It is time for Senate Democrats to strike a deal with Republicans over the nomination of Judge Gorsuch. I skew liberal, yet even I must admit that he’s not so hard-right as to be completely out of the mainstream, and he’s obviously qualified. This should be a nonpartisan appointment, period. Otherwise, the electorate should be voting on these judges. I hate to see selection of Supreme Court judges devolve to simple politics.
An equitable solution would be an agreement between all sides: confirm Gorsuch in return for passing an amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing a president the right to appoint judges up to the moment of inauguration of the new president, or at least until December 31 of the last year in office.
Since Donald Trump is currently in office, this should be palatable to Republicans, who — let’s be honest — cheated mightily by ignoring President Obama’s pick of Judge Garland (shame on them).
I have written to both Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell as well as Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler suggesting this course of action. I beg Columbian readers to join me in this endeavor. It is a fair and reasonable solution to an unfortunate situation.
