Mitch McConnell's disdain for Donald Trump is no secret. Early in the administration he openly expressed his opposition to Trump. Of course, he soon closed ranks and played the cards that were dealt, but we still see this disdain arise from time to time. Most recently he told Republican candidates to abandon Trump if that is what it would take to get re-elected. Before that, it was limiting the impeachment trial so that no evidence or testimony could be presented to allow Trump to clear his name (and most valuable asset.)

As the Republicans head full speed towards a Supreme Court Justice appointment (currently without any nominees) many are just not thinking clearly. But one is: Mitch McConnell. He knows Trump's re-election is very much in doubt. This is McConnell's last chance to squeeze some value out of Trump while hurting him at the same time. 

McConnell knows that an appointment before the election will damage Trump's campaign. He cannot let Trump barter this into votes by delaying it until after the election. Let's face it, many Republicans have held their nose and put up with Trump because having any Republican in the White House was key to stacking the court and a hopeful overturn of Roe v. Wade, as well as supporting the court's 2nd Amendment decisions. Prior to Ginsburg's death, the court had a five-to-four conservative majority. A new conservative appointment will make it a super majority of six-to-three. 

While no one can predict when justices will leave the bench. We do know that the next oldest justice is liberal Stephen Breyer at 82. If the next administration is Democrat, his replacement with another liberal would have no impact on the six-to-three conservative majority. Indeed, In order for the liberals to regain a majority, three conservative justices would have to be replaced. A near impossibility during the next eight years. Replacing two conservative justices would tie the court at four-to-four.

A super majority destroys three key components of the Republican campaign:

-Elect Trump to stack the court: That will be finished shortly.

-Overturn Roe v. Wade: A super conservative majority now makes that possible no matter who is elected.

-Safe guard gun rights and overturn gun control: Again, a super conservative majority now makes that feasible as well.

McConnell will have his revenge on Trump while the party profits from Ginsburg's unfortunate demise.