I’d defer to Senator Paul, but at least part of his taking a public stance is giving voice to the fourth amendment concerns of his supporters and highlighting an issue he feels strongly about.
I’m pretty sure there’s a public relations aspect to it also, Senators like to be talked about and see their name in the newspapers.
Frankly, Paul’s coming out in favor of Kavanaugh after expressing initial reservations gives the nomination forward momentum and puts more pressure on the red state Democrats to vote yes also.
I do see logic in your response.
Let me run this by you.
When you come out expressing reservations about a nominee, you’re fellow Senators take note. If they didn’t want to vote for the guy themselves, it can give them resolve. Why even Paul has reservations. I’m on the right track.
You get a person like Collins or some other wing-nut, and you’re playing with fire. The fact is, you may have provided initial cover for them to develop their own refusal.
Will they come back from the brink? Maybe.
During the 2016 run up to the election, we had prominent people on our side, just ripping Trump to shreds. Then weeks before the election after trashing him for over a year without mercy or any coherent reason they recant, and decide to vote for him. They tell their people.
My question, is how many of their listeners had been so disillusioned by his former attacks, they won’t be able to vote for the candidate?
I didn’t vote for McCain, and I’ll never regret not voting for that guy. How many listeners to those who trashed Trump for a year will will feel the same about Trump? Oh they won’t come out and say it, but when something happens they don’t fully understand, they will be carping in the background with the talking head mentality, just lost in space.
Why? Because a guy they respected with a big mouth stood up in the public arena and cast dispersions. I say this a lot on the forum last week.
Paul is a very small microcosm of this dynamic, IMO.
How many calls did Washington get opposing Kavanaugh based on Paul’s initial comments?
BTW: I had thought of the effect of Paul announcing later on too.
I’m not quite so sure that moment was enhanced by his prior comments.
Being quiet and announcing later on probably would have had about the same impact.
BTW: I had thought of the effect of Paul announcing later on too.
I’m not quite so sure that moment was enhanced by his prior comments.
Being quiet and announcing later on probably would have had about the same impact.
Meant to add:
I don’t think he brought one Conservative over on this. I don’t think he brought one Democrat over on this.