i think we feel very encouraged. at the early response, not just here at the united states capital, but really all across the country to judge brett kavanaugh, to his personal story, to his incredible record. 12 years on the district of columbia court of appeals. he had fully 12 different opinions that were adopted by the united states supreme court. he s someone that has the character, the background, the career in the record that gave president trump the confidence to know that when he appointed judge kavanaugh to the supreme court that he would be, like neil gorsuch, like justice scalia, he would be another constitutional conservative who would faithfully interpret the constitution as written. bret: i want to talk about his record and the substance and what s being said about it by the left, but i want to talk quickly about process. senator murkowski saying there s a long record here and we need to slow down and they need to
have every confidence that as members of the senate come to know and appreciate judge kavanaugh, as the american people come to know and appreciate this principle jurist that we will see them confirmed. bret: there s huge pushback from the left. here is senator kirsten gillibrand last night. president trump did exactly what he what he said he was gog to do. he has appointed someone who will not protect a woman s right to make decisions about her life, her health care, reproductive freedoms. this judge must not become the next justice on the supreme court, and what that will take is all of us fighting as hard and as long as we can! bret: what president trump is looking for was a judge with the background, the temperament and the experience who we would be confident would faithfully interpret the constitution as written. the president wanted to put someone on the bench who would not legislate from the bench, who would not, as has been too much of the case in the last generation or
i will nominate judge brett kavanaugh to the united states supreme court. he passed president trump s litmus tests. repeal women s freedom for their reproductive rights and repeal america s health care. i participated in the last 14 supreme court confirmation battles, including the confirmations of all current members of the court. and brett kavanaugh is not just a good nominee, brett kavanaugh is an exceptional nominee. bret: judge brett kavanaugh appeared on capitol hill today. his first meetings with senators ahead of what will be a pretty long process towards nomination and confirmation, if it happens. we are going to handle our panel
juan: i didn t say that. jesse: because he was part of the list. juan: when i am saying is these are people who have been prescreened their conservative credentials by far right conservatives. kimberly: what far right conservatives? he worked for justice kennedy. he was applauded by george w. bush is an excellent choice. i don t understand what the problem is. you have legal scholars on the liberal side and democrats i think this is someone who is eminently qualified and was a good choice. i don t find him to be far right or fringe whatsoever and i don t see any evidence to substantiate that statement. juan: i don t think there is much doubt he is qualified. that s not the point in the politically polarized country where, as everybody here said, basically what you re going to have his five heart rate votes that will control america for generations to come. of course the people say wait a second. i don t want the court to be rubber-stamped. i want a fair hearing.
groups worried about abortion rights. i look forward to sitting down with him one-on-one where i will ask him the kind of extensive questions that i have asked all the other five justices of the supreme court. there will also be a lot of pressure on red state democrats up for reelection in november. top republicans are predicting at least three will vote for kavanaugh. senators donnelly, heitkamp and manchin voted for justice gorsuch. having them come in and sit down and go over the constant concerns i might have. i haven t got an opinion formed yet. that will happen over the next month or so. i don t feel pressure to vote for or against them. yet the pressure campaigns are only getting started and promises to be a very long hot summer for those moderate democrats from those red states who may get caught between the parties base and their more conservative constituents.