Republicans can't wait to destroy decent, highly qualified Supreme Court nominee

Rss@dailykos.com (joan Mccarter) · Wednesday, March 16, 2016, 2:24 pm

Judge Merrick Garland, in an emotional and excellent acceptance speech this morning (which you can watch in full below), proved that his is a decent and well-qualified nominee to the Supreme Court, starting with the simple statement "as my parents taught me, by both words and deeds, a life of public service is as much a gift to the person who serves as it is to those he is serving. And for me, there could be no higher public service than serving as a member of the United States Supreme Court."

Before he even finished speaking, however, Republicans were salivating at the opportunity to destroy him. The National Republican Senate Committee released a statement calling Garland "a liberal" and "an activist," boilerplate that they had on tap for any nominee, but language that is jarringly off when it comes to this one. Sen. Orrin Hatch, who had previously named Garland as the kind of reasonable nominee he would like to see from President Obama, flatly refused to even meet with him. As did Mitch McConnell, and worse, denouncing it as "politicizing" the SCOTUS nomination.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), chairman of the committee that is refusing to even have hearings, didn't bother to respond directly to Garland, but released a rambling statement full of excuses for his not doing his constitutional duty.

But the dam is breaking a little bit, particularly among those senators who are eyeing tough re-election fights this November. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) says he'll be happy to consider Garland—next year if a new president nominates him. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL), says "I will assess Judge Merrick Garland based on his record and qualifications." Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) (not up this November, but always trying to make sure she seems like a reasonable person) will break the blockade and actually meet with him because "I view it as my job." Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), who sometimes feels like he should also be reasonable, will do the same, as will Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH). She's is really going out on a limb to go that far, since there's still time in New Hampshire for a real primary challenger from her right.

But all of them are free to pretend to look moderate and say they'll consider, or even meet with, Judge Garland. They know that leadership in the form of McConnell and Grassley will keep them from having to actually vote on him. Because voting against such a qualified candidate will be hard to explain in the general election. Make no mistake, however, they're part and parcel of this blockade.

That's what a Republican majority means. It also means that they're part of the extremist reaction that will try to destroy Garland. It also means that they're just fine with Donald Trump picking the next Supreme Court nominee.

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