Mitch McConnell Needs Me!

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Some time ago, I signed up to get emails from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, so I could keep my finger on the pulse of what was going on in Opposition Land (as if anyone actually has a finger on the pulse of what's going on over there).

Mitch needs my support -- now -- and I need to act quickly, if I am to be a good conservative. Here's what he's telling me:

I've heard a great deal from Americans across the country and know millions of Americans are concerned about the current vacancy on the US Supreme Court.  The future of our country will be greatly impacted by the next justice appointed to the US Supreme Court. This is a serious matter and one that deserves a great deal of thought and consideration. 

It's not a decision that should be quickly made in an election year.  That's why Senate Republicans are taking our role in confirming the next Supreme Court Justice seriously.

It is also why Senate Republicans have decided to give the American people a voice in the selection process, by waiting until after the American people have elected new leadership this November, to continue with the confirmation process. I hope you will stand with Senate Republicans in holding the line on the US Supreme Court. You can sign our petition to take action and stand with us here.

Support from conservatives like you is greatly appreciated and crucial to the future of our nation's Constitutional Republic. Thank you for your continued support. 

 The petition advises that

Justice Scalia's replacement could tip the ideological balance of the Supreme Court for decades to come. We must not allow President Obama to politicize this decision in an election year or place another rubber stamp for his progressive agenda on the Supreme Court.  

Stand with Senate Republicans: The American people deserve to have a voice in the selection of the next Supreme Court Justice. Join Senate Republicans in WAITING to fill the vacancy on the US Supreme Court until after the 2016 election.

I'm almost a little verklempt, thinking that Mitch McConnell needs me to help him do the right thing!

I'm touched that the Senate, under McConnell's guiding hand, wants to take their role in confirming the next Supreme Court Justice seriously. But now I'm quite concerned. Was the Senate not being serious when they voted on Obama's nominations of Elena Kagan (confirmed by a 63-37 vote) and Sonia Sotomayor (68-31)? Is it only the next one that matters? What about the one after that?

And I'm left wondering, Mitch, what else haven't you been serious about? Should we go back and check the votes on anything that was decided during an election year?

And what about the things you need to do this year, like the budget? I would think that the future of our country will be greatly impacted by the budget that eventually gets approved: funding for education, veterans, active military, safety net programs, immigration activities, Homeland Security - these are critically important. How can we possibly trust you to vote on a budget during an election year? Should that also be postponed until after the election?

And, frankly, wouldn't that apply to anything else you have to consider this year? Or is this your tacit admission that you can't be trusted to focus on anything other than the election, and trying to maintain your majority?

I found a quote from the very needy Mitch McConnell; it came right after the November 2014 mid-term election, when the Senate flipped its majority to the dark side. I think it's applicable today:

I always like to remind people that divided government is not unusual in this country. When the American people choose divided government I don't think it means they don't want us to do anything, I think it means they want us to look for areas of agreement.(emphasis added) 

Isn't this a golden opportunity for you to walk the talk, and get the Senate on board with at least holding hearings on a nomination, as it your Constitutional responsibility, and maybe even accepting someone for the Court that this President (with the voice of the American people behind him), nominated, and who the Senate, (with the voice of the American people behind it as well), unanimously confirmed to a lower bench during this very Obama term?

If a person's 100% acceptable for the Federal Bench, what do you fear with that same person on the Supreme Court?

Or, is it really that you'd rather have Hillary Clinton fill the next vacancy?