[h=2]SCOTUS pick's career hangs in the balance with first vote TODAY: Committee to decide on Kavanaugh ahead of final Senate vote next week, with key Republicans undecided after jaw-dropping hearing[/h]
- Republican senators say Judiciary Committee plans to vote Friday morning on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination
- He is expected to clear the committee, setting up a key procedural vote as early as Saturday on Senate floor
- Kavanaugh needs 50 votes from Senate to gain nomination - the Senate has 51 Republicans, 49 Democrats
- Four centrists will likely decide fate - Repubs Jeff Flake, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Dem Joe Manchin
- Moderate Democrat Doug Jones already revealed Thursday he believed Christine Ford and would vote no
While Flake is the only senator among the four who is a member of the Judiciary Committee, all are considered key to determining Kavanaugh's ultimate fate if his nomination were to reach a full vote in the Senate.
They talked for around 30 minutes before a GOP conference meeting was held ahead of Friday's scheduled vote to decide whether Kavanaugh would be recommended.
On Thursday night it was revealed that George W Bush had personally reached out to all four senators, hoping to help sway them to Kavanaugh's side.
Bush reportedly decided to personally reach out to the key four because of their strained relationships with Trump, according to the Washington Post.
The former president has a long history with Kavanaugh, who worked for Bush during the crucial Florida recount in the 2000 presidential election. Bush nominated Kavanaugh to the US Court of Appeals in 2003.
They talked for around 30 minutes before a GOP conference meeting was held ahead of Friday's scheduled vote to decide whether Kavanaugh would be recommended.
On Thursday night it was revealed that George W Bush had personally reached out to all four senators, hoping to help sway them to Kavanaugh's side.
Bush reportedly decided to personally reach out to the key four because of their strained relationships with Trump, according to the Washington Post.
The former president has a long history with Kavanaugh, who worked for Bush during the crucial Florida recount in the 2000 presidential election. Bush nominated Kavanaugh to the US Court of Appeals in 2003.
Meanwhile, moderate Democrat Sen Doug Jones revealed on Thursday night he would be voting no on Kavanaugh's bid for the Supreme Court.
The Alabama senator called the nomination process 'flawed from the beginning' and said he found Ford to be both credible and courageous.
Jones added that he was concerned voting yes on Kavanaugh's nomination would send a bad message to sons, daughters, and victims of sexual assault.
Several Senate Republicans likewise acknowledged Ford's 'credibility'. But that didn't stop GOP leadership from scheduling a Judiciary panel meeting and Friday vote immediately after the end of Kavanaugh's testimony.
If the GOP bands together on the procedural vote, the full Senate will consider the Kavanaugh nomination early next week.
A pair of Republicans failing to believe Kavanaugh's emphatic denials would doom his fate - unless a Democrat like Munchin crosses the aisle to back him.
The Alabama senator called the nomination process 'flawed from the beginning' and said he found Ford to be both credible and courageous.
Jones added that he was concerned voting yes on Kavanaugh's nomination would send a bad message to sons, daughters, and victims of sexual assault.
Several Senate Republicans likewise acknowledged Ford's 'credibility'. But that didn't stop GOP leadership from scheduling a Judiciary panel meeting and Friday vote immediately after the end of Kavanaugh's testimony.
If the GOP bands together on the procedural vote, the full Senate will consider the Kavanaugh nomination early next week.
A pair of Republicans failing to believe Kavanaugh's emphatic denials would doom his fate - unless a Democrat like Munchin crosses the aisle to back him.
[h=3]Sarah Sanders praises Lindsey Graham's furious finger-pointing denunciation of Democrats[/h]Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham angrily defended Brett Kavanaugh on Thursday, charging Democrats with using a Supreme Court nomination to try to win the midterm elections and saying Kavanaugh was no Bill Cosby.
Graham, who has been one of Kavanaugh's biggest defenders in the Senate, pounded on his desk, tossed papers and yelled at his Democratic colleagues across the dais, ending his tirade with a dramatic plea to his GOP colleagues to vote for Kavanaugh's confirmation.
The outburst was an instant viral moment for conservatives - with two of Donald Trump's most senior aides tweeting their approval.
+40
Explosion: An emotional Lindsey Graham made himself an instant hero to conservatives as he attacked Democrats, accusing them of painting Brett Kavanaugh like 'Bill Cosby'
+40
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Trump's press secretary tweeted: 'Lindsey Graham has more decency and courage than every Democrat on the committee combined. God bless him.'
He argued if Kavanaugh was the type of sexual predator as he's been charged with, he would probably still be attacking women.
'You're supposed to be Bill Cosby when you're a junior and senior in high school, and all of a sudden you got over it. It's been my understanding that if you drug women and rape them for two years in high school, you probably don't stop,' he said.
Graham interrupted prosecutor Rachel Mitchell's questioning of Ford to requested time to speak.
He then promptly used it to lash out at Kavanaugh's treatment at the hand of Democrats, saying President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee had been put through hell.
'This is not a job interview. This is hell. This is going to destroy the ability of good people to come forward because of this crap!' he said. 'You have interacted with professional women all your life, not one accusation.'
He also charged Democrats with playing politics with Kavanaugh's career in the hopes of winning control of the Senate in the 2018 midterms and then winning the 2020 presidential election for their party.
'What you want to do is destroy this guy's life, hold this seat hope and hope you win in 2020. You've said that,' he yelled.
+40
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham angrily defended Brett Kavanaugh on Thursday in an impassioned address
He also said Democrats used Ford for their own political purposes and that she was their victim - as was Kavanaugh.
'Boy, y'all want power. Boy, I hope you never get it. I hope the American people can see through this sham, that you knew about it and you held it. You had no intention of protecting Dr. Ford, none! She's as much of a victim as you are,' he noted.
He pivoted between yelling at Democrats and praising Kavanaugh, telling him he belonged on the court.
'When you see Sotomayor and Kagan tell them that Lindsey said hi because I voted for them,' he said referring to Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
'I would never do to them what you've done to this guy! This is the most unethical sham since I've been in politics, and if you really wanted to know the truth, you sure as hell wouldn't have done what you have done to this guy,' he said, returning to release his ire on Democrats.
Graham also apologized to Kavanaugh, saying the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing wasn't the place for a fair process.
'God, I hate to say it because these have been my friends, but let me tell you when it comes to this. You're looking for a fair process. You came to the wrong town at the wrong time, my friend,' he said.
Graham concluded his remarks with a plea to his colleagues to confirm Kavanaugh and get in a few final shots at Democrats.
'To my Republican colleagues, if you vote no, you're legitimizing the most despicable thing I have seen in my time in politics. You want this seat. I hope you never get it. I hope you're on the Supreme Court. That's exactly where you should be. And I hope that the American people will see through this charade. And I wish you well. And I intend to vote for you and I hope everybody who is fair-minded will,' he concluded.
Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, who was up next for questions, offered a bit of light heartedness.
'Should we let things settle a little bit after that,' he said
Graham, who has been one of Kavanaugh's biggest defenders in the Senate, pounded on his desk, tossed papers and yelled at his Democratic colleagues across the dais, ending his tirade with a dramatic plea to his GOP colleagues to vote for Kavanaugh's confirmation.
The outburst was an instant viral moment for conservatives - with two of Donald Trump's most senior aides tweeting their approval.
+40
Explosion: An emotional Lindsey Graham made himself an instant hero to conservatives as he attacked Democrats, accusing them of painting Brett Kavanaugh like 'Bill Cosby'
+40
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Trump's press secretary tweeted: 'Lindsey Graham has more decency and courage than every Democrat on the committee combined. God bless him.'
He argued if Kavanaugh was the type of sexual predator as he's been charged with, he would probably still be attacking women.
'You're supposed to be Bill Cosby when you're a junior and senior in high school, and all of a sudden you got over it. It's been my understanding that if you drug women and rape them for two years in high school, you probably don't stop,' he said.
Graham interrupted prosecutor Rachel Mitchell's questioning of Ford to requested time to speak.
He then promptly used it to lash out at Kavanaugh's treatment at the hand of Democrats, saying President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee had been put through hell.
'This is not a job interview. This is hell. This is going to destroy the ability of good people to come forward because of this crap!' he said. 'You have interacted with professional women all your life, not one accusation.'
He also charged Democrats with playing politics with Kavanaugh's career in the hopes of winning control of the Senate in the 2018 midterms and then winning the 2020 presidential election for their party.
'What you want to do is destroy this guy's life, hold this seat hope and hope you win in 2020. You've said that,' he yelled.
+40
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham angrily defended Brett Kavanaugh on Thursday in an impassioned address
He also said Democrats used Ford for their own political purposes and that she was their victim - as was Kavanaugh.
'Boy, y'all want power. Boy, I hope you never get it. I hope the American people can see through this sham, that you knew about it and you held it. You had no intention of protecting Dr. Ford, none! She's as much of a victim as you are,' he noted.
He pivoted between yelling at Democrats and praising Kavanaugh, telling him he belonged on the court.
'When you see Sotomayor and Kagan tell them that Lindsey said hi because I voted for them,' he said referring to Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
'I would never do to them what you've done to this guy! This is the most unethical sham since I've been in politics, and if you really wanted to know the truth, you sure as hell wouldn't have done what you have done to this guy,' he said, returning to release his ire on Democrats.
Graham also apologized to Kavanaugh, saying the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing wasn't the place for a fair process.
'God, I hate to say it because these have been my friends, but let me tell you when it comes to this. You're looking for a fair process. You came to the wrong town at the wrong time, my friend,' he said.
Graham concluded his remarks with a plea to his colleagues to confirm Kavanaugh and get in a few final shots at Democrats.
'To my Republican colleagues, if you vote no, you're legitimizing the most despicable thing I have seen in my time in politics. You want this seat. I hope you never get it. I hope you're on the Supreme Court. That's exactly where you should be. And I hope that the American people will see through this charade. And I wish you well. And I intend to vote for you and I hope everybody who is fair-minded will,' he concluded.
Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, who was up next for questions, offered a bit of light heartedness.
'Should we let things settle a little bit after that,' he said
