Senator Sasse on the floor: We all know that the President cannot lead us through this time. We know that he's dispositionally unable to restrain his impulse to divide us. His mockery of Dr. Ford in Mississippi was wrong but it doesn't really surprise anyone. It’s who he is."
Maybe he'll pull a shocker and vote no in the end, which would definitely attract my interest and reconsideration. But Sasse isn't even on the list of GOP senators considered open to a no vote. Unless and until he takes actions that provide substance and integrity backing up the image he seeks to project with his words, he has zero credibility as being anything other than one more party and ideology-over-country GOP hack, when push comes to shove as now.
After last night’s rally, it is important to remember we once had a President who spoke these words: “Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God.” Ronald Reagan
George Will, meanwhile, has chosen instead to call out their hypocrisy on Merritt Garland; who'd thunk it? (Obviously written before McConnell set up the vote)
[...] Do enraged Republicans think the national interest, or even their party’s interest, would have been well-served if, with the embers still smoldering from Christine Blasey Ford’s and Kavanaugh’s testimonies, Senate Republicans had used their legislative muscle to shove Kavanaugh’s confirmation to completion by now?
With midterm elections impending, Democrats will soon say: “We should wait and let the voters be heard from.” This argument for a plebiscitary confirmation process is an argument that Republicans richly deserve to have turned against them. It is as anti-constitutional and unconservative as it was in March 2016 when it was concocted for use against the nomination of Merrick Garland. Had the Republican-controlled Senate confirmed him — he was manifestly qualified, moderate and 63 — today’s nominee to replace Anthony M. Kennedy could have been Neil M. Gorsuch. Are Republicans happy with the way things have worked out?
At this point in a cringe-inducing process that is not apt to become less so, one consideration is more important than all the other considerations — justice for her, justice for him, raising awareness about bad sexual behavior, etc. — combined: What best serves, or least further injures, the court’s institutional standing? Which is worse, confirming Kavanaugh, who diminished himself by his strident self-defense, or not confirming him, validating what has been done to him with as yet uncorroborated accusations? [....]
Will tries, and fails again, to thread a needle. He does not say what he believes is the right vote or course of action. Even though he hints at a position Democrats in the Senate declined to take, which is that postponing appointment of the next justice until after the November elections the next Congressmay be the least bad option under the circumstances considering how the GOP majority dealt with the Garland nomination.
More fundamentally, he falls into the trap of treating the FBI findings as the decisive issue. Kavanaugh manifestly lacks judicial temperament. Confirming him would wreak immense damage to the Court, the Senate, and the country. Elevating the national interest above other considerations, as Will's column superficially may appear to do, requires a no vote.
Of any patriot willing to uphold the oath of office they took to protect and defend our Constitution, that is.
ETA: Potentially a major difference between "after the November elections" (which, if the vote were held before the next Congress, would have a lame duck, and especially spineless and lame, GOP majority still in control) vs. "the next Congress" (where there will be a different makeup, possibly with a different party in the majority and possibly not).
Comments
by artappraiser on Wed, 10/03/2018 - 10:39pm
Maybe he'll pull a shocker and vote no in the end, which would definitely attract my interest and reconsideration. But Sasse isn't even on the list of GOP senators considered open to a no vote. Unless and until he takes actions that provide substance and integrity backing up the image he seeks to project with his words, he has zero credibility as being anything other than one more party and ideology-over-country GOP hack, when push comes to shove as now.
by AmericanDreamer on Thu, 10/04/2018 - 11:10am
James Comey reveals being a Reagan fan:
by artappraiser on Thu, 10/04/2018 - 12:07am
I can confirm that was true during his law school years.
by AmericanDreamer on Thu, 10/04/2018 - 8:21am
George Will, meanwhile, has chosen instead to call out their hypocrisy on Merritt Garland; who'd thunk it? (Obviously written before McConnell set up the vote)
Jeff Flake let down the GOP — and served the nation @ WaPo, Oct. 3
by artappraiser on Thu, 10/04/2018 - 1:32am
Will tries, and fails again, to thread a needle. He does not say what he believes is the right vote or course of action. Even though he hints at a position Democrats in the Senate declined to take, which is that postponing appointment of the next justice until
after the Novemberelectionsthe next Congressmay be the least bad option under the circumstances considering how the GOP majority dealt with the Garland nomination.More fundamentally, he falls into the trap of treating the FBI findings as the decisive issue. Kavanaugh manifestly lacks judicial temperament. Confirming him would wreak immense damage to the Court, the Senate, and the country. Elevating the national interest above other considerations, as Will's column superficially may appear to do, requires a no vote.
Of any patriot willing to uphold the oath of office they took to protect and defend our Constitution, that is.
ETA: Potentially a major difference between "after the November elections" (which, if the vote were held before the next Congress, would have a lame duck, and especially spineless and lame, GOP majority still in control) vs. "the next Congress" (where there will be a different makeup, possibly with a different party in the majority and possibly not).
by AmericanDreamer on Thu, 10/04/2018 - 12:53pm
Enjoyed getting your input, Dreamer, on all 3 points.
by artappraiser on Thu, 10/04/2018 - 12:24pm