How Some Senators Plan to Vote on Roberts

AP ^ | 9/22/5

[SmithL]

All 55 Senate Republicans are expected to vote for John Roberts' confirmation as Supreme Court chief justice next week. The 44 Democrats are less unified.

Democrats who have announced their support for Roberts (8):

Bill Nelson of Florida, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Max Baucus of Montana, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Kent Conrad of North Dakota.

Democrats who voted for Roberts on the Judiciary Committee (3):

Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Herb Kohl of Wisconsin.

[GWB00]

The Democratic Senators are all in red states and or up for re-election if they hold and IF the Republicans can hold ranks, I think we have some white smoke and a new Chief Justice Roberts. But as with anything in politics, who knows until the final vote.

[msnimje]

Important (to me anyway) John Roberts quote I found today from 1997 discussing recent Supreme Court Decisions:

"JOHN ROBERTS:
Well, they (SCOTUS) were acknowledging their limitations, but I think it's important not to have too narrow a view of protecting personal rights.
The right that was protected in the assisted suicide case was the right of the people through their legislatures to articulate their own views on the policies that should apply in those cases of terminating life and not to have the court interfering in those policy decisions. That's an important right as well. "

[msnimje]

51 votes puts a "W" in the "W's" Column. That is all he wants.

[Argus]

All 55 Senate Republicans are expected to vote for John Roberts' confirmation as Supreme Court chief justice

No Democrats Need Apply

[pobodys nerfect]

Really? "Robert Byrd of West Virginia"?

[SmithL]

55 Republicans and 5 Democrats makes it filibuster proof.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Adding up those who voted against in committe and those who announced against, there are 11 Democrats opposed.

Adding up those who voted for in committe and those who announced for, there are 11 Democrats in favor of confirmation.

So as of now, the Democratic Caucus is split down the middle. But only one of those "for" is from a safe Democratic state and most of the uncommitted Democratic senators are from safe states. So I would expect most of those who haven't yet come out "for" will in fact vote "against."

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

"Robert Byrd of West Virginia"?

Red State. Up for reelection next year . . .

[conservative blonde]

Byrd wants to prove that he isn't senile.

[Maria S]

I think they must have drawn straws to see who would vote against THIS TIME...


STATEMENT OF SENATOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON ON THE NOMINATION OF JUDGE JOHN G. ROBERTS TO BE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES
Thu Sep 22 2005 18:54:45 ET

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash2.htm

[Whispering Smith]

Come on, it takes 60 votes to get the democrats to sit down so a vote can be taken until the rules are changed.

[msnimje]

Come on, it takes 60 votes to get the democrats to sit down so a vote can be taken until the rules are changed.

No, I meant when the votes are taken, he only needs 51 when it is over.