Letter to the editor: Liberals' 'tantrums' based on reactions to facts

In response to the letter to the editor published July 10 ("Liberals, stop the tantrums"), the author cites indisputable facts from the 2014 and 2016 elections: Republicans gained control of the Senate; Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton. He mentions factually President Trump appointing three Supreme Court Justices late in his term. These are beyond challenge.

However, he then steps into the realm of speculation with, "Don’t any of you … think that if Chuck Schumer hadn’t been in McConnell’s shoes he would have acted differently." The writer’s predictions might well have come true if past events had unfolded differently, but in truth, we will never know. Historical facts are definite, whereas speculation of events is an amorphous foundation on which to make proclamations.

If liberals are having so-called tantrums, they are based on reactions to facts, not prognostications. I find it amusing that the author rants about events that did not even occur.

Here are two irrefutable facts. Justice Antonin Scalia died on Feb. 13, 2016, 282 days before the 2016 election. Result: Merrick Garland did not receive a confirmation hearing in the Senate. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Sept. 18, 2020, 46 days, or about one-sixth of 282 days, before the 2020 election. Result: Amy Coney Barrett received a hearing and replaced Ginsburg a mere 39 days later.

A potential precedent has now been set: No nominee for the Supreme Court will receive a hearing or be sworn in as a justice unless both the president and the Senate majority leader are of the same political party. Thank you for that, Sen. McConnell.

Matthew T. Brown, Canton

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Letter to the editor: Liberals' 'tantrums' based on reactions to facts