Tag: Deliberation

White House officials had an appointment with their television remotes at 9 p.m. on Saturday. Raymond Kethledge was the leading contender, although officials stress that Trump has not yet settled on a choice. Kavanaugh was a top aide to President George W. Bush, whom Trump loathes. Privately, Kavanaugh has found the treatment of his service in the Bush White House troubling, he has told those involved in picking a nominee. Trump hasn’t read much of it, but he likes the idea of a talented writer on the bench. Aides have assured Trump that Kethledge is good on that issue from the White House’s view. Kethledge also may face one of the easier paths to confirmation, officials have told the President. That’s not the case necessarily with Barrett, who had a difficult confirmation hearing to earn her current seat on a federal appeals court based in Chicago. A difficult or failed Supreme Court nomination would only throw the Senate into further disarray, Senate leaders and White House aides have told the President. But with a president as unpredictable as Trump, Pirro may provide as good a sign as any of where the President is likely to finish his weekend.