Buttigieg opens a critical conversation.

Democratic Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg has become the first of the candidates to express a willingness to expand the Supreme Court after the Republican Party stole a seat in 2016:

x .@PeteButtigieg on court packing: Ã¢ÂÂItÃ¢ÂÂs no more a departure from norms than what the Republicans did to get the judiciary to the place it is todayÃ¢ÂÂ¦.Bold, ambitious ideas need a hearing right now." Ã¢ÂÂ Lis Smith (@Lis_Smith) February 20, 2019

Yes Merrick Garland remains a huge issue. The Supreme Court’s power to thwart ambitious ideas has been misunderstood or brushed off, mistakenly in my opinion.

Buttigieg also understands that abolishing the Senate filibuster is also critical, but of course the President has no control over how the Senate manages its rules. But expanding the Court is dependent on abolishing the filibuster and we need to focus on this as well. Imo.

But expanding the Court must become an issue that we discuss. It’s a long term project but a long journey begins with one step. I’m glad Mayor Pete took that step.