Sometimes I like to play the “What if” game. You know, the one in which you sit around and wonder, suppose, or imagine things like: What if Hitler had won World War II? Or what if they remade The Godfather with Pee Wee Herman as Vito Corleone? You know, that game.
Well, since Trump became president, I have played this game a lot, considering all the things he has said and done. What would have happened if Hillary had commented about grabbing a man’s genitals? What would be the response if Reverend Al Sharpton had named Obama “the most biblical” president in history? What would have ensued if Bill Clinton separated immigrant children from their parents and put them into internment camps where several of them died?
At this point, I think it’s appropriate to focus the “What if” game to the future. Today I imagined a couple of future scenarios to consider. The first involves Supreme Court nominations:
What if, in 2020, Trump is reelected as the President of the United States? But by some strange fluke (no I don’t think this would be realistic at all, but I AM playing the “what if” game here), Democrats win a thin majority of the Senate. The House remains in Democratic control. With me so far?
And what if just one day into Trump’s second term, Ruth Bader Ginsberg resigns from the Supreme Court, leaving a new vacancy. Trump quickly nominates William Barr as the next Justice. The Democratic controlled Senate says, “Not so fast, Mop Top.” We think that the voters in the next election should be allowed to help decide the future of the Court. Besides, we have more important things to do during the remainder of your second term than to put Barr on the court. We’ve decided to follow precedent and allow the next President to name Ginsberg’s successor.
And what if soon after that, Kavanaugh develops liver disease brought on by years of heavy drinking. For health reasons, he steps down (I know, I know. He would probably have to die before he would ever voluntarily leave the court. But I simply can’t kill a man in my fantasy, even if it IS the “what if” game). Kavanaugh takes an early retirement. Trump quickly nominates Jared Kushner to the bench.
And what if the Senate Democrats ask Trump, “Weren’t you listening? You don’t get to name Supremes in your second term. If you have any more questions about this, why don’t you go talk to Mitch McConnell? He’s got a lot of time to talk with you now that he lost his 2020 reelection bid. He will be able to explain to you why he changed the Senate rules in 2016. You got Gorsuch, thanks to him.
And finally, what if, in 2024, a 35 year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is elected to the Presidency. And by then, both Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas are gone. President AOC gets four nominations to the Court. And, in the Blue Wave of 2024 the Senate picked up another 16 seats creating a “super majority” (I know, it’s a fantasy, okay?) The nominees are confirmed without the possibility of any attempt by the GOP to filibuster.
And soon after that, the ERA is passed, along with a Voting Rights Amendment which, among other things, abolishes the Electoral College. End of scenario.
My second “what if” scenario is a simpler one: What if Bernie Sanders won the 2020 election by enlisting the aid of the Iranian government to hack the American election? As always in these cases, news of it leaks out and once again, scandal becomes a national obsession.