In a word: Excellent. Or, in four:
future Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch.
Gorsuch, as expected, did just about
everything right during his confirmation hearings this past week, skillfully
parrying the expected Democratic attacks on issues such as campaign finance and
abortion (you can read my take on the abortion-related exchanges here). He
was always a favorite to be confirmed, absent some shocking gaffe at his
confirmation hearings, and with the hearings now past even that remote
possibility is dead.
Chuck Schumer and the more liberal
members of the Democratic caucus may make noises about filibustering the
nomination, thereby requiring sixty votes to confirm, but I wouldn’t be
surprised if they lack the votes within the caucus even to sustain a
filibuster. There are probably at least 6-8 Democrats, up for reelection next
year in vulnerable seats, who would consider voting to confirm—or at least
voting to end any potential filibuster. And no Republicans are likely to oppose
Gorsuch, either.
All that said, Neil Gorsuch will be on
the Supreme Court by June at the latest, and could be confirmed by Easter,
providing a big win to both conservatives and the Trump administration.
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