Sessions: Sotomayor Will Not be Filibustered

[Frodo]

Encouraging sign...

Sessions: Sotomayor filibuster not "in the works"

Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, is saying for the first time that he thinks the GOP won't push for a filibuster on Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to succeed David Souter on the Supreme Court.

"The nominee has serious problems," Sessions said on CNN Wednesday morning. "But I would think that we would all have a good hearing, take our time and do it right. And then the senators cast their vote up or down based on whether or not they think this is the kind of judge that should be on the court. ... I don't sense a filibuster in the works."

Sessions said it was still possible he could support Sotomayor, who has drawn serious flak from conservative groups.

[Frodo]

Sotomayor may not be a lockstep liberal, but the flak she has been catching from conservatives should be more than enough to calm whatever fears NARAL or any other liberal groups might have about her. 

[Kaine for Senate '18]

What are her views on guns?  Any past rulings?

[Frodo]

What are her views on guns?  Any past rulings?

Gun rights organizations in general are very wary of her.  Read this.

[Lunar]

"not in the works" does NOT equal "will not be filibustered"

And of course he would say that.  If he's bragging about filibustering already before she even testifies or whatever then it would demean the filibuster itself

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Sotomayor may not be a lockstep liberal, but the flak she has been catching from conservatives should be more than enough to calm whatever fears NARAL or any other liberal groups might have about her. 

Somehow the extreme right isn't the best judge of whether someone is a liberal.

[Franzl]

Sotomayor may not be a lockstep liberal, but the flak she has been catching from conservatives should be more than enough to calm whatever fears NARAL or any other liberal groups might have about her. 

Somehow the extreme right left isn't the best judge of whether someone is a liberal conservative.

Works both ways.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Considering that the Republicans have 0% chance of blocking Sotomayor and nothing to gain from making an ill-fated attempt, I fail to see any point in a filibuster.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Considering that the Republicans have 0% chance of blocking Sotomayor and nothing to gain from making an ill-fated attempt, I fail to see any point in a filibuster.

I totally agree.

[Lunar]

It won't be a serious filibuster attempt.  But does anyone doubt that Vitter won't at least try to decrease the likelihood of a conservative calling him out on his diaper prostitute fetish?

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Considering that the Republicans have 0% chance of blocking Sotomayor and nothing to gain from making an ill-fated attempt, I fail to see any point in a filibuster.

The point is, they can go back to their supporters and say "See, I tried to stop that liberal activist judge, now give me money".

[anvi]

Exactly.  It doesn't matter if there is a filibuster or isn't one or if there is a half-hearted attempt at one; this is all campaign posturing that is meant to draw money, whether it's directly for candidates or action groups or activists or whatever. 

Democrats do similar things in response to Republican SCOTUS nominations, though they aren't generally as firey in their rhetoric (Democrats are pretty sorry, unconvincing mud-slingers most of the time).  This whole cycle is one of the many things that makes American politics so ridiculous so often.

[Nym90]

Looking forward to Sessions's Club For Growth funded primary challenge.