Thread by @DavidPepper

THREAD ON TODAY'S SUPREME COURT SHAM

Make no mistake, today's confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett is an unprincipled sham that deeply delegitimizes the Supreme Court.

Its real-world impact on rights & core issues will be felt for years

BUT....there is a way to fight back...

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Many ways in fact

One is through court reform being discussed at the federal level. And of course, given what McConnell, Portman and others have done in recent years, serious reforms should be considered to account for what they've done

But that's not the only step...

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The second step is to act as strategically as Republicans have by relentlessly focusing where major sources of power lie in our system of governance.

And in the court system, that means focusing not just on the US Supreme Court.

But state supreme courts.

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Because for every right that the new US Supreme Court refuses to vindicate, state supreme courts can step in and play a key role, protecting equivalent rights in their state constitutions.

A diminished US Supreme Court elevates the importance of state supreme courts.

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Even now, this is already playing out in key ways across the country

The US Supreme Court a few years back decided it would not play a role in cases involving gerrymandering. But that didn't end the conversation, because state supreme courts have stepped up and, in protecting...

...state constitutional rights, have struck down badly gerrymandered maps.

North Carolina and Pennsylvania did exactly that in the past two years.

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pubintlaw.org/cases-and-proj…

We're seeing this when it comes to voting rights as well.

Again, in Pennsylvania, the state Supreme Court is stepping up to protect voters' rights in other key ways, be it using drop boxes or allowing days for mail-in ballots too arrive.

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npr.org/2020/09/17/914…

In this same way, in a world where we can expect little support (or outright hostility) from the US Supreme Court for reproductive rights, or labor rights, or equality, or criminal justice reform, state supreme courts will be perhaps the central protectors of core rights

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And this is why, rather than allowing today's sham process to defeat us, we need to fight back. Fight back by:

1) defeating every US Senator who participates in the sham who's up for reelection now, or in '22, or in '24...

cc: @senrobportman

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2) reforming federal courts to account for the unprincipled court-packing the GOP has managed over the past 6 years (blocking Obama picks while ramming through their own);

&

3) shoring up the protection of rights in our states by winning state Sup Court races everywhere!

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Now here's the good news.

Across the country, Democrats have been picking up Supreme Court seats and majorities in recent years, & it's already making a difference

And here's the better news, in 8 days(!) we can make even more gains. In Michigan, in North Carolina, in TX..

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...critical Supreme Court races are on the ballot.

And here in Ohio, after @OHDems swept both seats in 2018 (taking the court from 7-0 to 5-2), we can win the majority OUTRIGHT (4-3) in 8 days if we win both races that are up.

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So let's all agree on this.

If Republicans like Rob Portman are going to ram through federal justices & judges in unprincipled and undemocratic way, there's no better payback than to take over state Supreme Courts back in their home states to protect the very rights...

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...they are trying to destroy.

Now, the GOP has appreciated the power in these state courts for years--better than Democrats.

That's why the likes of Karl Rove are currently involved in our Supreme Court race in Ohio.

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dispatch.com/story/opinion/…

But just like we did two years ago, we can win these races (our candidates have been tied or ahead throughout).

And we can show Republicans like McConnell and Portman that we are not simply going to lay down as they do their dirty work with today's Supreme Court sham.

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So as you watch w anger & frustration at today's sham, and contemplate voting out every Senator who votes in favor of this sham nomination, let me ask you to consider doing one more strategic thing...please help us win these Ohio Supreme Court seats:

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secure.actblue.com/donate/stop-oh…

Let's fight back against this deeply delegitimized US Supreme Court by creating a fair supreme court in states like Ohio--a court that will be independent of the legislature, protective of constitutional rights, and unwilling to continue to allow...

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secure.actblue.com/donate/stop-oh…

...the onslaught against equality, voting rights, worker rights, victims' rights that will no doubt be the legacy of the Court that Trump, McConnell, Portman and the Koch Brothers are so hell-bent on rigging into place right now.

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secure.actblue.com/donate/stop-oh…

Finally, I write this w some urgency.

8 days to go.

Karl Rove and outside groups, worried about losing the court, are smearing @JenniferBrunner w false attacks.

Every dollar you give us will be spent directly in fighting back...

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secure.actblue.com/donate/stop-oh…

We've already raised almost $60K on prior tweet threads about these races, but we need another $40K to complete our TV buy

So today, of all days, please help us fight back

Help us win the OH Supreme Court.

Give what you can here, then RT.

Thank you.

secure.actblue.com/donate/stop-oh…