I realize that my Democratic Senator sometimes drives folks nuts here trying to hold onto Harry Truman’s seat in trending Red Missouri. But Claire may be one of a few pols able to get that job done as her deft maneuvering of Todd “legitimate rape Akin" in 2012 showed.
Claire now says that Neil Gorsuch deserves a vote on the floor of the Senate and an opportunity to vote “Hell No” on cloture would be sufficient to satisfy that requirement.
“McCaskill told reporters that a procedural vote on a filibuster qualifies as a Gorsuch-related vote on the floor of the Senate. She said that is more than Republicans accorded former President Barack Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, last year. The GOP did not have hearings on that nomination, declaring it dead on arrival, and deciding to wait for a new president.
Garland “didn’t even get a hearing. He didn’t get any kind of vote on the floor,” McCaskill said. “I am saying that it is clear that (Gorsuch) got a hearing, and is going to get some kind of vote on the floor. Whether that is a procedural vote or whether it is the actual vote for confirmation, the bottom line is senators are going to have an opportunity to vote up or down on some kind of vote on Gorsuch.”
Claire is doing a bit of the ole “Ali shuffle” here, standing by earlier statements that Gorsuch should get a vote while tacitly acknowledging that now that there is blood in the water (the failed Trumpcare vote) the big sharks might as well move in for a nosh.
Claire is nothing if not cautious, I’m sure she has polling in Missouri that indicates she is safe to do this.
If Claire is making noise, Tooter Turtle better start lining up reluctant Republicans to support the nuclear option.
Or not.
McConnell has polls of his own to consult.