Reality dawns: Democrats regret 'Nuclear Option'

The sound of mainstream Democrats running to and fro through newsrooms and political cubbyholes pre-condemning the Republican’s use the "Nuclear Option" in approving the next Supreme Court Justice is nearly audible. Still stunned by the shock and awe of Hillary Clinton’s unimaginable loss in November despite hundreds of thousands of potential illegal votes cast, weepy politicos like minority leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic drama queen Nancy Pelosi have the gall to lecture Republicans on its use.

Flashback three years and the Democrats use the so-called nuclear option to upend Senate tradition by doing away with filibusters against presidential nominations. “I have absolutely no regret,” said Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley, who called for Democrats to ignore Republican filibusters by use of a simple majority to get a herd of then Pres. Obama's appointees confirmed in spite of Republican opposition. Defending his party’s move to weaken the filibuster, Merkley said, "We'd never seen abuse of advice and consent in the history of our country so that was a necessary way to correct it."

Merkley may have no regrets, but his actions in 2013 set a precedent that the next Republican President can rely on.

Of course, Merkley, like most Democratic Party leaders and media celebrities, figured on the virtual coronation of Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2016. A particularly low-energy candidate with as much baggage as a coast-to-coast Amtrak passenger train, Clinton suffered a spectacular loss by way of the Electoral College vote. Flash forward to present and President Donald J.

Trump is set to nominate his first Supreme Court Justice, with one or two more openings expected during his term.

Democrats used Nuclear Option to confirm controversial appointments

Because Democrats were so eager to push through Obama’s nominees, they effectively reset the Senate confirmation threshold from 60 to 51 votes for all from appointees.

Democrats will protest and blame Republicans for their own actions, but at the end of the day it won’t make any difference at all. Senate Democrats are virtually powerless to obstruct Republican appointees.

Fast-forward and it's 2 ½ months after the 2016 election - and reality is beginning to set in for some Democrats, including sponsors of the nuclear option. "I do regret that," said Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a Democrat who voted for the rules change three years ago. "I frankly think many of us will regret that in this Congress because it would have been a terrific speed bump, potential emergency break, to have in our system to slow down nominees."

Democrats like Coons have no one but themselves to blame for their political impotence. They shot themselves in the political foot with their nuclear option before forfeiting their nuclear gun to Republicans just in time to reshape the Supreme Court.