Personal Reflections of a Middle-Aged Man

I am lying in bed and I can’t sleep. I can’t get this political cartoon out of my head. The only thing I think they got wrong in the picture is that one of the hands should be that of a woman since it is many Republican Senate Women who are now going to be complicit in silencing women and women’s rights as they vote yes to confirm Kavanaugh.

The feeling of sadness and hopelessness is so very strong right now.

I’m finding it so very hard to come to terms of how Joe Manchin is going to vote yes to confirm Kavanaugh. This tells me he is more in love with his power and re-election than he is about the future of our country.

I’m finding it hard to believe Susan Collins is going to vote yes to confirm Kavanaugh. This tells me she in her heart of hearts, she has no heart after watching the temperament of Kavanaugh and his disdain for women.

I’m finding it hard to come to terms that Joni Ernst, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Deb Fischer, and Shelley Moore Capito, all Republican Senators will vote yes to confirm Kavanaugh. This tells me that women cannot count on women to help protect them, nor the future of our country.

I’m finding it hard to believe Bob Corker, Jeff Flake, Orrin Hatch, Thad Cochran, all Republican Senators who are retiring will vote yes to confirm Kavanaugh when they have nothing to lose by voting no. This tells me they are placing partisanship over the future of our country.

I’m finding it hard to believe there are no worthier candidates out there whom no one would be 100% happy about, but 100% of the Senate could live with since so much is at stake.

I’m just finding it hard to believe.

Am I the only one finding it hard to believe and are feeling extremely sad and hopeless about the future of our country, the lives of our young women, and the message this is sending to our young men?

Am I?