SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET:

ALMOST HOME – Unless there's a serious surprise, Brett Kavanaugh should be confirmed as an associate justice of the Supreme Court late Saturday, October 6th.  But a surprise can happen, including some last-minute procedural or legal gimmick, or the Dems finding a judge in Hawaii to rule that conservatism is unconstitutional.  I won't rest until the judge is sworn in.

COLLINS – Susan Collins, never regarded as a Senate great, achieved special status, not only with her decision to back Judge Kavanaugh, but with her brilliant speech explaining her reasoning.  That is what advice and consent is about.  Mitch McConnell said, correctly, that it was one of the best speeches he's ever heard in the Senate.  Collins is now under vicious attack from the hard left, with Obama national-security hack Susan Rice volunteering to run against her next year in Maine.  I didn't know Rice lived in Maine, but details don't matter.  Signs are already appearing calling Collins a "rape apologist."

HE'S STILL THERE? – Dan Rather has announced that his wife is outraged and deeply upset by the prospect of a Justice Kavanaugh.  For those of you who care, letters of comfort can be written. 

DISGRACEFUL – In a last-minute ploy, the American Bar Association informed the Senate that it is reopening its inquiry into Judge Kavanaugh's suitability for the Supreme Court, based on questions of temperament.  The ABA, known as a very liberal organization, had given Kavanaugh its highest rating.  The inquiry will not be completed before the confirmation vote, so it seems ridiculous.  I get the feeling that the ABA is trying to set a precedent allowing it to pass judgment on a sitting Supreme Court justice.  This will only diminish the ABA. 

TARGETED? – As of now, Democrat Joe Manchin of heavily pro-Trump West Virginia, will be the only Democrat voting for Judge Kavanaugh.  It won't hurt him in West Virginia, but his party may attempt to destroy him in the Senate.  There have been hints in the past that Manchin will switch to the GOP – he's sometimes called Trump's Democrat – and it's conceivable.   An office is available, with a coffee maker.  A food taster is on call.  Manchin is up for re-election as a Democrat next month, but he could make the switch next session.

MITCH – The mainstream media hasn't focused on him, but Mitch McConnell has handled the Kavanaugh confirmation with ability and strength.  He emerges as a distinguished majority leader.  We need to give him more Senate seats so he can lead the Senate to more victories.

We await the formal vote.

October 5,  2018