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: 2
Sens. Al Franken (interview), Mark Udall (statement).
NO VOTES: 9
Sens. Bob Bennett (statement), Jim DeMint (op-ed), Orrin Hatch (statement), Jim Inhofe (statement), Johnny Isakson (statement), Mike Johanns (statement), John McCain (op-ed), Mitch McConnell (statement), Lisa Murkowski (statement).
Update: Udall confirmed he would vote in favor of Kagan on Friday afternoon.
Just added to my Judging the Environment website (one word dot org) compilation of over 130 Senator Statements on Elena Kagan:
[Sen. Mark] Udall to support Kagan
(Democrat - Colorado) 07/09/10
Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., will vote to confirm Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court, Udall said today. Kagan, President Obama’s second nomination to the high court, demonstrated a “wide range of experiences and impressive intellect,” Udall said in a statement released today of Kagan’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I am confident that she is not a rigid ideologue and her approach toward deliberating cases makes her a fine candidate for the Supreme Court,” Udall said.
-Glenn Sugameli
Judging the Environment
Defenders of Wildlife
Washington, D.C.
It grieves me that our senators have such a little regard for our CONSTITUTION!! Ms Kagan says whatever is needed to be approved--but her historical data tell the real story. Senators are informed but choose to ignore these facts !! We citizens will live to regret their actions.
It grieves me that our senators have such a little regard for our CONSTITUTION!! Ms Kagan says whatever is needed to be approved--but her historical data tell the real story. Senators are informed but choose to ignore these facts !! We citizens will live to regret their actions.
Randall Harman | July 12, 2010 2:25 PM
I agree whole heartdly. I just hope the NRA folks vote against any senator in their re-election bid that vote for this blaphmous supreme court nominee. Besides she makes me want to vomit when I look at her, I could not imagine having to listen or face her every day, so I'll say she has an edge. All she has to do is stay with it for one working day and the rest of the workers won't show the next day calling in sick
Al Franken likes her. Need I say more?
Now, he will control the S.C. & my fellow countrymen, there goes the Republic! Of course, this was by design all along.
Our task is to make every Senator, of either party, completely aware that the voters today have longer memories than ever before (thanks, Obama) and if they vote for this travesty of a SCOTUS nominee, they will go down, in 2010, 2012 or in 2014.
Just wanted to share that the Constitution in its original form is being modified to fit the wishes of this administration. We must never let our guard down against the erosion of our rights.
Dan Cain, Sr.
Buncha hand-wringing maroons up in the comments here.
Please add Sen. Durbin to Hotline's Count of Yes votes; he concluded a July 12 Floor speech "I will be proud to cast a vote in favor of the nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court."
Also, Sen. Cardin's July 11 Op-Ed concluded "I believe Elena Kagan possesses the qualifications and judicial temperament to be a member of the Supreme Court."
My Judging the Environment website (one word dot org) links to both as well as, e.g., Sen. Leahy's July 12 Floor speech on Republican obstruction of other noncontroversial judicial nominees, including unprecedented blockage of many with bipartisan Senator support and unanimous Judiciary Committee votes.
-Glenn Sugameli
Judging the Environment
Defenders of Wildlife
Washington, D.C.