The handful of senate Republicans who broke away from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's Supreme Court blockade enough to actually meet with Merrick Garland seem to be having a hard time reconciling their conflicts between duty and party loyalty. Party loyalty, of course, means obstruction.
WASHINGTON — Republican senators meeting with Judge Merrick B. Garland seem to take quite a long time to simply say "no." […]
His meeting Thursday morning with Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, was one of several that have lasted at least 45 minutes, with some stretching on for an hour — a considerable time given the preordained futility of the sessions. […]
"I thought we were going to have a 30-minute conversation," Senator Patrick J. Toomey, Republican of Pennsylvania, who is facing a difficult re-election campaign, told reporters after his meeting Tuesday night. "I think we went over an hour because we were discussing at some length issues that I know are important to a lot of Pennsylvanians, and therefore, they’re important to me."
Then there's Alaska's Lisa Murkowski who spent half an hour with Garland, apparently spending most of it trying to cook up some reason she should be opposing his nomination, telling the Times that she "found his knowledge of Alaska wanting." She did add, however, "I educated him, I think." Because of course the most important thing about a Supreme Court judge is that he have extensive knowledge of Alaska.
Portman came out of the whole experience seemingly confused, praising the nominee as "an impressive guy" who he'd nonetheless have to keep blocking. He was asked why cameras were ordered a way from the meeting and "seemed flummoxed," according to reports. "I'm happy to be photographed with him. That wasn't an issue for me," he told reporters, even though cameras had been blocked at someone's behest.
If any of these senators had an ounce of decency or felt an iota of responsibility to their constituents, they’d quit this farce and demand hearings. But don't hold your breath.
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