Outside the Beltway

The Confirmation Kabuki Continues…

Steven L. Taylor · Tuesday, July 13, 2010 · 1 comment

Via the Hotline On Call: Panel To Delay Kagan Vote

GOP senators will use the ability of any committee member under the panel’s rules to put off a vote for one week, several aides said. They said committee GOPers want more time to review the nomination. Kagan returned written answers to questions for the record submitted by senators on Friday. "The committee will need time to review her responses" said a GOP staffer.

In the grand scheme of things, not that big of a deal. But, seriously, the only reason to invoke the rule is to delay for delay’s sake.

FILED UNDER: Law and the Courts, US Politics, Elena Kagan

About Steven L. Taylor

Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog). Follow Steven on Twitter

Comments

Herb says:

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 at 12:06

In Japan, they call these pathetic displays “Vaudeville.”

(Sorry, but I just have a pet peeve about the Kabuki thing. I mean, I get it…it’s a funny word and once upon a time it was an illuminating metaphor. But how are the confirmation hearings like Kabuki theater? Is it the face paint? The elaborate costumes? The music?)