Why the Rush on Sotomayor

Haste makes waste, and a hasty confirmation hearing for Sonia Sotomayor is being pushed by the Dems who are anxious to get her confirmed in time for their summer vacation:

The Senate Judiciary Committee confirmed Tuesday that Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearing will begin July 13, and Republicans are none too happy about it.

The top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, Alabama senator Jeff Sessions, said today that the date is too early and does not give Republicans enough time to examine Sotomayor's record.

"I'm really a bit surprised," Sessions said, according to Politico. "I don't think our side has the time to do this right. ... That's a rushed time frame, and I don't think that's necessary."

As the Associated Press reports, GOP Leader Mitch McConnell accused Democrats of threatening Senate cooperation over the nominee by setting an impractical timetable.

"An arbitrary date on this nomination, when we're not clear yet how long it's going to take to work our way through her extensive record ... strikes me as not a good way to proceed," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

And MSNBC reports that Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley says that the GOP will not go along with Leahy's timetable because he believes it does not allow for enough time to go through Sotomayor's judicial record.

Democratic Committee Chairman Pat Leahy and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, meanwhile, expressed frustration that Senate Republicans expect more time to scrutinize Sotomayor. They noted that Chief Justice John Roberts was confirmed in a matter of 72 days.

"There's no reason this can't be done," Reid said, according to Politico. "If [Republicans] want to take more time than has ever been taken in the history of this country, then something is wrong."

But Grassley and other Republicans reject the comparison between Sotomayor and Roberts.

"She has 10 times as many decisions as Roberts did," Republican Sen. John Kyl said. "It takes a long time to go through that material. We'll simply have to wait and see how that review goes. I've checked and it's not going really fast. It's hard to do."

The Senate is expected to confirm Sotomayor by August 6, before Congress leaves for summer recess. It is anticipated that she will assume her responsibilities as Supreme Court Justice when Congress resumes in September, the Miami Herald reports.

The GOP probably can't stop the date, but they can make life tough for the Senate Dems in other ways, and I assume that's just what Mitch McConnell will do.