While reading this article, which relates Susan Collins’ firmly held belief that Roe v Wade is absolutely secure, it brought to mind a theory that I’ve been mulling over.
Lisa Murkowski voted for Barrett, despite the fact that, if anything, she makes Kavanaugh, who Murkowski opposed, look like a liberal legal titan in comparison. Collins voted for Kavanaugh.
Both want to be perceived as pro-choice “moderates”, but neither wants to actually stand in the way of a right wing takeover of the courts. It’s important, therefore, that any vote they cast against the Republican mainstream be symbolic only. Lisa got to go first, and oppose Kavaugh. I think it would be well founded speculation if one were to wonder whether this time around the two of them agreed that it was Susan’s turn, seeing as once again it would make no difference, and Susan is running for re-election while Lisa is not.
It’s all reminiscent of the catch and release policy the Republicans employed to keep “moderates” like our former Congressman, Rob Simmons, in line. They were allowed to cast moderate votes so long as the right wing outcome was secure; otherwise, they were expected to toe the line.
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