Senator Susan Collins: A Quick Take

In this rather unremarkable 100th blog post, I offer a brief, and perhaps preliminary, statement on my present thinking. After I have more time to reflect, and with more time to write, I will consider offering more. For now, I'll merely state the following.

I'm distressed that the those on the right will regard the speech by Senator Susan Collins (R. ME) as actually saying what the relevant norms should be, and they are not, and that the left is going to vilify her as some sort of evil right wing hack, and she is not. Senator Collins is profoundly mistaken in my view, and I explored some of the reasons for reaching a very different judgment and for employing very different norms in assessing the Kavanaugh matter in four immediately preceding posts. Despite my strong disagreement with her, I am confident that Senator Collins sincerely believes she is doing the right thing. People of good faith can profoundly disagree.

I have been teaching Constitutional Law since 1992. I consider that among the greatest professional fortunes that someone with my training and experience could possibly have. Yet, there's a price. I have the strong sense of institutions that I care deeply about crumbling before my eyes. I do not think I am being hyperbolic. Yes, the institutions will survive, but they will not be the same institutions. They will no longer share the high level of respect they once held, not that long ago, by at least by half the population. To me this is tragic.

Thank you to all my readers, whatever your political views and wherever you reside.

As always, I not only welcome, but also value, your thoughts, however much they might differ from my own.