Thursday, July 12, 2018

Dems in terrible bind on Kavanaugh nomination

Senate Democrats are in a terrible bind as they search for a strategy to block Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who is expected to determine the ideological balance of the court for decades.

On one side, red-state Democrats who are worried that opposing Kavanaugh could imperil their reelection chances in November, and with it the party's hope of winning the majority in the Senate.

Democrats have largely stayed mum on how far they would be willing to go to slow-walk Kavanaugh as he moves through the confirmation process.

The Senate's rulebook allows them to temporarily delay Kavanaugh's nomination in committee or limit the ability for committees to meet, a move that would gridlock the Senate's work and appease some on the left.

Democrats are under enormous pressure to try to block Kavanaugh by all available means, with outside group saying Schumer must keep the caucus united.

Former Gov. Phil Bredesen, the Democratic Senate candidate in Tennessee, called for Kavanaugh to be given a "Fair and timely confirmation hearing."

Senate Democrats acknowledged that voters in their party are frustrated, but Democrats are trying to keep the focus on Kavanaugh and Republicans.

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/396604-dems-in-terrible-bind-on-kavanaugh-nomination 

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