Senator Orin Hatch: "If no surprises, Sotomayor 'highly likely' to be confirmed"

cnnpolitics.com ^ | May 28, 2009 | Lisa Desjardins

[kellynla]

WASHINGTON (CNN) — It is part political reality — and, seemingly, part Republican strategy.

The longest-serving Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee tells CNN Radio that as things stand now, Sonia Sotomayor is headed for a Supreme Court confirmation.

"If there are no otherwise disqualifying matters here, it appears to me she will probably be confirmed," Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said Thursday.

Hatch is acknowledging the Senate landscape. Democrats could have 60 votes in the chamber if Minnesota's Al Franken is seated, and they now hold a 12 to 7 majority on the Judiciary Committee.

But as he speaks to Sotomayor's strength, Hatch is also digging the first Republican battle line on her nomination: the schedule.

"If the Democrats don't overplay their hand and don't try to rush this too much, the process will go well, they'll be better off, she'll get confirmed," he said, again adding that is if no new concerns come to light.

[A. Morgan]

Senator Orin Hatch exemplifies what is wrong in the Republican Party, he is just another “go along get along RINO”!

[Blue Turtle]

Pssst...hey Republicans, we don’t need to pander to hispanics.

[DManA]

If the goal of the strategy is to get a racist ultra-liberal judge on the court then it's a good strategy.

You so smart Oren.

[onedoug]

senators

[meandog]

hatch v. hatched, hatch·ing, hatch·es v.intr.
To emerge from or break out of an egg. v.tr.
1. To produce (young) from an egg, especially reptilian or avian.
2. To cause (an egg or eggs) to produce young among lizards, snakes, toads, etc...
3. To devise or originate, especially in secret: hatch a plot or a Senate confirmation.

[Boiler Plate]

TERM LIMITS must be implemented..

AMEN Brother!

[MHGinTN]

I have major issues with Orrin. But what he stated is in fact the reality when the pubbies are such a minority. And I think Hatchlings like it this way since he does have an excuse for every one of his feckless shuffles. After all, Orrin is the Senator who stated emphatically that en embryo is not a human until it is in a woman’s body ... his magic thinking was exposed, big time!

[muglywump]

Well said!

[PubliusMM]

Good God! The pubbies are caving, already?

Time to build a third political party in this country. Something that can battle the two popular, leftwing parties we have in place...

It’s time to take back the country.

[itsahoot]

Senator Orin Hatch exemplifies what is wrong in the Republican Party

His very best friend, by his own statement, is Ted Kennedy, so where do you go from there?

[El Cid]

Hatchling has stated the obvious. What remains to be seen is if he has sufficient cajones to expose the reasons this leftist female is unfit to sit the highest court ...

No problem with that -- we're just looking for the Repubs to fight this tooth and nail. An activist judge who twists the 2nd Amendment to advocate the denial of the basic right to have the ability to defend oneself (the right to bare arms) and who is racist by words and actions -- needs to be loudly and publicly opposed.

[yazoo]

He’s probably right. There aren’t enough balls on the Republican side to fill a sugar bowl.

[circumbendibus]

Orrin, you’re not supposed to make book on the nominee. You are supposed to offer advice and consent. Period. Ruth Bader Ginsberg, former head of the ACLU, should never have been seated on the highest court of the land. Someone who is a member of LaRasa should be thoroughly exposed and destroyed. The left has to be confronted.

[TheThinker]

It will be a thoroughly sad day in America when Sotomayor gets confirmed.

[RedEyeJack]

How is she doing with her taxes? She acts like a Democrat who doesn't bother with such things. Privileged minority and all that... What does she pay her maid and does she pay the SSI? Dig deep enough and there will be plenty...

[TheThinker]

There’s only one conclusion to come to and that is that the confirmation Sotomayor is feeding minority racists’ need for revenge and supremacy. There is no other conclusion to come to now.

[em2vn]

I think the missionaries on bicycles should pay a visit to Harry Reid and Orin Hatch. Evidently they have fallen from the teachings of their church.

[Apercu]

Michael Steele....where are you? The Republican Party is finished unless they find their stones & quickly.Half ass responses to liberalism is what got them in this mess for starters.Pathetic cowards.

[devere]

Anyone who declares them self “wise” is much too arrogant to be a good judge at any level.

[wny]

by “suprises” he means republican’s growing a pair