Gee, even I warned them about this, let alone real commentators
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TURNABOUT'S FAIR PLAY
BOLDUAN: But Senator, also a rules change the Democrats put in place could also come back to bite you. I mean, I don’t get into the weeds, but Democrats made it much easier than a simple majority can push through presidential nominees. Democrats did it for themselves and now Republicans can do it as well.
COONS: That’s exactly right. The filibuster no longer acts as emergency brake on the nomination —
BOLDUAN: So do you regret that?
COONS: I do regret that. I frankly think many of us will regret that in this Congress because it would have been a terrific speed bump, potential emergency brake, to have in our system to slow down the confirmation of extreme nominees. We’re instead going to have to depend on the American people, on thorough hearings and/or persuading a number of Republicans in those cases where President-elect Trump might nominate someone, who is just too extreme to the American people. I’ll remind you that Secretary Clinton won the popular vote and that Democrat — Senate candidates won more votes. So I don’t think Trump has an overwhelming mandate. I do think Republicans are conscious of that.
The only explanation I can come up for this boner by the Democrats is their hubris: they actually believed their cant about a new permanent majority that, by excluding working class males and white Republicans they could rule the country forever with the votes of minorities and liberal women. Never in their nightmares could they imagine a Donald Trump rising from the swamp to wrest back the power to govern.
Mainstream Republicans have, until now, shown a lamentable inclination to behave as political gentlemen - now there's an oxymoron - and abide by rules and procedures that the Democrats ignore. I'm hopeful that they'll look at who brought their party back from the dead and ram it thoroughly to their enemy.
