Posted on 10/07/2018 11:49:04 AM PDT by BlackFemaleArmyColonel
Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins -- a key swing-vote whose dramatic floor speech on Friday assured Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court -- revealed on Sunday that she initially thought Kavanaugh "perhaps needed to withdraw" after she heard Christine Blasey Ford's "very compelling and painful" testimony.
But then, Collins said, "When [Kavanaugh] came back with a forceful denial, the anger and anguish he showed, and then the lack of corroboration, led me back to the fundamental issues to our legal system."
Both Ford and Kavanaugh testified at length in late September before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Ford alleged that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her more than three decades ago, and Kavanaugh, at times emotional and fiery, sharply denied the claim. President Trump and top White House officials had reportedly urged Kavanaugh to come out swinging at the hearing.
Speaking to CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, Collins emphasized, "I found Ford to be heart-wrenching and compelling." But, she continued, citing the lack of any witness corroboration for Ford's account, "I don't believe Kavanaugh was her assailant." (Also speaking to CNN on Sunday, Hawaii Democratic Sen. Mazie Horono, who has previously suggested Kavanaugh did not deserve due process, called Collins' comments "insulting" to Ford.)
Polls in Maine showed that a majority of Collins' constituents wanted her to reject Kavanaugh. Instead, he was confirmed Saturday by a narrow 50-48 margin. Collins' speech immediately prompted West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin to announce his support for Kavanaugh as well, securing his confirmation.
“I have to do what I think is right," Collins said. "Over the years, the people of Maine have trusted me to exercise my best judgment. That’s what I did in the case. ... Whatever the voters that decide, but I’m going to do what I think is right..."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Bump
Trump is the only reason he didn’t withdraw. New rules.
“Compelling” Senator Collins?
Look, we appreciate you thought it through and did the right thing
The problem with your line of reasoning is there is nothing “Compelling” when the four named “Witnesses” swore under oath not to remember one iota of Fraud’s “compelling” hate-tale
Romney probably pushed for her to be a “No”. Then she came to her senses later.
In short - she originally based her opinion on emotion and not facts. Egad.
Compelling my ass, I knew Dr(And she isn’t even a licensed doctor) was a total FRAUD when she did the squeaky baby voice..also the text messages from Leland Keysar from Fords allies prove that they wanted Leland to LIE and say there was an attack and a party..the whole thing was PURE BS from the start. She read Mark Judge’s book, read the stories from him regarding his friends(Including Kavanaugh) and invented a story..notice how everyone involved in this supposed attack, all the names came from Mark Judges book
People Collins age should have learned that some people can put on a good show, but you always need to check out their story.
It’s like people who do hiring by assuming that the job interview went so well that they don’t need to check references - Dumb !
The Democrats never thought it would come to a vote...they thought enough Republicans would fold after Squeaky Liar’s testimony. Collins initially reacted as a RINO would, but thankfully, she held strong. I was very pleasantly surprised.
Romney was strangely quiet during this Battle 4 Brett.
We all know how much he likes to pontificate and express moral outrage, be it real or imaginary in cause.
I suspect, in the next few weeks or months, we will find out that he was trying to influence the Senate vote behind the scenes. Influence them to reject the candidate!
Yes, I agree, and hopefully we’ll get more out of the next Congress than we did this one. Pitiful...
We essentially got Kavanaugh by the whim of three people who could have floundered at the last minute.
Susan Collins did come through. Her determination evidently swayed Manchin, so I have to give her credit, as begrudging as it may be.
We always have to worry about her and a few others.
It’s gotten old for me, did the first few times I saw it.
This was a one hundred or more year moment in time. Cases Kavanaugh will be involved in over the next thirty years, will make precedence that will be referenced for decades after he has been replaced. In some cases, possibly hundreds of years.
This is why I rode the fence-sitters and Daines, for not realizing what a dynamic important moment the vote was.
Yesterday’s vote will impact this nation for possibly hundreds of years, if the Left doesn’t destroy it first.
Yep. There is always a second side. And that is why when you're innocent you need to fight back.
Collins may be a RINO, but she did the ABSOLUTE RIGHT THING HERE.
But I think it's much,much,*much* more likely than not that Justice Kavanaugh has never,*ever* sexually/criminally violated *anyone* at *any* time.
Don’t kid yourselves, she is one of the guilty before innocent crowd.
Honestly what do you expect?
"I found Ford to be heart-wrenching and compelling." But, she continued, citing the lack of any witness corroboration for Ford's account, "I don't believe Kavanaugh was her assailant." (Also speaking to CNN on Sunday, Hawaii Democratic Sen. Mazie Horono, who has previously suggested Kavanaugh did not deserve due process, called Collins' comments "insulting" to Ford.) Polls in Maine showed that a majority of Collins' constituents wanted her to reject Kavanaugh. Instead, he was confirmed Saturday by a narrow 50-48 margin. Collins' speech immediately prompted West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin to announce his support for Kavanaugh as well, securing his confirmation.
I was among those who predicted that Ford would never testify, an opinion made stronger after reading her testimony that her legal team released the night before the hearings.
I thought that the only thing that could lead her to testify would be some bombshell new evidence or corroborating witness.
Then she actually testified, and it became clear why: lying, fake, psychotic. She had nothing but her baby voice and a few technical lies about the lie-detector, fear of flying, etc., to add to her existing lie, and she did that anyway, which only a seriously disturbed manipulator would try to pull off.
That’s called surrender, Susie. You know. Cowardice.
My dear Senator. How could you say the Professor was credible at any point after every single witness, male or female, stated emphatically, the event never happened. That make the Professor the worst sort of liar, one who seeks to destroy the life of another.
At least a gossiper may be right, as often a gossiper is only exaggerating.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.