Posted on 10/05/2018 5:38:59 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said Friday evening that she opposed Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination, becoming the only Republican senator to come out against President Trump's nominee.
"I will be a no tomorrow," Murkowski said in a speech on the Senate floor after describing how she had come to lean against voting to confirm Trump's second nominee to the high court in a final vote on Saturday.
But Murkowski said that in the final tally she would ask that her vote be recorded as "present," saying she was doing it as a courtesy to Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who is slated to attend his daughter's wedding back home on Saturday.
"I do this because a friend, a colleague of ours is in Montana this evening and ... he's going to be walking his daughter down the aisle and he won't be present to vote," Murkowski said. "I have extended this as a courtesy to my friend. It will not change the outcome of the vote."
Murkowski, who voted against ending debate on Kavanaugh earlier in the day Friday, said during her speech on the Senate floor that she "was leaning toward supporting Judge Kavanaugh in his nomination."
"But we know that in our role of advice and consent, it is not just the record itself. There is more that is attached to it," she added, mentioning "matters of temperament" and "demeanor."
Murkowski announced her decision hours after it became clear that Kavanaugh had enough votes to be confirmed.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced during her own speech on the Senate floor earlier Friday that she would back his nomination ahead of a final vote set for Saturday afternoon.
Collins's support gave Republicans the necessary 50 votes to allow Vice President Pence to cast a tie-breaking vote if necessary. Collins was soon joined by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who said he would vote for Kavanaugh, giving him the support of 51 senators.
Murkowski said Friday night that she agreed with many of Collins's comments defending Kavanaugh, saying she didn't think he would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade or represented a threat to protections for people with preexisting conditions.
But she indicated that her confidence in his nomination was not high enough to bring herself to voting for him, given controversy swirling around allegations of sexual assault leveled against the nominee.
The Alaska senator acknowledged that it appeared that Kavanaugh would be seated on the Supreme Court "without my vote."
Murkowski pointed to Kavanaugh's combative testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, saying "that appearance of impropriety has become unavoidable."
She called the bitter nomination process for Kavanaugh "horrible" and "gut-wrenching," saying it had left "good people ... needlessly hurt."
I really don’t trust her.
The survival of our country is more important than some Senator’s daughter’s wedding. Let them put it off a couple of hours. Big freaking deal.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Murky says “I’ll just vote present and then you can not be here!” and then votes “no” and there’s no counter to it.
Hell, then Manchin (or Flake) can say “I’ve reconsidered!” and vote “no” as well.
In other words, I’m not going to believe this is a done deal until this is a done deal. The Democrats are TOO evil and they’re not going to go down with fighting any way they can to the last second.
Murkowski says she opposes Kavanaugh’s nomination, but will vote ‘present’
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Boy, what a weakling the state of Alaska has elected to the Senate.
I could see a true patriot like Rush stationing his private jet at the Montana airport nearest the wedding site ....just in case.
I fear another “thumbs-down” mccain tantrum.
Way to weasel out, Murk.
The world's smallest violin playing "Feelings" droning on and on and on and on. And now she's following obama by voting present. Geez, woman, grow up and take responsibility and do the job you were elected to do or step down and let a real leader take your seat.
You’re saying McConnell would rather have a senator out in Montana rather than have all 51 asses in their seats?
I just read your other responses. I’m still not sure I understand (or believe) how this is preferable to having the entire caucus present to vote. Otherwise why not just have one senator sit in the parking lot while his vote is paired with somebody voting “present”?
She looks like Mommy Dearest!!!!
Agree with you 100%.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Murky says “I’ll just vote present and then you can not be here!” and then votes “no” and there’s no counter to it.
That’s exactly what I’d expect her to do. She is that evil, has no honor and is totally dishonest.
I’d trust Murkowski far less than I’d trust a venemous snake.
Hell, then Manchin (or Flake) can say “I’ve reconsidered!” and vote “no” as well.
Very possible
In other words, I’m not going to believe this is a done deal until this is a done deal. The Democrats are TOO evil and they’re not going to go down with fighting any way they can to the last second.
Exactly.
Now watch this video. It’s Diane’s being interviewed on Fox. It’s only 3 minutes long. It should put all your concerns at rest. No one is taking any chances on this
If the Alaskan Election Code had a sore loser provision, her career would already be over. She lost the Republican primary, but stayed on as a “write in candidate.” The Democrats helped her defeat the Republican nominee in the general election because they knew how helpful she could be to the Left.
I agree.
I agree with txrangerette. Women should be able to vote, even if the simple majority of them vote against our interests.
Note that the current upcoming generation is being educated in leftist ideology, so the nonsense will cut across gender definitions (all 57 of them).
However, I was educated thus, in the 60’s and 70’s, and I came to different conclusions than the ones I was taught. I remember, for example, one ditsy hippy art teacher who tried to convince us that a graduated tax rate was ‘the only fair thing to do, after all, the rich have more money’. It convinced me as a child, but when I grew up, I rejected the socialism of that statement.
So despite indoctrination, the next generation will likely be of the same political split as it is now.
Also, an odd random thought: Youth and young adults tend to reject ‘the system’, and the system is decidedly socialist these days.
Vile creature; only there because daddy bought her seat. Like Sarah said, “I can see 2022 from my backyard”
Thanks for sharing..
Guess DIFI is soon on her way out...she has lost a lot of weigh and looks like she is close to the end...
She is not a healthy looking individual...wonder if she is also a smoker? and drinker? maybe someone who knows her will share...
Y’all have a wonderful FALL DAY...beautiful here in the mountains...
When the hell is Alaska going to run this bum off to the YOU-Con.
When has Murkowski ever done the right thing? Compare her awkward and inane “my conscience won’t allow me” crap to Collins’ speech...Murkowski is a feral animal who hates Trump and conservatives in general.
I don’t tend to follow other state’s politics and politicians.
We have our hands full here in NY.
I hope she gets voted out next election.
If Murky goes back on her word and votes “no,” Kavanaugh still would be confirmed 50-49 (with Daines at his daughter’s wedding, which is where he needs to be unless it is absolutely critical that he fly back to DC).
Only if Manchin also commits political suicide by switching to a “no” vote after having announced yesterday that he was a “yes” would Daines’s vote be required, and if such double treason were to occur McConnell would keep the vote open for a few hours while Daines flies back to DC (which would take about 4 hours) and Daines would cast the 50th vote in favor, with Pence then breaking the tie.
In other words, all that Murky and Manchin could do is cut short Daines’s celebration at his daughter’s wedding reception and make Republicans stay in the Capitol until late Saturday night, but they wouldn’t be able to stop the confirmation. There is no way that Manchin will throw away his only chance of being reelected next month for an act that merely would delay the final confirmation vote by a few hours.
So leave poor Senator Daines alone. He will do what’s right, but, given Susan Collins’s vote in favor, what’s right is for him to be at his daughter’s wedding.
How long do they have to vote?
I would not put it past her to wait until the last second and then vote NO.
“Taking money for a job and then NOT fulfilling the required duties is THEFT!”
If this is your rep, you have every right to seek his replacement. In fact, as an American you can do so, just not by voting if you are not in his state.
And you may feel like you have been ripped off because he did not fulfill his duty, but it is not theft. It is not theft legally, which I’m sure you know. It is not theft in God’s eyes—not in the ten commandments (which you mentioned) sense of the word “steal.”
Perhaps he is wrong. Perhaps you are justified to be angry with him. But “theft” is an unreasonable accusation in my opinion. Regardless, he will not have to answer for this alleged crime in any legal way. He might face repercussions at the ballot box eventually. And he, like all of us, will have to answer to God for whether he did God’s will.
“And no, I can not just agree to disagree about this matter. Call me names, insult me, impugn me, condemn me, disagree; none of that soils ME”
You have no choice when it comes to agreeing to disagree. Unless you can persuade through logic and reason, disagreement is what you are stuck with, whether that is your fault or the fault of whoever refuses to be persuaded by your logic. I have not insulted, impugned, or condemned you. You’ve made some good points and have legitimate concerns, but I still believe the deal that allowed Daines to be at his daughter’s wedding is reasonable.
Don’t let your feelings on this subject take away from a historic WIN.
MAGA!
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