Reportedly, "Elections have consequences" is what a newly-inaugurated President Obama had dismissively said to John Boehner and Eric Cantor, in early-2009, when dismissing a list of potential compromise policy planks that Republicans had presented to the large Democratic majority during that session. Presumably, Obama was under pressure from his own party's leaders to marginalize House/Senate Republicans.

So, in retaliation, Republicans weaponized this phrase ("Elections have consequences") as a nah-nah-nuh-nah-nah sort of rebuttal when the Tea Party swept the 2010 midterms...and in practically any electoral scenario since then where Democrats haven't won. So, you are right -- Republicans often wield this toxic statement to justify the appointment of right-wing judges (often, UNQUALIFIED ones).

My advice to Democrats, Independents, and moderate Republicans is, whenever the Far Right sneers "Elections have consequences," our retort should be "Deception has consequences!"

And then, sink our teeth into every single example of right-wing hypocrisy and cronyism that surfaces, like a dog with a bone!