By electing to filibuster the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court, Senate Democrats may have inadvertently made the jobs of their Republican counterparts a lot easier.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had made it clear that Gorsuch was going to be confirmed to succeed Justice Antonin Scalia, one way or the other. By that he meant he was willing to change the rules of the Senate so it was no longer necessary to have 60 votes for “cloture,” the cutoff of debate so the nomination can proceed to a vote.
The filibuster, a Senate tradition dramatically portrayed in the classic film “Mr.