Trump has chosen his Supreme Court candidate with a view to creating conflict and controversy and mobilising his base. A very Stephen Miller choice.
Trump won in 2016 with a large chunk of @GOP voters, and evangelicals holding their nose because he had an open SCOTUS seat and had promised to appoint an arch conservative. /2
While @SenateMajLdr wants to get this appointment through before the election, I don't think @realDonaldTrump cares so much about that as he does about holding the house and the Senate. /3
Any rational assessment of the legal jeopardy Trump will face post election and post Mueller Inquirey would conclude that his greater risk is impeachment, not due process. /4
And SCOTUS can play no role in Impeachment proceedings. /5
It's superficially credible, and it fits our the liberal anti-Trump frame for this @POTUS, that he would pick a SCOTUS judge to cover his back. But in doing so he virtually guarantees that the fight over his confirmation will be incandescent, and may even fail. /6
As the fight rages the news media will provide an ever present platform for Trump and his proxies to reach Trump's MAGA, Evangelical, alt-right bases with his traditional messages of victim hood and ensure they turn out. /7
But as the election approaches and no confirmation is made before the election, this rhetoric will also work to motivate traditional conservatives, reluctant @GOP voters and even some never trumpers to come out and vote to get their SCOTUS pick. /8
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