Let’s just get that out of the way.
There are 59 Democrats and likely a 60th in the form of Al Franken, to vote for cloture. In addition to them, Republican Senators Bennett (Utah), Cochran, Collins, Gregg, Hatch, Lugar and Snowe voted for Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. It is easy to see, at the least, Senators Collins, Gregg, Hatch, Lugar and Snowe continuing to support — or at least not oppose cloture for — her nomination.
That’s 65.
In the coming weeks, in other words, this is all about optics and posturing — not the eventual outcome. The Republicans have some tough decisions to make in the coming days, and it’s likely, given the past months, that they actually will choose several different directions, depending on which party-leader-of-the-hour speaks up at which moment this week.
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Chris Geidner is the award-winning senior political editor at D.C.'s Metro Weekly and has written for The Atlantic Online, The American Prospect, Advocate.com, Salon and other publications, as well as at his blog, Law Dork. In 2011, he received the Excellence in News Writing Award from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his coverage of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal. Prior to moving to D.C. in 2009, he served as an attorney on the senior staff at the Ohio Attorney General's Office and had earlier worked for a leading Columbus law firm. An extended biography can be found
You are absolutely right. As a conservative, I oppose her on the grounds of her view of the court as being “policy” makers and her decision to dismiss the firefighters’ affirmative action case. The idea of having “empathy” on the court through her nomination doesn’t set well, even though she said this morning that “the rule of law” is paramount. Activism and viewing the constitution as dymanic will only serve to help this administration as it leads us down the path toward a social democracy. But, in the end, she will be seated and Republicans will continue to be in disarray for some time to come. Third party anyone?
rikkitick,
What do you think empathy means? If you think it’s a synonym for sympathy, you’re misunderstanding Obama.
The only thing that could derail this nomination is guns. a New York lawyer from the second circuit is going to have a very strict view on second amendment issues, and that’s going to scare the gun rights lobby, and they can mobilize Southern and Western Dems.