Shock: McCain voting no on Sotomayor
posted at 5:26 pm on August 3, 2009 by Allahpundit
So much for my prediction of 75 votes to confirm; with Sessions, Kyl, and now even Maverick against her, she’ll be lucky to break 70. I’m honestly stunned, for the same reason Hotline is:
McCain voted against Sotomayor’s nomination to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in ’98, so his decision is not entirely surprising. But like his friend and GOP colleague, Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC), McCain has decried the politicization of judicial nominations that led to a failed Dem filibuster of Justice Samuel Alito. Graham, citing a desire to “start over” on the Senate’s advise and consent role, was the only GOP member of the Senate Judiciary Cmte to support Sotomayor’s nomination last week.
Maverick was part of the Gang of 14 too, which makes it doubly surprising. His supposed reason for voting no is her “long record of judicial activism” but I’m not sure what he means by that. The only decision of hers that the GOP spent any serious amount of time attacking was Ricci and that was handed down just 18 months ago. Likewise, as I’ve said in a few other posts, she’s never had a reputation for being a lefty ideologue on the bench; we’re talking about a former prosecutor, after all. It’s her speeches that raise the prospect of judicial activism, but why should they be taken as more predictive of how she’ll rule than her actual opinions? She’s closer to the center than any Obama nominee is likely to be, so if she’s “not qualified,” none of them will be — which I think is the deeper message McCain’s trying to send here. Exit question: What’s his real reason for voting no? Ace thinks he’s bitter about last year but I’m trying to game out some Senate re-election angle. It’d make sense to oppose Sotomayor if he’s worried about the primary challenge from Chris Simcox, but surely that’s less of a threat to him than alienating Arizona’s Hispanic voters in the general election, no? I don’t get it.
Blowback
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Who?
faraway on August 3, 2009 at 5:27 PM
Hope the voters of Arizona vote “no” on him in 2010.
Enoxo on August 3, 2009 at 5:27 PM
I bet Lindsey Graham is confused as heck. He could have stopped her cold in committee, but noooooooooooooooooo!
SouthernGent on August 3, 2009 at 5:28 PM
I’d go with the bitter angle.
Too little, too late, you washed up tool.
John_Locke on August 3, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Graduating from the headlines in hopes of getting more than 38 hits? There must be SOMETHING else to talk about, yes?
Bishop on August 3, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Hope the voters of Arizona vote “no” on him in 2010.
Enoxo on August 3, 2009 at 5:27 PM
Yeah, because we don’t have enough democrats in the senate…
Smart…
Boxy_Brown on August 3, 2009 at 5:29 PM
John McCain is an honorable man. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but an honorable man.
doctormom on August 3, 2009 at 5:29 PM
McCain’s long lost campaign slogan (you’ve got to imagine a low, commanding voice over)
MCAIN: There for you when it doesn’t matter
gatorboy on August 3, 2009 at 5:29 PM
I get it…you are confused because you arent used to politicians voting with integrity :D
Regards
Mailman
mailman on August 3, 2009 at 5:30 PM
I wonder if Graham learned a few ‘legislative’ tricks from Waxman. Vote FOR something initially, the vote AGAINST it later on when everyone is watching.
gatorboy on August 3, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Hee… I agree with Ace on this one McCain’s bitter because the MSM found a new, younger suitor last year. He also hates Obama for the same reason he had the whiny sparing match with Bush for eight years because he really, really wanted to be president and is mad that Obama beat him. All politics are totally personal with McCain.
Illinidiva on August 3, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Funny how he only manages to pull “integrity” out of his rear end when it makes no difference.
John_Locke on August 3, 2009 at 5:32 PM
I’m as shocked as anyone. I expect her to get confirmed, but I’ll be glad if it’s by a slim margin.
Esthier on August 3, 2009 at 5:32 PM
Hope for Change in 2010
faraway on August 3, 2009 at 5:33 PM
I’m guessing McCain’s still getting advice from the geniuses that ran his campaign….into the ground.
Patrick S on August 3, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Libtards decided to make every vote partisan with Roberts and Alito so it is pointless for us not to do it too.
Speedwagon82 on August 3, 2009 at 5:34 PM
I say, “Go for it, John!”
This plays to his one strength ~ he was always GREAT at being a major pain in the ass.
Couldn’t happen to a better administration.
tree hugging sister on August 3, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Maybe he just thinks she will make a lousy Supreme Court Justice.
I hear that McCain is also saying he will not support any additional funds for cash4clunkers. He said the program was {among other things} stupid.
Terrye on August 3, 2009 at 5:35 PM
I heard McCain and Graham are getting divorced.
fourdeucer on August 3, 2009 at 5:36 PM
she seems like a nice lady, but there were more qualified people out there.
rob verdi on August 3, 2009 at 5:36 PM
John:
I don’t think that was fair, whether you agree with McCain or not as nothing to do with his integrity. The man has always had integrity, even when he was making people mad.
Terrye on August 3, 2009 at 5:36 PM
but they were always such BFF’s :/
Ozprey on August 3, 2009 at 5:37 PM
This is the difference between Obama and McCain.
Every once in a while McCain does something right.
Daggett on August 3, 2009 at 5:38 PM
So?
Terry Silver on August 3, 2009 at 5:40 PM
I have to admit, I didn’t see that coming. I guess he wants another shot at the Senate or hopes Palin will pick him as her VP.
FloatingRock on August 3, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Picked for her “empathy,” proud of her “wise” partiality and guilty of scads of idiotic malapropisms during her confirmation, I fail to see how this woman is qualified at all.
Good on John McCain.
spmat on August 3, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Dang… I said 72. I might have been shooting too high.
Abby Adams on August 3, 2009 at 5:42 PM
You cared enough to comment; so really you’ve answered your own question.
lorien1973 on August 3, 2009 at 5:42 PM
but how is Sarah Palin voting
jp on August 3, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Go Maverick.
Hening on August 3, 2009 at 5:45 PM
McCain is giving coin flips a run for their random money.
daesleeper on August 3, 2009 at 5:47 PM
“overturn the considered constitutional judgements of millions of Americans”? Wha? Yikes. That’s the incomprehensible John McCain of the debates. Someone wrote that for him?
Way better than the alternative (and incumbent President) but a true head scratcher. Yikes. Another member of the world’s greatest deliberative body! Remind me how were we stuck with solely POTUS candidates from the U.S. Senate? Egads!
clorensen on August 3, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Ever hear of the Keating Five?
guntotinglibertarian on August 3, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Arizona’s Hispanics are Mexicans.
Sotoymayor is Puerto Rican.
That stuff matters in their community.
guntotinglibertarian on August 3, 2009 at 5:49 PM
You must be young. What was done even to Justices Thomas and Alito was nothing compared to the fight they successfully waged over Robert Bork.
sondiehl on August 3, 2009 at 5:52 PM
AP,
Your logical analysis is far superior than anything MaCain or his staff conducted, but it didn’t include any political perspective!
blink on August 3, 2009 at 5:53 PM
It appears to me as a voter of Sen. McShame~ : )
that he is trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the Citizen’s with his gracious voting these last few months. I am willing to bet that if Sen. McShame was not up for re-elect then he would have voted for her!.
Sen. McShame will have a tough fight on his hands.
hawkman on August 3, 2009 at 5:54 PM
John McCain tends to be sincere. My guess is that he’s more voting against Obama’s desire for judicial activism, then he’s voting against Sotomayor herself.
thuja on August 3, 2009 at 5:58 PM
“It’d make sense to oppose Sotomayor if he’s worried about the primary challenge from Chris Simcox, but surely that’s less of a threat to him than alienating Arizona’s Hispanic voters in the general election, no? I don’t get it.”
How about opposing her because she’ll be a bad judge and its the right thing to do?
McCain always got a raw deal from many conservatives on abortion and judges. Once again he does the right thing on judges, and what we get is a supposedly conservative blogger bemoaning that GOP senators are not pandering to Hispanics.
NCC on August 3, 2009 at 5:59 PM
McCain has always known the correct thing to do, he’s just had trouble doing it.
rplat on August 3, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Maybe — as a legislator — he thinks law should be made in legislative bodies rather than from the mushy brain of an unwise Latina.
Rational Thought on August 3, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Oh my! What will McCain’s lapdog “Little Lindsey” do now?
sinsing on August 3, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Too late.
Basilsbest on August 3, 2009 at 6:03 PM
I do not think that a vote agains the “wise latina” will alienate the Hispanic voters. It didn’t alienate the dems when they attacked the Hispanic nominee that a Republican president nominated. It will only alienate the “aliens” that can’t vote unles they are ACORN members.
farright on August 3, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Look at me, I’m a Republican… not a RINO… really.
Paul the American on August 3, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Naïve. The new approach will end as soon as there is a GOP administration.
Basilsbest on August 3, 2009 at 6:07 PM
NCC: Actually, I think what he’s getting is head-scratching from conservative bloggers on his inconsistent pandering to Hispanics.
Heaven knows he’s done enough of it in the past.
While I’d be the first to thank him for this vote, I also would prefer if my politicians were consistent. People expect consistency, and where they don’t find it (e.g., the ‘consistent’ McCain response here could easily be seen as a ‘yea’ vote) they start asking questions.
The very fact that the consistency was expected on a divisive conservative issue (minority concerns) rather than a less contentious conservative issue (judicial activism) is a very interesting point to discuss, though.
Scott H on August 3, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Here’s what I think it came down to: McCain has to start to move to the right to outflank his primary opponent in 2010 and to get the unqualified support of Sarah Palin in his re-election bid. If McCain knows one thing about Sarah, she is honest to a fault. If he votes for Sotomayor and Sarah tells the world she wouldn’t have voted for her then a breach becomes apparent that the MSM is going to exploit big time to drive to damage both of their political careers. Better to get as close to Palin’s views to get her completely on board. Of course ANWR will always be a bone of contention between them but the public doesn’t see their disagreement on its development as really a big deal.
technopeasant on August 3, 2009 at 6:08 PM
I wonder if “Gramnesty” will change his vote now that his RINO buddy is against?
farright on August 3, 2009 at 6:13 PM
It’s close. 58 healthy Dems plus Grahamnesty and the Maine Sisters make 61. I still KBH is going to flip, on the odd chance that she beats Rick Perry in the Gov-TX GOP primary. Beyond that, I only see one of Voinovich or Gregg going for her. “Wise Latina” cost SoSo about 6 votes. Elections have consequences.
Kid from Brooklyn on August 3, 2009 at 6:15 PM
I thought Mc Cain died in December.
Jeff from WI on August 3, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Voting to legalize an invasion of your country for personal gain isnt what an honorable man does.
Maybe in 1975 he was an honorable man but no more.
DwnSouthJukin on August 3, 2009 at 6:18 PM
..I guess someone handed him a magnifying glass and a pair of tweezers before he went into the gents’ — and he found something he didn’t see down there back in September 2008.
VoyskaPVO on August 3, 2009 at 6:19 PM
John McCain:
ON HIS FREAKING CREAKY KNEES BEGGING, JUST BEGGING TEH SARAH TO CAMPAIGN FOR HIM IN 2010!
And she’ll do it, too. She just can’t help herself. She loves the old guy. He spent five years in a box and that makes Sarah worship the ground he walks on. It doesn’t matter that the vile tit-turds who worked for him last year tried to assassinate her character and defame her family so they could burnish their credentials and work the 2010 and 2012 cycle for Teh Mittens. That matters little to Sarah From Alaska.
Nope. McCain got shot down by the North Vietnamese while serving his country and spent five years in a box for his troubles. Sarah’s a good Christian Woman and won’t let one bad word about John Sidney McCain pass through her lips.
She will barnstorm Arizona for that man and add three to five points to his victory margin. See if I’m not right.
And he won’t have deserved it. Well, except for the five years in a box part. That’s all that matters to Sarah.
victor82 on August 3, 2009 at 6:22 PM
Interesting.
Right decision, just wonder how John “it’s my turn” McCain stumbled into it…
Mew
acat on August 3, 2009 at 6:26 PM
An honorable man would not have stayed silent all last fall and winter as his former campaign staffers talked trash about Sarah Palin.
Wethal on August 3, 2009 at 6:30 PM
I think he’s just going with his gut.
Unfortunately, his gut doesn’t think things through.
Gaunilon on August 3, 2009 at 6:37 PM
AMEN!
Jeff from WI on August 3, 2009 at 6:37 PM
I give him props for doing the right thing now. McCain is a frustrating politician. I suspect if he had one we would be pulling our hair out daily at the crap he would have done under the guise of bipartisanship. But I’d sleep better at night knowing our enemies would be afraid of him, and that our Constitution would be in tact.
Unfortunately many of us will never forgive McCain for being such a dope that he lost to Obama even after Palin’s announcement gave him a lead in the polls. If he had come out against the stimulus what a different place we would be. Shoulda, coulda, woulda. And all the votes against racists on the SCOTUS won’t wash away that stain.
Carolina Kat on August 3, 2009 at 6:37 PM
The only thing that surprises me about McCain’s “no” vote…that Graham, on committee, voted “yes”…after he did grill Soto pretty well.
JetBoy on August 3, 2009 at 6:38 PM
And fer cripes sake…
STOP the McCain bashing already! You cons got what you wanted…President Obama….so he can screw up and you can wait til 2012.
Enjoy!
JetBoy on August 3, 2009 at 6:40 PM
The NRA is rating politicians votes on the obviously anti-gun “wise latina”, and Arizona folks like their guns. It is possible that he doesn’t want to face an “A” rated candidate in the primaries.
farright on August 3, 2009 at 6:43 PM
I did vote no but it didn’t help. But this time, we do have Chris Simcox running against him in a primary (which may explain his vote). And with the way people are really, really feeling towards Congress right now . . . hmmmmmmmmmm . . .
Special K on August 3, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Graham’s speech at LaRaza when he accused anyone who voted against the amnesty bill as racists and bigots, removed all doubt that is not going to be in public office much longer. Voting for Sotomayer is just another step in that direction.
volsense on August 3, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Who slipped V-i-a-g-r-a into McCain’s chicory?
Sharke on August 3, 2009 at 6:55 PM
I’ve seen mccain 2010 stickers, haven’t seen anything from simcox yet…
cmsinaz on August 3, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Easy to explain. Maverick Graham didn’t get the weekly Maverick Memo from Maverick McCain.
Just a failure to communicate.
TXUS on August 3, 2009 at 7:06 PM
I’m not sure what to think about this pervasive idea that all “Hispanics” (as though that were a homogeneous group) identify personally with any random stranger on TV who has a kinda-sorta Spanish sounding name…
Lehosh on August 3, 2009 at 7:12 PM
I don’t think I’d say he’s bitter, but I heard him get very sharp with a Latino over the election. He offered a very progressive immigration bill and they did NOT reward him with votes. I think he is, in fact, looking at that as signalling that they won’t support him in his bid for re-election as senator.
Therefore, he may as well shore up his base and please the NRA forces, which may well replace his Latino voters.
Political move, in short.
AnninCA on August 3, 2009 at 7:32 PM
I also think that he knows that she’s underwhelming and probably not nearly strong enough octane for the position.
She’s a plodder. His reason that she’s activist? I didn’t buy that one.
AnninCA on August 3, 2009 at 7:34 PM
A-freakin-men. For all the kvetching about McCain, you’d think half these guys voted for 0bama
Sekhmet on August 3, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Uh, right, ’cause no former prosecutor has EVAH been a Lefty-litigator-in-training! AP, I’m so disappointed in you–more so than usual even. How exactly would her speeches not be predictive of her rulings? I mean, you’d have to imagine her time at the Court of Appeals was supposed to be low-key so that she’d later be nominated to SCOTUS. And yet–and yet, she still managed to have that doozie of a case with the firefighters….
cackcon on August 3, 2009 at 7:46 PM
McCain is a rusty nail, I’ll admit, but compared to Ali Obaba and the Forty Thieves, he’s a golden knight.
MaiDee on August 3, 2009 at 8:00 PM
No we voted for Romney in the primaries, then held our nose in the general election.
Special K on August 3, 2009 at 8:00 PM
I just saw O Rielly positioning himself as the one to know what the conservatives should do, with regard to Sotomayor
Basically don’t call her a racist even if she is, so as not to alienate hispanics..so says Billy boy
He and Olby are hugging each other tonite I am sure
macncheez on August 3, 2009 at 8:07 PM
That’s the ticket! She isn’t liberal enough for him…..
Kafir on August 3, 2009 at 8:08 PM
John,
RETIRE!
Sapwolf on August 3, 2009 at 8:13 PM
What? McCain wakes up?
What next? Michael Steele changes his own Depends?
The GOP is a rudderless ship in heavy seas and enormous opportunity. Is there no one to grab the helm?
bloviator on August 3, 2009 at 8:15 PM
There’s plenty of time. Relax. And you know, there’s a lot of us that are really tired of both Democrats and Republicans.
Special K on August 3, 2009 at 8:18 PM
I think Liz Cheney may be grabbing the helm. Run, Liz, Run!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-1lZhtf4xY
Special K on August 3, 2009 at 8:27 PM
So McCain has failed as a moderate.
logis on August 3, 2009 at 8:35 PM
When anyone says, “I won’t do X…” and follows it with a nudge, nudge, wink, wink!…I tend to think they’re lying. I guess even Maverick couldn’t ignore that.
I mean, what am I gonna believe…what she says now or my own lyin’ eyes and ears listening to what she said over and over then?
Pathetic…
Look at the people that the One surrounds himself with. Radicals every damned one of them. Nutcakes that think that trees should have legal representation in court, that the citizens of the US are cowards. A madman that thinks that it’s a good idea to secretly slip drugs in to the public water supply to prevent couples, eager to start families, from becoming pregnant. Koh…another radical POS anti-American. There is no-one radical enough for this Marxists tastes, but he settles for the radicals he has.
The Constitution is nothing but an inconvenience for Obama…other than that it has no meaning.
Army Brat on August 3, 2009 at 8:51 PM
But, but, but… But Juan! She’s a wise Latina!
Thresher on August 3, 2009 at 8:56 PM
Hell yeah!
Thresher on August 3, 2009 at 8:59 PM
McCain has an election coming up? Then no, not a shock.
powerpro on August 3, 2009 at 9:01 PM
Mon apologiee …
John never sat in a “sweat house “ with me…!
Where goeth thee John…?
Not with me…?
Olde soldier sends…
Geezer on August 3, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Answer: Because she’s a mediocre nominee, not all that smart. But he can’t say that in public.
Owen Glendower on August 3, 2009 at 10:01 PM
As the sun slowly rises…
There is no sound…
Our hands lie upon the ground…
We accept the new day of life…
Once again some embrace the fool’s way around…!
…
….
…..
“……John steps away, from the circle…”
Geezer on August 3, 2009 at 10:03 PM
The real reason? Try ptincipled adherence to strict constructionism. Give McCain credit.
Phil Byler on August 3, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Mon apologies…PB…!
I never wanted to be the hamburger Nazi…!
Geezer on August 3, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Yep. This means he plans on another potus run.
Buddahpundit on August 3, 2009 at 10:32 PM
On this good Earth…
“…some may sit upon the ground…
“your palms of hand downward facing…
Do it…!
Now…!
Hands… palms down…!
Palms down…
Yes…
…very quietly…
…quiet…
…quietly…
…just this way…
…quiet…
…again…
…just this way…
…quiet…
…quietly…
quiet…..
very…. very….. quiet……..
quiet……………….
………..
……….
……
….
….
…
..
.
.
.
.
.
Geezer on August 3, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Sometimes you sound like a real lefty, AP.
disa on August 3, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Megan must really be confused about ole’ dad.
luvstotango on August 4, 2009 at 12:09 AM
Electoral politics would either wreck your purity or wreck you.
Kralizec on August 4, 2009 at 1:46 AM
HELL FREEZES OVER…DIDN’T SEE THIS COMING. Next thing you know HE MIGHT ACTUALLY VOTE AGAINST the Socialized Medicine too? Wouldn’t bet on it but he might. Still thinks he needs to go in the ARIZONA PRIMARIES in 2010.
By the way. MCCAIN you ran the LAZIEST WORST CAMPAIGN I’VE EVER SEEN. A Hampster could have run better.
Why did you wait until the 11th hour to pick a running mate? Why did you wait until the 11th hour to start fundraising? And why did you go ON SNL JUST 3 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION YOU BIG DUMMY!
rednebulastudios on August 4, 2009 at 2:40 AM
Good job McCain, you did good. Wish you were in the White House, hope you stay in the Senate.
South Carolina, it’s time for you to do a little house…err…Senate cleaning.
Daemonocracy on August 4, 2009 at 3:09 AM
What?
By that standard, the Rev. Wright is no big deal
Likely, McCain has been liberated from hispanic derangement syndrome by the hispanic snub in the last election and possibly he cares about the second amendment, at least in principle
with the second amendment, it is best to take jurists at their word as well as their track record
entagor on August 4, 2009 at 3:46 AM
Maybe in 1975 he was an honorable man but no more.
DwnSouthJukin
Possible, or it could be that the “maverick” title went to his head and he’s still squeezing that sponge, trying to get a few last drops.
Remember, that lying, corrupt POS Murtha used to be a Marine. I guess even honor has it’s price.
SKYFOX on August 4, 2009 at 8:26 AM
JetBoy on August 3, 2009 at 6:40 PM
—–
If I recall the discussions here accurately, the conservatives wanted an actual conservative candidate, not a pseudo-maverick.
Mew
acat on August 4, 2009 at 8:59 AM
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