Posted on 06/29/2018 7:15:58 AM PDT by GonzoII
The short answer: No
WASHINGTON (ChurchMilitant.com) - With Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's momentous announcement Wednesday that he'd be retiring, the focus now turns to the fight over the new Court vacancy.
Democrats won't have the leverage they've had in the past, as Republicans exercised the "nuclear option" in last year's battle to seat Justice Neil Gorsuch. After heated confirmation hearings, Democrats filibustered the vote, and Republicans made good on their promise to change Senate rules, voting to ensure cloture (the vote to end the filibuster) no longer requires a supermajority.
"This will be the first and last partisan filibuster of a Supreme Court nomination," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed at the time.
The change in Supreme Court rules will guarantee that Democrats can't block Trump's nominee to replace Kennedy via filibuster. But the nominee is not a shoo-in; with a handful of unreliable Republicans in the Senate, Trump's candidate whoever it might be is not guaranteed enough votes for confirmation.
Senators to Watch
Senator John McCain (AZ) has been absent all year owing to health reasons, and there is a good possibility he may sit out the confirmation vote, making the balance effectively 50 Republicans to 49 Democrats.
And defection by pro-abortion Republican Senators Susan Collins (ME) and Lisa Murkowski (AK) is a real possibility, especially if Trump comes through on his promise to nominate a solidly pro-life judge.
Senator Jeff Flake (AZ) has been no fan of Trump and has even threatened to block any judicial nominees, while Sen. Dean Heller (NV) is facing a difficult midterm race in a state that overwhelmingly went for Hillary Clinton, and will feel pressure to vote against Trump's pick.
But Democrat defectors could save Trump's nominee, particularly those running in close races in red states...
(Excerpt) Read more at churchmilitant.com ...
BS.
June 28th, 2018.
Flake wont block vote on Trump Supreme Court pick
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/28/jeff-flake-wont-block-trumps-supreme-court-pick-re/
Jeff Flake wont withhold support for Supreme Court nominee over tariffs
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/courts/jeff-flake-wont-withhold-support-for-supreme-court-nominee-over-tariffs
Jeff Flake Flakes, Says He Wont Block Trumps Supreme Court Pick
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/06/jeff-flake-says-he-wont-block-trumps-supreme-court-pick.html
Sen. Jeff Flake says his threat to block judges over trade wont affect Trumps Supreme Court nominee
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/28/jeff-flake-says-he-wont-block-trump-pick-to-fill-supreme-court-seat.html
Jeff Flake says he wont stall Supreme Court pick over tariff dispute
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/06/28/jeff-flake-says-he-wont-stall-supreme-court-pick-over-tariff-dispute/740424002/
I got a hint in my spirit that 5 Democratic Senators will be voting for Trump’s selection(s) when the time comes.
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