Senate Republicans will not allow any Obama nominee a hearing

solarbird:

The GOP have gone with the nuclear option – they will allow no Obama Supreme Court nominee a hearing. Since the current Senate will expire before next elections, that does mean in fact that they are refusing a Constitutional duty. This is, in fact, unprecedented.

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to call this a constitutional crisis, even if it’s one that will play itself out on a timer. It rather combines with the “religion exempts you from law” line that the Republican party is pushing at state levels to become something akin to the nullification crisis of the 1830s to me.

It should also put the stake into any last remnants of the idea that the GOP recognises the idea of a “loyal opposition,” or has any interest in governing with anything less than absolute power. The “permanent majority” party is still the “permanent majority” party; if the people are foolish enough to elect someone else, that doesn’t count, isn’t legitimate, and will not be allowed to function. And a republic cannot work that way.