Supreme Court of the United States

[Hornsby]

There are some clever MoFo's out there...

[Mithrandir]

https://jacobinmag.com/2019/09/brett-kavanaugh-banality-elites-meritocracy

[B-Fly]

I appreciate Flake's compromise here. I know that regardless of how this plays out there are folks who will be hurt and outraged, but I think the time-limited investigation is reasonable given the timing of the allegations and the timing of the election. I thought Senator Graham's red-faced, spittle-mouthed noxiousness was going to carry the day. I'm glad that Flake didn't get so caught up in that rally-round-the-Party rage fest that he couldn't find a reasonable path forward. Senator Graham, on the other hand, will never, ever, ever win back my admiration (which I'll acknowledge was pretty limited to begin with).

[swampdragon]

I appreciate Flake's compromise here. I know that regardless of how this plays out there are folks who will be hurt and outraged, but I think the time-limited investigation is reasonable given the timing of the allegations and the timing of the election. I thought Senator Graham's red-faced, spittle-mouthed noxiousness was going to carry the day. I'm glad that Flake didn't get so caught up in that rally-round-the-Party rage fest that he couldn't find a reasonable path forward. Senator Graham, on the other hand, will never, ever, ever win back my admiration (which I'll acknowledge was pretty limited to begin with).

I am not convinced that one week is enough but I guess we will see. And Graham was just auditioning for the attorney general role.

Lawrence O'Donnell did a pretty good job outlining the Flake decision process on Friday night - and let us not forget Chris Coons who created the compromise with Flakee

[revo]

Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, told reporters that he thinks that some senators have their minds made up on Brett Kavanaugh regardless of the process investigation.

“This really isn’t what I would call a fair process. People have already made up their minds, and now they’re just trying to defeat the nomination by any means whatsoever, including an orchestrated smear campaign against the judge. We’ve really hit a new low in judicial nominations and that’s really saying something," he said.



What he doesn't appear to realize is that the entire GOP, sans three or four senators, also have their minds made up.

[baldgriff]

I think we all agree that "sans three or four senators" that they all have their minds made up - on both sides of the aisle. I read it as more of a this is a waste of time, we all know where we plan to vote so lets just get this done and move on.

[nots]

Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, told reporters that he thinks that some senators have their minds made up on Brett Kavanaugh regardless of the process investigation.

“This really isn’t what I would call a fair process. People have already made up their minds, and now they’re just trying to defeat the nomination by any means whatsoever, including an orchestrated smear campaign against the judge. We’ve really hit a new low in judicial nominations and that’s really saying something," he said.



What he doesn't appear to realize is that the entire GOP, sans three or four senators, also have their minds made up.

Yep, unlike those open minded Dems like Chuck ‘we will fight this at all costs’ Schumer.

[B-Fly]

I think we all agree that "sans three or four senators" that they all have their minds made up - on both sides of the aisle. I read it as more of a this is a waste of time, we all know where we plan to vote so lets just get this done and move on.

That's the thing, though. Absent the sexual assault allegations, this would have been a close vote, with most Democrats voting 'no' (except maybe Manchin, Heitkamp and Donnelly), and probably all Republicans voting 'yes'. If the allegations and whatever inculpatory or exculpatory evidence found has the potential to swing any of Manchin, Heitkamp and Donnelly and then any of Flake, Collins or Murkowski into the 'no' column, then the investigation is very much not a waste of time from an outcome perspective. It could very well be determinative.

As for me, were I a Senator? I started undecided when the nomination was made, but found myself settling in as a soft 'no' based largely on his record of supporting incredibly expansive views on presidential power even before the allegations. (I was a 'yes' on Gorsuch, FWIW.) The multiple sexual misconduct allegations, in my mind, make voting 'yes' on a lifetime appointment to the US Supreme Court an even riskier proposition, but I'm open to the FBI potentially finding exculpatory evidence. (I don't suspect they will, but I have an open mind.) His angry conspiracy theory rant - particularly where he pulled in the idea that this was orchestrated to exact revenge on behalf of the Clintons - sealed it for me. He sounded like Alex Jones.

[revo]

Yep, unlike those open minded Dems like Chuck ‘we will fight this at all costs’ Schumer.

That was Cornyn’s point, so it was made already. Do you disagree with my statement that all but 3 or 4 GOP senators ALSO have made up their minds already? Or are you just being combative?

[nots]

That was Cornyn’s point, so it was made already. Do you disagree with my statement that all but 3 or 4 GOP senators ALSO have made up their minds already? Or are you just being combative?

Neither. I am taking exception to your implication that only the GOP entered this process with their minds made up. But partisans going to partisan I guess.
On a side note: looks like the 3rd accuser is walking her story way back. Color me shocked.

[baldgriff]

B-fly -
So this may surprise you - but I agree with you that his "expansive views" on Presidential power are concerning to me also. My biggest beef with this whole process was that the allegations should not have been handled in the manner that they have been.

I dont know if I would say he sounded like Alex Jones, but when people accuse him of being angry - he is coming from a perspective that very few of us have had to deal with. I cant imagine the amount of stress and frustration he has dealt with. He is actually fighting for his life and trying to get his name back. Honestly, I thought much of it was way tamer than many of us would have been. So I really dont take much issue with his emotional reaction.

[B-Fly]

B-fly -
So this may surprise you - but I agree with you that his "expansive views" on Presidential power are concerning to me also. My biggest beef with this whole process was that the allegations should not have been handled in the manner that they have been.

I dont know if I would say he sounded like Alex Jones, but when people accuse him of being angry - he is coming from a perspective that very few of us have had to deal with. I cant imagine the amount of stress and frustration he has dealt with. He is actually fighting for his life and trying to get his name back. Honestly, I thought much of it was way tamer than many of us would have been. So I really dont take much issue with his emotional reaction.

Assuming he truly knows (or truly believes, to cover the blackout possibility) that he is innocent, then I understand him being angry, and it's why I didn't focus on the fact that he denies the allegations and is angry about them. Rather, I focused on the conspiracy theory "revenge on behalf of the Clintons" thing, because that's right-wing-blogosphere conspiracy theory stuff. You don't just pull that out of nowhere because you're angry and hurt about false allegations. It suggests he's pretty deeply steeped in an anti-Democratic Party, anti-Clintons, anti-"left" conspiracy theory mindset, which is particularly troubling for someone who may have to serve as an impartial jurist on some matters of significant political controversy where left-wing-conspiracy/media conspiracy/deep state cries are among the spaghetti thrown against the wall.

[baldgriff]

I know some have stated that "He wants to overturn Roe v Wade". While I am no supporter of the procedure - if he in fact stated that as his goal or intent that would be something that I would have other concerns about.

I dont think that Roe v Wade needs to be re-adjudicated, the genie is out of the bottle and it will be messier trying to put the genie back in it.

[B-Fly]

I know some have stated that "He wants to overturn Roe v Wade". While I am no supporter of the procedure - if he in fact stated that as his goal or intent that would be something that I would have other concerns about.

I dont think that Roe v Wade needs to be re-adjudicated, the genie is out of the bottle and it will be messier trying to put the genie back in it.

I recognize and understand the concern many have, but I didn't see enough evidence to draw a conclusion that he would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. I agree that doing so would be incredibly messy, to put it mildly, and very dangerous for women.

[DMT]

B-fly -
So this may surprise you - but I agree with you that his "expansive views" on Presidential power are concerning to me also. My biggest beef with this whole process was that the allegations should not have been handled in the manner that they have been.

I dont know if I would say he sounded like Alex Jones, but when people accuse him of being angry - he is coming from a perspective that very few of us have had to deal with. I cant imagine the amount of stress and frustration he has dealt with. He is actually fighting for his life and trying to get his name back. Honestly, I thought much of it was way tamer than many of us would have been. So I really dont take much issue with his emotional reaction.

Funny, Hillary Clinton was able to withstand much greater scrutiny over a much longer timeframe of her life yet she never reacted this way. And as B-Fly highlighted, it was just his belligerent tone, but the bizarre RW talking points that he naturally fell back to that is deeply concerning.

Not surprisingly, many of his classmates from Yale are speaking out about what a liar he was about his past drinking. Why isn't lying under oath a concern to any Republicans? Talk about an embarrassment. Sorry I grouped you in with them, simply going by your online persona.