True. This was such an easy win for the Rs. Vote to confirm, and then use that vote to show: “See? I’m not racist!”
Why stop now? In a way, the Republicans have created an enviable space for themselves. Say anything using certain words or fringe ideas and you can’t lose. No serious consequences from your supporters or threats of sponsor disapproval. If not for the cameras it could almost be a no-show job thanks to Twitter.
It’s true. It reminds me of John Cleese talking about Trump and how even when he has a chance to help himself, he can’t do the right thing. With Trump, he was talking about how very early in the pandemic, Trump could have:
- Realized that the pandemic really isn’t his fault, so genuinely is not responsible.
- Risen up to the challenge of being the leader of the United States
- Told everyone to take massive precautions to help control the spread of the virus
I’m getting off topic, but with Covid, Trump had such a soft-ball chance to be presidential and do the right thing. But he couldn’t do it because…he HAS to always look like everything is going fine.
In this case, the Republicans could have just let her in and it would not have hurt them that bad. Give her some tough questions and then vote her in 80-20 or something. Nope. They HAVE to show their true colors.
The issue is that a lot of those 30 or so Republicans who are up for re-election would get primaries on that vote. So it’s a matter of self-preservation for some of them. Though they don’t have to be so open about it.
You’re off by a factor of two. Fifteen Republican incumbents a running to hold on to their senate seats this year. Many of them have no serious challenger.
But it’s also not just about getting primaried. Even “safe” Republicans have to worry that a vote for Jackson would dry up their fundraising, depress conservative turnout in the general election, alienate influential conservative organizations and impede them from advancing in Senate leadership.
I once entertained the notion that the Rs might “go easy” on swapping out a liberal for a liberal on the SC, but politics just doesn’t work that way anymore. There’s just no advantage to them in voting for Jackson.
You’re not thinking like a Republican.
By announcing that he will nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court, Biden is the real racist. And anyone who supports the nomination is complicit in that racism.
Hoping this isn’t too much of a hijack, but it wasn’t just that Trump generally wants to say “everything is fine”. Trump’s financial interests are heavily affected by how much people travel and vacation (hotels, resorts, gold courses) and that’s why he was both in favor of vaccines and ALSO in favor of downplaying any possible risk.
Exactly. The section in the Civil Rights act referred to is probably 42 U.S. Code § 2000e–2(a), which reads in relevant part,
(a) It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer—
- to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; or
- to limit, segregate, or classify his employees or applicants for employment in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
If Biden was an employer, and intentionally rejected job candidates who were not black women, on the basis of their race and sex, that would be a violation.
But United States itself is explicitly exempt from this requirement. See the definition of “employer”, 42 USC § 2000e(b),
(b) The term “employer” […] does not include […] the United States […]
~Max
Patrick Bumatay was nominated by Trump to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, twice. Kamala Harris opposed the nomination, IIRC. The second time the Senate approved him. The 9th Circuit is one level below the Supreme Court. Anthony Kennedy served on the 9th Circuit before he joined the Supreme Court.
~Max
Is he gay?
No?
~Max
I wasn’t sure about the reason for the last sentence there is all, but now I get it.
For those who don’t get it, I believe Max’s point is that it might be a stepping stone to a SC seat, so it’s significant.
Even if Biden hadn’t made that statement, Republicans would be framing Jackson’s nomination as if he had, so it really cost nothing – sane people think it’s high time, and given her credentials, why wasn’t she nominated sooner, while Republicans will never think it’s time for a black woman to sit on the Supreme Court.
Nor will it prevent Jackson from getting confirmed.
Right. And nobody says it is because Kamala hates gay people. The bottom line is that despite the accusations in the thread, Republicans will oppose any liberal nominee, whether that person is an old white man or a transgender black woman, and will support those same two if the nominee is a conservative. And vice versa.
Not for the Supreme Court they won’t
One wonders how long it will be before nominees just stop showing up for these dog-and-pony shows.
Assuming you were asking about Bumatay and not Kennedy, YES, Bumatay is in fact gay and is the first openly gay judge to serve on the 9th Circuit.
Not sure if Max_S knew that or thought you were asking about Kennedy.