Right up front, I’ve gotta say that I’m not inclined to pay much attention to the dramas induced by the passing of Justice Ginsburg. It’s not that they’re not important, but that it’ll be painfully predictable, and I’m quite tired of the topic of abortion, abused as it has been by the right wing. And then there are wretched partisan articles by folks like Hugh Hewitt, who cannot be bothered with embarrassing facts while putting forth the case that the Republicans should not be encumbered by anything like principles. (Just read the comment chain for effective rejoinders.)
Plus, we’re in the garden-cleaning season here.
All that said, as I speculated Friday, Senator Collins (R-ME), who is not doing well in her reelection bid, has decided to roll the dice and declared she will not vote for any nominee. Given her relative disloyalty to President Trump, she may see this a win-win decision for her.
If this is seen as a gesture of reconciliation by the independents and Democrats of Maine, she may pick up just enough support to win the election. The Maine Republicans, she may be gambling, already aware of her disenchantment (if, indeed, she was ever enchanted), will still turn out in the same numbers; the key, as ever, are the independents. Her goal is to attract them over her less experienced opponent, Sara Gideon.
And if she loses? She goes out with her head high, her last major decision made indisputably on principle. For political folks, legacy is often everything.
The same article also confirms that Senator Murkowski (R-AL) will not vote to confirm any nominee. Again, there may be strategic threads to this decision, as Murkowski’s previous term was won as a write-in candidate, beating both the Democrat and the duly nominated Republican. I know little of Alaskan politics, except that it’s notoriously independent of partisan expectations. I suspect Murkowski is calculating that principle is more important than a partisan victory, and if she has word that more Senators don’t want any part of this shitshow, she may have decided to get out front and lead, not prance lamely in the wake.
Articles I have read suggest that only three Republican Senators need to vote with the Democratic caucus in order to block any nomination, but this article suggests four will need to adhere to principle. I have high hopes for Senator Romney (R-UT), and I’ve also seen notes that say Senator Gardner (R-CO), who is trailing in his reelection campaign, had said, prior to RBG’s passing, that he would vote against any nominee.
We’ll see if these men can follow the lead of the women and be principled, rather than grasping.
