GOP Supreme Court blockade showing early cracks

Politico ^ | March 16, 2016 | Burgess Everett and Eliza Collins

[C19fan]

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell may be holding the line, but a handful of Senate Republicans say they would meet with Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland — a sign of emerging cracks in the brick wall the GOP has presented thus far. New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who’s facing a tough reelection fight, said that while she still opposes moving on a nomination ahead of the presidential race, she would take the time to explain her position to Garland. When the nomination was still conceptual, Ayotte had said she would not meet the nominee.

[C19fan]

Usual suspects: Ayotte, Flake, Collins, and Kirk.

[Parmy]

Figures!

[BookmanTheJanitor]

And by early....they mean right away.

[ObozoMustGo2012]

I could be wrong, but wasn’t Ayotte a “Tea Party” candidate when she was elected???

[Ray76]

December 19, 2001 The American Prospect listed Merrick Garland as a “First Tier” pick for SCOTUS should Al Gore be President

http://prospect.org/article/contenders-high-court

[Buckeye McFrog]

Yeah. So was Rubio. The Tea Party really needs to
work on its vetting process.

[BBB333]

I predict that there will be no action until mid-November.

Then Mitch, pissed off that Trump is President-elect, will have this Justice voted on and confirmed.

[scooby321]

CPAC 2013: Kelly Ayotte, Tea Party Hawk

Co oped by Juan Mc Cain and Linda Graham

[from occupied ga]

Following the usual GOPe tactic when dealing with Democrats - preemptive unconditional surrender (as long as they personally keep their taxpayer funded perks)

[House Atreides]

Yep, the weak sisters.

[TontoKowalski]

Well, to be fair to them, they're in a box, considering that Obama picked the judge that Orrin Hatch said he should pick last week.

The establishment idiots are soooo concerned that Trump will win the nomination, while they spend all their time shooting themselves in the foot.

I can hear Obama now: "I picked the nominee the senior Republican wanted, and now they're just being politically divisive by not giving him a fair hearing and a vote."

And, the sad part is, thanks to Orrin Hatch, he'll be right.

[dfwgator]

Hatch is a frickin’ traitor.

[Ray76]

> shooting themselves in the foot.

They’re shooting themselves in the head.

[Pollster1]

No!

We need a senatorial hold on that nomination. Thank God we have Ted Cruz. He is imperfect, from time to time, but he almost always does the right thing in his role as a US Senator.

[Covenantor]

I could be wrong, but wasn’t Ayotte a “Tea Party” candidate when she was elected???

You are correct, but that coat was turned the moment she was sworn in. Fooled a lot of folks.

[CWW]

But Hatch just issued a statement that he would not favor confirmation hearings because it is not just about the person nominated, but rather the broader principle at issue - giving the American people an opportunity to have some input at the ballot box this fall.

Ayotte is not on the judiciary committee. So who gives a fig what she wants.

[Cyman]

The highest grade I could find on her from conservative grading sites was 26%- F

[WillVoteForFood]

The Tea Party has been their own version of the establishment for a while. Just try to convince everybody they are on the outside.

[MortMan]

We need the senate to uphold the hold, as well.

It is only a “gentleman’s agreement”, as I understand it.

[Mr. K]

don’t.... you ... dare