1) They have the votes. EVERYTHING we have seen thus far about who’s a yes and who’s a no is wishcasting and wild inferences. Everything is kabuki theatre, just breathless coverage trying to be the first to tweet about the latest twist in the reality show.
2) Fact: the only two ever up in the air were Collins and Murkowski. McConnell moved ahead because he secured one or both of their yes votes.
3) Flake is a smarmy shit, yes, but he is considered one of the 5 most conservative senators by the left. Flake has NEVER opposed Trump on votes where it counts. Obamacare repeal? He was a yes. Gorsuch? Yes. Tax reform? Yes.
4) Instead, Flake has intentionally or inadvertently been the distraction that caused the votes to reach this point without bureaucratic shenanigans from the left, and the FBI search was something Flake caught flak for in order to protect Collins and Murkowski from the right.
5) Flake is dumb. Flake is a shithead. But Flake is a noble fucking idiot, or at least thinks he is, like all never Trumper assholes. He’s not running for reelection; he’ll take the heat to buy the concession needed for Collins and Murkowski to be a yes.
6) The left and the right will hype up the tension, raise the question of whether Kav will be confirmed. Let them. McConnell won this battle before it even began. All will be well.
/end
