And now that Democratic Senate prospects are looking up, assuming they flip the chamber, Republicans may have to settle with "Garland or get bent" on any vacancies that arise post-2018. Aside from him, the Democratic base is never going to accept a Dem Senate confirming a Trump pick, and we may just have to stick with the Big Mitch precedent of 2016 - let the next president decide.
I see no reason the Democrats should be so petty. They can and should honor the GOP's wishes and not approve any Trump nominations until after the 2020 elections.
Well now, let's remember something. Republicans who opposed Garland's confirmation were often saying it was because Americans were already in the process of voting in the elections. Had Scalia passed away a year earlier, I don't think a case would have been made to wait. It was the fact that primaries for Obama's successor were taking place which gave incentive to wait.
Unless it's spring 2020, the Democrats shouldn't block any replacement judges.
Frankly my dear Reaganfan, I don't give a damn. The Democrats should refuse to confirm any Republican judicial nominees indefinitely regardless of qualifications until voters in 2020 have had a chance to have their say if they pick up the Senate in 2018. If Trump is re-elected, then they should wait until folks who couldn't vote in 2020 have had their say in 2024. No Democrat should vote to confirm any Republican judicial nominee for any vacancy until we have appointed a net of at least 12 new Democratic federal judges and have a majority on the Supreme Court (certainly a Supreme Court majority at the least). Until then, I've got your bipartisanship; it's right in between my ring and index fingers.
