The Washington Post finally notices something that Trump and the Senate Republicans have been doing for years now, and, though this is in the straight news section, and the lead story, they do not think this is a good thing
Court system will feel Trump’s influence for decades to come
After three years in office, President Trump has remade the federal judiciary, ensuring a conservative tilt for decades and cementing his legacy no matter the outcome of November’s election.
Trump nominees make up 1 in 4 U.S. circuit court judges. Two of his picks sit on the Supreme Court. And this past week, as the House voted to impeach the president, the Republican-led Senate confirmed an additional 13 district court judges.
In total, Trump has installed 187 judges to the federal bench.
Trump’s mark on the judiciary is already having far-reaching effects on legislation and liberal priorities. Just last week, the 5th Circuit struck down a core provision of the Affordable Care Act. One of the two appellate judges who ruled against the landmark law was a Trump appointee.
Would that be the “landmark law” that most Democrats running for president are trying to throw away to replace with single payer/Medicare for all?
The Supreme Court — where two of the nine justices are conservatives selected by Trump — could eventually hear that case.
The 13 circuit courts are the second most powerful in the nation, serving as a last stop for appeals on lower court rulings, unless the case is taken up by the Supreme Court. So far, Trump has appointed 50 judges to circuit court benches. Comparatively, by this point in President Obama’s first term, he had confirmed 25. At the end of his eight years, he had appointed 55 circuit judges.
Trump’s appointments have flipped three circuit courts to majority GOP-appointed judges, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit in New York. The president has also selected younger conservatives for these lifetime appointments, ensuring his impact is felt for many years.
He’s darn near flipped the usually hyper-leftist 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to Republican, and almost stopped their insane rulings
While Trump has wavered on some conservative policies during his tenure, he has reliably appointed judges in line with conservative ideology.
Certainly, there are things policy-wise that are a bit concerning, like his spending, the debt, and the deficit. And, sure, the #NeverTrumpers freak over his personality. But, in reality, for those of us on the right who held our noses and voted for him, worried that he was really a NY liberal in Republican clothes, but willing to give him a shot because he had to be better than Hillary, he’s done four fantastic things. First, fought back on a constant, consistent, and hardcore basis against the Dems and their pet media. Perhaps he overdoes it at times, especially when he slaps back at those on the Right that he needs as comrades.
Second is getting rid of tons of regulations, and not just the smaller ones. The Ocare mandate, the contraceptive mandate for religious organizations, the Waters of the US, and the Clean Power Plan, among others. Yes, he had help, but, do you think they would have gone so easily with President Hillary? Heck, would it have been so easy with a President Rubio or Jeb Bush? Would they be doing this?
Third is his focus on keeping the economy running well. Sure, not everything will be perfect, because the President isn’t really in charge and can’t dictate. Coal jobs are not coming back, that’s reality. Manufacturing came back to a small degree. Regardless, we see the results. He’s trying to open up foreign markets to U.S. goods. That’s the point of the so-called trade wars. To benefit Americans.
Finally, there is the court system. The amount of Republican judges he and Mitch McConnell have gotten appointed is superb. Awesome. Excellent. Stupendous. This is a tier one focus of the two, seemingly above everything else other than then economy. Think this won’t make a long term difference? This is a massive win for Trump.
All in all, you’d think the #NeverTrumpers could sit back and say “hey, this guy is doing good right leaning stuff.” The courts thing is awesome, and will have far reaching benefits for Republicans. They are all deranged, though, so, they can’t even admit this.
There is only one circuit court vacancy left for Trump to fill, but more could open up next year. And if Trump wins in November, there will certainly be vacancies in his second term. There’s also the potential for additional openings on the Supreme Court. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1993, is 86 and has had health problems. Justice Stephen G. Breyer, another Clinton pick, is also over 80.
That’s one reason I voted Trump in 2016, because of SCOTUS vacancies. Better Trump than Hillary. And a damned good reason to vote Trump in 2020.
