The bottom line on Susan Collins

That says something about Collins, and nothing about SCOTUS nominees.

Her formal statement at leasts indicates she has considered and has arguments for why she will vote to seat Kavanaugh.  Too bad he's a lying sack of shit.

Also, she cites his high rating by the American Bar Association, when the ABA just put out a letter saying they were having to reconsider.

But here's where she goes off the rails...

The presumption of innocence is relevant to the advice and consent function when an accusation departs from a nominee’s otherwise exemplary record. I worry that departing from this presumption could lead to a lack of public faith in the judiciary and would be hugely damaging to the confirmation process moving forward.

Some of the allegations levied against Judge Kavanaugh illustrate why the presumption of innocence is so important. I am thinking in particular not of the allegations raised by Professor Ford, but of the allegation that, when he was a teenager, Judge Kavanaugh drugged multiple girls and used their weakened state to facilitate gang rape. This outlandish allegation was put forth without any credible supporting evidence and simply parroted public statements of others. That such an allegation can find its way into the Supreme Court confirmation process is a stark reminder about why the presumption of innocence is so ingrained in our American consciousness.

  Susan Collins

The presumption of innocence has a follow-up: hearing and weighing of the allegations. Just because it's an "outlandish allegation" does not mean it's automatically untrue. The fact that it was not permitted to be investigated is more outlandish than the allegation. And not just outlandish, but suspicious, and Collins cannot legitimately use this as an objection without the benefit of an investigation to weigh that presumption. She knows better than this. And it's a shameful peg on which to hang her pro-Kavanaugh hat.

And, finally...

[W]e’ve heard a lot of charges and counter charges about Judge Kavanaugh. But as those who have known him best have attested, he has been an exemplary public servant, judge, teacher, coach, husband, and father. Despite the turbulent, bitter fight surrounding his nomination, my fervent hope is that Brett Kavanaugh will work to lessen the divisions in the Supreme Court so that we have far fewer 5-4 decisions and so that public confidence in our Judiciary and our highest court is restored.

Did she not hear his opening screed before his testimony about this being a vendetta on behalf of the Clintons? Does she think he sounded like someone who would work to LESSEN partisan divisions? Really, Susan?

Immediately following Collins’ speech, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who was previously undecided, announced he would join Collins in voting to confirm Kavanaugh in the final vote set to be held Saturday.

[...]

Suggesting on Twitter that she would be interested in running against Collins, [former Obama Administration National Security Adviser Susan] Rice said she had not yet made a final decision.

“Many thanks for the encouragement,” Rice said. “I’m not making any announcements. Like so many Americans, I am deeply disappointed in Senator Collins’ vote for Kavanaugh. Maine and America deserve better.”

If she does officially choose to run, Rice already has $2 million in campaign money waiting for her.

Immediately proving to be a lucrative fundraising effort for her future, yet-to-be-determined, Democratic appointment, Collins's speech brought in tens of thousands of dollars in just a matter of minutes to a crowdfunding campaign that’s been established to be donated to her future opponent, assuming Collins votes yes on Kavanaugh.

The crowdfunding campaign is led by progressive activist Ady Barkan and two grassroots organizations—Maine People's Alliance and Mainers for Accountable Leadership. Donations poured in during the GOP senator’s speech, tipping it over the $2 million mark as Collins was speaking. The total amount of money raised spiked by more than $26,000 over the course of 14 minutes from 3:17 p.m. to 3:31 p.m. Collins began speaking shortly after 3 p.m. and finished around 3:50 p.m.

[...]

As of Friday afternoon, the effort had raised more than $2,020,000, with many of the donations for $20.20 in reference to when Collins will be up for re-election.

  Newsweek

Because she doesn't want to believe that someone in her class of people would do "outlandish" things.

UPDATE:



UPDATE:

A crowdfunding effort to raise money against Sen. Susan Collins's (R-Maine) potential 2020 opponent broke $3 million in contributions Friday.

The campaign, organized by Be A Hero Team, Maine People's Alliance and Mainers for Accountable Leadership, was conditional on Collins's vote in the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, and after pledging her support for the nominee Friday the money will now go to her potential opponent.

  The Hill