Political Chess Games & Why the Constitution Matters

    It's snowing today. Actual snow, not just random flurries. Will winter ever end?? But we can't always get what we want, which is so unfortunate. Anyway, now that we've got the unpleasantness taken care of, let's move onto things that are actually fun and happy. Yesterday, the senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace Justice Breyer when he retires this summer. President Biden's first nomination to the Supreme Court is monumental. Jackson is the first African-American woman to be confirmed to the court in its 233-year history. The final vote came to 53-47. All fifty senate democrats voted yes along with just three senate republicans: Susan Collins, Mitt Romney, and Lisa Murkowski. Every other senate republican voted no. In a move that I can only classify as petty, Mitch McConnell left the chamber as the new Judge Jackson received a standing ovation. Other republicans followed suit which left the senate half empty. Photos captured by journalists underscore the divide between parties that only seems to be widening.
    To the press, the senate minority leader had this to say, "When it came to one of the most consequential decisions a president can make, a lifetime appointment to our highest court, the Biden administration let the radicals run the show. The far left got the reckless inflationary spending they wanted. The far left has gotten the insecure border they wanted. And today, the far left will get the Supreme Court justice they wanted." Like, what?? Make it make sense! How do these people continue to get re-elected? Also, Mitch has no place to talk about "consequential decisions". Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed in thirty-five days from President Trump's initial nomination after RGB's death in September 2020. The final vote came a week before election day. Remember when the Senate wouldn't let President Obama nominate Merrick Garland in 2016 because it was too close to the election? 
    The republicans are all riled up and Mitch and his favorite whipping boy, Lindsey, are on every major press outlet vowing "payback" when the republicans take back control of the House and Senate. What payback? The president nominated a highly qualified, highly intelligent candidate (as is his right as President, per Article II, Section II of the US Constitution). She went through all of the senate hearings which were honestly a circus because they were led by a bunch of clowns who argue like second graders on the playground instead of elected representatives of the richest, most powerful country in the world. But girl did it and she did it without breaking a sweat. She then got the number of votes needed to approve her appointment, end of story. There was nothing nefarious, no underhand tactics. Every step was done in accordance with established laws and precedences. Maybe that's what they don't understand? That something could be be done fairly, legally, and professionally. Whatever's actually going on in their heads, we'll probably never know but here's hoping that mid-term elections solve some issues.
      Senator Brian Schatz is a democrat from Hawaii. Senator Brian Schatz is what Olivia Pope would call a gladiator in a suit because he just took a verbal flamethrower to Josh Hawley and it was a beautiful thing to watch. He really said, "Try me". I want more of this. Call these people out for their hypocrisy and their insanity. The one thing that will forever incence me about democrats is they don't fight. I'll give it to the republicans. They can go against anyone, no matter the range of reasonability and they will fight until they are on the floor bloody. The democrats can get something going or they can join in on a fight but they'll never follow through to the bitter end. There are a few here and there (see our fierce senator from Hawaii) but not enough. I think it also comes down to the leadership. Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell may be a few cards short of a full deck but they can pull their together and get things done. Meanwhile, you've got Chuck Schumer and and Steny Hoyer and they talk big talk but you never see the follow through. The slaying of the dragon if you will. For some reason, they just can't garner the same momentum from their people as McConnell and McCarthy can. The old guard is changing and they've lost a lot of the party's legendary power. I found this article from Teen Vogue and it's really eye-opening in regards to the need for fresh politicians in a Congress that's barely changed in four decades.
    It's an election year! Mid-terms take place in November and it'll come faster than you think. Make sure that you're registered to vote if you'll be eligible by election day and stay up-to-date on canidates!