In 2005 the Senate decided to keep judicial filibusters in order in “extraordinary circumstances”. Democrats, by and large, supported the filibuster, and Republicans opposed it, but a few Republicans crossed the aisle to save the maneuver.
As much as the Democrats might have hoped for it, Republicans obviously were not going to disarm unilaterally and concede the filibuster as a maneuver for Democrats only. The GOP wanted to change the rules, but the Democrats won. And if there were ever extraordinary circumstances, this was the time.
Goodwin Liu was an astonishing appointment to the US Court of Appeals:
A legal scholar who has never been a judge and has little experience practicing law, Liu occupies a place on the far left side of the legal spectrum. To take just one example, Republicans are fond of repeating Liu’s assertion that the Constitution guarantees the right to “expanded health insurance, child care, transportation subsidies, job training, and a robust earned income tax credit.”
His testimony against Samuel Alito was so intemperate — not to mention false — that even he admits it was wrong (although he never figured that out until he was facing confirmation himself). Worse, he believes that the Constitution requires liberal policies. Worse still, he is actually willing to proclaim those beliefs openly.
In short, Liu is a politician. As Lindsey Graham said, he should be running for office, not taking a seat on the bench. Now he will have the chance. I hope he loses.
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