So Murkowski was a "yes" before the ABA called for an FBI investigation

[Alhena]

That was what jumped out at me from the Wall Street Journal "no plan B" article. The White House felt it was all set before the ABA wrote their letter (bravo for them).

If so, it all comes down to whether conservative Christopher Wray's FBI finds corroboration in a week's investigation. Wray clerked for Mike Luttig- a very conservative (former) appellate judge. Which probably means that Wray cares a lot about the Supreme Court being conservative.

I guess "hope for the best and expect the worst" applies to this situation, but it's better than what we faced last night.

[Kaleva]

1. Article says she "remained" undecided by Friday morning

"Ms. Murkowski said Friday morning before the Senate committee vote that she remained undecided on the nomination. "

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/kavanaugh/card/1538166098

She was undecided before the letter from the ABA and she still was undecided the following morning.

[Alhena]

2. Well yeah officially, but the White House felt good about her vote before the ABA letter

[Callado119]

3. This is the Trump White House

I wouldn’t take anything they think seriously.

[Kaleva]

4. WH might have felt good about it but a "yes" vote from her wasn't a sure thing.

The ABA letter certainly kept her in the undecided camp.

[mythology]

5. And how did that feeling work out when they failed (yet again) to repeal the ACA?

You assume the Trump administration knows anything. They are the Keystone Kops.

[hlthe2b]

7. OR more likely they thought they didn't need her vote. It takes two R no votes to derail.

I can't read the behind paywall WSJ article, but EVERYTHING I have seen and read and heard makes it clear that Murkowski (far more than Collins) is a high probability no vote--but officially remains undecided. I think the statement that she was going to vote "yes" is incredibly unfounded.

[BlueSpot]

6. If all we have is a scrap of hope

I'll take the scrap of hope. We're better off today then we thought we were yesterday. Let's don't forget that.

[tblue37]

8. The SCOTUS will be very conservative, even if Kavanaugh has to withd. nt