Townhall’s Guy Benson reports what he’s hearing about President Trump’s Monday night Supreme Court nomination announcement.
While many reports indicate the selection is down to four individuals (Amy Barrett, Raymond Kethledge, Thomas Hardiman and Brett Kavanaugh), Benson says he’s hearing that the decision is still very much an open one at this point.
Hearing about major fluidity. POTUS undecided & still taking temp/asking Q’s. Rumors on supposed frontrunners changing almost hourly, driven by wishcasting and trial balloons from boosters/factions. Top source says decision likely needs to be finalized by late tonight. https://t.co/x3pUFAw1kx
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) July 8, 2018
It would be interesting to know how many and who (if just two, three, all four or even more) the final candidates are in the decision-making process for President Trump one day removed from the announcement.
The assumption is that they are the four candidates mentioned above, but since there is still a great deal of uncertainty from Trump, could someone(s) else be making a late push?
Another thing I’m hearing A LOT today from various sources: Kethledge seen as strong and smart & a likely shoo-in for confirmation…BUT not a total lock to be a reliable conservative, given paucity of major decisions…
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) July 8, 2018
Strong conservative in this realm reaches out in response. Says after closely examining Kethledge’s decade (1000+ decisions), *nothing* is concerning re: originalist/textualist bona fides. Says Gorsuch 2.0 moniker “absolutely” apt & ‘unreliable’ whispers are mystifying. #scotus https://t.co/yb4hCHF20E
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) July 8, 2018
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Whether this is the most important decision Trump will make as president remains to be determined, but it needs to be made with that level of attention and seriousness by him and his team.
And here’s why.
…according to this line of thinking (from 3 different sources), why not hold Kethledge/Hardiman as “bear market” picks — eg if there’s a Dem Senate, or as a hypothetical replacement for a liberal justice. Intense lobbying afoot from various camps…
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) July 8, 2018
…however, one point of universal agreement: ANY of the ‘final four’ would be a clear ideological upgrade from Kennedy. The potential shades of gray range from Roberts-plus to Scalia. #scotus
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) July 8, 2018
That range should be comforting to conservatives. Regardless of perceived Senate confirmability, being a reliable Constitutionalist is always the first and most important requirement, as Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin both point out.
Laura Ingraham, Mark Levin weigh in on the most important quality needed in Trump's SCOTUS pick https://t.co/lPGSd0P3rH
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 8, 2018
Who’s to say Trump won’t set up a makeshift boardroom in the White House and have an hour long made-for-television special showcasing each candidate’s career before announcing who’s hired … er, who the nominee is?
Editor’s Note: An additional tweet has been added to this post.
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