COMING SOON TO A TV SCREEN NEAR YOU – AT 11:48 A.M. ET:  Confirmation hearings for Neil Gorsuch, nominated to the Supreme Court by President Trump, begin tomorrow.  He's one of the most qualified nominees we've ever seen, but expect some silliness from Dem senators eager to prove to their base that they're loyal to "the resistance," whatever that is these days.  From Fox: 

President Trump's choice to sit on the Supreme Court will get his turn in the political spotlight Monday after laying low for weeks. But what has traditionally been a high-profile confirmation fight is approaching with barely a whimper from the opposition party.

While Democratic leaders have revived their public criticism of Neil Gorsuch in recent days, liberal advocacy groups have all but abandoned efforts to defeat his nomination through public opinion -- with scant paid issue advertising or public rallies.

Many progressives lament Democratic senators have been distracted by other ideological fights.

A group led by NARAL Pro-Choice America recently sent a blistering letter to Senate Democrats slamming lawmakers for not putting up more of a fight against Gorsuch ahead of Monday's confirmation hearing.

"Democrats have failed to demonstrate a strong, unified resistance to this nominee despite the fact that he is an ultra-conservative jurist who will undermine our basic freedoms and threaten the independence of the federal judiciary," said the letter. "We need you to do better."

The justices themselves hope the arrival of Gorsuch will end what court sources say has been a tense 13-month period since Justice Antonin Scalia's sudden passing. The current 4-4 ideological divide has kept the court off its internal workplace rhythms -- operating in something of a judicial vacuum, reluctant to tackle hot-button issues that would lead to precedent-setting impact.

Despite the criticism from some on the left, the Senate minority promises tough questions for the nominee.

"If he shows in his answers that he is out of the mainstream as his opinions indicate he very well may be," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., "I will use every tool available, including the filibuster, to oppose him."

COMMENT:  Gorsuch will almost certainly be confirmed, as Republicans have the power to invoke the "nuclear option," requiring only 51 votes to break a filibuster and proceed to a confirmation vote.  Normally it would take 60 votes to break the filibuster.

I don't expect many fireworks during the hearings, which will be televised, but maybe we shouldn't underestimate the Democratic Party's penchant for useless stagecraft.

March 19,  2017