Just 1 in 5 in the survey released Wednesday said they’ve been following the battle over Obama’s nomination of federal judge Merrick Garland extremely or very closely.
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Democrats are pushing, so far unsuccessfully, to force Republicans in the Senate to holding hearings on the nomination and then vote on it. As Republicans say their refusal to hold confirmation hearings is a matter of principle, I asked my Republican friend Bentley what the principle is. “I can’t imagine that happening”, she said. “Whether the American people elect a Republican or Democrat, I will judge his or her nominee on the merits, as I always have”.
“I liked him, and I decided the reason why the meeting went so well is most of my difficulties with nominees is translating Chicagoland problems into their heads”. Maria Cantwell are touting Garland’s qualifications and want a speedy vote, Crapo and Risch are ready to vote against him and say the job should be filled by the next president.
The Supreme Court has sway over cases that affect the Hispanic community, including education, voting rights and executive actions by President Barack Obama that extend deportation protections to undocumented immigrants, Saavedra said. So, any refusal on the part of the Senate to voluntarily consent to a proposed nominee presents a mere temporary delay to the president.
Although Portman said Garland has “an impressive record”, he said it would be better to select a new justice “after we’re past this presidential election”. “And right now, Senator Risch and his colleagues in the Senate Republican Conference aren’t”.
Several Republican senators have indicated willingness to meet with Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland.
Inhofe has not announced a date for meeting with Garland.
On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest criticized Risch after McClatchy reported that he would not meet with Garland until the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on his confirmation.
In the month that Chief Judge Garland’s nomination has been pending, the Supreme Court has already deadlocked twice and was not able to carry out its constitutional role as the final arbiter of our Nation’s laws.
Americans should have a voice in the nomination process because the justice will have a lifetime appointment, Ayotte said.
“What really comes through is what respect he has for the limited job that a Supreme Court Justice has”, McCaskill said.
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“That’s why I suspect that, in fact, Senator Toomey understands that Chief Judge Garland would perform quite well in the context of a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing”, Earnest said, adding that a strong performance by Garland would result in “increased public pressure for the United States Senate to confirm him”.
