The White House is considering picking the Republican governor from Nevada to fill the current vacancy on the Supreme Court, scrambling political calculations in what is expected to be a contentious confirmation battle in which Senate Republicans have pledged to play the role of roadblock.
President Obama is weighing the selection of Brian Sandoval, a centrist former federal judge who has served as governor since 2011, according to two people familiar with the process. Though the review process is in its initial phases and it is unclear whether the governor could ultimately emerge as the president’s pick, even the prospect of his nomination poses a difficult dilemma for Senate Republicans who have promised not to consider any nomination before November’s elections.
After The Washington Post published news of Sandoval’s consideration Wednesday, GOP leaders insisted that Obama nominating a Republican would make no difference.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who on Tuesday pledged “no action” on any Supreme Court nomination before the election, said in a statement that the nominee “will be determined by whoever wins the presidency in the fall.”
The No. 2 Senate Republican leader, Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, said likewise: “This is not about the personality.”
Yes, it’s about not confirming anyone nominated by the current, duly elected president of the United States. Between this action and allowing Donald Trump to represent the party, this political party is simply becoming repugnant.
It seems that the current national party will even reject one of their own, simply because Obama has nominated them. How childish.
At this point, I think there is nothing that could cause me to cast another vote for a Republican. Every time I have done so locally, I am always sorry. I haven’t voted for one nationally since Daddy Bush.
Too bad for me. It’s where I started off. Things have just gone downhill ever since.
