The Senate's long, hot Supreme Court battle starts Monday

Washington Examiner ^ | July 8, 2018 | Susan Ferrechio

[GonzoII]

The unveiling of President Trump's Supreme Court nominee on Monday will immediately shift the focus of the Senate to confirming that pick in a few short months, and create a frenzy as GOP and Democratic senators try to steal a handful of votes in the middle that will determine the outcome.

Since 2005, all Supreme Court Justices have been confirmed in less than three months, and Republicans are hoping to stick to that schedule so Trump's nominee is seated for the new Supreme Court term in October.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, told the Washington Examiner such a time frame is “a reasonable parameter” for the next nominee. “I’d be happy to go faster, but I’m not sure everybody would,” Cornyn said.

To get there, Trump's nominee is expected to quickly start making the rounds to Senate offices for individual interviews. That will be followed later this summer by a yet-to-be-scheduled confirmation hearing that will include written questionnaires from each of the 21 lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

But the most important part of the process will be the cajoling of a handful of senators on each side who could either rescue of sink the nominee. With Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., not voting, Republicans hold a 50-49 advantage in the Senate, which means they need to steal a Democrat for every Republican who decides to vote against Trump's pick.

[Terry Mross]

There are quite a few of his fellow POWs who despise him. He wanted to make admiral like his father and grandfather. He was told by the Navy to retire as a captain or be court martialed. So he went into politics.