(CNN) - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took to the Senate floor Wednesday to blast Democrats for setting a start date on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearing.
"Senator Leahy's decision to rush Judge Sotomayor's confirmation hearing is indeed puzzling," McConnell said. "It risks resulting in a less informed hearing, and it breaks with years of tradition in which bipartisan agreements were reached and honored over the scheduling of hearings for Supreme Court nominees. And it damages the cordiality and goodwill the Senate relies on to do its business."
Leahy, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, announced Tuesday the hearings for Sotomayor would begin on July 13 - a date that was determined, according to the GOP, without consulting Sen. Jeff Sessions - the committee's ranking Republican.
"They want the shortest confirmation timeline in recent memory for someone with the longest record in recent memory," McConnell said. "This violates basic standards of fairness and it prevents senators from carrying out one of their most solemn duties, a thorough review of the president's nominee to a lifetime position on the highest court in the land."
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The Republicans want to do to the Supreme Court what they are doing to Minnesota....stall forever.
Dear Mitch,
The fact that such a young person as Sotomayor has "such a long record" seems to speak very well for her credentials. The fact that only three of her cases (a fraction of one percent, MUCH lower than others at her level, any way you cut it) seems to also speak volumes as to her appropriateness for the Court.
You guys want to throw every kind of wrench possible into America's gears, and we've had enough of it. This constant nagging, attacking, and negativity will not soon be forgotten.
As for lowering any bipartisanship in the Senate, you guys blew right past that one many times already. Republicans are in a mess, but don't take it out on America any longer.
Let's see since she was selected the only thing I keep hearing about is a couple sentences she muttered at a Q&A session 8 years ago. The only reason the GOP needs more time is find dirt, but it's not going to happen. She's qualified. Period. Why wait? Oh because that is what the GOP does: Obstruct and stall.
This is just McConnell trying to get past the summer recess in hopes he can find something of which he can make an issue. He also hopes that some misfortune will befall the Obama administration to cause the approval ratings to drop and support their opposition to Sotomayor.
They need to hire interns, review her rulings (and they can't posssibly think we believe they will review all 4000 of her rulings) and get this process completed. I believe one of the Justices (Kennedy perhaps) nomination was sent to the Senate in 14 days – this can be done. It's just another GOP stunt!
Did McConnell also cry foul when Roberts was confirmed in 72 days (the same amount of time anticipated for Sotomayor's confirmation)?
Give me a break!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Republicans have a 5 week notice to do their research on this Supreme Court Nominee and they can't get their 'homework' done in that timeframe. If I took that long to do a project for my boss and couldn't finish it by the deadline.........I'd be fired. Sounds like some of America's voters need to FIRE their Republican Senators when each is up for reelection.
Jowl flappings. That's all. Just jowl flappings.
Who really cares what Old Mitch thinks or says.
The democratic administration and congress are consistent with their reckless cramming down America's throats many things so far:
1. The Automaker Bailouts ( and both still went bankrupt )
2. The Bank Bailouts ( Ineffective as well. No impact on anything. )
3. The Stimulus Bill ( Earmarks, earmarks and more earmarks )
and now they are preparing to cram in a Supreme Court Justice and next a $1 trillion health care plan that they haven't figured out how to pay for yet. I didn't even mention Gitmo...another rushed mistake even the democrats in congress couldn't swallow.
Reckless and irresponsible government is not what we need now.
Whiney, whiney. Sux when you loose and don't get to set the agenda any more.
It took 92 days to confirm Alito and 64 days to confirm Roberts after being nominated.
What is the big rush? Leahy slowed down the process in the confirmation hearings of Alito and Roberts. Why is he so quick to rush through it now? The court is pretty much dead from July-September. Using the same process and timelines as Roberts and Alito would not affect the court schedule and would be consistent.
Sotomayor is about as qualified for the Supreme Court is Pamela Anderson is to get a lead role in a movie.
Soto has her BIG race card going for her.
Pamela has her BIG....well....you know what I mean.
It has nothing to do with Dems or Repoops.
This lady is NOT qualified for our highest court.
If I were in the Senate I would do EVERYTHING WITHIN MY POWER to block her appointment and delay any and all hearings pertaining to her.
I can see her with Boxer and Finkelstein saying, "Power to the illegals!"
Oh, puh-leeze... "Bipartisan". Did that word actually escape from Mitch McConnell's mouth. Or was it just another glob of Republican obstructionism.
Can they make any public statement that doesn't include the word "risk"?
Well you've got a month to do your research, which should have already begun. Stop whining and get to work.
I don't even know what the GOP stands for, any longer. It's like their whole existence is to put OUR President down. They have every right to disagree with OUR President, as does anyone else, but when was the last time the Republicans in Congress did any real WORK? All I hear is what they are against and who they are 'irked' at. Their minions go on the blogs and make up funny names for President Obama and rant about everything and anything. I love their mentality – summed up by a poster on another thread today – that all they have to do is wait for the 'libs to screw up' and then the Right will rise back to power. That's really pathetic.
I think we should change all political headlines to read "Republicans Blast Dems" and leave it at that. Let's face it, they aren't going to be happy with a single thing the Dems do.
Hot air always needs an escape route, so please allow Mitch to rid himself of his poisonous gas. Come on man, are you for real? Did someone take away your toy so you are throwing a hissy fit? Are you forgetting that you have the title of Senator? Act like one. Why this infantile behavior? Is there nothing else to talk about in Washington?
Mitch,
Have some cheese with that whine.
Ol Mitch is insignificant and I hope they continue to stand in the way of this.
They are running out of feet to shoot
From the GOP, hypocrisy as usual. In 2005, Chief Justice Roberts was confirmed some 76 days after his nomination was announced, but the GOP naturally begrudges the current President the courtesy of a smilar timeframe. They just want to extend the timeline to find dirt, even as they don't have the votes to stop the nominee. But what was good for Bush's nominee, should equally be used for Obama's nominee. It's the typical double standard the GOP is famous for.
What about the Republiucan's goodwill when they had the majority and presidency and said my way or the highway and even threatend to take away the fillibuster.
The GOP must need more time to spin a lie about her.
How sad it is, that this man represents the minority in the Senate. Just another angry old white male. Is this what has become of the Republican Party??