Hindsight is obviously 2020 but what's happened is a 79 year old choosing not to quit her day job in 2012 has directly led to a scenario where the rights of women and minorities in the US can be easily thrown under a bus. Hell, she was already past the US retirement age in 2008.
It is extremely odd that she did not retire in 2012 or so.
I am reading that the idea of court packing is making a comeback.
The idea, recalling a plan by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, is increasingly popular among progressives, but faces roadblocks among members of both parties.
www.nytimes.com
I do wonder if Mitch can rush in another Judge in time before November or not. I think he will try.
I think this vacancy sets the stage for this being the last presidential election in America. Trump will stack the court with a loyalist, sue to stop the election, win, declare himself the president, ask for a 3rd term, get it, ask for a 4th, get it, appoint his own replacement, etc...
This is not an "Oh shucks" moment. This is a "Well there goes the Democracy" moment.
I think we'll see the "red mirage" : Trump will win on election night. If he gets his pick, he will block new vote counting after election night, the court will back him (they may do so without another pick) and that will be that. I cannot believe he'd try to serve a 3rd term even if young enough to do so.
One unintended thing that may happen?
I think the Democratic base is despondent and would not otherwise vote for Biden. This may change things, motivating the left to get out the vote. If Biden wins election night, don't expect Trump to demand we keep counting: I think that would only make matters worse for him.
Power move: Trump should decline to nominate a replacement before the election.
If he does, again, he's just energized the Left that I think is currently despondent.
It might energize the right but not to the same extent as we're already willing to crawl over broken glass to vote Trump.