Thread by @libcasey

LET'S TALK about @lisamurkowski and her NO proceedural vote on #Kavanaugh. I look forward to hearing more from the Senator in her own words. In the meantime, some thoughts. She is a Republican, make no mistake. But she's also a Republican not beholden to Party. 1

In 2010 Murkowski won a WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN (you try remembering how to spell M-U-R-K-O-W-S-K-I) against a right wing Republican who had primaried her. He had GOP $$ and establishment support (including in Senate) as the primary winner. She won. 2

Since then Murkowski handily won her 2016 election, including with mainstream GOP voters, and isn't up for reelection until 2022. That's a long runway. 3

Sen Murkowski is loyal - both politically and earnestly - to Alaska Native supporters for many reasons, including their role in 2010 write-in race. Major AK Native organization @NativeFed opposed Kavanaugh, even before sexual assault allegations... 4

#Alaska org @NativeFed against #Kavanaugh, concerned he won't recognize AK Native rights. He wrote a 1999 @WSJ op-ed questioning whether Native Hawaiians are "Indians" under Constitution. That could lead to losses of rights. More by @lruskin + @kcgrove bit.ly/2CuvqKI 5

6 Sexual assault is a crisis in Alaska. Including + especially sexual assault of Alaska Native women. A set of horror stories of what women have endured is emerging after the heartbreaking murder of 10 year old girl. Story by @kylehopkinsAK + @adndotcom adn.com/alaska-news/cr…

7 Murkowski has been public about her disappointment in some of President Trump's behavior and comments over the years re: women, etc. After Mr Trump mocked Christine Blasey Ford this week at a rally, Murkowski said "I am taking everything into account." ktva.com/story/39224185…

8 Sen Murkowski is aware of the optics of "old white men" pushing forward without a more fulsome FBI investigation, as @elainaplott tweeted this morning:

https://twitter.com/elainaplott/status/1048198098957291520

9 Murkowski was personally lobbied - and spoke with - scores of #Alaska women against Kavanaugh here in DC on @ACLU sponsored travel. They're tweeting about what it meant for them to meet with her, and really feel heard.

https://twitter.com/libbybakalar/status/1048246537917276160

10 Murkowski is known for her own measured temperament and for thinking before she speaks (sometimes to the frustration of reporters - and probably fellow GOPers - who JUST WANT TO KNOW HER PLANS. Ha.) Contrast that with the perception that Kavanaugh lost self-control last week.

11 As chair of Energy Cmte, and as someone willing to bargain, Sen Murkowski has brought home wins important to Alaska Republicans during Trump Presidency. Opening #ANWR (a decades-long goal), loosening land restrictions and regulations.

12 Murkowski describes to reporters how tough her "no" vote was, saying "This has truly been the most difficult evaluation, decision that I've ever had to make"
Tweet from @eliseviebeck:

https://twitter.com/eliseviebeck/status/1048243317312573440

13 @lisamurkowski says "I believe that Brett Kavanaugh is a good man. I believe he is a good man. It just may be that in my view he's not the right man for the court at this time." Via @eliseviebeck

14 @lisamurkowski: "This hasn't been fair to the judge..." BUT ALSO: "we need to have institutions that are viewed as fair and if people who are victims, people who feel that there is no fairness in our system of gov...we've gone down a path that is not good and right..."

15 All politics is local, as the saying goes. Esp for someone like @lisamurkowski who doesn't have her scope trained on being in the White House (hello Sarah Palin of yesteryear) + already well positioned as Energy Cmte chair to do work she finds valuable. No election til 2022.