Staff Reports
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance finally made a cameo at the Capitol, seemingly just to vent some hot air over President Biden’s judges, which the Republicans would rather see stuck on a frozen tundra than on the bench. Vance, who has been conveniently out of sight since earning the vice presidential nod from Donald Trump, apparently decided that using the Senate as a vacation spot wasn’t in the cards anymore. He’s due to resign shortly before officially stepping into the vice presidency, but it appears that that’s not stopping him from jumping back into the fray—even if it’s to save Republican face.
The crux of the kerfuffle began when a Biden nominee for the 11th Circuit Court got confirmed. Grounded by the absence of some key Republicans, including the ever-busy Marco Rubio, who was apparently too important to cast a vote, and Ted Cruz, who was busy playing astronaut with Trump, the votes seemed rigged against the GOP. Grassroots conservatives are understandably riled up, arguing that being MIA is a no-go when the Democrats are busy rolling out that radical left-leaning judicial agenda.
@realDonaldTrump Why the Freak are GOP Senators being so Comfortable, Weak, and Are Not Fighting for the American People. Trump fury over Biden judges sends Vance sprinting back to Senate – Washington Examiner https://t.co/jMVBnow113
— AL Martinez (@RealALMartinez) November 20, 2024
Despite his initial reticence, Vance made it clear that his absence didn’t affect the eventual outcome of the vote, claiming that a 49-46 vote (instead of 49-45) didn’t exactly save the Republic. However, after Trump’s stern message hit the Twitterverse—demanding that all Republicans keep their rear-ends in their seats and vote—Vance quickly trimmed down his bravado. Within an hour of the Trumpian statement, he made a quick jaunt back to the Capitol to exercise his vote against some district court nominees.
This sudden surge in political activity comes ahead of a series of meetings designed to pump up support for Trump’s Cabinet picks. Vance’s appearance isn’t about breaking his political vacay; it’s a strategic power move to cozy up to Republican senators and grease the wheels for some of Trump’s more controversial nominations, including Matt Gaetz for Attorney General. Gaetz’s slip-ups have made him a contentious pick, prompting some Republican senators to hesitate, giving Vance a chance to showcase some of that charm.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are revving their engines to push through as many Biden nominees as possible before they lose their grip on power. Schumer’s insistence on getting as many judges confirmed as he can is a clear attempt to solidify the Democrats’ legacy, while the GOP struggles to mount a blockade against the tidal wave of judicial nominations. To add to the drama, Republicans are already warning that if Democrats keep pulling these fast ones, they may just have to resort to recess appointments. This might just be the political version of playing hardball.
As the Senate lurches through the final months of a Democratic majority, the underlying tensions between both sides are becoming as palpable as the breadlines in a Bernie Sanders nightmare. With senators pointing fingers and the time ticking down, one thing is clear: the fight for judicial supremacy is heating up, and the Democrats are intent to make the most of it while they still can.
