Schumer privately asked Trump to nominate Merrick Garland to Supreme Court: report
Source: The Hill
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) privately urged President Trump in a phone conversation to nominate Merrick Garland, former President Obama's Supreme Court nominee from 2016, to replace the retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy.
The Washington Post reported on Thursday that Schumer told Trump in phone call that lasted less than five minutes on Tuesday that the move would help unite the country, noting that Democrats are still angry about Senate Republicans' refusal to act on Garland's nomination in the final year of Obama's presidency.
The Democratic leader also reportedly warned the president against nominating a potential justice to the Supreme Court who would vote to overturn Roe V. Wade, stating that such a move would be "cataclysmic" and damaging to Trump's legacy, according to a person familiar with the call.
Schumer previously wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times that a potential nominee's position on abortion rights could likely be a deciding factor in their Senate nomination battle.
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/395617-schumer-privately-asked-trump-to-nominate-merrick-garland-to-supreme-court
Girard442
(6,070 posts)yardwork
(61,588 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)who'll ignore and reverse precedents in civil liberties and progressive government to subject the will of the people to the wealthy? As opposed to a top legal scholar with centrist views, who is widely respected and admired by his few equals?
Or is it that you imagine Senator Schumer doesn't know what he's doing?
Maybe read about both Gorsuch and Schumer, and think of Schumer as a...general. Not one of the "stupid" generals of Trump's imaginings either. In either case, best put that knee in neutral and engage brain? Your own life, and/or lives of those you love, could depend on it.
Besides, even though Trump might have accepted, and might still (stranger things have happened), chances were almost nil. This was a strategic political move by Schumer.
It's going to be a bumpy ride, and understanding what's happening will at least help prevent some unnecessary emotional bruising.
Midwestern Democrat
(806 posts)the seller would tell me to "Get the hell out of here and don't ever contact me again". Nobody likes having their time wasted and their intelligence insulted with ridiculous, incredibly one sided offers/proposals.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)unblock
(52,196 posts)Not that he knows it's what Schumer wants, the chances are less than zero.
BeyondGeography
(39,369 posts)I hope he said pretty please, at least.
Hawaii Hiker
(3,165 posts)Response to brooklynite (Original post)
Post removed
TheCowsCameHome
(40,168 posts)WTF
And he warned Trump that it would damage his legacy????????????
It's time to go, Chuck.
LenaBaby61
(6,974 posts)I've never liked Schumer. EVER.
Calling Schumer "weak sauce" insults weak sauce.
jrthin
(4,835 posts)After he tried the high road act against Mazine, I called his office and said that I don't think he is the voice for our time.
LenaBaby61
(6,974 posts)And if his assistant told him what you said about him calling Maxine out, he probably couldn't care LESS. Probably thinking about how to schmooze up to tRump who called him cryin' Chuck Schumer
He really needs to go. He's no voice of the Dem party.
zanana1
(6,110 posts)He was just trying to persuade Trump that it would be in his best interest if he didn't nominate an extremist.
LiberalFighter
(50,888 posts)Have to question his motives.
forgotmylogin
(7,527 posts)...that actually wouldn't be a bad strategic move.
It isn't going to happen, though.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Btw, fighting should start after identifying allies and enemies. First do no harm.
Just a thought.
elleng
(130,865 posts)PatSeg
(47,399 posts)That's the funniest thing I've heard all day!
It was a pretty shrewd idea on Schumer's part and a relatively reasonable president would probably consider it. I wouldn't hold my breath on this one though.
MGKrebs
(8,138 posts)No harm in asking is there?
I wonder who leaked it. Since all the info comes from Schumer's side it's almost certainly from his office.
And if Garland was qualified in 2016 why wouldn't he be qualified now? I think it's a pretty savvy move.
PatSeg
(47,399 posts)It would also make McConnell look like a total fool, something he really deserves.
I think if the suggestion came at just the right time, Trump might actually consider it, but you just know he would change his mind in a couple of hours. Look at how reasonable he was about DACA kids and gun legislation for a few minutes.
onetexan
(13,036 posts)worst the idiot-in-chief could do is say no and select one of his ilks, which we assume he's gonna do anyway.
RobinA
(9,888 posts)It's a hail Mary pass. If it doesn't work (likely) it's no harm no foul. If it does (very unlikely) it's a better outcome for this very important situation than one could ever expect. Lotta liberals don't even like Garland, which is certainly a selling point. This is Trump we're talking about. I might say to him, Hey, Obama couldn't get this guy confirmed, but I bet you can. Remember, Trump isn't the sharpest tool.
Hekate
(90,645 posts)..have no idea what "politics" is.
NYC Liberal
(20,135 posts)PatSeg
(47,399 posts)The entire party is clearly schizophrenic now. When I was young, I remember the republicans as being more the "grownups". Though I largely disagreed with them, they were rational and reasonable. One could carry on an intelligent debate with them. Now they are all carnival barkers and snake oil salesmen.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)a loyal follower required supporting them in corruption. And in that way most followers became so corrupted they'll now even support extremely cruelty to children. All in service to their country.
Chicago1980
(1,968 posts)Another reason for new blood.
Diplomacy doesn't work with these people.
erronis
(15,241 posts)Is that what the forces antagonistic to democracy want? Get rid of diplomats and people that have studied history?
Response to Chicago1980 (Reply #10)
Post removed
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Your reponse, wholly unsupported by any objective evidence plus the polarity of the Tide Pod challenge convince me new blood is just another bumper-sticker lacking any rational thought behind it.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)The Democratic Party has a conservative wing, a fair number of left-wing extremists, and always those fringe pegs who don't fit anywhere and can roll off various directions, but I'm pretty sure most of them don't realize that about themselves.
Same here in the deep south, where a number of lifelong Republicans might be very insulted if I told them I suspected they were liberal by nature.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)or would they, like you, simply call doing first things first, "pathetic?"
If that's "New Blood," it's not going to be very effective, just loud and combative.
You have to learn to play checkers before you play chess.
roamer65
(36,745 posts)It is what a sane president would do to heal the divide, but with this insane whack job there is zero chance.
Now at least he can say he tried to negotiate.
secondwind
(16,903 posts)forgotmylogin
(7,527 posts)He could gloat for a week how bipartisan and nonbiased he is. It would take the heat off this rush to confirm someone and some pressure off all the Reps up for reelection in midterms.
Heck even just pretending to consider Garland would be good for optics.
LenaBaby61
(6,974 posts)You're not going to entertain listening to ANYTHING anyone has to say from the USA, let along from Schumer. Didn't Fatso call him "Crying Chuck Schumer?" Such respect for Schumer
tRump's allegiance to oligarchy and to turning this country into a complete MESS, and into the USSA because putin wants it that way, OR ELSE.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)by Putin. From what we've learned, he's lead such an incompetently corrupt, and depraved, life that I'd be surprised if one or more of our American blocs wasn't holding something over him. Money is power, and our extremist billionaire opponents have enormous power.
Trump doesn't know what it is to know something. Do you? Imo, a LOT more respect for experts is in order. Especially for those on our side. Rejecting the value of expertise is a right-wing ploy (and dutiful fault for dutiful right-wing followers).
LenaBaby61
(6,974 posts)And also in the process, but tRump won't and can't. He has to continue trashing them in any way he can, also destroy their reputations, because putin told him to, and he's also trying his best to normalize a murderous, greedy, authoritarian, ex-kgb agent who wants tRump to help him keep Crimea, have all US
sanctions againt him lifted, stay in power forever (Just like tRump wants to). On top of tRump trashing our Intel agencies, he goes after Dems and he's been going after Mueller by name. putin's coordinating and chiming in & saying that the 'witch hunters' going after his boy are all 'deep state' members. We see tRump weakening our country, we've seen him speaking for a long time about getting rid of NATO--Replacing it of course with nothing because Vlad doesn't want anything to replace NATO so he's free to roam & maraud all over in Europe. All of the relationships we had with our allies are slowly dissolving. tRump feels free to normalize putin by saying that he's "fine." tRump's dog and pony show with putin will further dissolve our standing in the world and further destroy whatever relationship we have left with our allies. Of course most in the treasonous GOP are fine with this, because they're on tRump's/putin's side.
Finally, I'll stuck to what I said and it's that putin is running our foreign policy, he's the head puppet master and the only person tRump cares about or listens to. putin's mined him since about 2013, and he has to pay his puppet master back for all he's done in helping him to become president. I explained that I trust the process and our Intel agencies, but enough cannot be said about what former FBI director James Comey did to Hillary Clinton. He "decided" to inform Congress 11 days before the 2016 GE, that he was re-opening an FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server (Comey himself used Gmail for official FBI business numerous times 🙄 ). He still defends this "decision" by saying that he was "sure" Hillary was going to win the election. Meanwhile, the FBI/CIA had been investigating tRump's campaign, yet that never came out until way after the fact. We also know that many agents working out of that SDNY office, Ghouliani's old playground, hated Hillary because they felt she'd gotten away with "so much," whatever so much means. In general, they hated Hillary enough to coordinate with other rogue agents in that office to hold onto those so-called "newly" discovered classified emails found on Weiner's laptop for as long as they could, NOT go through them (Which would have shown that the emails weren't new at all--they were the SAME ones already gone through) then drop them into Comey's lap at the last minute, which lead Comey to re-open something that should never have been re-opened. But his announcement put the cherry on top of other things which destroyed a Hillary Clinton presidency. As for Andrew McCabe, people are still trying to find out what this former FBI deputy directors role in all of this mess was. We know what tRump feels about him.
So yes, I trust the process and our Intel agencies for the most part still, but for tRump to also have been investigated and Comey to not think that it warranted a mention because he felt that Hillary would win the presidency was ridiculous to say the least.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Senator Schumer and others as idiots who have to "go," but what you're addressing, basically absolutely.
The question isn't whether there is massive subversive right-wing conspiracy to change our nation into something its people would never vote for if asked to. There is.
Among many questions are how many conspiracies, who's allied in which with what goals, what have they done, which are actionable crimes, etc. And of course people in the FBI, including Comey and McCabe, misused their offices to throw power to the right. Who are they working with, besides high-ups in the NYT and AP, of course? Also of course the dominionist right is conspiring, with overlap with conservative religious billionaires. Of course there's a whole Koch "libertarian" bloc. Russia and its export of corruption helping them all.
Again, so agree.
Trump is so capricious anyway, and he's like a kid on a merry-go-round, grasping for the meaningless brass ring. If it ends up saying Merrick Garland on it, so much the better.
Snellius
(6,881 posts)Sanders4life
(5 posts)You would think it would heal the divide, but our side of the media (everything besides faux news), would quickly switch from news of the positive nomination to whatever Trump does next warranting bashing. That means any good will this nomination would buy would be fleeting at best.
Trump's disdain for the media at least says he's aware of this fact.
forthemiddle
(1,379 posts)Especially when his party controlled the House, the Senate, and the White House?
Right....
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)the other option.
Dont expect trump to do it or come up with a honestly great health plan (or even consider both), but he might hit his head and realize he could actually do something worthwhile.
EricJohnson
(90 posts)sociopath and would probably nominate Garland if Schumer demanded he NOT.
Yupster
(14,308 posts)I don't think so.
The Democratic voters absolutely hate Trump.
So Trump nominates a moderate Democratic judge to the SC? He said he could shoot someone at Times Square and not lose support. That may be true, but nominating a Democratic judge would lose him half his conservative support overnight. He'd have to be insane to do that.
So, maybe it was worth asking.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)likely by many here on DU who are mocking him for doing this.
JHan
(10,173 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Of course, it's always possible a couple are hostile agents, paid or unpaid.
exboyfil
(17,862 posts)I am not saying to do it, but it could be crafted like the South African Reconciliation process. Past sins are forgiven, and we move forward with competing parties that aren't at each others throats?
I would have approached McConnell first about it, and someone "Justice" would have to be worked out.
If such a thing was to happen, then everybody clutch their rosary beads and pray for Ginsberg's health.
MGKrebs
(8,138 posts)no deal is ever honored. He will break any deal, any time, for any or no reason.
So, let's make a deal, then we get to break it later!
Yupster
(14,308 posts)The South African reconciliation process isn't going too well right now. Neither would any deal made with Trump.
bucolic_frolic
(43,128 posts)and unfortunately it would help Trump consolidate power
Of course it won't happen
Tatiana
(14,167 posts)We need someone who will be more adversarial. You can't negotiate with hostage takers. Those children in cages, those babies are hostages.
We need to adopt insurgent tactics and Chuck is not the person who can lead our brigade.
Orangepeel
(13,933 posts)Of course Trump isnt going to do it, but it is what he *should* do. Whats the harm of reminding people that Garlands seat was stolen?
riversedge
(70,187 posts)ancianita
(36,023 posts)IronLionZion
(45,427 posts)Trump has done impulsive things before and ignored his own advisers.
Some people like to be upset, it's a choice.
GoCubsGo
(32,079 posts)But, I'm not one of them. I'm with you. I doubt he's expecting Spanky to even consider his request. It was just a way of reminding people about McConnell's bullshit. Although, I do think there was a "Hail Mary" aspect to it, considering how petty and vindictive Trump is. If Trump decides on a whim to screw over McConnell anyone else involved, what better way to do it than to stray from that list he was handed?
pnwmom
(108,976 posts)And it reminds the public that Garland SHOULD be on the Supreme Court.
stopbush
(24,396 posts)this would be it.
murielm99
(30,733 posts)PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)andym
(5,443 posts)and tried to pretend to be Putin, so that Trump might actually listen to him.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)...for the upcoming confirmation hearings.
I gave the bullies (real bullies-- not the other students who simply mocked the bullies that we're told "makes us look bad" in middle school the same chance to back off. It cleaned my hands.
ancianita
(36,023 posts)BlueJac
(7,838 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)ehrnst
(32,640 posts)NYC Liberal
(20,135 posts)This wasn't meant to seriously ask Trump to nominate Merrick Garland. It was a political move to remind the public, again, that the seat was stolen by the Republicans.
mcar
(42,302 posts)Play to dotard's ego and get Garland's name back in the media.
Rhiannon12866
(205,202 posts)Which means that's the last thing that Trump would ever do!
Tarc
(10,476 posts)If Obama said he eats at McDonalds 3 meals a day, Trump would become a vegan simply out of spite.
There's no way he could ever nominate someone that Obama thought was a good person.
YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)RobinA
(9,888 posts)I'd take a shot by highlighting the fact that Obama could not get this good and honorable American who has been tough on crime considered, let alone seated. Opportunity for Trump to one up Obama.
Turbineguy
(37,319 posts)At least he can say, "I told you so!"
I used to world for a company that would not buy spare parts. The temptation was not to order spares, since they would not send them anyway. The fact is that even when you know it's hopeless, you have to do the right thing.
in2herbs
(2,945 posts)still_one
(92,136 posts)by refusing to vote for the Democratic nominee. They sure made their point, and they were tough too, not only were they happy to do it at the time, but they expressed absolutely NO REGRET and were proud they did it a year and a half later
So people are using THIS as an excuse to bash Schumer. WTF
There is an election coming up in November, and some are getting bent out of shape over THIS.
Let's just see if we can f**k things up in November, because it sure seems their are some elements who want to do everything in their power to bring divisiveness with ever nuance or utterance a Democratic Congress person makes if it rubs them the wrong.
Jon Stewart said it perfectly, the Democratic party is a circular firing squad.
This is the most important issue to get pissed off about?
This is f**king insane.
We lost TWO SUPREME COURT APPOINTMENTS with the help some people who identified themselves as liberal, because they refused to vote for the DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, by either voting third party or NOT VOTING.
Every Senator running for Senate in those critical swing states lost to the ESTABLISHMENT, INCUMBENT, republican.
Let's see what happens in November if we keep this crap up. We are doing the right wing's job for them.
f**k it
George II
(67,782 posts)Shrek
(3,977 posts)And then claim that their previous tactics are vindicated because it's all about the nominee and it doesn't matter who the president is.
Raine
(30,540 posts)ehrnst
(32,640 posts)are mocking him now....
Napolion
(12 posts)Hekate
(90,645 posts)Chance if you don't try: zero.
This way Schumer gets to troll Trump and the GOP both.
FarPoint
(12,336 posts)Publishes Flaimbait
saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)are you Senator Schumer?
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="
jg10003
(976 posts)jgmiller
(391 posts)I suggested something similar the other day except once again if this is true Schumer didn't learn from the school of Trump. Talking to him privately and suggesting things does nothing, this guy attacks in public.
Schumer should have put out a tweet as soon as Kennedy announced his retirement stating that if Trump nominated Garland and he was approved the dems would vote for his stupid border wall. Put Trump and Mitch in a bad place, use their own words against them. Odds are Trump would never do it but the worst that would happen would be that next year when the dems take back the house we defund the idiocy. We need to fight this guy on his own turf, I'm not saying being crazy and obnoxious like him but fight like him.
MGKrebs
(8,138 posts)so I'm sure it made it's way to twitter somehow, if that's important to you.
And we don't know if Schumer offered anything in return or not (but I doubt he did). The School of Trump would teach that trying to make a deal with the idiot is just an invitation to be insulted and abused, and useless in the end anyway.
I don't know if Schumer has some trick up his sleeve as far as delaying this vote or not, but I guess we'll see.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,338 posts)No, wait, that's not Schumer, but the outcome will be just as productive ...
Red Mountain
(1,731 posts)Maybe he's so far gone he'd consider it......but I doubt Chuck is counting on that.
CTyankee
(63,903 posts)deeply. Stop and think before you criticize.
Smh...