I think Murkowski is the real deal. She continuously puts her career at risk to vote the way she wants to. Collins does the absolute bare minimum necessary to hold onto power in a blue state.
I think Murkowski is the real deal. She continuously puts her career at risk to vote the way she wants to. Collins does the absolute bare minimum necessary to hold onto power in a blue state.
Judicially, I remain unconvinced. 177 of Biden's 203 Article III nominees that have come to the floor have gotten at least 1 GOP vote. Collins has backed 173 of them, Murkowski 151, and Graham 150 (next up is Tillis at 75). Collins has been the solo GOP vote for 3 of them, Graham for 2, and Murkowski for none.
Fair point, although they're a wash when it comes to the Supreme Court. Collins supported Kavanaugh and Murkowski supported Barrett while the other did not. Murkowski changed her No vote on Kavanaugh to Present as a courtesy to an absent GOP Senator, but I don't think this changed the outcome any.
IтАЩm not going to say IтАЩm expecting it, but thereтАЩs A LOT of things Democrats can promise Murkowski to entice her for projects/funding etc in Alaska. ItтАЩs a pretty small and rural state and billions is a drop in the bucket.
SheтАЩs also more likely to lose her next re-election campaign, even if Alaska voters keep RCV in place. She almost lost to an absolute nutjob. A credible, single, even uber conservative challenger with money backing will take her down.
Her best route to win next time, if she wants to run, is as an Independent without a Democrat running. The best way to achieve that is to caucus with тАЬthe party that can best help AlaskaтАЭ that I will reassess every presidential term. With a hopefully Democratic president, that choice is pretty clear.
If she doesnтАЩt want to run, that also is a point towards a higher likelihood of her saying exactly that while caucusing with Democrats for her last term.
Again, I donтАЩt expect it, but itтАЩs absolutely within the realm of plausibility after November, especially if Harris wins the presidency and Democrats flip the House.
Yes. Murkowski is the key swing GOP Senator that Democrats can count on with key issues, especially with abortion.
There are issues I disagree with her about but all things considered sheтАЩs the one true moderate Republican in the Senate we can count on.
Collins voting to confirm Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court showed no spine, especially considering Collins for a long time before that had a good pro-choice voting record.
SheтАЩs the only real centre-right Republican in Congress.
Before someone replies, Brian Fitzpatrick votes with the majority, whichever party that may be, which is politically smart. But that also means heтАЩs voted quite a bit more right in this term than the last one. So I donтАЩt count him as consistently centre-right, more of a go along to get another term person. He votes with Democrats when they hold the majority and Republicans when they hold the majority.
I think Murkowski is the real deal. She continuously puts her career at risk to vote the way she wants to. Collins does the absolute bare minimum necessary to hold onto power in a blue state.
Judicially, I remain unconvinced. 177 of Biden's 203 Article III nominees that have come to the floor have gotten at least 1 GOP vote. Collins has backed 173 of them, Murkowski 151, and Graham 150 (next up is Tillis at 75). Collins has been the solo GOP vote for 3 of them, Graham for 2, and Murkowski for none.
Fair point, although they're a wash when it comes to the Supreme Court. Collins supported Kavanaugh and Murkowski supported Barrett while the other did not. Murkowski changed her No vote on Kavanaugh to Present as a courtesy to an absent GOP Senator, but I don't think this changed the outcome any.
I wonder what Murkowski's terms would be to be a Dem-caucusing independent, if her vote would get us to 50 (with Walz breaking ties).
I'm just not seeing it
IтАЩm not going to say IтАЩm expecting it, but thereтАЩs A LOT of things Democrats can promise Murkowski to entice her for projects/funding etc in Alaska. ItтАЩs a pretty small and rural state and billions is a drop in the bucket.
SheтАЩs also more likely to lose her next re-election campaign, even if Alaska voters keep RCV in place. She almost lost to an absolute nutjob. A credible, single, even uber conservative challenger with money backing will take her down.
Her best route to win next time, if she wants to run, is as an Independent without a Democrat running. The best way to achieve that is to caucus with тАЬthe party that can best help AlaskaтАЭ that I will reassess every presidential term. With a hopefully Democratic president, that choice is pretty clear.
If she doesnтАЩt want to run, that also is a point towards a higher likelihood of her saying exactly that while caucusing with Democrats for her last term.
Again, I donтАЩt expect it, but itтАЩs absolutely within the realm of plausibility after November, especially if Harris wins the presidency and Democrats flip the House.
Very interesting analysis!
Yes. Murkowski is the key swing GOP Senator that Democrats can count on with key issues, especially with abortion.
There are issues I disagree with her about but all things considered sheтАЩs the one true moderate Republican in the Senate we can count on.
Collins voting to confirm Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court showed no spine, especially considering Collins for a long time before that had a good pro-choice voting record.
SheтАЩs the only real centre-right Republican in Congress.
Before someone replies, Brian Fitzpatrick votes with the majority, whichever party that may be, which is politically smart. But that also means heтАЩs voted quite a bit more right in this term than the last one. So I donтАЩt count him as consistently centre-right, more of a go along to get another term person. He votes with Democrats when they hold the majority and Republicans when they hold the majority.