How Kagan Fared Last Time

As has been widely discussed, Elena Kagan came before the Senate not too long ago, to be confirmed for her current job as solicitor general. Here's a quick recap of how that vote went, on March 19 of last year:

She passed with 61 "yea" votes, seven from Republicans. The Republicans who supported her were: Tom Coburn (OK), Susan Collins (ME), Judd Gregg (NH), Orrin Hatch (UT), Jon Kyl (AZ), Richard Lugar (IN), and Olympia Snowe (ME).

Kagan was supported by all Democrats who voted. Seven senators didn't vote, including four Democrats and three Republicans.

Interestingly enough, Arlen Specter voted against her. At the time, he was a Republican, serving as ranking member of the Judiciary Committee. 40 days later, he would switch parties and become a Democrat. Now, he finds himself as the only Democrat to have voted against Kagan when she came up for confirmation.

Hatch and Kyl have already signaled that their previous "yea" votes on Kagan as solicitor general don't necessarily mean they'll support her again. The job, after all, is different.

"As I made clear when I supported her confirmation as Solicitor General, a temporary political appointment is far different than a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court," Kyl said in a statement released by his office.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who didn't vote, said today that he's been pleased with her performance as solicitor general.

Thumbnail photo credit: kjetil_r/flickr