Regarding SC Nomination...Interesting Twist In Senate Rules Was thinking about the speculation about the ruckus in the Senate confirmation process of the next Supreme Court justice... One interesting twist is the notion that if a sitting Senator (like Cruz, Cotton, or Hawley) were the nominee, there's a standing tradition that no hearing in the judiciary committee is required, as the Senators have already been vetted by the Senate.  So, the nomination proceeds directly to the Senate Floor for approval. Now, the interesting twist I found is in the Senate Rules for Debate (Section XIX). https://www.rules.senate.gov/rules-of-the-senate Rules 2-4 don't allow Senators to demean or speak falsely about other Senators or their states.  Here's the text from the pertinent rules: "2.  No Senator in debate shall, directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator. 3.  No Senator in debate shall refer offensively to any State of the Union. 4.  If any Senator, in speaking or otherwise, in the opinion of the Presiding Officer transgress the rules of the Senate the Presiding Officer shall, either on his own motion or at the request of any other Senator, call him to order; and when a Senator shall be called to order he shall take his seat, and may not proceed without leave of the Senate, which, if granted, shall be upon motion that he be allowed to proceed in order, which motion shall be determined without debate. Any Senator directed by the Presiding Officer to take his seat, and any Senator requesting the Presiding Officer to require a Senator to take his seat, may appeal from the ruling of the Chair, which appeal shall be open to debate." Isn't this the quickest way to avoid the ruckus and confirm a SC nominee? Of course, if President Trump has already indicated  the nominee will be a woman, then nevermind on all the above speculation. 😇