[rudruff]

Here is your problem if you are the Senate. If you don't at least vote on a nominee you have the following problems.

- You appear to not be doing your job.

- You turn the 2016 election into a massively important event where the winner gets to pick the President, maybe the Senate and the direction of the court for the next decade. Depending on what your feeling is on massive voter turnout, this might not be what you want.

- The lower court opinions seen as partisan become much more powerful because the Supreme Court won't be able to overturn them. The 9th Circuit, for instance, will be a popular place for a number of cases while this is going on.

- I think if a moderate nominee is made the vote happens.

[rudruff]

Here is your problem if you are the Senate. If you don't at least vote on a nominee you have the following problems.

- You appear to not be doing your job.

- You turn the 2016 election into a massively important event where the winner gets to pick the President, maybe the Senate and the direction of the court for the next decade. Depending on what your feeling is on massive voter turnout, this might not be what you want.

- The lower court opinions seen as partisan become much more powerful because the Supreme Court won't be able to overturn them. The 9th Circuit, for instance, will be a popular place for a number of cases while this is going on.

- I think if a moderate nominee is made the vote happens.