GOP Honor RGB ( her legacy and wish)

Unrepresentative Policy of the Week:

Let the People's Voice be Heard for SCOTUS Nominee

It's been just over a week, and Trump and the Republicans have already announced their pick to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The hypocrisy on display by the Republican party is disgusting, but also utterly unsurprising. It's been clear for years that the current iteration of the Republican party cares nothing for our government institutions, norms, or even democracy itself, they care only for money and power. In that pursuit, they will use every tool available to them, both inside and out of the rules, if they can get away with it, it will be done. Those hoping for decency and consistency from Republicans are either utterly naive as to the nature of struggle, or are gas lighting you. Thus, despite Democrats and Independents being overwhelming in favor waiting for the election results to see who fills the open SCOTUS seat, as Republicans previously argued back in 2016, Republicans are looking to start Senate hearings for Amy Barrett as the next SCOTUS appointment in early October, doubtless to have her installed before the election can take place, just as Donald Trump hopes. "As you may know, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died [9/18/20], creating an opening on the Supreme Court. Do you think her replacement should be nominated by Donald Trump and confirmed by the current U.S. Senate, or should this be left to the winner of the presidential election and a Senate vote next year?" Trump and current SenateWinner and Senate next yearUnsure %%%ALL38574Men4550 Women3164 Democrats790 Republicans8016 Independents3461 That the Republicans may very well lose up and down the ballot this November isn’t a reason to avoid rushing through a new confirmation process. As the poll above makes clear, the Republican base is deeply supportive of creating a 6-3 conservative SCOTUS majority! They fear that the levers of power might be taken from them and they are determined to shove their reactionary, unpopular politics down American’s throats, democracy be damned! Politics is often described as trench warfare, and the replacement of RGB will give Republicans an easily defensible trench for decades to come. It's likely that Democrats in Congress cannot stop the confirmation of Amy Barrett or some other right wing reactionary to the court if the Republicans are truly determined to seat her. It's within the rules, and they have the votes. But as Sam Sedar of the Majority Report noted, "some fights are worth losing." The Democrats have to start practicing politics with strategy, and an understanding of how to build and wield power, not just for themselves, but the people at large. Taking action against the Republicans, to obstruct and delay with whatever procedural means that are at their disposal, is important, even if Amy Barrett is confirmed. When Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Tim Kaine tell voters that a 6-3 conservative majority on the court endangers much of the social progress of the 20th century, let alone our hopes for the future, they aren't exaggerating. Their words, and dire warning, however, ring hollow when in the same breath they dismiss all the tools at their disposal to wage the fight. The Democrats need to take extraordinary action. Action that will make the average voter take notice, because it is extreme, because the stakes are so high. Doing this would show voters that Democrats care and are ready to fight as hard as they can for the American people. It would give people an affirmative reason to vote for the Democrats, instead of just against Donald Trump. Importantly it would also help prevent the normalization of the nihilist power politics on display by the Republicans, and lay the groundwork for success in future struggles against the conservative SCOTUS. Of course we know that the Democrats, at least those in charge, will never lead the way in a struggle of this magnitude. It's just not who they are. To get the change we desire, we're going to have to be the leaders. It's going to take sustained, collective action of commensurate size and economic power to the forces of oligarchy and oppression we struggle against to begin listening and convince them there is no option but to change or lose everything.   Don’t miss this chance to  join us every Tuesday, in growing solidarity and power until we take back our democracy from amoral special interests, and greedy politicians: Don't Shop on Tuesdays!