More statements opposing the nomination of Elena Kagan to serve on the Supreme Court have trickled in as the district work period closes this week and Congress heads back to work in Washington, D.C. next week.
Sens. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Bob Bennett (R-Utah), John Isakson (R-Ga.), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) have added their voice of opposition over the break to the chorus which includes Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and former Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).
Kagan should no doubt clear the committee as her hard-left radical politics are right in line with the 12 majority Democrats serving on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Only seven Republicans currently serve on the committee. (Senate Judiciary Committee member breakdown)
Democrats will need 60 votes to bring Kagan’s nomination to the floor for a confirmation vote by the full Senate.
With the death of West Virginia Ku Klux Klan founder and Democrat Sen. Robert Byrd, the Democrat caucus controls 58 votes. If the caucus stands firm, they’ll need two Republicans to put them over the top. The standard for cloture is 60 in favor as opposed to 41 against.
Also in question is Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), the wildcard. Specter voted against Kagan’s confirmation as Solicitor General for her failure to be forthcoming, saying in a letter addressed to Kagan he considered her answers “inadequate for confirmation purposes.”
Specter accused Kagan of stonewalling giving answers in an exchange at the confirmation hearings before the 4th of July break.
Sens. Kit Bond (Mo.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe (Maine), Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Judd Gregg (N.H.), Richard Lugar (Ind.) and George Voinovich (Ohio) all voted to confirm Sotomayor and have not yet announced their votes on Kagan.
According to the latest Rasmussen polling, only 36% of likely voters polled support Kagan’s nomination. A full 42% oppose the nomination while 22% are undecided.
