Jake Jacobs
Trump makes strategic move in SCOTUS pick
By Jake Jacobs
The game of chess, much strategy is needed to obtain the end result of victory. In the game of realpolitik, the same is true. As Otto von Bismarck said: "Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable-the art of the next best."
And while President Donald Trump's choice of Judge Brett Kavanaugh as the next justice on the Supreme Court of the United States was not the favorite of many social conservatives, it was the strategic move in this game.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett was one of President Trump's favorites, if not his number one choice, but he realized that the present was not the time to fight a divisive and drained out battle for her confirmation. The nation is just months away from the midterms elections with pivotal Senate seats amongst the battlegrounds.
President Trump knows that without a Republican majority Senate in 2019, he will be a profoundly weakened executive, and has the potential to be held in many cases at the mercy of Senatorial prerogative; with a Democrat majority, the prerogative could be disastrous.
While many social conservative patriots were initially profoundly disappointed with President Trump's pick, in the long run, Kavanaugh is a brilliant choice. In poker terms, President Trump is an ace in knowing when to "hold'em and when to fold'em."
Republicans hold a thin majority of 51 in the Senate. When one considers this number includes liberal Republicans John McCain of Arizona, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, it becomes clear to Trump that there is little room for error.
This writer was passionately for Barrett declaring that if the Democrats and liberal Republicans put up a fight and pull a filibuster, the Nuclear option should be enacted. This means that the Senate majority simply ignores the tradition of the filibuster and the condition of the 60 super majority, instead calling for a simple majority vote.
But it is not that easy. With all Democrats voting against Barrett, and at least two liberal Republicans voting against her due to her passionate pro-life views, simple math indicates a vote would fail by obtaining just 49 ayes.
Unlike Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump understands political numbers. The Electoral College provided a fine example in the 2016 election.
The same applies to the upcoming midterm elections in November. Polls show that the voters in five key Senate battleground states of Florida, Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota, and West Virginia want their incumbent Democrat senators to confirm Trump's nomination. Even the liberal Republicans are sounding like they will vote for Kavanaugh.
Trump's strategy will upset a number of social conservative patriots, but "Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable-the art of the next best." In the long run – hopefully sooner rather than later – President Trump will pick Barrett to the Supreme Court, thereby securing a court of conservative legacy for many years to come.Here is Dr. J's ONE NATION on this topic:https://www.facebook.com/FreedomProjectUSA/videos/10155648187259849/UzpfSTEwMDAwMDE0Njc2NDE4MzoyMTMxMzk3MTIzNTQxODI2/
© Jake Jacobs
July 19, 2018
The game of chess, much strategy is needed to obtain the end result of victory. In the game of realpolitik, the same is true. As Otto von Bismarck said: "Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable-the art of the next best."
And while President Donald Trump's choice of Judge Brett Kavanaugh as the next justice on the Supreme Court of the United States was not the favorite of many social conservatives, it was the strategic move in this game.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett was one of President Trump's favorites, if not his number one choice, but he realized that the present was not the time to fight a divisive and drained out battle for her confirmation. The nation is just months away from the midterms elections with pivotal Senate seats amongst the battlegrounds.
President Trump knows that without a Republican majority Senate in 2019, he will be a profoundly weakened executive, and has the potential to be held in many cases at the mercy of Senatorial prerogative; with a Democrat majority, the prerogative could be disastrous.
While many social conservative patriots were initially profoundly disappointed with President Trump's pick, in the long run, Kavanaugh is a brilliant choice. In poker terms, President Trump is an ace in knowing when to "hold'em and when to fold'em."
Republicans hold a thin majority of 51 in the Senate. When one considers this number includes liberal Republicans John McCain of Arizona, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, it becomes clear to Trump that there is little room for error.
This writer was passionately for Barrett declaring that if the Democrats and liberal Republicans put up a fight and pull a filibuster, the Nuclear option should be enacted. This means that the Senate majority simply ignores the tradition of the filibuster and the condition of the 60 super majority, instead calling for a simple majority vote.
But it is not that easy. With all Democrats voting against Barrett, and at least two liberal Republicans voting against her due to her passionate pro-life views, simple math indicates a vote would fail by obtaining just 49 ayes.
Unlike Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump understands political numbers. The Electoral College provided a fine example in the 2016 election.
The same applies to the upcoming midterm elections in November. Polls show that the voters in five key Senate battleground states of Florida, Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota, and West Virginia want their incumbent Democrat senators to confirm Trump's nomination. Even the liberal Republicans are sounding like they will vote for Kavanaugh.
Trump's strategy will upset a number of social conservative patriots, but "Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable-the art of the next best." In the long run – hopefully sooner rather than later – President Trump will pick Barrett to the Supreme Court, thereby securing a court of conservative legacy for many years to come.Here is Dr. J's ONE NATION on this topic:https://www.facebook.com/FreedomProjectUSA/videos/10155648187259849/UzpfSTEwMDAwMDE0Njc2NDE4MzoyMTMxMzk3MTIzNTQxODI2/
© Jake Jacobs
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)