Weaselly Republican Sen. Susan Collins (R- Windsock) really, really wants to vote for Brett Kavanaugh and is trying to convince us she's got his assurances on no messing with Roe (starting at about 1:33):
Following her meeting with #SCOTUS nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh, @SenatorCollins says on Roe v. Wade that "he said that he agreed with what Justice Roberts said at his nomination hearing in which he said that it was settled law." pic.twitter.com/mHmFD3b6Tr— CSPAN (@cspan) August 21, 2018
Here's what Kavanaugh's weasel words actually mean, courtesy of Americans United for Life (but only before birth):
Responding to @SenatorCollins, anti-abortion group Americans United For Life says Kavanaugh calling Roe "settled law" merely states what SCOTUS has done and doesn't indicate he'd uphold it. pic.twitter.com/q3yA03fECp— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) August 21, 2018
Collins is not running for re- election until 2020, and she knows striking down Roe is very unpopular (63% want it upheld; 49% of her constituents don't want her to confirm Kavanaugh), but is afraid of the wrath of the frothing Republican base as well as Mitch McConnell. She previously said she wouldn't vote for a nominee who would be "hostile" to Roe, but she knows full well what Kavanaugh's weasel words mean. So, that's how she's playing this out; she's going to vote to put Kavanaugh on the Court, and he'll work with the other four white Republican males to chip away at Roe just like Republicans are sabotaging the Affordable Care Act, and if Collins reacts to that someday, it'll be along the lines of "Whoda thunk it?!"
Her only thought is to cling to office without regard to the consequences of her actions. Remember her in 2020.
