Thread by @NormOrnstein

I have unintentionally ignited a firestorm here. I meant the message to Schumer to be a reflection of McConnell's willingness to do anything to achieve his ends. This cannot be done by Ds, because they would not have enough members to make a quorum. 1

So please stop telling Chuck to do it! Second, if Ds kept the Senate in session now, McConnell would use the time to confirm a slew of judges awaiting cloture votes. And Senate staff would be more vulnerable to Covid. So I don't want them to keep the Senate around now. 3

On Barrett, a committee HEARING can be conducted without a quorum, with one member present. A committee VOTE requires a physical quorum (and at least 1 minority member. I am sure Ds will do whatever they can to delay and block a vote in Judiciary in late October. 4

I do not think Schumer is a milquetoast, rolling over to allow the Rs to dominate. Or a miracle worker. We all have to understand the tools of the minority in the Senate, esp on nominations, are limited. He has a very tough job, including keeping all of his Ds together. 5

So let's keep pushing him and his colleagues to do whatever they can. But please don't take my earlier suggestion as a genuine road map! Practically, it can't work. 6

Obviously, he should use every parliamentary technique to stop this outrageous move to confirm Barrett days before the election-- or even, if some of the Rs are incapacitated by Covid, days after. But the problem is not Schumer-- it is McConnell. 7