Word: sotomayor
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Lott took the action primarily because of rumors - entirely unfounded, it turned out - that Clinton was trying to fast-track Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, a tactic his predecessor had used to elevate Clarence Thomas. The rumors were in turn based on speculation that liberal Justice John Paul Stevens was about to retire; he remains on the court to date. Rush Limbaugh at the time warned that Sotomayor was being put on a "rocket ship" to the Supreme Court. (See the top 10 Supreme Court nomination battles...
...after strong lobbying by Democrats and Hispanic groups, Sotomayor's nomination came up for a vote in the Senate on Oct. 3, 1998. The vote was 67-29 in her favor. The nays included two Republicans who had voted against her in the Judiciary Committee: John Ashcroft, who is no longer on the Hill, and John Kyl of Arizona, who is still on the committee and is also the Senate Republican whip. (Seven GOP members who are still in the Senate today voted to approve the nomination...
...statement on Tuesday, Kyl congratulated Sotomayor on her nomination, adding that he would "take great care in examining her record to ensure that she demonstrates personal integrity, a commitment to the rule of law and a judicial temperament." He hinted that the nomination process would not be short. "When Samuel Alito was first nominated [in 2005], the minority was afforded 93 days before he received a confirmation vote," he said. "I would expect that Senate Democrats will afford the minority the same courtesy as we move forward with this process...
Read "Smooth Sailing: Sotomayor Headed to Easy Confirmation...
President Barack Obama knows how to avoid a fight - and still do what he thinks is right. The media and conservative activists might be spoiling for a Supreme Court nomination battle, but the choice of Circuit Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor to fill a high court vacancy is a classic Obama decision that makes the chances of political smooth sailing a near lock. Obama was clearly inspired by his selection, but he just as obviously kept an eye on the politics of his pick...