Tow US Senators, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, the first a Red State Democrat, and the second a Republican, shine today as true “Profiles in Courage”, for voting NO on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
Heitkamp is in danger of losing her seat, but let her conscience rule her decision.
Murkowski was the only Republican to break the solidarity of the party and do the right thing.
Both saw Kavanaugh as besmirching the image of the Supreme Court as more significant than the future of this one individual nominee.
The rest of the Republicans, including Jeff Flake of Arizona, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Susan Collins of Maine, and also Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia did what seemed more to defend their seats and position, than do what is right.
Susan Collins will now face the wrath of Maine voters in 2020, as will Ben Sasse in Nebraska, and both are likely to see their political influence wane as a result of their actions.
Ronald writes, “The rest of the Republicans, including Jeff Flake of Arizona, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Susan Collins of Maine, and also Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia did what seemed more to defend their seats and position, than do what is right.â€
Jeff Flake is not seeking re-election.
Ben Sasse’s seat from Nebraska isn’t on the schedule again until 2020. He won, with the Republican pickup of the U.S. Senate, by +33.15—including every county in the state. That seat will end up a Republican hold with Election 2020.
Susan Collins has won landslide re-elections even when Democrats won landslides carrying Maine in presidential years. (In 2008, Obama won by +17.33 while Collins won by +22.75.) Her seat is on the schedule in 2020. And, since 2016 Hillary Clinton carried the statewide of Maine by only +2.96, that statewide is feasibly flippable if Donald Trump wins re-election in 2020. (Every state, from 2016, with had a scheduled U.S. Senate election carried for the same party at both the presidential and senatorial levels. Both Trump and Collins can win there in 2020.)
Let’s look at two incumbent U.S. senators who voted Yes:
Here is Nate Silver on U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D–West Virginia): http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2018-midterm-election-forecast/senate/west-virginia/ .
Here is Nate Silver on U.S. Sen. Dean Heller (R–Nevada): http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2018-midterm-election-forecast/senate/nevada/ .
In 2012, Joe Manchin won a full-term election by +24.10 percentage points.
In 2012, Dean Heller won a full-term election by only +1.16 percentage points.
In 2018, we are supposedly having a Democratic midterm election wave. This means, the Democratic incumbents who will end up re-elected here in 2018 should be having a much easier time winning re-election than their Republican counterparts.
Heller, vulnerable to becoming unseated, stood with his party. He did what they wanted. Manchin, not anywhere near being vulnerable as Heller, did not. (Well, unless from behind-the-scenes the Democrats wanted Brett Kavanaugh on the U.S. Supreme Court.)
Latest polls show Republicans may narrowly retain the U.S. Senate. While losing the Arizona and possibly Nevada, the Republicans may counter-flip the seat in North Dakota held by Democratic incumbent Heidi Heitkamp. So, let’s say 2018 results in a Republican hold of the U.S. Senate. (Even if it ends up 50 to 50.) If I were given the option, but working within what would manifest, the Democratic-to-Republican seat I would gladly give up is Joe Manchin in West Virginia.
I will add this: I absolutely want both Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi gone from leading the Democratic Party in Congress. Their only use is for the donor class. And it is ruinous to this political party which, in turn, does the same to this country.
Congratulations America. Even if you commit perjury under oath over 10 times AND spout Alex Jones-like conspiracy theories, you TOO can become a Supreme Court Justice!
Sad day for this country! 🙁
It’s up to us voters to save our country!
Perfect image to describe Susan Collins:
https://images.dailykos.com/images/596931/large/43302802_750492255297995_2867175224548261888_n.png?1538836459
Kavanaugh can be impeached. Another good reason why it’s imperative for Dems to win in November!
https://www.vox.com/2018/9/27/17910524/supreme-court-impeach-impeachment-brett-kavanaugh