Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton will serve for eight years at most. But they’ll make lifetime appointments for Supreme Court justices, and each justice sits for an average of at least sixteen years. So whoever wins the presidency, there’s an even more important election this November. Senate races will determine whether a Democrat-controlled committee will be approving those next Supreme Court justices to a lifetime term— or a Republican-controlled committee. This diary is to urge everyone to contribute to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Scalia will be replaced either by Obama's nominee or by a nominee in 2017. But if Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton becomes President in 2017, they’ll still have to deal with the Senate Judicial committee to get their nominees onto the Supreme Court. And remember, Scalia’s replacement is only the first new justice to be appointed. That may give liberals a slim 5-4 advantage on the court — but it’ll be the next new justice joining the court who will really change the direction of this country.
We’ll get much more liberal justices if that committee is chaired by a Democratic senator rather than a Republican… And once elected, those new justices will serve for several decades, so their impact extends beyond even a eight-year election cycle. Plus, if god forbid, a Donald Trump becomes President, our best defense would still be that judicial committee which confirms nominees. Think about this: a President Trump could appoint several justices who'd replace liberals on the court. Our only leverage in that situation would be the judiciary committee — and even then, only if the Democrats have retaken control of the Senate.
So don’t overlook the importance of re-taking the Senate in 2016.
Again, this diary is to urge everyone to contribute to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.