Brett Kavanaugh - Appoint to Supreme Court, yes or no?

[psiberzerker]

What about Stormy Daniels?  She confessed, on national television, to Barbra Walters, to committing assault.  Arguably Sexual Assault.  Not alleged, confessed to it. 

What does your double standard have to say to that?  Oh, right.  It wasn't to Barbra Walters.  I really should get my facts straight.

[MintJulie]

Please do not change topic titles.

[Athos_131]

I oppose rapists and people who lie to Congress.

#Resist

As far as the later, there was ample evidence in front of our eyes as he spoke.  He’s an unapologetic liar and obvious GOP hack.

As far as the former, things looked and sounded pretty damning, but there was never enough evidence to convict.  OK, a bunch more people could have been interviewed that showed he lied about his drinking or that she is a credible person.  And then what?

What bothers me most about you, is you hijack sexual assault for partisan reasons without any detectable real empathy?

I oppose rapists

And?  Do you have any thoughts about victims, or are all your emotions centered on your partisan targets?

Yes, yes, I know.  I should go fuck myself.

I guess I should go look where I stated I thought Joe Paterno should burn in hell for being a Republican, not because he covered up 40+ counts of child rape.

[Jed_]

Rage towards perpetrators of abuse and sexual assault is fine, and I share that rage.  It just has occurred to me today, that’s all you seem to have on the issue.  Other than using them as stats to support your rage, I don’t see any thought given or empathy shown towards the victims?

It’s almost like watching Trump talk only about the accused.  And his only mention of the victims is to discredit them, again the focus is on the ‘poor’ men accused.

[Katiebee]

This is why I do not believe Kavanaugh.

http://www.kristensboard.com/forums/index.php?topic=60700.msg520571#msg520571

[Lois]

Many American voters do not belive Kavanaugh.  Democratic candidates are up 6-8% in national polling across the board.

The GOP may have won this battle, but the Democrats will win the midterms.

[psiberzerker]

This is why I do not believe Kavanaugh.

Yeah, you get a big Woo!  For that.  I know, it's not enough.  I'm sorry, it's all I have to offer.

INS this will help...

[MissBarbara]

The GOP may have won this battle, but the Democrats will win the midterms.

Herein lies the problem. While I understand that appointment of a supreme court judge is essentially a political process, the result in this case is that an accusation of sexual assault has been reduced to the usual polemical dick measuring. Democrats say the accusation should be enough to prevent his appointment, while Republicans say the accusation itself is politically motivated and not based in fact. It's turned both the process of appointing a supreme court judge and the accusation into a circus.

The legal system is built around a central premise that the accused is not guilty in the eyes of the law unless guilt can be proven to the satisfaction of the judge or jury. To discount someone from being a supreme court judge on the grounds of an accusation that can't be substantiated would make a mockery of the legal system as a whole and set a precedent that would obviously be abused in the future.

That is not to say that Kavanaugh is innocent or that Ford was lying, nor does it mean that Kavanaugh should not have been discounted for other reasons. I'm inclined to believe someone in Ford's position would not put herself through the media scrutiny that she was inevitably subjected to if her claims were not entirely honest. I also can see how seeing your abuser awarded such a prominent position would be motivation to finally speak out. However, what I believe is of little consequence compared to provable facts.

I find the way this story played out pretty repulsive from all angles.

I think this is a perfect summary. On another board I used the phrase "polemical pee war," but "polemical dick measuring" is even better.

I also think that you're right: "This story played out pretty repulsive from all angles."

The Democrats seem to think, as per Lois's point, that the repulsiveness of the Kavanaugh confirmation process means a victory for them, which will translate into a victory in the Midterms on November 6. I find it hard to believe that the result of this process will score points for wither party. Since Trump was elected close to two years ago, the Democrats have seemed to think that lobbing polemical hand grenades at the GOP from the sidelines has achieved great effect. It hasn't (except on Facebook and Twitter -- and those are not votes).

I still think the Democrats will win enough seats to retake the House (but not the Senate), but their margin will be much smaller than it could have been had they campaigned on issues, and not anti-Trumpiness.

[Jed_]

Sure run on the issues, but it would also be remiss not to keep score, note and broadcast each egregious action of this horrifically awful president and his spineless minions among the GOP.  We’ve all watched these last two years while the GOP has shed all their principles and become toadies to this narcissist in chief.

As far as Kavanaugh and as I’ve stated before, the accusations alone were not sufficient.  It was his lying to Congress and obvious partisanship that really made him unqualified to be on the court.  Even a former Justice of SCOTUS said so.  His membership on the court will taint it until he’s gone.  Unfortunately, that will probably be for another generation and possibly the rest of my life

[Lois]

I was just stating the obvious. The GOP may have won the battle, but they are now even more known as the party that excuses sexual assault.

Was this actially the Democratic strategy?  I fear it is so.

[Jed_]

Meanwhile there’s a victim that can’t even go home due to the volume of death threats, while she watches the Narcissist in Chief call her a liar on TV encouraging even more animosity towards her.

At some point someone is going to do something really horrific at the instigation of the Narcissist in Chief, and then what?

[MissBarbara]

Sure run on the issues, but it would also be remiss not to keep score, note and broadcast each egregious action of this horrifically awful president and his spineless minions among the GOP.  We’ve all watched these last two years while the GOP has shed all their principles and become toadies to this narcissist in chief.

As far as Kavanaugh and as I’ve stated before, the accusations alone were not sufficient.  It was his lying to Congress and obvious partisanship that really made him unqualified to be on the court.  Even a former Justice of SCOTUS said so.  His membership on the court will taint it until he’s gone.  Unfortunately, that will probably be for another generation and possibly the rest of my life

"Keeping score" is what marred the Kavanaugh confirmation process, and what helped Trump get elected in the first place.

In a very real way, the 2016 Democratic campaign was "Vote for her, because she's not Trump." As I recall, that didn't really work out.

Two years later, it's "Vote for him/her because they're not members of Trump's party." Do you really think, given what happened in 2016, that that will work this time?

America is broken. Which candidate is more attractive to the general voter: "Vote for her, because her party didn't break America," or "Vote for her, because she has realistic solutions to fix a broken America"?
 

[psiberzerker]

America is broken. Which candidate is more attractive to the general voter:

Well, that's an Election.  Yes, it's a Popularity Contest.  Of course it is, that's why it's called the Popular vote.  However, when that asshole is more attractive to the American voter.  After they've seen what he's like on "Reality" TV, or even his Cameo in Home Alone II.  When Donald Trump is more attractive than anyone.  Hillary, Bernie, Ralf Nadir, a lump of biomass that used to be a snail before your little brother broke the shell, ripped it off in pieces, threw salt on it, and then burned the corpse with a magnifying glass?

When that painful swollen Hemmorhoid on the anus of America's self image is more attractive than any other possible option, and we pick the Greater evil?  Yeah, the system is broken.  I hope you're packed, because he's already started systematically dismantling, and undermining the government, and he's only been at it 2 years.  He has at least 2 more, and the way This year's election is going, he may get another 4.  

Seriously, sincerely, and certainly.  This isn't Rhetoric:  Look up Survival preparations for when the Shit Hits the Fan?  I don't know if you're up on current events, but EVERYONE is already getting hit, on Capitol Hill.  This could, quite possibly be the end of America as we know it.  Don't bet on the Best Case Scenario.  It's too late for that.

[Jed_]

[Lois]

The GOP could have dropped Kavanaugh, and that would have been the smart thing for them to do. So now they will have to face the consequences.

I wonder why they didn't just find another nominee when they still had time?

[Jed_]

Sure run on the issues, but it would also be remiss not to keep score, note and broadcast each egregious action of this horrifically awful president and his spineless minions among the GOP.  We’ve all watched these last two years while the GOP has shed all their principles and become toadies to this narcissist in chief.

As far as Kavanaugh and as I’ve stated before, the accusations alone were not sufficient.  It was his lying to Congress and obvious partisanship that really made him unqualified to be on the court.  Even a former Justice of SCOTUS said so.  His membership on the court will taint it until he’s gone.  Unfortunately, that will probably be for another generation and possibly the rest of my life

"Keeping score" is what marred the Kavanaugh confirmation process, and what helped Trump get elected in the first place.

In a very real way, the 2016 Democratic campaign was "Vote for her, because she's not Trump." As I recall, that didn't really work out.

Two years later, it's "Vote for him/her because they're not members of Trump's party." Do you really think, given what happened in 2016, that that will work this time?

America is broken. Which candidate is more attractive to the general voter: "Vote for her, because her party didn't break America," or "Vote for her, because she has realistic solutions to fix a broken America"?
 

I know MissB, but not ‘keeping score’ as I called it normalizes what is going on.  I refuse to do that and so should everyone.  If we allow them to normalize this, then we’ve lost.

Because . . . .

This shit ain’t normal!

[MissBarbara]

The GOP could have dropped Kavanaugh, and that would have been the smart thing for them to do. So now they will have to face the consequences.

I wonder why they didn't just find another nominee when they still had time?

I certainly agree that that would have been the smart thing to do.

But before Trump even announced the nominees name, the votes were pretty much lined up strictly along party lines. And, in the end, the final vote when pretty much along party lines.

This is very cynical, but the smartest thing for them to do would have been to nominate a woman or a minority (or both). That way, Democratic Senators would have been far less inclined to vote against him or her, for fear of being labelled a sexist or racist.

I guess the biggest question -- and I don't have the answer -- is whether Kavanaugh's nomination, and the ensuing free-for-all during the confirmation process -- will hurt the GOP's chances in the upcoming Midterms?

[IdleBoast]

Trump announced that Kavanaugh has been found innocent of sexual assault.

Surely a judge with any credibility would have corrected that significant error?

[joan1984]

  I agree.

  We don't need people listening to politicians/pontificators, and acting rashly after listening/watching TV News and Opinion shows, no matter who they may listen to or emulate.

  Why, not long ago, a guy who loved Rachel Maddow, and Bernie Sanders, was inspired by what he heard to head from his home to Alexandria, VA; bring a rifle, lots of ammo, and stalk elected House Republican Baseball players, House Members, wounding seriously the current House Majority Whip, Rep. Steve Scalise, and others.

  Only good guys with guns, Capitol Police on a security detail to protect the House Majority Whip, brought the attempted slaughter to a suitable end, leaving one Officer wounded, and numerous other casualties from the Democrat gunman's mayhem.

  So this is another time we all agree, seems. TY.

Meanwhile there’s a victim that can’t even go home due to the volume of death threats, while she watches the Narcissist in Chief call her a liar on TV encouraging even more animosity towards her.

At some point someone is going to do something really horrific at the instigation of the Narcissist in Chief, and then what?

[psiberzerker]

When has the GoP ever stood for the "Smart thing to do" party?  They mock intelligence.  Not just goldenpalms, they all do.  If I didn't know any better, I'd suspect that whenever they even get the slightest clue, of what the smart thing to do would be?  They do the opposite just out of spite.  If they ever do the smartest thing, it's completely by accident, and so far even Ivanka's dad isn't so bumblingly incompetent.  

I'm afraid we're just going to have to think before we speak, and act, because we know for damned sure they won't.