GOPers may announce support for Sotomayor today

[babylonsister]

http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/07/13/gopers-may-announce-support-for-sotomayor-today/

GOPers may announce support for Sotomayor today
@ 10:13 am by Eric Zimmermann


Buried in a Washington Post preview of today's confirmation hearings for Sonia Sotomayor is this nugget:

One surprise may come late in the day, when, according to sources, several Republican senators could announce their support for Sotomayor's nomination, effectively sealing her appointment to the court and making the only question how many votes she will receive.

Among those who some court watchers say could make an early announcement are Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida, the only Latino Republican in the chamber, and Sens. Richard G. Lugar of Indiana and Susan Collins and Olympia J. Snowe of Maine.

If true, this would give Sotomayor a big momentum boost going into tomorrow's hearing, when questioning will begin. (Today is just opening statements.)

If Martinez, the only Republican Latino in the Senate, comes out for Sotomayor early, it could make it much harder for Senate Republicans to oppose her without alienating Hispanic voters. In other words, his opposition would have provided a measure of cover for his white colleagues.

[BlooInBloo]

1. Sounds like Graham may have laid the groundwork for that, earlier.

[goclark]

2. I was looking all over DU -the hearings start tomorrow

I thought they started today.

[BlooInBloo]

3. I'm watching them live right now on msnbc...

Possibly today is just the committee members blabbing, and tomorrow she actually answers questions. Don't know that level of detail.

[goclark]

6. Thanks after my post I found out nt

[babylonsister]

4. No, today are opening statements by everyone. The questioning

starts tomorrow, maybe.

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/07/13/no_questio...


No Questions Today

Even though Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings begin today, the actual questioning of her won't really take place until Tuesday and Wednesday.

This morning, each of the 19 Judiciary Committee members -- 12 Democrats and 7 Republicans -- will make their opening statements. After a lunch break, Sotomayor will be introduced by Sens. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

Sotomayor will then make her opening remarks.

C-SPAN has a great live feed that lets you switch between cameras in the hearing room.

[AlinPA]

8. When I watched Graham, he was viciously ripping into her. nt

[BlooInBloo]

9. (shrug) "Unless you have a complete meltdown, you're going to get confirmed."...

"And I don't think you will" have a meltdown, he added quickly as Sotomayor sat listening, her face in a half-smile.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5huyApqmCqq9U5Hw9jP5IYR1gSQEwD99DM08G3


That's why I said what I said.

[AlinPA]

5. Let's hope so. I still don't trust them not to filibuster. Lieberman could give them the 41.

I don't trust Specter either.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. Good news about Lugar

Even though he is Republican, I've always believed that he was a pretty sensible and level-headed guy.