29 July 2017

Could we see a defection?

Ten days ago, as the long Republican war on the ACA was winding down toward this week's ignominious fizzle-out, RedState denounced Republican Senators Murkowski and Capito as scoundrels, hypocrites, turncoats, etc., etc., etc., and the fury at those among their own ranks who were keeping repeal short of the magic 51 votes seemed deep and heartfelt in the wackier wilds of wingnuttia.  After the collapse of "skinny repeal", I've seen a similar groundswell of hatred against dissidents McCain, Collins, and Murkowski again.

Murkowski, in fact, came under Twitter fire from Trump himself, while his Interior Secretary rather crudely hinted at retaliation against her actual state.  This turned out to be yet another rookie blunder by the administration -- not only did the threat undermine its own fossil-fuel policy in Alaska, but Murkowski has already fired a retaliatory warning shot at the Interior Department, over which her position in the Senate gives her considerable power.  You can't bully someone into being a team player, especially when that someone is strong enough to hit back.

Could Murkowski be coaxed into switching parties?  She was said to be furious about the ham-handed pressure.  She firmly supports funding Planned Parenthood, anathema to orthodox Republicans.  And she's defied the party before; in 2010, after being successfully primaried by a teabagging wingnut who thus became the official Republican Senate candidate, she ran an independent write-in campaign and beat him, keeping her seat.

It could be objected that switching parties would be foolish since Alaska is such a red state.  But incumbents tend to win, and Murkowski has been in office since 2002.  She's not up for re-election until 2022, anyway.  It's just a question of how annoyed she is at the Trump gang's bullying, and what she really thinks of her party's increasingly reactionary stances on issues like reproductive freedom.  If the Democrats are on the ball, they'll be quietly offering encouragement.

The Republicans shouldn't complain if we trim down their majority a bit.  They don't seem to be using it.

5 Comments:

Blogger Jerry Critter said...

She may not be the only one thinking about it.

29 July, 2017 08:45  
Blogger Shaw Kenawe said...


Sen. Collins was applauded at the airport when she landed in Bangor, Maine. Perhaps more people (Repubs and Dems) need to show Sen. Murkowski how much her vote meant to them. I've called her office and congratulated her on putting country over party.

29 July, 2017 15:54  
Blogger Infidel753 said...

Jerry: I hope not.

Shaw: Good point.

30 July, 2017 06:48  
Anonymous Marc McKenzie said...

A good write-up. To be honest, I would not be surprised if there will be defections--Trump's bullying tactics against Murkowski were disgusting, and the fact that her, Collins, Capito, and the remaining female GOP Senators were kept out of the loop in terms of the writing of the GOP's "healthcare" bills was yet another insult.

For me, Collins and Murkowski should be thanked profusely for joining with the Democrats to stand against the GOP's assault on the ACA. They were "No" for all the bills that were voted on this past week. And I do plan to contact them to express my thanks for putting country over party.

30 July, 2017 09:30  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Would it be OK if I cross-posted this article to WriterBeat.com? There is no fee; I’m simply trying to add more content diversity for our community and I enjoyed reading your work. I’ll be sure to give you complete credit as the author. If “OK” pleayse let me know via email.

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31 July, 2017 07:29  

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