No matter how disgusted Republicans pretend to be over Donald Trump's revolting behavior and inexperience, they, like dutiful soldiers, continue to line up behind him because he is handing them and their wealthy donors all the tax cuts, regulations rollbacks, evangelical pseudo-Christian dogma, and step-by-step dismantling of Democracy that has obsessed their party the past four decades.
But that's not all he's giving them.
Elections have consequences, and one of those consequences lies in a president's constitutional authority to appoint federal judges.
Article two, section two of the Constitution, delineating the powers of the president, states:
"He [the President] shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate,"appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments."
This means the president and the Senate are responsible for lifetime appointments of judges to preside over thousands of cases in federal courtrooms nationwide.
Albeit not a sexy enough issue for the mainstream media, it impacts this country's future far beyond presidential terms.
While still a candidate, Trump released a list of potential Supreme Court nominees straight out of the Federalist Society, which was music to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's ears.
Since Trump's inauguration, McConnell has been behind the scenes approving a staggering quantity of federal judges--to date, 51 circuit court judges and two Supreme Court justices.
Quoting a recent Guardian piece:
"Trump has notched more confirmations of appeals court judges, faster, than any president at a similar stage in history, a record he frequently gloats about and cannot resist inflating."
As election day nears, Trump's re-election not inconceivable, and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's recent hospitalization, it's possible the Trump/McConnell duo could perpetuate Trumpism for generations, regardless who occupies 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Legal director for the Alliance for Justice, Daniel Goldberg, commented on the lasting impact this will have on the country long after Donald Trump is gone.
He said:
"Long after Donald Trump leaves the seat, his fingerprints will still be on our justice systemtwo, three, four decades from now."
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