Collins, Manchin say 'aye,' appearing to cement Kavanaugh confirmation

FoxNews.com ^ | Oct 5, 2018 | Adam Shaw

[ETL]

Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va on Friday said they intend to vote in favor of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation -- two crucial votes that appear to secure Kavanaugh's confirmation to the nation's highest court.

Moments after Collins spoke on the Senate floor announcing her intention to vote Manchin said in a statement he would also vote to confirm Kavanaugh as well. Manchin said while he had "reservations" due to sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh and his temperament, he said "I believe he will rule in a manner that is consistent with our Constitution."

Collins said the confirmation had resembled a "caricature of a gutter-level political campaign" and criticized Democrats for announcing their opposition to Kavanaugh before his name was even announced. She also criticized outside groups for distorting Kavanaugh's record and "over-the-top rhetoric."

As she began her speech, she was interrupted by protesters urging her to vote "no." The Senate was flooded by protesters in the days leading up to the vote, with activists hounding Republicans and urging them to vote against Kavanaugh's confirmation, citing decades-old sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh.

She dismissed claims that Kavanaugh would be a partisan judge, noted he had ruled in favor of parts of ObamaCare and ruled against a Bush-era terror conviction. She also said she was assured that Kavanaugh would not overturn Roe v Wade -- the 1973 decision that found a constitutional right to abortion. She also rejected concerns by Democrats about his temperament and that he was out of the judicial mainstream.

[Bayou Dittohead]

I have to agree that Morrissey seems like a weak candidate. I hope he wins but I also think there is a chance that Manchin might finally consider switching parties. He is going to be persona non grata with all the committed liberals. I heard a brief interview he gave on Fox the other day which really suggest he did not feel right about such old uncorroborated charges being used this way. I don’t want to give him too much credit but I just don’t think he is as scummy as the rest of that crowd.

[frank ballenger]

thankful for Trump....

---

Yes.

Then as now we are always in the hands of God. His Plan prevails.
I pray we can continue as the work of Satan goes on night and day and we must not let up in our faith or our efforts.

He wasn’t the first to say this but I was affected by hearing Bob Dylan say “God never allows anyone to live even one second longer than He has a role for him in His Plan.” I want us to be worthy of that work.

[Reily]

I know people that know Manchin personally.
None of them like him all that much.
Manchin is all about Manchin but so are most professional politicians.

If he crosses over he brings little to the table now.
I still think he will squeak out a win and will stay Rat.

I also know he hates being senator, there was a rumor a while back that he was going to come back to WV and run for governor again. I don’t know if the WV state constitution will allow that.

[Henry Hnyellar]

Nah, it was pathetic ‘splaining and grandstanding on her part. No one had to make such a speech when the Wise Latina or Kagan were confirmed. Let’s not turn the squish Collins in to a hero.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Manchin is an opportunist. He could have come over to the Brightside a long time ago, even as a Democrat.

Now he is in election trouble and could lose his Senate seat, which he could have saved if he had been more moderate.

Even if he wins his seat, who will trust him? The Dems will consider him unreliable as well the Republicans. If he changes his Party affiliation, to either GOP or Independent, will the conservatives trust him?

Too little, too late. Help show Joe to the gate - OUT!

[trebb]

I watched her whole speech and about halfway through it I started grinning because she laid it all put succinctly and ended up making the strongest pro-Kavanaugh argument I've heard to date....once he is confirmed, I will refrain from saying anything bad about her for the rest of the year...

Also gonna donate a celebration gift of an extra $50 to FR....hope others follow suit.

[jacknhoo]

That picture is keeper, destined to be the base for many a meme.

[rb22982]

Shouldn’t be, but they are

[CapnJack]

Yup, understand ... at this point ANYTHING can happen. An attack on the way to the Senate, a trip down the stairs, etc...

I hope the Senator from Montana is around for the vote as well and not risk him having to fly back to DC.

[Old Retired Army Guy]

I predict that if Manchin wins reelection next month, that sometime next year he will switch party’s or at the least declare that he is an Independent and Caucus with the Republicans.

[ETL]

I watched her whole speech and about halfway through it I started grinning because she laid it all put succinctly and ended up making the strongest pro-Kavanaugh argument I've heard to date..

Thanks. Will definitely check it out later.

[ETL]

Sounds like a good possibility.

[trebb]

It was actually pretty epic - especially since nobody knew where she was going when she started it. Went so far as to mention some of the holes in Ford's testimony...nobody called her to see how she was after she disappeared from the party - not even her best friend who probably would have under the circumstances which adds extra doubt...she admits she was far enough from home that she needed a ride and didn't say she walked home, but doesn't say who drove her and nobody came forward to say he/she drove her...none of the "witnesses" corroborated any of her story and nobody stepped forward to say they were there...she put it together like Perry Mason would have.

Well worth the 45 minutes to watch it - you will almost decide Collins ain't as bad as we make her out to be...almost.....

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

Lindsey’s so vain, I’ll bet he thinks this vote is about him.

[LeeClementineKenny]

I hope there's something that can be done to change that before November. I didn't think Patrick Morrisey was the best choice in the primary, but he would be far better than Manchin. I don't know if Trump plans on anymore rallies with Morrisey, but I would like to see another one now that Kavanaugh has been confirmed. They need to remind voters that if there's another opening on the Supreme Court, Manchin can't be trusted to confirm the nominee if he's just been reelected for 6 more years. I know Trump can't be everywhere at once though.

We have a lot of left leaning republicans and democrats in office from more conservative states and districts, like Manchin, that are much harder to remove in primaries or general elections than you would think. Hopefully we'll be able to change that down the road.

MORRISEY 2018! - https://patrickmorrisey.com/

TRUMP 2020! - http://www.donaldjtrump.com/