Like the Kavanaugh hearings, we now see what counts as independent thinking on the GOP side. Unlike the Kavanaugh stunt show we know more about how Susan Collins tends in terms of GOP discipline.

The safest bet for those 2020 vulnerable GOP senators is to appeal to home state constituents and to court “independents” by voting against McConnell at the level of votes on process favoring Democrats, but ultimately still voting not to remove IMPOTUS from office.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told ABC affiliate KTUU on Tuesday that she was “disturbed” upon hearing Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s assurance of “total coordination” between the White House and the Senate in the impeachment trial of President Trump. Driving the news: In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, McConnell said, “We’ll be working through this process … in total coordination with the White House counsel’s office and the people who are representing the president as well as the Senate,” adding, “There will be no difference between the president’s position and our position as to how to handle this to the extent that we can.” www.axios.com/… Lisa Murkowski opens the door. Will other Republicans walk thru it? https://t.co/3130MPgBh7 — Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) December 25, 2019 “For me to prejudge and say there’s nothing there or, on the other hand, he should be impeached yesterday, that’s wrong, in my view, that’s wrong,” she said. Her remarks were similar to those made Sunday by Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who complained that members of both parties — including some Democratic presidential candidates — were ignoring their constitutional obligations to be impartial. www.politico.com/…

Murkowski and Collins voted against DeVos knowing their votes would not keep her from being confirmed. Same with Kavanugh for Murkowski. https://t.co/XknLgZ2qHL — Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) December 25, 2019

A little advice for my twitter friends. Lisa murkowski needs our support right now not our scorn. She is not Susan Collins. She has a real independent streak-remember she originally won as a write in candidate. She voted against Kavanaugh. Give her a chance here. — Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) December 25, 2019