Why the Senate "Nuclear Option" scheduled by Sen. Mitch McConnell is bad for all parties.
With members of congress more polarized than ever, those in congress find solace in power and focus on campaigning for their re election , thus are constantly short sighted vs looking at what is best for our nation long term
When our founding fathers set up our government, they oddly spent time crafting each house and intentionally making the House and Senate different. The House was designed with Representatives to be, "The will of the people". States are allocated a specific number of house seats depending on their population which is frequently updated as is the electoral college based on population.
The Senate was designed differently, more like a big brother to the House, their role was more than just to exercise the will of their constituents and as such have different standards for passing certain laws and or appointments. It is for this reason the Senate only confirms SCOTUS nominees with a 60 vote threshold to push bipartisanship, while in the House a simple majority of the votes can pass a law. (Which then goes to the Senate)
By invoking the "nuclear option" (which has been done before by both parties) the rules of the Senate change to a simple majority 51 votes. The Senate effectively has just become a mirror of the House, the checks and balance of legislative power has vanished and with it the foundation in which our founding fathers set up the Senate.
In this case, using the "nuclear option" to confirm a SCOTUS nominee will be a first and set a precedence as the Senate has no higher duty than to confirm or reject a SCOTUS nominee. One could argue a Nominee in such a position , knowing what chaos is about to ensue would step aside for the good of the country. The only higher responsibility the Senate has would be to remove a sitting president from office after the House has voted for an impeachment.
The short sightedness of this move by republicans could come back to haunt them in just 18 months when democrats will attempt to retake the Senate. If successful, Democrats with 51 votes could stop EVERY SINGLE BILL from reaching the President making Trump not just a lame duck 2 years into his presidency but an incapacitated duck at that.
Trump then would only have Executive Order power which as we have seen, judges are more than happy to intervene if Trump goes too far, further every order could be reversed by a new 2020 president .
Let's hope a few republicans in the Senate see the chaos that will occur and vote NO on Thursday in regards to changing the rules of The Senate.
