After mourning the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg for about five minutes, Twitter is now discussing the chances that President Donald Trump gets a nominee through the Senate before the election.
But that’s going to be a challenge as Sen. Lisa Murkowski just said she will not vote on any replacement until after election day:
NEW: Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announces she will NOT vote to replace RBG on SCOTUS until after Election Day. “Fair is fair,” she says.
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) September 18, 2020
Sen. Susan Collins, you’re next:
.@SenatorCollins — what say you?
— Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) September 19, 2020
She’s said previously that she wouldn’t seat a Supreme Court Justice in October:
News: @SenatorCollins told me earlier this month in Maine that she would not seat a Supreme Court justice in October.
“I think that’s too close, I really do,” she said.
She said she’d also oppose seating a justice in the lame duck if there’s a change in presidents.
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) September 19, 2020
And Sen. Chuck Grassley has said similar things:
Lisa Murkowski and Chuck Grassley are already on record saying they would not vote for a SCOTUS replacement before the 2020 election
Republicans have only 53 senators — and I have to wonder about what Collins and Romney are thinking right nowhttps://t.co/TQtkqhmkqZ
— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) September 19, 2020
Which makes Sen. Mitt Romeny the most crucial vote? Wow:
There is no chance that McConnell will be swayed by his own stance. But I hope Senators Collins, Romney, Murkowski and others will note the GOP position on election year vacancies. https://t.co/R1C1l8mOB6
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) September 18, 2020
And it’s not even clear yet what Sen. Mitch McConnell might do:
The Supreme Court is not the holy grail for every Republican senator. And will McConnell be diminished with his colleagues if he loses his majority? What I want to know is what is John Thune thinking tonight.
— Walter Shapiro (@MrWalterShapiro) September 19, 2020
To be continued. . .
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