The Supreme Grab

It appears that Christmas came early for the Donald. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has decided to retire in enough time to allow him to ram some right-wing knuckle dragger through the Senate for approval and eventual confirmation prior to the midterm elections. That will make two Supreme Court justices nominated, approved and confirmed, all within the first half of Trump's first term in office.

Talk about supremely lucky...

Chances are good that the nomination will sail through the Senate, since the Democrats have no leverage to stop it. There's a slim chance that (a) they'll stick together and all vote no and even slimmer chance that one or two weak-kneed, so-called "moderate" Republicans will join them in opposing the nomination. Ain't gonna happen, mostly because the Democratic senators from states that Trump won in the last general election are already getting all wobbly and will likely support the nomination to save their political hides.

So much for taking one for the team, as in the common good of this country.

I'm mostly resigned to this likely outcome, but I sure wish that the Democrats could muster some intestinal fortitude to put up something of a fight when they question whichever narrow-minded mouth breather Trump manages to parade before them. Meanwhile, the Democratic "establishment" continues to wring its hands over twisted notions of "civility," poo-pooing progressive activists when they use forms of direct action to make their voices heard. All this, of course, while Trump continues to run circles around the Dems, carpet F-bombing them (and all of us) back into the 19th century.

Depressing, indeed.