--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before we announced Judge Merric Garland…" description: "\"Before we announced Judge Merric Garland, people were saying they would not even deign to meet with him. And we're also aware that early in the week, w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/denis-mcdonough-39368_congress_before-we-announced-judge-merric-garland_107913.jpg" --- # Before we announced Judge Merric Garland, people were… ![“Before we announced Judge Merric Garland, people were saying they would not even deign to meet with him. And we're also aware that early in the week, when the Congress comes back, in fact, Senator Collins, the Republican from Maine, has agreed to meet with Judge Garland up in the Senate.” quote by Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/denis-mcdonough-39368_congress_before-we-announced-judge-merric-garland_107913.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/denis-mcdonough-39368_congress_before-we-announced-judge-merric-garland_107913.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/denis-mcdonough-39368_congress_before-we-announced-judge-merric-garland_107913.jpg) > “Before we announced Judge Merric Garland, people were saying they would not even deign to meet with him. And we're also aware that early in the week, when the Congress comes back, in fact, Senator Collins, the Republican from Maine, has agreed to meet with Judge Garland up in the Senate.” [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Initial resistance to meeting a judge shifted as political circumstances changed, highlighting strategic flexibility. **In simple terms:** Opposition softened; meeting arranged. Key Takeaway Political stances can be pragmatic. Themes politics strategy flexibility Mood strategic cautious Type political commentary statement When to use this quote - senate negotiations - judicial appointments - campaign tactics Key Concepts power dynamics public perception Practical Applications - Maintain open dialogue channels - Adapt positions when context evolves Questions to Reflect On - When is shifting a stance a sign of pragmatism vs. inconsistency? - How does public opinion influence political meetings? A Different Perspective Flexibility may be perceived as opportunism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Maine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maine/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Senate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senate/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [One side thinks the president'€™s request for war-making powers is too brazen and even reckless. The other side thinks it is too spineless and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-baker/one-side-thinks-the-president-s-request-for-war-making-powers-is-too/) [Peter Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-baker/) > [“Susan Margaret Collins was born on December 7, 1952 in Caribou, Maine and is presently the senior United States Senator from Maine. Senator Collins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/susan-margaret-collins-was-born-on-december-7-1952-in-caribou-maine/) Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater One > [After 24 years in Washington, Senator Collins has become part of that broken system, putting special interests and her political party first. And Mainers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/after-24-years-in-washington-senator-collins-has-become-part-of-that/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [While Senator Collins continues to put the Affordable Care Act - and protections for Mainers with pre-existing conditions - at risk, I've fought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/while-senator-collins-continues-to-put-the-affordable-care-act-and/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [ We're happy to see, obviously, the resounding support for Judge \[Merric\] Garland, an unbelievable - unbelievably strong, unquestioned excellence as a judge for the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/we-re-happy-to-see-obviously-the-resounding-support-for-judge-merric/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [We've seen some good progress, some good forward momentum. We have about Republican senators who have now indicated that they'll meet with Judge Merric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/we-ve-seen-some-good-progress-some-good-forward-momentum-we-have/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [I'm doing what great artists before me did, like Judy Garland, Sammy Davis, Eddie Cantor. I'm doing what they were doing, not at their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-m-doing-what-great-artists-before-me-did-like-judy-garland-sammy/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Christmas crept into Pine Cove like a creeping Christmas thing: dragging garland, ribbon, and sleigh bells, oozing eggnog, reeking of pine, and threatening festive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/christmas-crept-into-pine-cove-like-a-creeping-christmas-thing/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [The crown o' the earth doth melt. My lord! O, wither'd is the garland of the war, The soldier's pole is fall'n: young boys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-crown-o-the-earth-doth-melt-my-lord-o-wither-d-is-the-garland-of/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The memories which peaceful country scenes call up, are not of this world, nor of its thoughts and hopes. Their gentle influence may teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-memories-which-peaceful-country-scenes-call-up-are-not-of-this/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [One flower makes no garland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/one-flower-makes-no-garland/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [I felt Michael Jackson was inspired a little bit more from the elegance of a Fred Astaire. Michael loved Sammy Davis, Jr. and James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-ortega/i-felt-michael-jackson-was-inspired-a-little-bit-more-from-the/) [Kenny Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-ortega/) > [Christmas garland and a rock?" he said, a smile in his voice."Why not an ornament?" "Wolves aren't fragile," I told him. "And they're... stubbon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/christmas-garland-and-a-rock-he-said-a-smile-in-his-voice-why-not-an/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [A poet soaring in the high reason of his fancies, with his garland and singing robes about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/a-poet-soaring-in-the-high-reason-of-his-fancies-with-his-garland-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Always be a first-rate version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) ## More by Denis McDonough > [I'm indebted to the teachers who shaped me - from the Sisters of St. Joseph at St. Croix Catholic elementary to the monks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/i-m-indebted-to-the-teachers-who-shaped-me-from-the-sisters-of-st/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [Sunday afternoons at a parish center - or a community center - is familiar territory for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/sunday-afternoons-at-a-parish-center-or-a-community-center-is/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [We've seen some good progress, some good forward momentum. We have about Republican senators who have now indicated that they'll meet with Judge Merric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/we-ve-seen-some-good-progress-some-good-forward-momentum-we-have/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [President Obama understands that, as a nation founded by those who fled religious persecution, freedom of religion is central to who we are as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/president-obama-understands-that-as-a-nation-founded-by-those-who/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [ We're happy to see, obviously, the resounding support for Judge \[Merric\] Garland, an unbelievable - unbelievably strong, unquestioned excellence as a judge for the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/we-re-happy-to-see-obviously-the-resounding-support-for-judge-merric/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [I grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota in a proud Catholic family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/i-grew-up-in-stillwater-minnesota-in-a-proud-catholic-family/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [Being religious is quintessentially American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/being-religious-is-quintessentially-american/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [The bottom line is this. 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