Collins And Murkowski Hedge Their Bets After Kavanaugh Announcement

President Donald Trump, center, speaks as he meets with Republican senators on health care in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 27, 2017. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, left, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, right, listen (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
President Donald Trump, center, speaks as he meets with Republican senators on health care in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 27, 2017. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, left, and Sen. Lisa M... President Donald Trump, center, speaks as he meets with Republican senators on health care in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 27, 2017. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, left, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, right, listen (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), widely regarded as Democrats’ best chance to sink Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination, hedged their bets after the announcement Monday to obfuscate how they’ll vote on the candidate.

According to a Monday Politico report, both women notably declined President Donald Trump’s invitation to the White House during the announcement ceremony.

However, Collins released a statement indicating a positive reaction to Trump’s choice, citing Kavanaugh’s “impressive credentials and extensive experience,” though she did not confirm which way she would vote.

Murkowski’s response was reportedly more tepid, saying only that she intends to participate in a “rigorous and exacting” vetting process.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who famously joined Collins and Murkowski in sinking Republicans’ attempt to repeal Obamacare, indicated that if he is well enough to return to the Senate and vote on Kavanaugh’s confirmation, he’d support the nominee.

Per Politico, McCain in a statement said that Kavanaugh is “a fair, independent, and mainstream judge who has earned widespread respect from his peers.”

Latest Livewire
99
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Collins And Murkowski Hedge Their Bets
    Wanna bet on a sure thing?
    Party before country
    Party before the will of the people
    Party above all else
    ALWAYS
    I’m surprised, said no one ever

  2. Murkowski’s response was reportedly more tepid, saying only that she intends to participate in a “rigorous and exacting” vetting process.

    And then she’ll vote yes.

  3. This was all lost after the 2016 election was certified. If Kavanaugh isn’t approved, Trump will just keep nominating similar justices until one is. Don’t put this on “moderate” Republican Senators.

  4. Why do Republican men hate women?

  5. The only people that hate women more than Republican men are Republican women.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

93 more replies

Participants

Avatar for valgalky23 Avatar for richardinjax Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for blandsten Avatar for eggrollian Avatar for cervantes Avatar for navamske Avatar for mames5 Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for losamigos Avatar for chelsea530 Avatar for harry_r_sohl Avatar for gr Avatar for maxaroo Avatar for sfaw Avatar for dickweed Avatar for darrtown Avatar for georgeh Avatar for tsp Avatar for katscherger Avatar for proudbluegirl72 Avatar for 10c Avatar for seamus42 Avatar for alicepaul

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: