Posted on 07/11/2018 7:26:22 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The Democrats are girding for all out war to block the comfirmation of Brett Kavanaugh for Supreme Court Justice, but they may as well save their energy.
The two most problematic votes in the senate - Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins - have been making positive statements about the nominee, leading to the conclusion that his confirmation is almost a lock.
The centrist GOP senators offered few hints on Tuesday about how they will vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court. But it’s clear that Trump could have made confirmation in the narrowly divided Senate much more difficult if he had picked someone like 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett or another equally conservative nominee.
“Let’s put it this way: There were some who have been on the list that I would have had a very, very difficult time supporting, just based on what was already publicly known about them,” Murkowski (R-Alaska) said in an interview on Monday. “We’re not dealing with that.”
Collins (R-Maine) told reporters that while she wouldn’t directly compare Kavanaugh with Barrett, she touted Kavanaugh’s experience and sounded warm notes about him while insisting she has yet to decide.
“It will be very difficult for anyone to argue that he’s not qualified for the job. He clearly is qualified for the job,” Collins said. “But there are other issues involving judicial temperament and his political, or rather, his judicial philosophy that also will play into my decision.”
Both senators also voted for Kavanaugh’s nomination to the D.C. Circuit Court in 2006.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Trump can afford to lose 1 Senator. Not 2 or 3. Which IMO is a big reason he went with Kavanaugh.
I agree, he went with the establishment choice for easier conformation.
It’s Senator Rand Paul who refuses to support him.
I wish they would call the vote and get it over with. Not sure I can stand 2 months of Schumer’s nasal droning.
The real game changer will be replacing one of the liberals. And I think he will get that chance. The question is, what will be the makeup of the Senate when that happens? I think the GOP will gain at least a couple of seats in 2018, if not more.
President Trump applied the “nudge theory” to the situation.
The tactic now gives him strategic advantage when Ruth-the-planker retires.
RUSH said two days ago Republicans should push this nomination through next week. Why not? Just do it!
My belief is that Trumps strategy is get the easier guy confirmed now then if we pick up 3 Senate seats in Nov. And Ruth Buzzy Ginsberg kicks off he can nominate Barrett or Hardiman then. Kavanagh from everything I’m reading is a constructionist and infinitely better than Kennedy.
Yep, the way I see it here, Trump is playing the long game, get the best guy you can get confirmed now, and save the political capital for later.
Yep. Meanwhile Trump is quietly but steadily packing the Federal bench with conservatives. At least 47 confirmed already with nearly 100 slots left.
I think if we are lucky he’s another Kennedy if not he’s another Souter. It’s the political reality of a 51-49 Senate and the Rino sisters making threats. Thanks Alaska, you’re better than that.
I agree. There’s no guarantee repubs retsin the senate this fall. Then where would we be?
It looks like he’s mostly concerned with following the Constitution and won’t really decide in favor of the right or the left. Steady as she goes.
If I remember correctly, Justice Kennedy decided to retire at the end of this month.
Looks like a copy of his letter here.
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2018/06/breaking-chief-justice-anthony-kennedy-to-retire.php
As cotton1706 has kept track of each week, the progress with judges has been frustrating.
“RINOs Murkowski and Collins appear to be supportive of Kavanaugh”
of course they do. people here are stupid if they don’t think Trump consulted with various Senators and lined up key votes before he made his final decision ...
“It’s Senator Rand Paul who refuses to support him.”
yet another nattering nabob of negativism who is still spreading this discredited lie on FR ... Rand Paul has publicly stated he has an open mind about Kavanaugh ...
https://www.google.com/search?q=rand+paul+open+mind+kavanaugh
“If I remember correctly, Justice Kennedy decided to retire at the end of this month.”
correct. no vote can occur before then because there is no vacancy until then ...
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