Justice Kennedy Retiring

[*michaelsean*]

(06-28-2018, 10:17 AM)hollodero Wrote: I agree with the idea, I'm just not optimistic it can be done, at least not in the foreseeable future. You have one party behaving less than ideal and another one that has completely turned cynic. And wide parts of the electorate cheer for that.
So whatever can be codified at some time in the right circumstances, it can be just undone again with ease. And since approximately 100% of Republicans believe this administration deserves nothing but nobel prizes and Trump is the greatest guy since Jesus, it doesn't look like the right of center part of the electorate would referee that one in your sense. While wide parts of the left spectrum or independents just get frustrated and don't vote any more for the party that loses the mud-throwing games. That's the picture I get. 

Just for verification, there was a rule in place demanding 60% of senators have to appoint a supreme court judge, right. This would be one of these norms I guess, that can be (and was) wiped out easily. The party who won't do that and tries to collect points with the voters by being so civil is losing.

Finally, I think what you want to achieve can only be achieved by giving the other side a taste of their own medicine. Else, they would have zero incentive to change things, since the current way to do things plays out so fine for them.

No the rule wasn't that 60% of the Senators have to approve, it's that 60% have to agree to end debate and move forward with a vote. (That's where the filibuster comes in) The Dems actually changed that first when the Republicans were holding up judicial appointments.