 2024, particularly if the "line of succession" of GOP presidential candidates goes back to "business as usual" after Mr. Trump.

If a milquetoast Pubbie somehow succeeds Mr. Trump into the Oval Office, he'll be unable to fend off the attacks of the democrat-communists and be wiped out in 2028. By then continuing and irreversible demographic changes, particularly in Georgia and your state of Texas, are going to become a factor as well.

I can see it coming.
I don't like what I see, but I must acknowledge it anyway:
"After Trump... the deluge."

[Bigun]

Bigun wrote:
"Which is exactly why those bastards can never be allowed in power again!"

Bigun, I take it you're a wise old guy.
Having said that, you (who have spent a lot of time actually involved in politics, correct?) surely understand that the pendulum swings both ways, eh..?

It's only a matter of time before the democrat-communists again gain power. This could come as soon as 2024, particularly if the "line of succession" of GOP presidential candidates goes back to "business as usual" after Mr. Trump.

If a milquetoast Pubbie somehow succeeds Mr. Trump into the Oval Office, he'll be unable to fend off the attacks of the democrat-communists and be wiped out in 2028. By then continuing and irreversible demographic changes, particularly in Georgia and your state of Texas, are going to become a factor as well.

I can see it coming.
I don't like what I see, but I must acknowledge it anyway:
"After Trump... the deluge."

What I understand is that the Communists have accomplished their stated goal of taking over one of the political parties here and that party needs to go the way of the Whigs.  If we ever allow them to control the levers of government again this once great republic is done for. May be already for that matter.  We will soon know for sure.

[libertybele]

What I understand is that the Communists have accomplished their stated goal of taking over one of the political parties here and that party needs to go the way of the Whigs.  If we ever allow them to control the levers of government again this once great republic is done for. May be already for that matter.  We will soon know for sure.

If the GOP loses the Senate regardless if Trump is re-elected or not -- they will have control. 

I think we should all be angry that the GOP had a majority in both Houses for several years and didn't accomplish squat. 

[Free Vulcan]

If the GOP loses the Senate regardless if Trump is re-elected or not -- they will have control. 

I think we should all be angry that the GOP had a majority in both Houses for several years and didn't accomplish squat.

That's on Mitch. He could have killed the filibuster rule, but didn't.

[Bigun]

If the GOP loses the Senate regardless if Trump is re-elected or not -- they will have control. 

I think we should all be angry that the GOP had a majority in both Houses for several years and didn't accomplish squat.

We have indeed had Republican majorities in recent years but it's been a very long time since we had conservative majorities.  It really does matter who you vote for in those Republican primaries and the guy with the most money and/or the guy being pushed by the establishment is rarely the proper choice IMHO.

[libertybele]

That's on Mitch. He could have killed the filibuster rule, but didn't.

I blame Mitch for a lot.  He for a very long time sided more with the liberals than those in his own party and IMHO he's never been a strong conservative leader.  He has changed his tune a bit since McCain's passing -- I still wonder what McCain had on him.

[libertybele]

We have indeed had Republican majorities in recent years but it's been a very long time since we had conservative majorities.  It really does matter who you vote for in those Republican primaries and the guy with the most money and/or the guy being pushed by the establishment is rarely the proper choice IMHO.

Yes, voting in the primaries is important but unfortunately, the past several election cycles around here have lacked for conservative candidates.

[sneakypete]

If the GOP loses the Senate regardless if Trump is re-elected or not -- they will have control. 

I think we should all be angry that the GOP had a majority in both Houses for several years and didn't accomplish squat.

@libertybele

I remember screaming "NO! NO! HELL,NO!" at the top of my lungs as Newt and the Reps took over control of Congress for the first time in decades,and practically the first thing the fools did was accept the "conversion to Republicans" that many of the Dims did in order to stay in office,and began torpedoing every bit of "change" legislation the Republicans put forward.

Even *I* could see these were "conversions of desperation" in order to stay in office.

And what was the final result? The RNC let enough of the Dims into the party they finally had enough to toss Newt out of the Party,and it was all downhill from there.