Former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl will be John McCain's successor in the U.S. Senate

[DesertRat]

Source: AZCentral.com

Jon Kyl, once one of the most powerful Republicans in the U.S. Senate, will return to Capitol Hill to succeed the late Sen. John McCain, The Arizona Republic has learned.

Gov. Doug Ducey is scheduled to unveil the 76-year-old as McCain’s successor at a 10 a.m. news conference at the Arizona Capitol, after notifying McCain’s wife, Cindy, and other key political figures of his decision.

Kyl, who served alongside McCain during his 18 years in the U.S. Senate, will fly to Washington, D.C., following Ducey’s announcement. He retired in 2013 after rising to become the second-highest-ranking Republican senator.

Kyl has agreed to serve at least through the end of the year, a representative for Ducey said. If he opts to step down after the end of the session, the Republican governor would be required to appoint another replacement, the aide said.

Read more: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/09/04/jon-kyl-named-john-mccain-replacement-senate-appointment-ducey/1148030002/

[RandySF]

1. I remember his time in the Senate

Very forgettable.

[DesertRat]

5. Unfortunately

He's more to the right than McCain was.

[Pachamama]

2. It should have been Cindy McCain....

[DesertRat]

3. Cindy's response on twitter

Link to tweet

@cindymccain
Jon Kyl is a dear friend of mine and John’s. It’s a great tribute to John that he is prepared to go back into public service to help the state of Arizona.

[still_one]

4. Looks like the ACA is history.

[DesertRat]

6. And Kavanaugh will be confirmed

[still_one]

7. That was most likely going to happen regardless. McCain would have confirmed Kavanaugh, and I

sure wouldn't count on Collins

[DesertRat]

8. McCain would have been an absent vote

He hadn't been in Washington since last Dec.

[still_one]

19. Correct

[Bradical79]

23. Yes, though expecting the seat to be absent would have been unrealistic

Everyone knew McCain wasn't going to be around much longer, and that seat would be filled by a Republican. It's pretty certain they'd be getting a confirmation vote from that seat.

[DesertRat]

26. Many of us had hoped McCain had more time

Hopefully David Garcia will be our new Democratic governor after the Nov. election.
https://dg4az.com/

[lark]

9. There is a remedy to this, but doubt Dems have spine to take it.

If they get a majority in the Senate and take the presidency back in 2020, there is a remedy to Repug court fixing. They can add 2 more justices! At the beginning of the term, they should say, no filibusters on any appointments, including SCOTUS. Then they nominate 2 new leftie justices and push it through, even with zero Repug votes. Voila, some of our national ills can then be fixed. No personal right to carry guns short of state militias, over-turn Citizens United, corporations have no more rights than individuals and should have the same requirements (at worst), end gerrymandered districts, presidents are not above the law, women have a right to control their reproduction, etc. etc.

[FBaggins]

14. Nope

Not only would that be political suicide (you have to ask yourself why Trump hasn’t done it already), it would take 60 votes in the Senate.

And no... there is no “nuclear option” that could kill the filibuster for legislation.

[lark]

15. I didn't include legislation, just nominations.

The number of SCOTUS justices has already been chanaged in the past, so this is totally allowed. drumpf isn't doing it because he already has a majority to destroy us, he doesn't need anyone else after he installs lying anti-woman, anti-consumer, gun loving, traitor Kavanaugh.

Edit - fixed typo

[FBaggins]

16. Sorry. You've missed a critical step

The number of justices isn’t changed by just appointing a couple new ones (if it were that easy of course Trump would have already done it)

The size of federal courts is set by legislation. Legislation that has to get past a filibuster (not eligible for reconciliation or any other way around the 60-vote threshold) and then signed by the President.

[DesertRat]

10. WATCH LIVE

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/09/04/ducey-unveils-jon-kyl-sen-john-mccain-successor/1192101002/

[IronLionZion]

11. less of a Maverick

we are unlikely to see any surprise upsets from Jon Kyl

[DesertRat]

28. 45 approves of the pick

Link to tweet

[SoCalNative]

12. Why is someone being appointed

who has one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel?

[DesertRat]

13. He's an old white guy

Fits the GOP perfectly.

[7962]

17. So they went with the young guy......

Great

[Astraea]

18. Ugh. This is my state...

and just... Ugh.

[DesertRat]

24. Same

Ugh

[AllyCat]

20. OMG, horrible.

He was horrible the first time around. Now he has been picked to stop the work McCain tried to do in his last year.

[GoCubsGo]

21. Ick.

[DeminPennswoods]

22. Guess he'll have to stop "sheparding" Kavanaugh thru

the senate. I hope Schumer formally requests Kyl to recuse himself from voting as he obviously has a conflict of interest here.

[DesertRat]

25. I hope so too!

[DeminPennswoods]

29. In fact, Schumer shouldn't just ask, he should flat

out say he expects Kyl to recuse himself. Put Kyl on the defensive before he even sets foot in the senate.

[Srkdqltr]

27. Geez

Couldn't they find anyone older?