Murkowski and Romney

[WSHazel]

Is there a deal with the devil to be made in the Senate?

Romney is a lot more moderate than the rest of the GOP. He will be 77 when his term ends, is worth $250 million, and doesn't need this shit of working with a party that hates him. I think the chance of him running again is slim to none.

Murkowski is going to get a primary challenge in 2022. She dodged the last one 10 years ago by running as a write-in, and pulled it off, but the Democrats are going to be prepared for a split GOP this time and will have a real candidate to try to steal a seat.

What if Romney and Murkowski switched to independents, and caucused with Democrats for leadership, or even split the leadership of the Senate? I am thinking of ANYTHING to get Mitch McConnell out of the Majority Leader position.

Obviously, Ossoff and Warnock sweeping Georgia are Plan A, but Schumer's leverage is at its highest if he goes to Murkowski and Romney right now with an offer.

[dawg day]

1. I suspect at the least Romney will vote to approve the cabinet

He's not going to try to block governance for McConnell's sake.

[Under The Radar]

2. I don't think either of them have shown signs

....of completely breaking free of Mitch McConnell’s death grip.

[WSHazel]

3. They have nothing to gain by supporting McConnell

and nothing to lose by abandoning him. They are definitely both Republicans from a policy standpoint, but they could wield a lot more power as independents caucusing with Democrats than as Republicans.

[Under The Radar]

5. You don't understand the power of McConnell

You don’t get re elected if you cross him. A senate election for a seat in one of the smallest States is still $100 million dollar race. Susan a Collins race is an example of that. Collins constituents don’t have that kind of money and she certainly isn’t independently wealthy. Mitch controls the valves for the flow of money to Senate Candidates. If you are a good boy he will make you rich, if not , then you will be unemployed.
Welcome to the NFL

[WSHazel]

10. You are missing my point

Murkowski is finished within the GOP no matter what she does. She is going to get a Republican primary challenge in 2022, and she is probably going to lose to that challenger. Her ONLY chance of staying in office after 2022 is as an Independent caucusing with Democrats.

Romney has $250 million in the bank and will be 77 at the end of his term. There is almost no chance he is running again, so he can do whatever he wants. He certainly doesn't need to take any shit from McConnell.

[Under The Radar]

14. Valid points, but Murkowski 1st announced her opposition

...to the nomination of a Ginsberg replacement siting that it violated the Republican Rule after the Garland block, “what’s fair is fair” but then days before the confirmation vote she changed her mind.
It wasn’t an election year for her seat, but she reversed her position. Why?

[ProudMNDemocrat]

6. Susan Collins sold her soul to Mitch.

Let her spend the next 6 years being "concerned".

The verdict is out on Romney and Murkowski. It will be interesting to see who runs against her in a Primary in the post-Trump era.

[LisaL]

7. She did vote against Amy Comey.

So maybe there is some hope for her.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

9. The ONLY thing she did right....

She voted NOT to convict on 2 charges of impeachment, however.

She voted to confirm both Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, though she was very "concerned" about Kavanaugh.

[LisaL]

12. I know. But at least that shows she can do something right.

NT

[Under The Radar]

15. No. She changed her position 3 days before and confirmed Barrett.

[Zambero]

4. Collins would seem more plausible

Last edited Sun Nov 8, 2020, 12:57 PM - Edit history (1)

If Schumer was to consider her Senate tenure and seniority while offering a committee chairmanship as an independent caucusing with Dems, she would be able to gain power and influence on behalf of her state. A similar pitch was made by Tom Daschle to Jim Jeffords, a moderate GOP Senator from Vermont in 2001. Jeffords accepted, switched caucuses, and provided Democrats a working 51-49 Senate majority. The question with Collins could be more ideological, in terms of whether she would be "moderate" enough to consider or be considered for this sort of overture.

[Polybius]

8. 77 is nothing in the Senate

Romney also aged phenomenally. He'll run again, and maybe again after that.

[WSHazel]

11. It is not a question of if he can do it

it is a question of why would he do it? He has a wife with MS and more money than he could spend in 10 lifetimes. Why would he stay in a Senate where his own party hates him?

I don't think he is returning to the Senate after his term is up. He is a perfect target for Schumer.

[Polybius]

13. Power

Being a Senator is an awesome job, you just don't want to retire. I wouldn't. Look at Grassley and Feinstein. Both don't need the money and are in their late 80's.

The only way Romney doesn't return is if he loses a conservative primary in 2024.

[Sogo]

16. Would prefer that you not characterize Dems taking a Senate seat as "stealing" it....