Kagan To Meet With Senators
Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan is set to begin meeting with Senators today. However, it is not expected that she will give substantive answers about controversial issues or cases. As the Associated Press notes: “Unless she breaks the traditional silence of other recent Supreme Court nominees – something the nominee herself called for in 1995 – senators will have to vote on elevating Kagan to the nation’s highest court without finding out where she really stands on today’s hot-button topics.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET. He will meet at 10:15 a.m. ET with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Obama and Karzai will hold a joint press conference at 11:15 a.m. ET, and have lunch at 12:25 p.m. ET. Obama will meet at 2 p.m. ET with senior advisers.
Obama Sets Focus On GOP Centrists For Kagan Confirmation
The Hill reports that the Obama administration is reaching out to Republican centrists in the Senate, on the Elena Kagan nomination for the Supreme Court: “President Barack Obama on Monday called Sen. Scott Brown, a Republican from liberal-leaning Massachusetts, to urge him to keep an open mind on Kagan’s nomination. Even before Kagan was announced as the nominee, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had called centrist Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Olympia Snowe (Maine) to give them the courtesy of advance notice on the nomination.”
SCOTUS Nominee Figures In Midterm Campaign
The New York Times reports that the nomination of Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court could become another flash point for the 2010 midterm elections. “It’s a powerful reminder of how many seats we have in the Senate is important,” said Ron Nehring, chairman of the California Republican Party. “It also will raise a steady stream of issues that will be of great importance to many voters.”
GOP Muddles Its Kagan Critique
Roll Call says that Senate Republicans have sent mixed messages in their reactions to the nomination of Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court: “The inconsistency in GOP messaging also seemed to come through in [Texas Sen. John] Cornyn’s own critique of Obama’s selection. Asked earlier this month about the possibility of Obama nominating a woman, Cornyn said there are ‘a number of highly qualified [women], including Elena Kagan and Diane Wood.’ After Monday’s announcement, however, Cornyn blasted Kagan for having spent her ‘entire professional career in Harvard Square, Hyde Park and the D.C. Beltway,’ which he said are ‘not places where one learns ‘how ordinary people live.'”
McConnell Locks Up Support Within Senate GOP
Politico reports that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is locking up support to remain as Republican leader, against a rumored challenge from Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC): “Using a whip card to keep track of the senators with whom he’s spoken, McConnell has methodically checked off the name of each senator who’s promised his or her support. The sources said he’s gotten quick endorsements from each Republican who stands a chance of returning next Congress — except for a few with whom he has not yet conferred.”
Kerry And Lieberman To Roll Out Climate Bill
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) are set to unveil their climate change and energy proposal today. The two had previously worked with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who pulled out of the project. The Hill reports: “The bill — which faced several delays en route to Wednesday’s unveiling — faces highly uncertain prospects given the Senate calendar, senators’ election year jitters, the lack of a Republican co-sponsor and outrage over the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.”
