Hotline Whip Count: The Kagan Nomination
The confirmation hearings are over, and senators have begun to make up their minds about Solicitor General Elena Kagan. We're keeping a whip count of Kagan backers and her opponents in advance of this month's floor debate.
A note on methodology: We assume a vast majority -- if not all -- of the Dem caucus will vote to confirm Kagan. But we're not going to count anyone until they've made a formal statement in support or said publicly they will vote for her.
YES VOTES: 1
Sen. Al Franken (interview).
NO VOTES: 6
Sens. Mitch McConnell (statement), Orrin Hatch (statement), Bob Bennett (statement), Jim Inhofe (statement), Lisa Murkowski (statement) and Jim DeMint (op-ed).
Update: Franken said in an interview out late today he will back Kagan.
Hotline's collection of formal and definitive Senator statements on the Kagan nomination is very helpful. I am compiling a broader set of links to and excepts from Senator Statements on Elena Kagan on my Judging the Environment (one word .dot org) website, including Sen. Franken's "I'm going to vote for Elena Kagan" statement to reporters today, and more than 125 other less definitive but illuminating statements.
-Glenn Sugameli
Staff Attorney
Judging the Environment project
Defenders of Wildlife
Washington, D.C.
Kagan's nomination is all but assured. I assume 57 DEM votes, 2 IND votes (Sanders, Lieberman) and at least 10 GOP votes, including Voinovich (OH), Collins (ME), Snowe (ME), Gregg (NH), Brown (MA), Graham (SC), LeMieux (FL), Lugar (IN), Johans (NE), Burr (NC), Corker (TN). That makes 69 or 70 votes at the end of the day. Which is still a shame: for such a fine candidate, it should be 80-20 at the end of the day...
These GOP senators are either not running for re-election or are from states with a left tilt or have a lot to lose by opposing a woman.
What about DIVERSITY on the UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT~?
There will not be a single WASP (White Anglo Saxon Protestant) if Kagan is confirmed~!
Rather than 3 women from a couple of Ivy Leage schools in the NorthEast,
shouldn't there be someone selected from the south, southwest, northwest, west, mid-atlantic, heart of America~?
Shouldn't there be someone to represent us WASP's~?
WHAT ABOUT DIVERSITY~?
Bingaman (D-NM) came out in support when Kagan's nomination was announced: He states "I look forward to supporting her nomination"
http://bingaman.senate.gov/news/20100510-01.cfm
As did Burris (D-IL) in stating "That is why I will work closely with my Senate colleagues to ensure her swift confirmation before the August recess" after her nomination was announced.
http://burris.senate.gov/press.cfm?method=releases.view&id=8c346137-446a-44cb-bcee-e825d01a5ed0
Jay, you make a good point. However, we've decided only to count those who say, flat out, that they will support her confirmation.
Keep checking back and we'll run a new whip count every time someone declares their intentions.