Sen. Mitch McConnell is, I’m afraid, not a visionary strategist.

Myself and many others would far prefer you think for yourself and be gently reminded about what you want your legacy to be: that you were a visionary, evenhanded, wise and carried yourself with dignity, granting same to a nominee for the highest Court? Or that you went lockstep against your own good instincts, against the dignity of following Senate responsibilities regarding a nomination to the Supreme Court, that you played into being seduced, into overlooking that it is better to have a good bird in one’s hand, within one’s reach now, instead of playing a deadly gamble game, that later, much later, one might have two birds that are now some place in a foggy bush– if only one waits. How many were unable to win the waiting game… ask if a prime example of a person of dignity with experience in deep jurisprudence is really one you want to turn away… because Sen. McConnell emotionally decided so.

You’re made of finer stuff, better insight, far vision.

It would be better, rather than becoming mired in a chancy gamble, to turn away, obfuscate or not give full fair hearing with intent to bring this rare person on, that is, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Merrick Garland, to our Supreme Court… or would you rather perhaps have nothing and far less say-so about whomever… later. We know and you know there are two flaws in Sen. McConnell’s obstructive feelings.

One is, he says, the people should decide. Frankly, that’s what we elected you all for. We trust that you will decide == not perfection, but progress, making better rather than bitter, creating a world anew by repair and replacement, that we all would like to live in. Sen. McConnell acts as though we, the citizens’ will pick the Supreme Court nominee. Even the least experienced amongst us knows that is not true. We dont carry the elected officials’ say so. Only those elected do so.

Secondly, Sen McConnell says regarding Judge Merrick Garland, that it isnt personal, that Judge Garland shouldnt take McConnell’s obstructive stance, personally. You KNOW this is not true of any place of decency on earth. Ignore a person, break with the dignity of ceremony and fair process at the Legislative level, and it IS personal. Not just to Judge Garland. Not only personal , but demeaning, crude, purposely stripping another of dignity theyhave earned. And more so, it IS personal to us. We who elected many to your group. We dont want to see anyone we elected, acting like a lemming or attempting to run others who have right to be here before you, off the cliff in order to satisfy some sense of “there! we really showed you, didnt we.”

No. This is instead, an opportunity for you to get to know an excellent candidate {I dont have a ‘side’ Im on with regard to GOP/Dems, but I do have a side in the sense of seeing this Judge evenhandedly bring to justice, along with Judge Maetch, later, two men who thought nothing of murdering toddlers, farmers, innocents in the Oklahoma bombing. I saw a judge who was careful, detailed, and worked within the laws of the land on a highly charged and emotional case, without losing his cool, and he made decisions that stuck, so fine tuned were they.

Exactly the kind of in-depth judicial gravitas a judge for the highest Court MUST have… and trust, there are not a million to choose from who have that depth or knowledge and character. There are a one-in-a-million, few.

The Presidential elections are far away. Far too much time during which all manner of twists of fate can occur. Sen. McConnell is no doubt a good traffic controller in the Senate. But what is needed is your visionary sense, not a person who spoke out emotionally, and I think, before even knowing the possibilities and facts, in order to appear ‘strong.’ However, his stance does not appear strong. It appears ill-advised, and impulsive, and presumptive before he knew all the facts. We want governance and leadership, not knee jerk reactions before one has all the facts.

I hope the GOP Senators will be visionary and decisive instead of appearing to be willing to risk a bird in the hand not being worth anything, and instead be ill-forced to wait, hope, gamble big time that eventually one might have instead, two birds who are still in the fog ahead.

Senators are different than Congressional Representatives. Often far more experienced, knowledgable, reasoned and with foresight. Some few preen or paw for the camera, but most are hardworking people who work at the works their constituents hope they will do, [or not do].

I hope you can stand for what you believe, what you sense, and that you will not be a gambler, but rather, a go-getter, as right now, ‘the get,’ is pretty darn good regarding Judge Garland.

Do your best to be known as a person, as a soul, who stands for follow through and does not buy into the platitude of ‘It’s not personal.” As my father, an old country tailor used to say; ‘When they say it’s not about money… it’s about money. When they say It’s not personal, it is.’

I urge you to follow the path of most dignity, for yourselves and for the nominee for the Supreme Court.

Collegiality means first and foremost, good will. AND Good Faith. I know you know what good faith practices are. Collegiality, does not mean, however, “I bow to misguided intentions.” It doesnt mean, “I act as a politically correct conservative.” It means to design trajectories together, not by one or ten persons’ fiats.

It means you follow your strongest instinct for fair process, for raising the level of interactions… for that is what a visionary does. And they are often beloved and respected, for it.

Stay strong in what your heart and soul and mind truly believes you are about. My father had another saying [he had many]… one being, ‘Do not dig a hole for others, for most assuredly a wind will come up and you will fall into the grave you dug for your opponent.’

No hole digging, no grave falling. Just proceed in good faith. And dignity.