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."
How were you raised?
Daines has a job that he worked very hard to obtain!
He gets PAID, with MY tax dollars, and yours, and everyone else's who pays taxes, to DO that job; no ifs, ands, or buts, nor a daughter's wedding as an excuse to abrogate his responsibility!
And as far as GOD is concerned...we all have FREE WILL, to do the right thing or not.
[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. ]
What a pantload.
The Senate is in total control of these elections. Courts have no authority to tell the Senate anything.
Try to enjoy the rest of the evening as you mull my reply over.
I pray too tomorrow will be a day of celebration.
Regardless, the same principle will hold true whether the senator votes or not: his elected duty is to vote.
He should vote first, then go to the wedding.
Hi,FRiend———Sox won Game 1———5/4———it was a squeeker at the end.
.
For what it is worth since I don’t know this person.
Florida Guy
@floridaguy267
BREAKING: Democrat Senators Tester, McCaskill, Donnelly, Nelson, and Heitkamp are discussing change of Kavanaugh vote tonight.
https://mobile.twitter.com/floridaguy267/status/1048373842538848257?p=v
I suspect they are planning to vote Present.
Sausage making at its finest.
Perfect for a non-entity like her.
What the Hell is wrong with Alaska? Should we give it back to Mother Russia?
...
It appears that anywhere there are natural great vistas, natural beauty, etc., rich liberals ruin it for everyone else.
You really think Donnelly is going to win in Indiana?
That looks like a split-screen of Jim Carey in drag.
“Last night, I posted the same thing about our FFs and yet, some morons, here, trashed me, insulted me, and worse.”
While I disagree with you, I certainly do not mean any insult to you. I did not go back and look at what others said about you, but I know it was not me.
I respect your position. It is reasonable. We are on the same side.
My comments about young naive folks does NOT apply to you. So please don’t take my disagreement personally.
Let’s not allow a disagreement over a side issue to take away from a HUGE victory for President Trump, us, the nation, truth, justice, and the rule of law.
Everyone here is a bit wound up for a good reason. The fate of the nation rests on the edge of a knife. And ALL of the conservative senators have a duty to be sure the right outcome is achieved on this. On that much we agree.
I know this is a nail-biter, but try to get some rest. The senate will be up all night tonight. But tomorrow will be a new day and, God willing, a great day for our nation.
“Last night, I posted the same thing about our FFs and yet, some morons, here, trashed me, insulted me, and worse.”
While I disagree with you, I certainly do not mean any insult to you. I did not go back and look at what others said about you, but I know it was not me.
I respect your position. It is reasonable. We are on the same side.
My comments about young naive folks does NOT apply to you. So please don’t take my disagreement personally.
Let’s not allow a disagreement over a side issue to take away from a HUGE victory for President Trump, us, the nation, truth, justice, and the rule of law.
Everyone here is a bit wound up for a good reason. The fate of the nation rests on the edge of a knife. And ALL of the conservative senators have a duty to be sure the right outcome is achieved on this. On that much we agree.
I know this is a nail-biter, but try to get some rest. The senate will be up all night tonight. But tomorrow will be a new day and, God willing, a great day for our nation.
I want to move to Alaska just to vote against this idiot
“When less than a quorum votes, but the addition of names of Senators present and paired and announcing votes made a quorum, the vote is valid.” Riddick’s Senate Procedure, p. 1431.”
You should write Riddick’s publisher and correct them. Just awful how many people don’t know what you do!
His daughters wedding is important, but it's nothing when you put it into context of what others sacrifice for our country. They would love to have it as easy as Daines, who won't even go to the trouble to cast a vote in defense of the country.
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