IMPRESSIVE. BUT WOW, JUST THE CHOPS IN THAT BUT WOW, JUST THE CHOPS IN THAT CONVERSATION. CONVERSATION. >> AGREED. >> AGREED. >> REALLY FASCINATING TO SEE. >> REALLY FASCINATING TO SEE. THANKS. THANKS. AND THANKS TO YOU AT HOME FOR AND THANKS TO YOU AT HOME FOR JOINING US THIS HOUR. JOINING US THIS HOUR. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. HE WAS THE TALLEST EVER MEMBER HE WAS THE TALLEST EVER MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE. OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE. 6’9". 6’9". HIS NICKNAME WAS BIG LUTHER, HIS NICKNAME WAS BIG LUTHER, WHICH IS NOT A PARTICULARLY WHICH IS NOT A PARTICULARLY ORIGINAL NICKNAME WHEN YOU ARE ORIGINAL NICKNAME WHEN YOU ARE 6’9" AND YOUR NAME IS LUTHER. 6’9" AND YOUR NAME IS LUTHER. WHAT ELSE ARE THEY GOING TO CALL WHAT ELSE ARE THEY GOING TO CALL YOU, TINY? YOU, TINY? HE PLAYED VARSITY BASKETBALL AT HE PLAYED VARSITY BASKETBALL AT TULANE BACK IN HIS COLLEGE DAYS, TULANE BACK IN HIS COLLEGE DAYS, BACK THE DAY OF SHORT BASKETBALL BACK THE DAY OF SHORT BASKETBALL SHORTS. SHORTS. HE EVENTUALLY ENDED UP AS HE EVENTUALLY ENDED UP AS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE GREAT ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE GREAT STATE OF ALABAMA WHEN THE STATE OF ALABAMA WHEN THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA FOUND HIMSELF INVOLVED IN A FOUND HIMSELF INVOLVED IN A PARTICULARLY VISCERAL SEX PARTICULARLY VISCERAL SEX SCANDAL. SCANDAL. THIS IS THE GOVERNOR. THIS IS THE GOVERNOR. THERE WERE TAPES. THERE WERE TAPES. THERE WERE ACTUAL PUBLICLY THERE WERE ACTUAL PUBLICLY RELEASED AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE RELEASED AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE GOVERNOR CAN NOODLING WITH HIS GOVERNOR CAN NOODLING WITH HIS MISTRESS AND TALKING TO HER MISTRESS AND TALKING TO HER QUITE BLUNTLY ABOUT ALL THE QUITE BLUNTLY ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS HE WOULD LIKE TO DIFFERENT WAYS HE WOULD LIKE TO CANNOODLE WITH HER. CANNOODLE WITH HER. ALONGSIDE THE ALMOST ALONGSIDE THE ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE SEX SCANDAL PART OF UNBELIEVABLE SEX SCANDAL PART OF IT, THERE WERE ALSO SOME SERIOUS IT, THERE WERE ALSO SOME SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS OF MISUSE OF PUBLIC ALLEGATIONS OF MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS THAT WENT ALONG WITH THAT FUNDS THAT WENT ALONG WITH THAT SEX SCANDAL. SEX SCANDAL. BUT THAT SCANDAL INVOLVING THE BUT THAT SCANDAL INVOLVING THE ALABAMA GOVERNOR, IT ULTIMATELY ALABAMA GOVERNOR, IT ULTIMATELY LED TO ON IMPEACHMENT LED TO ON IMPEACHMENT ALLEGATION. ALLEGATION. HE WAS A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR. HE WAS A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR. THIS WAS A SERIOUS THING AND THIS WAS A SERIOUS THING AND THEY STARTED AN IMPEACHMENT THEY STARTED AN IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION AGAINST HIM, UNTIL INVESTIGATION AGAINST HIM, UNTIL BIG LUTHER, STATE ATTORNEY BIG LUTHER, STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL INTERVENED TO STOP IT. GENERAL INTERVENED TO STOP IT. HE CAME TO THE LEGISLATURE, AND HE CAME TO THE LEGISLATURE, AND HE TOLD THEM THEY SHOULD HOLD HE TOLD THEM THEY SHOULD HOLD OFF ON THAT IMPEACHMENT OFF ON THAT IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THIS WAS A INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THIS WAS A LAW ENFORCEMENT MATTER FIRST AND LAW ENFORCEMENT MATTER FIRST AND FOREMOST. FOREMOST. AND AS THE SENIOR LAW AND AS THE SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL IN ALABAMA, ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL IN ALABAMA, HE AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S HE AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE WOULD BE HANDLING THAT. OFFICE WOULD BE HANDLING THAT. SO THEY SHOULDN’T LET THEIR SO THEY SHOULDN’T LET THEIR LITTLE LEGISLATIVE INQUIRY GET LITTLE LEGISLATIVE INQUIRY GET IN THE WAY OF THE REAL IN THE WAY OF THE REAL INVESTIGATION. INVESTIGATION. AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IN AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IN ALABAMA AND THE CHAIR OF THE ALABAMA AND THE CHAIR OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IN ALABAMA, JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IN ALABAMA, THEY SAID OKAY. THEY SAID OKAY. THEY STOOD DOWN. THEY STOOD DOWN. THEY SAID WE’LL WAIT TO HEAR THEY SAID WE’LL WAIT TO HEAR FROM THE AG’S OFFICE AND HOW FROM THE AG’S OFFICE AND HOW THEY’RE GOING TO HANDLE IT. THEY’RE GOING TO HANDLE IT. WE WILL PUT IMPEACHMENT WE WILL PUT IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE GOVERNOR PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE GOVERNOR ON HOLD. ON HOLD. NOW, MEANWHILE, THE UNITED NOW, MEANWHILE, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAD A STATES OF AMERICA HAD A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WITH THE SURPRISING RESULT THAT DONALD SURPRISING RESULT THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT. TRUMP WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT. ONE KNOCK-ON EFFECT OF TRUMP ONE KNOCK-ON EFFECT OF TRUMP BEING ELECTED PRESIDENT WAS BEING ELECTED PRESIDENT WAS PERHAPS THE EVEN MORE SHOCKING PERHAPS THE EVEN MORE SHOCKING RESULT THAT JEFFERSON BEAUREGARD RESULT THAT JEFFERSON BEAUREGARD SESSION III ONCE REJECTED FROM SESSION III ONCE REJECTED FROM CONSIDERATION TO BE A FEDERAL CONSIDERATION TO BE A FEDERAL JUDGE BECAUSE HE WAS SEEN AS TOO JUDGE BECAUSE HE WAS SEEN AS TOO RACIALLY BIASED FOR ALABAMA, AND RACIALLY BIASED FOR ALABAMA, AND THAT WAS BY A THAT WAS BY A REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE, SENATOR CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE, SENATOR JEFF SESSIONS, OF ALL PEOPLE, JEFF SESSIONS, OF ALL PEOPLE, UPON THE ELECTION OF DONALD UPON THE ELECTION OF DONALD TRUMP WOULD ASCEND TO BECOME TRUMP WOULD ASCEND TO BECOME ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES. STATES. PERHAPS EVEN MORE SHOCKING THAN PERHAPS EVEN MORE SHOCKING THAN DONALD TRUMP BECOMING PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP BECOMING PRESIDENT, RIGHT, TO SEE ERIC HOLDER AND RIGHT, TO SEE ERIC HOLDER AND LORETTA LYNCH SUCCEEDED BY JEFF LORETTA LYNCH SUCCEEDED BY JEFF SESSIONS IN THE ATTORNEY SESSIONS IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE THAT HIT MUCH GENERAL’S OFFICE THAT HIT MUCH OF AMERICA LIKE A 2 x 4 UPSIDE OF AMERICA LIKE A 2 x 4 UPSIDE THE HEAD. THE HEAD. BUT IN ALABAMA, JEFF SESSION BUT IN ALABAMA, JEFF SESSION BECOMING ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE BECOMING ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES ALSO HAD THE VERY UNITED STATES ALSO HAD THE VERY PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCE OF OPENING PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCE OF OPENING UP JEFF SESSIONS’ U.S. SENATE UP JEFF SESSIONS’ U.S. SENATE SEAT, WHEREUPON THE GOVERNOR OF SEAT, WHEREUPON THE GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA, IN THE MIDST OF HIS ALABAMA, IN THE MIDST OF HIS HORRIFIC SEX SCANDAL AND THIS HORRIFIC SEX SCANDAL AND THIS BIPARTISAN AGGRESSIVE BIPARTISAN AGGRESSIVE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST HIM IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT HAD HIM IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT HAD ONLY BEEN HALTED BY THE ONLY BEEN HALTED BY THE INTERVENTION OF HIS ATTORNEY INTERVENTION OF HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL, THAT SCANDAL-RIDDEN GENERAL, THAT SCANDAL-RIDDEN BARELY HOLDING ON ALABAMA BARELY HOLDING ON ALABAMA GOVERNOR LOOKED AROUND IN THAT GOVERNOR LOOKED AROUND IN THAT MOMENT. MOMENT. FRANKLY, HE LOOKED UP IN THAT FRANKLY, HE LOOKED UP IN THAT MOMENT AND DECIDED THAT OF ALL MOMENT AND DECIDED THAT OF ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE IN THE GREAT THE GOOD PEOPLE IN THE GREAT STATE OF ALABAMA, THE ONE WHO STATE OF ALABAMA, THE ONE WHO SHOULD GET NAMED TO THAT NOW SHOULD GET NAMED TO THAT NOW NEWLY VACANT U.S. SENATE SEAT NEWLY VACANT U.S. SENATE SEAT WAS BIG LUTHER. WAS BIG LUTHER. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO HAD THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO HAD TAKEN OVER THE INVESTIGATION TAKEN OVER THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE GOVERNOR’S SEX SCANDAL INTO THE GOVERNOR’S SEX SCANDAL AND THEREBY STOPPED HIM FROM AND THEREBY STOPPED HIM FROM BEING IMPEACHED. BEING IMPEACHED. THERE DIDN’T HAVE TO BE AN THERE DIDN’T HAVE TO BE AN ELECTION. ELECTION. THE GOVERNOR JUST GOT TO PICK THE GOVERNOR JUST GOT TO PICK WHOEVER HE WANTED TO FILL JEFF WHOEVER HE WANTED TO FILL JEFF SESSIONS’ SENATE SEAT. SESSIONS’ SENATE SEAT. HE PICKED BIG LUTHER. HE PICKED BIG LUTHER. THE DAY LUTHER WAS SWORN IN, THE DAY LUTHER WAS SWORN IN, LUTHER STRANGE ANNOUNCED LUTHER STRANGE ANNOUNCED ACTUALLY HIS OFFICE HAD NEVER ACTUALLY HIS OFFICE HAD NEVER HAD THE GOVERNOR UNDER HAD THE GOVERNOR UNDER INVESTIGATION IN THE SEX SCANDAL INVESTIGATION IN THE SEX SCANDAL AT ALL. AT ALL. HE DIDN’T KNOW WHY ANYBODY HAD HE DIDN’T KNOW WHY ANYBODY HAD HAD THAT IMPRESSION. HAD THAT IMPRESSION. AND THAT’S HOW BIG LUTHER AND THAT’S HOW BIG LUTHER STRANGE GOT TO THE UNITED STATES STRANGE GOT TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE. SENATE. THAT’S HOW THEY DO THINGS IN THAT’S HOW THEY DO THINGS IN ALABAMA REPUBLICAN POLITICS. ALABAMA REPUBLICAN POLITICS. BUT WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS BUT WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS THE ORIGIN STORY FOR HOW THE ORIGIN STORY FOR HOW SOMEBODY BECOMES A U.S. SENATOR, SOMEBODY BECOMES A U.S. SENATOR, IT IS ALMOST INEVITABLE THAT IT IS ALMOST INEVITABLE THAT THAT STORY WILL END AS BADLY AS THAT STORY WILL END AS BADLY AS IT BEGAN, RIGHT? IT BEGAN, RIGHT? AND INDEED, LUTHER STRANGE STILL AND INDEED, LUTHER STRANGE STILL HOLDS THE RECORD FOR BEING THE HOLDS THE RECORD FOR BEING THE TALLEST EVER PERSON IN THE U.S. TALLEST EVER PERSON IN THE U.S. SENATE, BUT HE’S ALREADY GONE SENATE, BUT HE’S ALREADY GONE FROM THE SENATE. FROM THE SENATE. AND THE GOVERNOR’S NO LONGER AND THE GOVERNOR’S NO LONGER GOVERNOR EITHER. GOVERNOR EITHER. THIS WAS THE GOVERNOR’S SMILING THIS WAS THE GOVERNOR’S SMILING CREEPY MUG SHOT. CREEPY MUG SHOT. THESE ARE THE CHARGES THAT WERE THESE ARE THE CHARGES THAT WERE BROUGHT AGAINST HIM. BROUGHT AGAINST HIM. AS LUTHER STRANGE’S DOOR PRIZE AS LUTHER STRANGE’S DOOR PRIZE FOR HIS CAMEO ROLE IN THE SEX FOR HIS CAMEO ROLE IN THE SEX SCANDAL THAT DID BRING DOWN THE SCANDAL THAT DID BRING DOWN THE ALABAMA GOVERNOR, MR. STRANGE ALABAMA GOVERNOR, MR. STRANGE GOT TO HOLD ON THE THAT U.S. GOT TO HOLD ON THE THAT U.S. SENATE SEAT FOR A FEW MONTHS SENATE SEAT FOR A FEW MONTHS EVEN AFTER THE OBAMAALABAMA GOVE EVEN AFTER THE OBAMAALABAMA GOVE WAS FORCED OUT OF OFFICE. WAS FORCED OUT OF OFFICE. BUT ULTIMATELY THE PEOPLE GOT A BUT ULTIMATELY THE PEOPLE GOT A SAY THEMSELVES. SAY THEMSELVES. ALABAMA REPUBLICANS HELD A ALABAMA REPUBLICANS HELD A PRIMARY LAST SUMMER AND A RUNOFF PRIMARY LAST SUMMER AND A RUNOFF LAST FALL IN BOTH OF THOSE LAST FALL IN BOTH OF THOSE ELECTIONS, THIS INCUMBENT ELECTIONS, THIS INCUMBENT SENATOR, LUTHER STRANGE, WHO WAS SENATOR, LUTHER STRANGE, WHO WAS APPOINTED BY THE DISGRACED APPOINTED BY THE DISGRACED GOVERNOR, HE GOT BEAT BOTH TIMES GOVERNOR, HE GOT BEAT BOTH TIMES BY A DISGRACED STATE SUPREME BY A DISGRACED STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHO HAD TWICE BEEN COURT JUSTICE WHO HAD TWICE BEEN THROWN OFF THE COURT FOR THROWN OFF THE COURT FOR VIOLATIONS OF JUDICIAL ETHICS. VIOLATIONS OF JUDICIAL ETHICS. BIG LUTHER STRANGE WAS INITIALLY BIG LUTHER STRANGE WAS INITIALLY THE SENATOR WHO FILLED JEFF THE SENATOR WHO FILLED JEFF SESSIONS’ SENATE SEAT FROM SESSIONS’ SENATE SEAT FROM ALABAMA, BUT HE DIDN’T EVEN MAKE ALABAMA, BUT HE DIDN’T EVEN MAKE IT A YEAR. IT A YEAR. HE WAS OUT BY DECEMBER AFTER HE WAS OUT BY DECEMBER AFTER JUST TEN SCANDALOUS, STRANGE JUST TEN SCANDALOUS, STRANGE MONTHS IN OFFICE. MONTHS IN OFFICE. THAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE WHO THAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE WHO BEAT HIM IN THE PRIMARY BACK BEAT HIM IN THE PRIMARY BACK HOME, HE ENDED UP FACING HOME, HE ENDED UP FACING MULTIPLE SUBSTANTIVE ALLEGATIONS MULTIPLE SUBSTANTIVE ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD MOLESTATION IN ADDITION OF CHILD MOLESTATION IN ADDITION TO HIS OTHER PREEXISTING ETHICS TO HIS OTHER PREEXISTING ETHICS TROUBLES. TROUBLES. WHEN IT CAME TIME IN DECEMBER WHEN IT CAME TIME IN DECEMBER FOR NOT JUST REPUBLICANS, BUT FOR NOT JUST REPUBLICANS, BUT THE WHOLE STATE OF ALABAMA TO THE WHOLE STATE OF ALABAMA TO VOTE FOR A NEW FULL-TERM U.S. VOTE FOR A NEW FULL-TERM U.S. SENATOR, ULTIMATELY IN THAT SENATOR, ULTIMATELY IN THAT SPECIAL ELECTION IN DECEMBER, SPECIAL ELECTION IN DECEMBER, ALABAMA DECIDE THEY’D WERE GOING ALABAMA DECIDE THEY’D WERE GOING TO PICK A DEMOCRAT. TO PICK A DEMOCRAT. THANKS TO BIG LUTHER STRANGE AND THANKS TO BIG LUTHER STRANGE AND HIS WEIRD FAKE PLEDGE THAT HE HIS WEIRD FAKE PLEDGE THAT HE WAS INVESTIGATING THE SEX WAS INVESTIGATING THE SEX SCANDAL GOVERNOR, THANKS TO THE SCANDAL GOVERNOR, THANKS TO THE SEX SCANDAL GOVERNOR HIMSELF, SEX SCANDAL GOVERNOR HIMSELF, THANKS TO ROY FREAKING MOORE AND THANKS TO ROY FREAKING MOORE AND ALL THOSE WOMEN WHO CAME FOR ALL THOSE WOMEN WHO CAME FOR TOWARD SAY HEY, I’M AN ALABAMA TOWARD SAY HEY, I’M AN ALABAMA REPUBLICAN TOO, BUT YOU NEED TO REPUBLICAN TOO, BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GUY AND HIS KNOW ABOUT THIS GUY AND HIS THING WITH LITTLE TEEN GIRLS, THING WITH LITTLE TEEN GIRLS, THANKS TO ALL THAT SORDID ALMOST THANKS TO ALL THAT SORDID ALMOST NOT SAFE FOR WORK TOXIC SLURRY NOT SAFE FOR WORK TOXIC SLURRY OF THESE ALABAMA REPUBLICAN MEN, OF THESE ALABAMA REPUBLICAN MEN, AND THANKS TO DEMOCRATS DECIDING AND THANKS TO DEMOCRATS DECIDING LAST YEAR TO SAY YEAH, WE KNOW LAST YEAR TO SAY YEAH, WE KNOW IT’S ALABAMA, BUT IN IT’S ALABAMA, BUT IN CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THIS, WE CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THIS, WE THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO COMPETE THERE TOO, THANKS TO ALL COMPETE THERE TOO, THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE UNLIKELY LITTLE STARS OF THOSE UNLIKELY LITTLE STARS ALIGNING, JEFF SESSIONS’ U.S. ALIGNING, JEFF SESSIONS’ U.S. ALABAMA SENATE SEAT IS NOW HELD ALABAMA SENATE SEAT IS NOW HELD BAY DEMOCRAT WHOSE NAME IS DOUG BAY DEMOCRAT WHOSE NAME IS DOUG JONES. JONES. AND WITH SENATOR DOUG JONES OF AND WITH SENATOR DOUG JONES OF ALABAMA IN THAT SEAT, THE ALABAMA IN THAT SEAT, THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE UNITED BALANCE OF POWER IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE IS NOW THAT STATES SENATE IS NOW THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE 51 SEATS, BUT REPUBLICANS HAVE 51 SEATS, BUT DEMOCRATS HAVE 49. DEMOCRATS HAVE 49. NOW WITH A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT NOW WITH A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT IN OFFICE, EVEN WITH THIS IN OFFICE, EVEN WITH THIS PARTICULAR REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT PARTICULAR REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT IN OFFICE, A REASONABLE OBSERVER IN OFFICE, A REASONABLE OBSERVER MIGHT REASONABLY HAVE PREDICTED MIGHT REASONABLY HAVE PREDICTED THAT JUSTICE ANTHONY KENNEDY THAT JUSTICE ANTHONY KENNEDY WOULD CHOOSE THIS TIME TO WOULD CHOOSE THIS TIME TO RETIRE. RETIRE. WE’RE GOING TALK A LITTLE BIT WE’RE GOING TALK A LITTLE BIT LATER THIS HOUR ABOUT SOME OF LATER THIS HOUR ABOUT SOME OF THE REASONS HE MIGHT NOT RETIRE, THE REASONS HE MIGHT NOT RETIRE, SOME OF THE STUFF ABOUT SOME OF THE STUFF ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP YOU MIGHT THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP YOU MIGHT THINK WOULD HAVE GIVEN JUSTICE KENNEDY WOULD HAVE GIVEN JUSTICE KENNEDY PAUSE WHEN HE WAS THINKING ABOUT PAUSE WHEN HE WAS THINKING ABOUT WHO HE WOULD TRUST TO CHOOSE HIS WHO HE WOULD TRUST TO CHOOSE HIS SUCCESSOR. SUCCESSOR. BUT JUSTICE KENNEDY IS A BUT JUSTICE KENNEDY IS A REPUBLICAN. REPUBLICAN. DONALD TRUMP IS A REPUBLICAN. DONALD TRUMP IS A REPUBLICAN. THAT IS APPARENTLY ALL THE THAT IS APPARENTLY ALL THE MATTHEW NEED TO UNDERSTAND AND MATTHEW NEED TO UNDERSTAND AND PREDICT REPUBLICAN BEHAVIOR IN PREDICT REPUBLICAN BEHAVIOR IN THIS ERA OF AMERICAN POLITICS. THIS ERA OF AMERICAN POLITICS. SO ANTHONY KENNEDY RETIRING HAS SO ANTHONY KENNEDY RETIRING HAS BEEN AT LEAST PLAUSIBLY BEEN AT LEAST PLAUSIBLY PREDICTABLE EVER SINCE THE PREDICTABLE EVER SINCE THE REPUBLICANS WON THE WHITE HOUSE REPUBLICANS WON THE WHITE HOUSE IN NOVEMBER 2016. IN NOVEMBER 2016. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, THOUGH, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, THOUGH, COULD ANYBODY HAVE PLAUSIBLY COULD ANYBODY HAVE PLAUSIBLY PREDICTED ON ELECTION DAY IN PREDICTED ON ELECTION DAY IN NOVEMBER 2016 THAT JEFF NOVEMBER 2016 THAT JEFF SESSIONS’ ALABAMA SENATE SEAT SESSIONS’ ALABAMA SENATE SEAT WOULD BE HELD BY A FREAKING WOULD BE HELD BY A FREAKING DEMOCRAT. DEMOCRAT. PRESUMABLY STRANGER THINGS HAVE PRESUMABLY STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED, BUT IT TOOK A LOT OF HAPPENED, BUT IT TOOK A LOT OF ALMOST UNBELIEVABLY STRANGE ALMOST UNBELIEVABLY STRANGE THINGS TO ALL HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE THINGS TO ALL HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE IN ORDER TO GET A DEMOCRATIC IN ORDER TO GET A DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATOR FROM ALABAMA IN U.S. SENATOR FROM ALABAMA IN 2017 AND NOW 2018. 2017 AND NOW 2018. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I KNOW AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF GNASHING OF THERE IS A LOT OF GNASHING OF TEETH AMONG DEMOCRATS AND TEETH AMONG DEMOCRATS AND CENTRICS TODAY SAYING OH, GOD, CENTRICS TODAY SAYING OH, GOD, ALL IS LOST TODAY WITH ANTHONY ALL IS LOST TODAY WITH ANTHONY KENNEDY RETIRING FROM THE KENNEDY RETIRING FROM THE SUPREME COURT. SUPREME COURT. BUT IF YOU DON’T LOOK AT THIS IN BUT IF YOU DON’T LOOK AT THIS IN THE ABSTRACT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ABSTRACT, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS IN THE SPECIFIC, WE’RE THIS IN THE SPECIFIC, WE’RE ACTUALLY ON DAY ONE OF WHAT’S ACTUALLY ON DAY ONE OF WHAT’S GOING TO TURN OUT TO BE A SUPER GOING TO TURN OUT TO BE A SUPER FASCINATING FIGHT, AND I MEAN FASCINATING FIGHT, AND I MEAN FASCINATING IN THE SENSE THAT FASCINATING IN THE SENSE THAT THIS IS ABOUT TO BE SUSPENSEFUL. THIS IS ABOUT TO BE SUSPENSEFUL. THIS IS ABOUT TO BE REALLY HARD THIS IS ABOUT TO BE REALLY HARD FOUGHT. FOUGHT. THIS IS ABOUT TO BE EXCITING. THIS IS ABOUT TO BE EXCITING. AND THE WAY THINGS ARE EXCITING AND THE WAY THINGS ARE EXCITING WHEN THEY ARE BOTH IMPORTANT AND WHEN THEY ARE BOTH IMPORTANT AND YOU LEGITIMATE JATH MITTLY DON’T YOU LEGITIMATE JATH MITTLY DON’T KNOW HOW THEY’RE GOING TO TURN KNOW HOW THEY’RE GOING TO TURN OUT. OUT. AND THIS HAS THE ADDITIONAL AND THIS HAS THE ADDITIONAL EXCITEMENT BEHIND IT BECAUSE EXCITEMENT BEHIND IT BECAUSE THIS MIGHT TURN THOUGHT THE WAY THIS MIGHT TURN THOUGHT THE WAY THAT MAY TURN OUT HOW HARD YOU THAT MAY TURN OUT HOW HARD YOU WORK ON IT. WORK ON IT. AND THERE AREN’T THAT MANY AND THERE AREN’T THAT MANY AMERICAN POLITICAL PROBLEMS THAT AMERICAN POLITICAL PROBLEMS THAT HAPPEN IN THE SHORT-TERM THAT HAPPEN IN THE SHORT-TERM THAT ARE VERY SPECIFIC, THAT HAVE A ARE VERY SPECIFIC, THAT HAVE A VERY CLEAR OUTCOME AND YOU MIGHT VERY CLEAR OUTCOME AND YOU MIGHT BE INVOLVED, BUT THIS IS ONE OF BE INVOLVED, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THEM. THEM. THE REASON ANTHONY KENNEDY’S THE REASON ANTHONY KENNEDY’S RETIREMENT FELT LIKE SUCH AN RETIREMENT FELT LIKE SUCH AN EARTHQUAKE TODAY, THE REASON A EARTHQUAKE TODAY, THE REASON A LOT OF OBSERVERS ARE SAYING THIS LOT OF OBSERVERS ARE SAYING THIS IS THE BIGGEST POLITICAL IS THE BIGGEST POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE SINCE THE ELECTION OF EARTHQUAKE SINCE THE ELECTION OF TRUMP AND THE SUBSEQUENT TRUMP AND THE SUBSEQUENT REVELATION THAT A FOREIGN REVELATION THAT A FOREIGN ADVOCACY HAD A ROLE IN HELPING ADVOCACY HAD A ROLE IN HELPING TRUMP, THE REASON IT’S BEING TRUMP, THE REASON IT’S BEING SEEN AS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME SEEN AS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME SHOWSTOPPING POLITICAL MOMENT, SHOWSTOPPING POLITICAL MOMENT, PARTICULARLY FOR DEMOCRATS IS PARTICULARLY FOR DEMOCRATS IS NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF ANYTHING ABOUT ANTHONY KENNEDY. ANYTHING ABOUT ANTHONY KENNEDY. IT’S BECAUSE OF THIS. IT’S BECAUSE OF THIS. CONSERVATIVE JUSTICE ANTONIN CONSERVATIVE JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA DIED 2017. SCALIA DIED 2017. PRESIDENT OBAMA PICKED A PRESIDENT OBAMA PICKED A CENTRIST NOMINEE TO SUCCEED HIM, CENTRIST NOMINEE TO SUCCEED HIM, MERRICK GARLAND WAS DESCRIBED BY MERRICK GARLAND WAS DESCRIBED BY EVERYBODY AS A CENTRIST AND A EVERYBODY AS A CENTRIST AND A MODERATE. MODERATE. HE WAS EVEN DESCRIBED BY SENATOR HE WAS EVEN DESCRIBED BY SENATOR ORRIN HATCH AS THE KIND OF ORRIN HATCH AS THE KIND OF PERSON WHO WOULD BE SEEN AS A PERSON WHO WOULD BE SEEN AS A CONSENSUS NOMINEE, A 100-VOTE CONSENSUS NOMINEE, A 100-VOTE NOMINEE. NOMINEE. SOMEBODY WHO EVEN REPUBLICANS SOMEBODY WHO EVEN REPUBLICANS COULD NOT HAVE ANY CONCEIVABLE COULD NOT HAVE ANY CONCEIVABLE OBJECTION TO. OBJECTION TO. BUT EVEN THOUGH THE NOMINEE WAS BUT EVEN THOUGH THE NOMINEE WAS MERRICK GARLAND, REPUBLICANS MERRICK GARLAND, REPUBLICANS NEVERTHELESS DECIDED TO DO NEVERTHELESS DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY WITHOUT SOMETHING COMPLETELY WITHOUT PRECEDENT. PRECEDENT. THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD HOLD SCALIA’S SEAT OPEN FOR WELL HOLD SCALIA’S SEAT OPEN FOR WELL OVER A YEAR. OVER A YEAR. THEY REFUSED TO MEET WITH THE THEY REFUSED TO MEET WITH THE NOMINEE. NOMINEE. THEY REFUSED TO HOLD A HEARING, THEY REFUSED TO HOLD A HEARING, REFUSED TO HOLD A VOTE OR REFUSED TO HOLD A VOTE OR CONSIDER OR DISCUSS ANY CONSIDER OR DISCUSS ANY NOMINATION, EVEN MERRICK NOMINATION, EVEN MERRICK GARLAND’S NOMINATION, GARLAND’S NOMINATION, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY SAID SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY SAID PRESIDENT OBAMA SHOULD NOT BE PRESIDENT OBAMA SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO NAME A JUSTICE TO THE ALLOWED TO NAME A JUSTICE TO THE COURT. COURT. NO NOMINEE, NO MATTER WHO IT NO NOMINEE, NO MATTER WHO IT WAS. WAS. NOT WHILE PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS NOT WHILE PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS STILL IN OFFICE. STILL IN OFFICE. HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION. ELECTION. NEW RULE. NEW RULE. NOW HAD THAT NOT HAPPENED, HAD NOW HAD THAT NOT HAPPENED, HAD MERRICK GARLAND BEEN APPOINTED MERRICK GARLAND BEEN APPOINTED TO FILL THAT OPEN SEAT ON THE TO FILL THAT OPEN SEAT ON THE COURT AFTER SCALIA DIED IN COURT AFTER SCALIA DIED IN FEBRUARY OF 2016, YES, TODAY FEBRUARY OF 2016, YES, TODAY WOULD STILL BE AN IMPORTANT DAY WOULD STILL BE AN IMPORTANT DAY ON THE COURT WITH ANTHONY ON THE COURT WITH ANTHONY KENNEDY RETIRING, BUT IT WOULD KENNEDY RETIRING, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE ANYWHERE NEAR THE RADICAL NOT BE ANYWHERE NEAR THE RADICAL CONSEQUENTIAL CROSSROADS THAT IT CONSEQUENTIAL CROSSROADS THAT IT IS FOR THE COURT AND THE COUNTRY IS FOR THE COURT AND THE COUNTRY TODAY. TODAY. THE WEIGHT OF THIS MOMENT, THE THE WEIGHT OF THIS MOMENT, THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS MOMENT IS CONSEQUENCE OF THIS MOMENT IS ALL BECAUSE OF WHAT REPUBLICANS ALL BECAUSE OF WHAT REPUBLICANS DID WHEN THEY BLOCKED PRESIDENT DID WHEN THEY BLOCKED PRESIDENT OBAMA FROM GETTING TO NAME THE OBAMA FROM GETTING TO NAME THE LAST JUSTICE. LAST JUSTICE. WHAT REPUBLICANS DID WITH WHAT REPUBLICANS DID WITH MERRICK GARLAND IS SOMETHING MERRICK GARLAND IS SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE, THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE, AND THEY DID IT WITHOUT ANY AND THEY DID IT WITHOUT ANY HESITANCE, WITHOUT ANY SHAME. HESITANCE, WITHOUT ANY SHAME. THEY JUST DECLARED NEW RULE. THEY JUST DECLARED NEW RULE. THIS PRESIDENT ISN’T GOING TO THIS PRESIDENT ISN’T GOING TO GET TO NAME A NEW JUSTICE. GET TO NAME A NEW JUSTICE. NOPE. NOPE. NO NOMINEES CONSIDERED UNTIL NO NOMINEES CONSIDERED UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION. AFTER THE ELECTION. NEW RULE. NEW RULE. THAT IS HOW WE GOT TO THIS THAT IS HOW WE GOT TO THIS MOMENT. MOMENT. THAT’S WHY TODAY IS SO THAT’S WHY TODAY IS SO IMPORTANT. IMPORTANT. AND NOW AS OF TODAY, DEMOCRATS AND NOW AS OF TODAY, DEMOCRATS HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE. HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE. AND REPUBLICANS DO TOO. AND REPUBLICANS DO TOO. EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY WHO EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY WHO HAS A SENATOR HAS A DECISION TO HAS A SENATOR HAS A DECISION TO MAKE ON THIS TOO, AND IT’S VERY MAKE ON THIS TOO, AND IT’S VERY SIMPLE, ACTUALLY. SIMPLE, ACTUALLY. DEMOCRATS, PRESUMABLY, ARE NOT DEMOCRATS, PRESUMABLY, ARE NOT IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE THE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE THE DOORMATS THAT REPUBLICANS WANT DOORMATS THAT REPUBLICANS WANT THEM TO BE, RIGHT? THEM TO BE, RIGHT? DEMOCRATS KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO DEMOCRATS KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM. THEM. WITH MERRICK GARLAND’S SEAT. WITH MERRICK GARLAND’S SEAT. RIGHT? RIGHT? DEMOCRATS KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO DEMOCRATS KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO PRESIDENT OBAMA. PRESIDENT OBAMA. HAVING LOST A DEMOCRATICALLY HAVING LOST A DEMOCRATICALLY APPOINTED SUPREME COURT NOMINEE APPOINTED SUPREME COURT NOMINEE SIMPLY ON THE BASIS OF SIMPLY ON THE BASIS OF REPUBLICANS PUNCHING THEM IN THE REPUBLICANS PUNCHING THEM IN THE TEETH, HOLDING THEM DOWN AND TEETH, HOLDING THEM DOWN AND TAKING IT BY FORCE, PRESUMABLY TAKING IT BY FORCE, PRESUMABLY DEMOCRATS HAVE REALIZED THEY DEMOCRATS HAVE REALIZED THEY SHOULD NOT RATIFY THAT BY GOING SHOULD NOT RATIFY THAT BY GOING BACK TO REGULAR ORDER NOW AND BACK TO REGULAR ORDER NOW AND LETTING REPUBLICANS HAVE THIS LETTING REPUBLICANS HAVE THIS NEXT ONE, TOO. NEXT ONE, TOO. THANK YOU, SIR, MAY I HAVE THANK YOU, SIR, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER. ANOTHER. IF THE REPORTED JUSTIFICATION IF THE REPORTED JUSTIFICATION FOR BLOCKING PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR BLOCKING PRESIDENT OBAMA FROM NAMING A NOMINEE TO THE FROM NAMING A NOMINEE TO THE COURT WAS THAT IT WAS FEBRUARY COURT WAS THAT IT WAS FEBRUARY OF AN ELECTION YEAR IN 2016 WHEN OF AN ELECTION YEAR IN 2016 WHEN THE LAST VACANCY CAME UP, WELL, THE LAST VACANCY CAME UP, WELL, HELLO, IT’S JUNE OF AN ELECTION HELLO, IT’S JUNE OF AN ELECTION YEAR THIS YEAR WHEN THIS VACANCY YEAR THIS YEAR WHEN THIS VACANCY HAS COME UP. HAS COME UP. WHY WOULD NOW YOU’VE NOT MAKE WHY WOULD NOW YOU’VE NOT MAKE REPUBLICANS HEW TO THE SAME REPUBLICANS HEW TO THE SAME STANDARD. STANDARD. DEMOCRATS ARE EITHER DOORMATS, DEMOCRATS ARE EITHER DOORMATS, OR THEY WILL INSIST AT LEAST ON OR THEY WILL INSIST AT LEAST ON CONSISTENCY. CONSISTENCY. THEY WILL INSIST THAT THE THEY WILL INSIST THAT THE KENNEDY VACANCY MUST BE TREATED KENNEDY VACANCY MUST BE TREATED THE SAME AS THE SCALIA VACANCY, THE SAME AS THE SCALIA VACANCY, RIGHT? RIGHT? AND I KNOW IT SOUNDS BLUNT WHEN AND I KNOW IT SOUNDS BLUNT WHEN I PUT THAT IT WAY, BUT THE I PUT THAT IT WAY, BUT THE DEMOCRATS ARE ALREADY THERE. DEMOCRATS ARE ALREADY THERE. >> OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IN >> OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE SHOULD FOLLOW THE THE SENATE SHOULD FOLLOW THE RULE THEY SET IN 2016 NOT TO RULE THEY SET IN 2016 NOT TO CONSIDER A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CONSIDER A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE IN AN ELECTION YEAR. IN AN ELECTION YEAR. SENATOR McCONNELL WILL TELL SENATOR McCONNELL WILL TELL ANYONE WHO LISTENED THAT THE ANYONE WHO LISTENED THAT THE SENATE HAD THE RIGHT TO ADVISE SENATE HAD THE RIGHT TO ADVISE AND CONSENT AND THAT WAS EVERY AND CONSENT AND THAT WAS EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT AS THE BIT AS IMPORTANT AS THE PRESIDENT’S RIGHT TO NOMINATE. PRESIDENT’S RIGHT TO NOMINATE. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE JUST MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE JUST MONTHS AWAY FROM DETERMINING THE MONTHS AWAY FROM DETERMINING THE SENATORS WHO SHOULD VOTE TO SENATORS WHO SHOULD VOTE TO CONFIRM OR REJECT THE CONFIRM OR REJECT THE PRESIDENT’S NOMINEE, AND THEIR PRESIDENT’S NOMINEE, AND THEIR VOICES DESERVE TO BE HEARD NOW VOICES DESERVE TO BE HEARD NOW AS LEADER McCONNELL THOUGHT THEY AS LEADER McCONNELL THOUGHT THEY SHOULD DESERVE TO BE HEARD THEN. SHOULD DESERVE TO BE HEARD THEN. . . >> SENATOR SCHUMER, TOP DEMOCRAT >> SENATOR SCHUMER, TOP DEMOCRAT IN THE SENATE THAT WAS HIM ON IN THE SENATE THAT WAS HIM ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE TODAY THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE TODAY RESPONDING TO THE ANTHONY RESPONDING TO THE ANTHONY KENNEDY RESIGNATION. KENNEDY RESIGNATION. NO VOTE ON A SUCCESSOR TO NO VOTE ON A SUCCESSOR TO KENNEDY UNTIL AFTER THE KENNEDY UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION. ELECTION. SAME RULES SHOULD APPLY NOW AS SAME RULES SHOULD APPLY NOW AS APPLIED IN THE SCALIA SEAT IN APPLIED IN THE SCALIA SEAT IN 2016 AND REPUBLICANS WOULDN’T 2016 AND REPUBLICANS WOULDN’T HOLD HEARING THEN UNTIL AFTER HOLD HEARING THEN UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION THAT YEAR. THE ELECTION THAT YEAR. SAME RULES SHOULD APPLY. SAME RULES SHOULD APPLY. SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN IS THE SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN IS THE TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE JUDICIARY TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHICH HEARS COMMITTEE WHICH HEARS NOMINATIONS. NOMINATIONS. WE’RE FOUR MONTHS AWAY FROM AN WE’RE FOUR MONTHS AWAY FROM AN ELECTION TO DETERMINE THE PARTY ELECTION TO DETERMINE THE PARTY THAT WILL CONTROL THE SENATE. THAT WILL CONTROL THE SENATE. THERE SHOULD BE NO CONSIDERATION THERE SHOULD BE NO CONSIDERATION OF A SUPREME COURT NOMINEE UNTIL OF A SUPREME COURT NOMINEE UNTIL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE A THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN. CHANCE TO WEIGH IN. LEADER McCONNELL SET THAT LEADER McCONNELL SET THAT STANDARD IN 2016 WHEN HE DENIED STANDARD IN 2016 WHEN HE DENIED JUDGE MERRICK GARLAND A HEARING JUDGE MERRICK GARLAND A HEARING FOR NEARLY A YEAR. FOR NEARLY A YEAR. THE SENATE SHOULD FOLLOW THE THE SENATE SHOULD FOLLOW THE McCONNELL STANDARD. McCONNELL STANDARD. SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN OF SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN OF MASSACHUSETTS, CONSIDERED BY MASSACHUSETTS, CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE A LIKELY DEMOCRATIC MANY TO BE A LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER IN 2020. PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER IN 2020. SHE SAYS, QUOTE, MITCH McCONNELL SHE SAYS, QUOTE, MITCH McCONNELL SHOULD FOLLOW THE MITCH SHOULD FOLLOW THE MITCH McCONNELL RULE. McCONNELL RULE. LET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE A LET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE A SAY. SAY. DICK DURBIN, NUMBER TWO DEMOCRAT DICK DURBIN, NUMBER TWO DEMOCRAT IN THE SENATE, MAKES THE SAME IN THE SENATE, MAKES THE SAME CASE TODAY. CASE TODAY. QUOTE, SENATOR McCONNELL SET THE QUOTE, SENATOR McCONNELL SET THE NEW STANDARD BY GIVING THE NEW STANDARD BY GIVING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THEIR SAY IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THEIR SAY IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION BEFORE COURT UPCOMING ELECTION BEFORE COURT VACANCIES ARE FILLED. VACANCIES ARE FILLED. WITH SO MUCH AT STAKE FOR THE WITH SO MUCH AT STAKE FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY, THE U.S. PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY, THE U.S. SENATE MUST BE CONSISTENT AND SENATE MUST BE CONSISTENT AND CONSIDER THE PRESIDENT’S NOMINEE CONSIDER THE PRESIDENT’S NOMINEE ONCE THE NEW CONGRESS IS SEATED ONCE THE NEW CONGRESS IS SEATED IN JANUARY. IN JANUARY. SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS, ALSO ON SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS, ALSO ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, ALSO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, ALSO SEEN AS A RISING STAR IN THE SEEN AS A RISING STAR IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WITH A GROWING DEMOCRATIC PARTY WITH A GROWING NATIONAL PROFILE. NATIONAL PROFILE. SHE MAKES THE SAME CASE. SHE MAKES THE SAME CASE. QUOTE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO QUOTE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO ARE SET TO VOTE IN LESS THAN ARE SET TO VOTE IN LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS DESERVE TO HAVE FOUR MONTHS DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD. THEIR VOICE HEARD. WE SHOULD NOT VOTE ON WE SHOULD NOT VOTE ON CONFIRMATION UNTIL THEY HAVE CONFIRMATION UNTIL THEY HAVE VOTED AT THE BALLOT BOX. VOTED AT THE BALLOT BOX. ALL SAYING THE SAME THING. ALL SAYING THE SAME THING. AND THEN THERE WAS THIS FROM AND THEN THERE WAS THIS FROM SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY OF SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY OF CONNECTICUT, ONE OF THE CONNECTICUT, ONE OF THE BRIGHTEST LIGHTS IN THE BRIGHTEST LIGHTS IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS. DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS. HE WAS RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE HE WAS RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE WITH A STATEMENT CALLING THIS A, WITH A STATEMENT CALLING THIS A, QUOTE, RED ALERT MOMENT FOR THE QUOTE, RED ALERT MOMENT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AMERICAN PEOPLE. HE THEN EXPLAINED WHAT HE MEANT HE THEN EXPLAINED WHAT HE MEANT TO REPORTERS. TO REPORTERS. >> IT’S ABSOLUTELY HYPOCRISY FOR >> IT’S ABSOLUTELY HYPOCRISY FOR THE MISSOURI LEADER TO MOVE THE MISSOURI LEADER TO MOVE FORWARD ON A VOTE NOW WHEN HE FORWARD ON A VOTE NOW WHEN HE WASN’T WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD WASN’T WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD ON A VOTE AHEAD OF THE 2016 ON A VOTE AHEAD OF THE 2016 ELECTION. ELECTION. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK DEMOCRATS >> WHAT DO YOU THINK DEMOCRATS WANT? WANT? >> WE HOLD MITCH McCONNELL TO >> WE HOLD MITCH McCONNELL TO THE PRECEDENT THAT HE SET IN THE PRECEDENT THAT HE SET IN 2016. 2016. IT’S NOT A PRECEDENT I AGREE IT’S NOT A PRECEDENT I AGREE WITH OR AGREED WITH, BUT WE WITH OR AGREED WITH, BUT WE SHOULD EXPECT THAT HE BE SHOULD EXPECT THAT HE BE CONSISTENT IF HE WANTED THE CONSISTENT IF HE WANTED THE VOTERS TO WEIGH IN ON THE VOTERS TO WEIGH IN ON THE SUPREME COURT IN 2016, HE SHOULD SUPREME COURT IN 2016, HE SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE VOTERS TO WEIGH HAVE ALLOWED THE VOTERS TO WEIGH IN ON THE SUPREME COURT IN 2018. IN ON THE SUPREME COURT IN 2018. >> SENATOR MURPHY WILL BE >> SENATOR MURPHY WILL BE JOINING US HERE LIVE IN JUST A JOINING US HERE LIVE IN JUST A MOMENT. MOMENT. BUT THAT’S WHAT THE DEMOCRATS BUT THAT’S WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING, RIGHT? ARE SAYING, RIGHT? YOU WOULDN’T CONSIDER PRESIDENT YOU WOULDN’T CONSIDER PRESIDENT OBAMA’S NOMINEE UNTIL AFTER THE OBAMA’S NOMINEE UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION IN 2016. ELECTION IN 2016. THEN YOUR NOMINEE WILL NOT BE THEN YOUR NOMINEE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED UNTIL AFTER THE CONSIDERED UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION IN 2018, WHICH ELECTION IN 2018, WHICH INCIDENTALLY, WILL GIVE INCIDENTALLY, WILL GIVE DEMOCRATS A CHANCE TO TRY TO WIN DEMOCRATS A CHANCE TO TRY TO WIN CONTROL OF THE SENATE IN 2018 CONTROL OF THE SENATE IN 2018 WHICH WOULD GIVE THEM THE RIGHT WHICH WOULD GIVE THEM THE RIGHT TO SAY YES OR NO TO THE NOMINEE. TO SAY YES OR NO TO THE NOMINEE. NOW I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING, NOW I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING, OOH, DEMOCRATS, RIGHT? OOH, DEMOCRATS, RIGHT? UP ON YOUR HIND LEGISLATION, UP ON YOUR HIND LEGISLATION, NICE. NICE. BUT IMPOTENT, WHAT CAN YOU BUT IMPOTENT, WHAT CAN YOU ACTUALLY DO? ACTUALLY DO? YOU’RE IN THE MINORITY. YOU’RE IN THE MINORITY. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. TWO THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND HERE. TWO THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND HERE. NUMBER ONE IS BIG LUTHER, WHO IS NUMBER ONE IS BIG LUTHER, WHO IS NOT THERE ANYMORE. NOT THERE ANYMORE. THE JUNIOR U.S. SENATE SEAT FROM THE JUNIOR U.S. SENATE SEAT FROM ALABAMA WAS HELD BY BIG LUTHER ALABAMA WAS HELD BY BIG LUTHER STRANGE, REPUBLICAN, LAST YEAR STRANGE, REPUBLICAN, LAST YEAR WHEN THE SENATE CONFIRMED THE WHEN THE SENATE CONFIRMED THE LAST SUPREME COURT JUSTICE NEIL LAST SUPREME COURT JUSTICE NEIL GORSUCH. GORSUCH. BUT LUTHER STRANGE IS GONE NOW. BUT LUTHER STRANGE IS GONE NOW. HE HAS BEEN REPLACE BADE HE HAS BEEN REPLACE BADE DEMOCRAT, DOUG JONES. DEMOCRAT, DOUG JONES. SO THE DEMOCRATS HAVE 49 SEATS. SO THE DEMOCRATS HAVE 49 SEATS. WITH SENATOR JOHN McCAIN OUT AND WITH SENATOR JOHN McCAIN OUT AND HOME IN ARIZONA FOR HEALTH HOME IN ARIZONA FOR HEALTH REASONS, WHAT THAT MEANS IS IF REASONS, WHAT THAT MEANS IS IF DEMOCRATS HOLD TOGETHER IN ONE DEMOCRATS HOLD TOGETHER IN ONE BIG WE’RE NOT DOORMATS CAUCUS, BIG WE’RE NOT DOORMATS CAUCUS, THE ONLY THING THEY NEED TO THE ONLY THING THEY NEED TO BLOCK PRESIDENT TRUMP FROM BLOCK PRESIDENT TRUMP FROM INSTALLING HIS CHOSEN NOMINEE ON INSTALLING HIS CHOSEN NOMINEE ON THE SUPREME COURT IS PRECISELY THE SUPREME COURT IS PRECISELY ONE REPUBLICAN VOTE. ONE REPUBLICAN VOTE. THAT’S ONE THING TO KNOW HERE, THAT’S ONE THING TO KNOW HERE, THE NUMBER ONE. THE NUMBER ONE. HERE’S THE OTHER ONE. HERE’S THE OTHER ONE. THIS LAST ELECTION, PRESIDENTIAL THIS LAST ELECTION, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2016 DEFIED LOTS OF ELECTION OF 2016 DEFIED LOTS OF EXPECTATIONS, BROKE LOTS OF EXPECTATIONS, BROKE LOTS OF POLITICAL NORMS, THREW OUT A LOT POLITICAL NORMS, THREW OUT A LOT OF WHAT WE THOUGHT WERE OF WHAT WE THOUGHT WERE POLITICAL RULES. POLITICAL RULES. AND ALTHOUGH IT DIDN’T AND ALTHOUGH IT DIDN’T NECESSARILY GET A LOT OF NECESSARILY GET A LOT OF ATTENTION AT THE TIME, ONE OF ATTENTION AT THE TIME, ONE OF THE RULES THAT WAS ABANDON AND THE RULES THAT WAS ABANDON AND BROKEN AND LEFT BEHIND IN THE BROKEN AND LEFT BEHIND IN THE 2016 ELECTION WAS THE NO LITMUS 2016 ELECTION WAS THE NO LITMUS TEST RULE. TEST RULE. FOR DECADES, PRESIDENTIAL FOR DECADES, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND PRESIDENTS HAVE CANDIDATES AND PRESIDENTS HAVE INSISTED THEY HAVE NO LITMUS INSISTED THEY HAVE NO LITMUS TEST FOR SUPREME COURT NOMINEES. TEST FOR SUPREME COURT NOMINEES. THERE IS NO ONE SINGLE ISSUE ON THERE IS NO ONE SINGLE ISSUE ON WHICH A NOMINEE’S POSITION IS A WHICH A NOMINEE’S POSITION IS A DEFINITE DEAL BREAKER AS TO DEFINITE DEAL BREAKER AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY’RE GOING TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY’RE GOING TO GET APPOINT TO THE COURT. GET APPOINT TO THE COURT. FOR DECADES THERE HAS BEEN THIS FOR DECADES THERE HAS BEEN THIS GAME FOR FOUR DECADES. GAME FOR FOUR DECADES. MADAM KENNEDY WILL YOU APPOINT MADAM KENNEDY WILL YOU APPOINT JUSTICE WHO PLEDGE THE DEATH JUSTICE WHO PLEDGE THE DEATH PENALTY IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL? PENALTY IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL? COME, COME, I HAVE NO LITMUS COME, COME, I HAVE NO LITMUS TEST ON ANY ISSUE. TEST ON ANY ISSUE. MR. CANDIDATE, WILL YOU APPOINT MR. CANDIDATE, WILL YOU APPOINT JUDGES TO PLEDGE TO OVERTURN ROE JUDGES TO PLEDGE TO OVERTURN ROE VERSUS WADE TO MAKE ABORTION VERSUS WADE TO MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL? ILLEGAL? AND THE CANDIDATE FAITHFULLY AND THE CANDIDATE FAITHFULLY SAYS, EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT SAYS, EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS, THEY ALWAYS SAY THE ANSWER IS, THEY ALWAYS SAY OH, COME ON NOW, YOU KNOW I HAVE OH, COME ON NOW, YOU KNOW I HAVE NO LITMUS TEST ON ANY ONE ISSUE NO LITMUS TEST ON ANY ONE ISSUE FOR ANY POTENTIAL JUDGE. FOR ANY POTENTIAL JUDGE. THAT’S BEEN THE WAY IT HAS BEEN THAT’S BEEN THE WAY IT HAS BEEN FOR DECADES. FOR DECADES. IN THIS PAST ELECTION, THOUGH, IN THIS PAST ELECTION, THOUGH, IN 2016, THAT WENT AWAY. IN 2016, THAT WENT AWAY. ON BOTH SIDES, DEMOCRATIC ON BOTH SIDES, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES, HILLARY CLINTON AND CANDIDATES, HILLARY CLINTON AND BERNIE SANDERS BOTH SAID THAT BERNIE SANDERS BOTH SAID THAT THEY WOULD ONLY APPOINT NOMINEES THEY WOULD ONLY APPOINT NOMINEES TO THE COURT WHO WOULD OVERTURN TO THE COURT WHO WOULD OVERTURN CITIZENS UNITED TO GET DARK, CITIZENS UNITED TO GET DARK, SECRET AND CORPORATE MONEY OUT SECRET AND CORPORATE MONEY OUT OF POLITICS. OF POLITICS. THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, WHO THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, WHO ENDED UP WINNING THE PRESIDENCY ENDED UP WINNING THE PRESIDENCY SAID THAT HE WOULD ONLY APPOINT SAID THAT HE WOULD ONLY APPOINT JUDGES WHO WOULD OVERTURN ROE JUDGES WHO WOULD OVERTURN ROE VERSUS WADE, WHO WOULD PLEDGE TO VERSUS WADE, WHO WOULD PLEDGE TO MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL. MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL. >> WHAT I’M ASKING YOU, SIR, IS >> WHAT I’M ASKING YOU, SIR, IS DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE COURT DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE COURT OVERTURN? OVERTURN? YOU JUST SAID YOU WANT TO SEE YOU JUST SAID YOU WANT TO SEE THE COURT PROTECT THE SECOND THE COURT PROTECT THE SECOND AMENDMENT. AMENDMENT. DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE COURT DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE COURT OVERTURN ROE V. WADE? OVERTURN ROE V. WADE? >> WELL, IF WE PUT ANOTHER TWO >> WELL, IF WE PUT ANOTHER TWO OR PERHAPS THREE JUSTICES ON, OR PERHAPS THREE JUSTICES ON, THAT’S REALLY WHAT’S GOING TO BE THAT’S REALLY WHAT’S GOING TO BE HAD. HAD. THAT WILL HAPPEN, AND THAT WILL THAT WILL HAPPEN, AND THAT WILL HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY, IN MY HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY, IN MY OPINION, BECAUSE I AM PUTTING OPINION, BECAUSE I AM PUTTING PRO-LIFE JUSTICES ON THE COURT. PRO-LIFE JUSTICES ON THE COURT. >> ANTHONY KENNEDY ANNOUNCED HIS >> ANTHONY KENNEDY ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT TODAY, WAS THE LAST RETIREMENT TODAY, WAS THE LAST REPUBLICAN-APPOINTED SUPREME REPUBLICAN-APPOINTED SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHO HAD VOTED TO COURT JUSTICE WHO HAD VOTED TO AFFIRM ABORTION RIGHTS. AFFIRM ABORTION RIGHTS. HE DIDN’T DO SO IN EVERY HE DIDN’T DO SO IN EVERY INSTANCE. INSTANCE. HE CAST LOTS OF ANTI-ABORTION HE CAST LOTS OF ANTI-ABORTION VOTES OF MANY KINDS. VOTES OF MANY KINDS. WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO THE BASIC WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO THE BASIC QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT ABORTION COULD BE MADE ILLEGAL, ABORTION COULD BE MADE ILLEGAL, WHETHER OR NOT ROE VERSUS WADE WHETHER OR NOT ROE VERSUS WADE SHOULD BE OVERTURNED, HE WAS A SHOULD BE OVERTURNED, HE WAS A NO. NO. HE WAS THE FIREWALL AGAINST HE WAS THE FIREWALL AGAINST CONSERVATIVE JUDGES OVERTURNING CONSERVATIVE JUDGES OVERTURNING ROE VERSUS WADE AND MAKING ROE VERSUS WADE AND MAKING ABORTION ILLEGAL IN THIS ABORTION ILLEGAL IN THIS COUNTRY. COUNTRY. NOW UNLIKE PREVIOUS ELECTIONS NOW UNLIKE PREVIOUS ELECTIONS WHERE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES WHERE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES REFUSE TO SAY IF THEY HAD A REFUSE TO SAY IF THEY HAD A LITMUS TEST FOR A NOMINEE, LITMUS TEST FOR A NOMINEE, REFUSED TO SAY THEY WOULD GET REFUSED TO SAY THEY WOULD GET ANY SPECIFIC PLEDGE ON ANY ANY SPECIFIC PLEDGE ON ANY SPECIFIC ISSUE FROM ANYBODY WHO SPECIFIC ISSUE FROM ANYBODY WHO THEY NOMINATE TO THE SUPREME THEY NOMINATE TO THE SUPREME COURT, IN THIS LAST ELECTION, COURT, IN THIS LAST ELECTION, CANDIDATE TRUMP EXPLICITLY CANDIDATE TRUMP EXPLICITLY PLEDGED, AND HE HAS SINCE AFFIRM PLEDGED, AND HE HAS SINCE AFFIRM AFFIRMED THIS PROMISE THAT HE AFFIRMED THIS PROMISE THAT HE WOULD APPOINT ONLY SUPREME COURT WOULD APPOINT ONLY SUPREME COURT JUSTICES WHO WILL FLIP THAT JUSTICES WHO WILL FLIP THAT VOTE. VOTE. WHICH MEANS IF TRUMP GETS HIS WHICH MEANS IF TRUMP GETS HIS NOMINEE INSTALLED ON THE COURT, NOMINEE INSTALLED ON THE COURT, SAY GOODBYE TO LEGAL ABORTION IN SAY GOODBYE TO LEGAL ABORTION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND A LOT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS BESIDES. OTHER THINGS BESIDES. JUSTICE KENNEDY WAS THE DECIDING JUSTICE KENNEDY WAS THE DECIDING VOTE, SERIOUSLY, ON THE ISSUE OF VOTE, SERIOUSLY, ON THE ISSUE OF EXECUTING CHILDREN, WHICH EXECUTING CHILDREN, WHICH PRESUMABLY TRUMP REPUBLICANS PRESUMABLY TRUMP REPUBLICANS WILL NOW WANT TO TRY TO BRING WILL NOW WANT TO TRY TO BRING BACK, AND NOW ANTHONY KENNEDY BACK, AND NOW ANTHONY KENNEDY WON’T BE IN THEIR WAY. WON’T BE IN THEIR WAY. KENNEDY WAS THE DECIDING VOTE ON KENNEDY WAS THE DECIDING VOTE ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE RIGHTS AND ALL SAME-SEX MARRIAGE RIGHTS AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS. SORTS OF OTHER THINGS. IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THAT IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THAT OVERTURN ROE VERSUS WADE PLEDGE OVERTURN ROE VERSUS WADE PLEDGE FROM DONALD TRUMP, JUST LOOK AT FROM DONALD TRUMP, JUST LOOK AT THAT PART OF IT, AND THEN DO THAT PART OF IT, AND THEN DO THAT VERY SIMPLE MATH AGAIN, THAT VERY SIMPLE MATH AGAIN, RIGHT? RIGHT? BYE-BYE, LUTHER STRANGE, HELLO BYE-BYE, LUTHER STRANGE, HELLO DOUG JONES. DOUG JONES. DEMOCRATS ARE AT 49 SEATS. DEMOCRATS ARE AT 49 SEATS. THEY ONLY NEED ONE REPUBLICAN TO THEY ONLY NEED ONE REPUBLICAN TO PEEL OFF. PEEL OFF. NOW, NO MATTER THE SPECIFIC NOW, NO MATTER THE SPECIFIC POLICY POSITIONS OR THE POLICY POSITIONS OR THE LIBERALNESS OR THE CONSERVATISM LIBERALNESS OR THE CONSERVATISM OR THE COMPLICATED HOME STATE OR THE COMPLICATED HOME STATE POLITICS OF ANY PARTICULAR POLITICS OF ANY PARTICULAR DEMOCRATIC SENATOR, NO DEMOCRATIC SENATOR, NO DEMOCRATIC SENATOR HAS A REASON DEMOCRATIC SENATOR HAS A REASON TO VOLUNTEER TO BE A DOORMAT ON TO VOLUNTEER TO BE A DOORMAT ON THE ISSUE OF THE SUPREME COURT, THE ISSUE OF THE SUPREME COURT, RIGHT? RIGHT? DEMOCRATS AS A UNIFIED BLOCK, DEMOCRATS AS A UNIFIED BLOCK, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, THEY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, THEY HAVE NO REASON TO GO ALONG WITH HAVE NO REASON TO GO ALONG WITH ANY MEETINGS AND HEARINGS, ANY ANY MEETINGS AND HEARINGS, ANY VOTES ON THE SUPREME COURT VOTES ON THE SUPREME COURT NOMINEE BEFORE THE ELECTION. NOMINEE BEFORE THE ELECTION. RIGHT? RIGHT? SIMPLY BECAUSE THAT’S THE SIMPLY BECAUSE THAT’S THE STANDARD REPUBLICANS INSISTED ON STANDARD REPUBLICANS INSISTED ON FOR THE LAST SUPREME COURT FOR THE LAST SUPREME COURT VACANCY, AND SO DEMOCRATS CAN VACANCY, AND SO DEMOCRATS CAN REASONABLY INSIST NO MATTER THE REASONABLY INSIST NO MATTER THE REST OF THEIR POLITICS, CAN AND REST OF THEIR POLITICS, CAN AND SHOULD AND SORT OF MUST SHOULD AND SORT OF MUST REASONABLY INSIST THAT THE SAME REASONABLY INSIST THAT THE SAME STANDARD WILL HAPPEN THIS TIME STANDARD WILL HAPPEN THIS TIME AROUND TOO. AROUND TOO. RIGHT? RIGHT? EVERY DEMOCRATIC SENATOR IN THE EVERY DEMOCRATIC SENATOR IN THE COUNTRY IS ABOUT TO HEAR FROM COUNTRY IS ABOUT TO HEAR FROM EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUENTS EVERY DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUENTS EVERY DAY FROM NOW UNTIL THE ELECTION DAY FROM NOW UNTIL THE ELECTION UNTIL IT’S CLEAR THAT THE UNTIL IT’S CLEAR THAT THE DEMOCRATS WILL ALL BE UNIFIED ON DEMOCRATS WILL ALL BE UNIFIED ON THAT NO DOORMAT CAUCUS POINT. THAT NO DOORMAT CAUCUS POINT. IF DEMOCRATS, IF THE 49 IF DEMOCRATS, IF THE 49 DEMOCRATS HOLD TOGETHER ON THAT DEMOCRATS HOLD TOGETHER ON THAT PLAN, AND THERE IS NO REASON PLAN, AND THERE IS NO REASON THEY SHOULD NOT, THANKS TO THEY SHOULD NOT, THANKS TO TRUMP’S PROMISE THAT HIS NOMINEE TRUMP’S PROMISE THAT HIS NOMINEE WILL BE THE DECIDING VOTE TO WILL BE THE DECIDING VOTE TO MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL IN THIS MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL IN THIS COUNTRY, BASED ON THE DOUG COUNTRY, BASED ON THE DOUG JONES, LUTHER STRANGE MATH, WHAT JONES, LUTHER STRANGE MATH, WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT DEMOCRATS ONLY IT MEANS IS THAT DEMOCRATS ONLY NEED PRECISELY ONE REPUBLICAN NEED PRECISELY ONE REPUBLICAN VOTE TO STOP TRUMP’S NOMINEE VOTE TO STOP TRUMP’S NOMINEE FROM GETTING THROUGH. FROM GETTING THROUGH. SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT HERE BOILS SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT HERE BOILS DOWN TO A VERY SIMPLE THING. DOWN TO A VERY SIMPLE THING. IS THERE ONE REPUBLICAN IN THE IS THERE ONE REPUBLICAN IN THE U.S. SENATE WHO MIGHT NOT WANT U.S. SENATE WHO MIGHT NOT WANT TO BE THE DECIDING VOTE THAT TO BE THE DECIDING VOTE THAT MADE ABORTION ILLEGAL IN THIS MADE ABORTION ILLEGAL IN THIS COUNTRY? COUNTRY? IS THERE ONE? IS THERE ONE? SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS OF MAINE, SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS OF MAINE, NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR RECEIVED NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR RECEIVED THE BARRY GOLDWATER AWARD FROM THE BARRY GOLDWATER AWARD FROM THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA IN FEDERATION OF AMERICA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ITS REPUBLICAN PARTNERSHIP WITH ITS REPUBLICAN ADVISORY BOARD THANKING HER AND ADVISORY BOARD THANKING HER AND RECOGNIZINGE INGING HER FOR HER RECOGNIZINGE INGING HER FOR HER AND FIGHTING TO ENSURE THE AND FIGHTING TO ENSURE THE RIGHTS GRANTED TO WOMEN FROM RIGHTS GRANTED TO WOMEN FROM WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS IN WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE. THE UNITED STATES SENATE. SENATOR LISA MURKOWSKI OF SENATOR LISA MURKOWSKI OF ALASKA, ALSO A PRO-CHOICE ALASKA, ALSO A PRO-CHOICE REPUBLICAN SENATOR. REPUBLICAN SENATOR. IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, JUST A IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, SENATORS FEW MONTHS AGO, SENATORS MURKOWSKI AND COLLINS BOTH VOTED MURKOWSKI AND COLLINS BOTH VOTED NO ON A PIECE OF REPUBLICAN NO ON A PIECE OF REPUBLICAN LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ABORTION BAN, THAT WOULD HAVE AN ABORTION BAN, THAT WOULD HAVE INSTITUTED A 20-WEEK BAN AFTER INSTITUTED A 20-WEEK BAN AFTER WHICH WOMEN COAST-TO-COAST WHICH WOMEN COAST-TO-COAST WOULDN’T BE ALLOWED TO ACCESS WOULDN’T BE ALLOWED TO ACCESS ABORTION SERVICES. ABORTION SERVICES. BOTH SENATOR COLLINS AND BOTH SENATOR COLLINS AND MURKOWSKI HAVE CAST PLENTY OF MURKOWSKI HAVE CAST PLENTY OF ANTI-CHOICE VOTES IN THEIR ANTI-CHOICE VOTES IN THEIR CAREERS OF VARIOUS KINDS CAREERS OF VARIOUS KINDS INCLUDING FOR ANTI-ABORTION INCLUDING FOR ANTI-ABORTION JUDGES, BUT IN THIS CASE, WHAT JUDGES, BUT IN THIS CASE, WHAT THEY WOULD BE DOING IS PROVIDING THEY WOULD BE DOING IS PROVIDING THE DECIDING VOTE LITERALLY AND THE DECIDING VOTE LITERALLY AND DIRECTLY TO OVERTURN ROE VERSUS DIRECTLY TO OVERTURN ROE VERSUS WADE AND MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL WADE AND MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL IN AMERICA. IN AMERICA. IT’S NOT THEORETICAL, AND IT’S IT’S NOT THEORETICAL, AND IT’S NOT COMPLICATED. NOT COMPLICATED. YOU ONLY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO YOU ONLY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COUNT TO ONE. COUNT TO ONE. AND ALL THAT EITHER OF THEM HAS AND ALL THAT EITHER OF THEM HAS TO DO TO AVOID CASTING THAT TO DO TO AVOID CASTING THAT DECIDING VOTE IS SAY YOU KNOW DECIDING VOTE IS SAY YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT? WHAT WAS FAIR FOR THE SCALIA WHAT WAS FAIR FOR THE SCALIA SEAT WHEN THAT CAME OPEN IS FAIR SEAT WHEN THAT CAME OPEN IS FAIR FOR THE KENNEDY SEAT NOW, NOW FOR THE KENNEDY SEAT NOW, NOW THAT THAT SEAT’S OPEN TOO. THAT THAT SEAT’S OPEN TOO. LET’S JUST VOTE AFTER THE LET’S JUST VOTE AFTER THE ELECTION, LIKE WE DID WITH THE ELECTION, LIKE WE DID WITH THE SCALIA SEAT. SCALIA SEAT. THAT’S ALL. THAT’S ALL. SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS THAT AS OF WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS THAT AS OF TODAY, WE EMBARK AS A NATION ON TODAY, WE EMBARK AS A NATION ON A FOUR-MONTH SPRINT OF EVERYBODY A FOUR-MONTH SPRINT OF EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTRY HAVING A STAKE IN IN THE COUNTRY HAVING A STAKE IN THIS, ALL RIGHT, OF EVERYONE THIS, ALL RIGHT, OF EVERYONE WITH A DEMOCRATIC SENATOR AND WITH A DEMOCRATIC SENATOR AND EVERYONE WITH A REPUBLICAN EVERYONE WITH A REPUBLICAN SENATOR HAVING A THING TO FOCUS SENATOR HAVING A THING TO FOCUS ON AND A THING TO AIM FOR. ON AND A THING TO AIM FOR. IF DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO DO IF DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO DO THIS, EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT IN THIS, EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT IN THE SENATE WILL AGREE TO NOT BE THE SENATE WILL AGREE TO NOT BE A DOORMAT, THAT SHOULDN’T BE A DOORMAT, THAT SHOULDN’T BE THAT HARD, AND EVERY SINGLE THAT HARD, AND EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN SENATOR, INCLUDING REPUBLICAN SENATOR, INCLUDING THE PRO-CHOICE ONCE, WILL HAVE THE PRO-CHOICE ONCE, WILL HAVE TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO GO TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE DECIDING DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE DECIDING VOTE TO OVERTURN ROE VERSUS WADE VOTE TO OVERTURN ROE VERSUS WADE AND MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL IN THE AND MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL IN THE UNITED STATES. UNITED STATES. AND I KNOW THAT SEEMS NUTS, BUT AND I KNOW THAT SEEMS NUTS, BUT IT IS MORE NUTS THAN WHAT IT IS MORE NUTS THAN WHAT HAPPENED IN FREAKING ALABAMA HAPPENED IN FREAKING ALABAMA BEING THE THING THAT GOT BEING THE THING THAT GOT DEMOCRATS TO 49 SEATS? DEMOCRATS TO 49 SEATS? I MEAN, THIS IS AMERICA. I MEAN, THIS IS AMERICA. WEIRD STUFF HAPPENS. WEIRD STUFF HAPPENS. IF DEMOCRATS PULL THIS OFF, IF IF DEMOCRATS PULL THIS OFF, IF THEY STAND TOGETHER AND THEY THEY STAND TOGETHER AND THEY FIGHT THIS FOR THE NEXT FOUR FIGHT THIS FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS AND THEY WIN THIS, THEY MONTHS AND THEY WIN THIS, THEY WILL STOP THE TRUMP SUPREME WILL STOP THE TRUMP SUPREME COURT NOMINEE. COURT NOMINEE. THEY WILL SAVE, AMONG OTHER THEY WILL SAVE, AMONG OTHER THINGS LEGAL ABORTION IN THIS THINGS LEGAL ABORTION IN THIS COUNTRY, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME COUNTRY, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING. BEING. THEY WILL PROVE THEMSELVES NOT THEY WILL PROVE THEMSELVES NOT TO BE DOORMATS, WHO REPUBLICANS TO BE DOORMATS, WHO REPUBLICANS EXPECT THEM TO BE, RIGHT. EXPECT THEM TO BE, RIGHT. AND THEY WILL GIVE THEMSELVES A AND THEY WILL GIVE THEMSELVES A CHANCE OF WINNING BACK CONTROL CHANCE OF WINNING BACK CONTROL OF CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON, WHICH OF CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON, WHICH WILL GIVE THEM A THUMBS-UP OR WILL GIVE THEM A THUMBS-UP OR THUMBS-DOWN SAY IN WHO THE NEXT THUMBS-DOWN SAY IN WHO THE NEXT NOMINEE. NOMINEE. THEY’VE GOT FOUR MONTHS TO DO THEY’VE GOT FOUR MONTHS TO DO IT, STARTING TODAY. IT, STARTING TODAY. THAT’S IT. THAT’S IT. SIMPLE.
