Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski is getting tired of journalists asking whether she will vote to confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General. Even a bit annoyed according to an article from an Alaska outlet I saw earlier. However she’s getting an earful from the voters in her state and let’s just say they are telling her to vote NO. The haunting question is whether she will be the sometime (not often enough) independent Republican who will vote against what Trump wants or will she cave despite concerns she’s expressed.
Murkowski doesn’t do a full-blown Susan Collins routine before caving but the fact is she has. Alas, she’s not up for re-election this fall so she might want to vote against Blanche (and Trump) figuring she will have two years in which her constituents will move on to other considerations. But according to Meidas Touch News there’s REALLY strong opposition to Blanche and for more than one reason. If she’s refusing (and strongly) to commit one way or the other she’s at least admitted to the negative feedback her office is getting about Blanche:
Speaking to reporters at the Capitol after repeated questions from MeidasTouch DC correspondent Pablo Manríquez, Murkowski acknowledged that the overwhelming feedback her office has received has been against confirming Blanche.
“Most of the constituent mail or calls that we’re receiving are opposed to the nomination,” Murkowski said.
Take note the fact she used the word “overwhelming” in her statement. On the other hand she’s said it was nice of Blanche to come to Alaska to meet folks there. Maybe some screening took place to ensure only hard core Republicans showed up at the towns he visited. Or maybe they gave him a fair shot to impress them – and they were NOT impressed. Regardless it’s again worth noting that Murkowski used the word “overwhelming” on what her voters are telling her to do.
Susan Collins has said she’ll vote no. Then again this is Susan freaking Collins and she’s reneged on promises to do the right thing too many times for me to believe she’ll vote against Blanche’s confirmation until she does so – and doesn’t change her mind during that time before the vote is officially announced and the gavel bangs. Part of why I fear she might change her mind at crunch time is that with Tillis and Cornyn buying Blanche’s bullcrap about the slush fund being dead is that given how vulnerable she is she’s been ‘given permission’ to vote no as a ploy to woo Maine voters. If Murkowski comes out and prior to the vote says she will vote no Collins will I predict suddenly become ‘ok’ with Blanche being Attorney General.
The thing is, should she follow through and Murkowski turns out to be a no vote it only takes one more Republican Senator to defect and it’s over for Blanche. Looking at YOU Senators Tillis and Cornyn. Tillis retired but Cornyn is done because Trump endorsed Ken Paxton in the primary. Perhaps Trump will shoot off his fat mouth and Cornyn will summon a bit of pride. First things first however and this is about Murkowski.
More importantly what her voters are saying. As I said they got problems both with the Epstein stuff but also that slush fund – especially the part about Trump AND his family getting a total pass from past, present to future on taxes:
Murkowski said the agreement raised legitimate concerns.
“The agreement or the settlement agreement that we saw posted right after the announcement… was without clarity,” she said. “Because I hear from Alaskans, they’re like, ‘How is that right? How do you just get immunity for you, your family and your businesses from any audits in the past?'”
She added that many Americans view the arrangement as an example of preferential treatment.
“I think it goes to the fundamental question of, is this something special for the president and his family? And I think most Americans look at that and say, ‘Sure seems like it.'”
She’s right and I for one think that while Democrats should continue to hammer the Epstein matter to the very end, they should have been and should in the limited time left also hammer the tax amnesty part of the ‘settlement.’ AND the fact that as soon as he’s confirmed there is nothing to prevent Blanche from reviving the whole sordid deal. Word spoken promises and social media posts aren’t binding. Absent a formal finding published by the DOJ it would be a piece of cake for Blanche to try and ram the deal through.
As for Epstein I’m troubled that Murkowski has attempted to provide some cover for Blanche. You read that correctly:
Murkowski said she had spoken both with the survivors and with Blanche himself,
“He feels that he did listen,” she said of Blanche. “Their response was that they felt he did not listen and was dismissive. So I wasn’t there to observe myself. But you certainly have conflicting views.”
Still, Murkowski made clear that she believes survivors deserve to be heard by DOJ leadership.
She recounted receiving a handwritten note from an Alaska woman who identified herself as an Epstein survivor while Murkowski was on a flight from Seattle to Washington.
“The note says, ‘I am from Alaska and I’m an Epstein survivor… we hope that we can talk with you,'” Murkowski recalled. “So we do meet with people like that… because they are seeking redress against their government.”
The linked article says she added the responsibility to listen to Epstein survivors shouldn’t be limited to Congress, but also extend to the DOJ. That’s why I’m appalled that despite what actual survivors that met with Blanche found him dismissive Murkowski makes a big deal about feeling he had actually listened to them. From where I sit it’s more like he chose to for appearances sake sit through a ‘scolding’ like some teen in the Principal’s office and when over go right back to the attitude/behavior that brought the scolding in the first place!
So I say shame on you Senator. Blanche deserves ZERO points for that meeting. But you are trying to give them anyway. Clearly Alaskans don’t buy Blanche’s schtick and they are strongly opposed to the Slush Fund and the Trump family sweetheart tax deal that’s effectively a pardon. Deputy AGs and Attorney’s General do NOT have what’s effectively Presidential Pardon powers.
I’m holding out hope that Murkowski is keeping her intentions hidden to avoid Trump trashing her. And that she’s quietly working on another GOP Senator or two to surprise us once it’s time to vote. Time will tell. Let’s just hope it tells us something good because this country sure as hell needs some good right now
