Neil Gorsuch Confirmation Process Discussion (confirmed 54-45)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

It's kind of funny that the republican senate leadership is willing to go nuclear to confirm a guy that essentially said he might vote to uphold Roe vs. Wade. That is supposed to be the #1 court case republicans want to overturn, and yet the guy they're about to confirm is someone who at times in his hearing seemed close to endorsing the verdict as is.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

It's kind of funny that the republican senate leadership is willing to go nuclear to confirm a guy that essentially said he might vote to uphold Roe vs. Wade. That is supposed to be the #1 court case republicans want to overturn, and yet the guy they're about to confirm is someone who at times in his hearing seemed close to endorsing the verdict as is.

That's a misunderstanding of what he said.  He said it was a precedent, and so is due the respect of precedent.  But precedents can be overturned.

Let's just say if my #1 goal re: SCOTUS was appointing a pro-life nominee (it's clearly not given that I wholeheartedly supported Garland, but that's besides the point), I wouldn't choose the guy who says in his hearing, and I quote: "Senator, it's the law of the land" in reference to Roe, in the context of being questioned on the case, after lines where he says the precedent it provides must be seriously considered, and in a tone that didn't suggest he was bothered by it being the law of the land. That string just invites too many questions of whether he can be trusted to overturn Roe if he is the deciding vote to do so at some point.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Trump's next nominee will probably be like Gorsuch on gay marriage - never ruled on it, frequently associates with gays, doesn't seem super likely to want to overturn it.

Oh, and I didn't mean to say that there isn't a considerable chance that Gorsuch would vote against Roe, I'm just saying that there is also a considerable chance that he would vote for Roe.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Just in: Donnelly supports Gorsuch.

Another spineless democrat who has just confirmed a primary race. Bad politics on his part.

Indiana doesn't exactly have a YUGE bench of Sanders-esque Democrats though.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Tester is a no and he will filibuster

That is surprising.

Not really. Tester has always been very liberal. He doesn't want to disappoint his progressive base, which he needs to win reelection in 2018. It's probably the right decision.

LOL, Tester is not "very liberal". Sorry, but Gorsuch is not a moderate nominee. Yeah, he hedged on Roe so much that I'm scared he'll actually uphold it, but on other issues, he's a clear across the board conservative.


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Proceedings Update: Committee vote is tomorrow. Committee will be called to order at 10 AM ET. I don't know if this will be televised.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Bennet is a Yes on CLOTURE, still undecided on final confirmation

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/politics/colorado-sen-michael-bennet-opposes-filibuster-of-neil-gorsuch-use-of-nuclear-option

Per Politico, the CLOTURE vote is now 56-40. King, Coons, Menendez, and Cardin remain Undecided. Gorsuch needs all 4 to pass CLOTURE.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/gorsuch-senate-democrats-236797

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Gorsuch passes committee 11-9 (party line vote)

https://mobile.twitter.com/Reuters/status/848966828323897345

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Senate votes 55-44 to begin debate (Bennet, Manchin, Donnelly, Heitkamp aye, Isakson not voting). Only a simple majority was needed here, the 60 vote rule is on the vote to end debate which will be on Thursday.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Bennet is begging so hard for a primary challenge.

He represents a swing state, what do you expect? Colorado voted for Bernie because the Clinton family is hated there, not because it wants socialism.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Bennet is begging so hard for a primary challenge.

He represents a swing state, what do you expect? Colorado voted for Bernie because the Clinton family is hated there, not because it wants socialism.

False as usual. They are a pretty much a liberal/libertarian state and Clinton barley won it. Bernie would of won in by double digits.

Oh really?

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Cloture Vote at 11 AM EST TOMORROW

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

CLOTURE VOTE starting.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Manchin: AYE

Vote is 31-23 Against so far

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Heitkamp: AYE

Vote is 48-41 in favor

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Bennet: AYE

Vote is now 51-44 in favor

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Isakson: AYE
Donnelly: AYE

CLOTURE VOTE finishes at 56-44. We'll see what McConell does.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I am assuming McConnell switched to no so he could bring it up again?

yes

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It finishes at 55-45, motion fails.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

They are now in a vote to authorize reconsideration. This only requires a simple majority.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Isakson: AYE
Manchin: AYE
Bennet: NO


Vote is 47-41 in favor

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Heitkamp and Donnelly are still on the train.


Motion to reconsider passes 55-45.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Now Schumer is motioning to postpone the nomination to April 24th.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Vote is 51-45 Against. Completely along party lines so far.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Motion fails 48-52, party-line vote. We'll see what's next.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Schumer motions to adjourn until 5 pm.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Wow, even Murkowski and Collins are voting for the damn thing.

Also lol@your new username, Grumps. Made me laugh.

This isn't the nuclear vote, this is a vote to adjourn for a few hours.