10/4 Kavanaugh discussion thread

[pitta12]

Oct 4, 2018 9:39:22 GMT -5 bowies said:

Since Graham used to be my senator I’ll offer up that he’s just an opportunist who craves the attention he gets. He suctioned himself to McCain when he was the media darling and now he’s doing it with Trump. I think the abrupt switch came when it was clear that McCain was exiting public life and Graham needed a new pair of coattails.

The Pod Save America guys said something similar, that he often radically changes his position based on what’s popular at the moment. I tend to think this makes the most sense. He just has no actual substance of his own.

[carmenere]

Oct 4, 2018 8:28:32 GMT -5 isabel said:

Oct 4, 2018 8:27:37 GMT -5 bowies said:

It’s about locking in the power of Christian white men for as long as possible. That’s how they get rich.

Yes. I don’t think it’s so much that they have something to hide. They’re just drunk with power and will do whatever it takes to maintain it.

I think bowies nailed it, but I do think that a lot of them have done dirty things along the way. I'm sure some Dems have, too. Maybe Russia has that dirt, maybe the don't. Maybe it doesn't even matter in a post-fact world where any scandal can be ignored. 

[bowies]

Oct 4, 2018 9:44:00 GMT -5 pitta12 said:

Oct 4, 2018 9:39:22 GMT -5 bowies said:

Since Graham used to be my senator I’ll offer up that he’s just an opportunist who craves the attention he gets. He suctioned himself to McCain when he was the media darling and now he’s doing it with Trump. I think the abrupt switch came when it was clear that McCain was exiting public life and Graham needed a new pair of coattails.

The Pod Save America guys said something similar, that he often radically changes his position based on what’s popular at the moment. I tend to think this makes the most sense. He just has no actual substance of his own.

Ha, they would know too! He used to show up occasionally at my previous employer to glad hand and make a speech. He just loved having a fuss made over him. I couldn’t even tell you who the other senator was at the time.

[open24hours]

Oct 4, 2018 9:04:11 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Oct 4, 2018 9:01:49 GMT -5 open24hours said:

I am not surprised if the FBI investigation did not find anything about Dr. Blasey’s assault. No corroboration doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. I can give names of people I was with or came into contact with on the night of my assault, but they have no reason to remember anything. To them, it was just another night. The same applies here. I’d not be surprised if Kavanugh and Judge honestly don’t remember it either. For them, it was just another night not worth remembering either.

The fact that it was an “investigation” in quotation marks rather than an actual one has more to do with the lack of corroboration included in the report than memory gaps.

I agree that the investigation was a sham. I would have expected them to interview Dr. Blasey and Kavanaugh to ask questions that would have led to an investigation about any of the physical details. We know those interviews didn’t happen. Could the FBI have been able to determine the location of the house? Could the caldendars suggest other dates the assault occurred? It appears that the FBI only relies on a handful of interviews with people who might not actually remember anything, maybe except for Judge who has an incentive to conveniently forget.

[icedcoffee]

The rules of viewing the report: www.cnn.com/2018/10/04/politics/senator-fbi-report-review/index.html

What is the point in an FBI investigation if you basically can't use the results of it?!?! They can't even take notes as they review it?!?

[pitta12]

Welp, Susan Collins is saying it appears to be a very thorough investigation, and Schumer and Feinstein said the most notable thing is what was not included in the report, so welcome Justice Kavanaugh I guess.

[ESF]

McConnell is on TV bragging and I feel like vomiting.

[katieinthecity]

Oct 4, 2018 10:24:06 GMT -5 pitta12 said:

Welp, Susan Collins is saying it appears to be a very thorough investigation, and Schumer and Feinstein said the most notable thing is what was not included in the report, so welcome Justice Kavanaugh I guess.

I just don't understand how any thinking, sane person can believe that it's thorough if they didn't even interview the two principal participants in the alleged event. Does Collins think we're all stupid? Is SHE stupid? When is the gaslighting of the entire fucking country going to end?!

[ESF]

Oct 4, 2018 10:27:09 GMT -5 katieinthecity said:

Oct 4, 2018 10:24:06 GMT -5 pitta12 said:

Welp, Susan Collins is saying it appears to be a very thorough investigation, and Schumer and Feinstein said the most notable thing is what was not included in the report, so welcome Justice Kavanaugh I guess.

I just don't understand how any thinking, sane person can believe that it's thorough if they didn't even interview the two principal participants in the alleged event. Does Collins think we're all stupid? Is SHE stupid? When is the gaslighting of the entire fucking country going to end?!

Sane people don't identify as Republican.  She does. That tells you all you need to know.

[heat40]

So this is how it goes huh. They always get their way. I don’t know how this movie ends, but I’m hating all of it. I’m so angry.

[bowies]

Oct 4, 2018 10:32:29 GMT -5 heat40 said:

So this is how it goes huh. They always get their way. I don’t know how this movie ends, but I’m hating all of it. I’m so angry.

Yeah. The motivation on Kavanaugh became to “show us” where we really stand.

[ESF]

If you thought he excavated his spine from McConnell's ass last week, you would be wrong.

[lust2hart]

For something to make us chuckle -

I don't use Twitter, but on "God" facebook page, there's a post dated October 2 - an image share from Twitter from aida chavez, saying, "ladies, what's your makeup routine? i'm looking for a new foundation, preferably liquid but still matte and now that the men have stopped reading we riot at midnight"

I don't know what sorts of comments are on her actual Twitter post, but the comments on the fb post are pretty great.

[eclaires]

Honestly I’m still blown away that the sexual assault allegation is even the main issue. He acted completely nuts in that hearing and that should disqualify him. I don’t need to see the results of a BS investigation to determine he doesn’t belong on the court. He did that himself last week.

But I guess I have standards and a functioning brain which isn’t a thing for Republicans.

[MrsAxilla]

Oct 4, 2018 10:42:36 GMT -5 lust2hart said:

For something to make us chuckle -

I don't use Twitter, but on "God" facebook page, there's a post dated October 2 - an image share from Twitter from aida chavez, saying, "ladies, what's your makeup routine? i'm looking for a new foundation, preferably liquid but still matte and now that the men have stopped reading we riot at midnight"

I don't know what sorts of comments are on her actual Twitter post, but the comments on the fb post are pretty great.

Ha! I posted that last week in one of my phish groups and (and got 900 likes, which was exciting!) so I'm going to go ahead and take some credit

[bowies]

So, question.

What are the chances of states being able to retain power over setting their own regulations? I’m thinking specifically of the coming fight over California’s environmental regulations and net neutrality law. This is one of the decisions I fear the most (other than Roe in the future and the double jeopardy one this term).

[mbcdefg]

Rhetorical question but where the fuck is Bernie Sanders. I haven’t heard a peep out of him in all this.

[SallyJ]

Oct 4, 2018 8:00:11 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

I don't understand at all why in 2018 the process is to have 1 hard copy of the report that they alternate viewing. WHY?!?!?!

And on what authority? Is there a rule or law that makes this so? If not, don't follow whatever fucked up protocol this is.

ETA: I haven't read the article where it talks about the rules for this report so it could be in there.

[mskitkat]

Oct 4, 2018 10:58:05 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

Rhetorical question but where the fuck is Bernie Sanders. I haven’t heard a peep out of him in all this.

Too busy taking credit for Amazon’s min wage increase.

[isabel]

Oct 4, 2018 10:44:54 GMT -5 eclaires said:

Honestly I’m still blown away that the sexual assault allegation is even the main issue. He acted completely nuts in that hearing and that should disqualify him. I don’t need to see the results of a BS investigation to determine he doesn’t belong on the court. He did that himself last week.

But I guess I have standards and a functioning brain which isn’t a thing for Republicans.

This is where I sit. The assault allegations are bad. I believe Ford. But his opening speech was more than enough to disqualify him all on its own. It was outrageous coming from a man who will sit on the highest court in the land and make decisions that impact everyone in this country. I am appalled that that display of partisan attitude and his inability to control his emotions is not enough to convince these people that he cannot and should not do this job.

[debatethis]

Oct 4, 2018 10:56:22 GMT -5 bowies said:

So, question.

What are the chances of states being able to retain power over setting their own regulations? I’m thinking specifically of the coming fight over California’s environmental regulations and net neutrality law. This is one of the decisions I fear the most (other than Roe in the future and the double jeopardy one this term).

I'm far from a lawyer but I think the fed's likely to win on both counts due to interstate commerce laws - Arizona/other more conservative states in the region could argue that CA's regulations pose undue burden on regional trading partners (esp in re: environmental regs) and our soon-to-be extremely conservative supreme court is likely to side in their favor.

I hope I have that completely wrong.

[raangoli]

Oct 4, 2018 10:44:54 GMT -5 eclaires said:

Honestly I’m still blown away that the sexual assault allegation is even the main issue. He acted completely nuts in that hearing and that should disqualify him. I don’t need to see the results of a BS investigation to determine he doesn’t belong on the court. He did that himself last week.

But I guess I have standards and a functioning brain which isn’t a thing for Republicans.

The list of things that should disqualify him are long like the assaults, the debt, his ability to remain calm under scrutiny, etc. But like you said, logic has no place here it seems.

[isabel]

Oct 4, 2018 10:39:08 GMT -5 ESF said:

If you thought he excavated his spine from McConnell's ass last week, you would be wrong.

Why did he even bother? I'm honestly asking. What on earth in his tiny brain leads him to do this shit? For fuck's sake, stand up tall and be proud of what you stand for, even if what you stand for makes you a terrible person!

[mbcdefg]

Oct 4, 2018 11:07:45 GMT -5 isabel said:

Oct 4, 2018 10:44:54 GMT -5 eclaires said:

Honestly I’m still blown away that the sexual assault allegation is even the main issue. He acted completely nuts in that hearing and that should disqualify him. I don’t need to see the results of a BS investigation to determine he doesn’t belong on the court. He did that himself last week.

But I guess I have standards and a functioning brain which isn’t a thing for Republicans.

This is where I sit. The assault allegations are bad. I believe Ford. But his opening speech was more than enough to disqualify him all on its own. It was outrageous coming from a man who will sit on the highest court in the land and make decisions that impact everyone in this country. I am appalled that that display of partisan attitude and his inability to control his emotions is not enough to convince these people that he cannot and should not do this job.

No, see, he was just standing up for himself because he’s oppressed:

Barf

[isabel]

Oct 4, 2018 11:12:21 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

Oct 4, 2018 11:07:45 GMT -5 isabel said:

This is where I sit. The assault allegations are bad. I believe Ford. But his opening speech was more than enough to disqualify him all on its own. It was outrageous coming from a man who will sit on the highest court in the land and make decisions that impact everyone in this country. I am appalled that that display of partisan attitude and his inability to control his emotions is not enough to convince these people that he cannot and should not do this job.

No, see, he was just standing up for himself because he’s oppressed:




Barf

Jesus Christ. And they call us snowflakes.

[msmerymac]

Oct 4, 2018 9:21:28 GMT -5 bex said:

Oct 4, 2018 9:14:11 GMT -5 ESF said:

Seriously. There is zero evidence that they were decent people ten or twenty years ago. Robert Bork was a colossal piece of shit and he was during the Cold War. This is who they are and who they always have been.

The only one I could buy the blackmail theory on is Lindsey Graham. And that’s because his did criticize Trump with some regularity, had his emails hacked, and then became not just a loyal foot soldier, but like he’s purposely going out of his way to be the most deplorable MAGAt outside of the shitty Trump family.

Yeah, Graham is......interesting....and by that I mean he seems to have a specific motivation here, so I would buy the blackmail theory on him.

For the other Rs though - we need to stop with the "Russia has dirt on them." Maybe Russia does, probably more likely for some than for others. But that's not why they are voting for Kavanaugh, or falling in line with things like the awful tax bill. These people want to consolidate and maintain their power. they were like this 5 years ago, 10 years ago, 20 years ago. 

And if Russia did have dirt on them, it's kind of their own fault. Don't do anything dirty and then there's no dirt for Russia to use as blackmail.

[darthnbjenni]

Oct 4, 2018 9:44:00 GMT -5 pitta12 said:

Oct 4, 2018 9:39:22 GMT -5 bowies said:

Since Graham used to be my senator I’ll offer up that he’s just an opportunist who craves the attention he gets. He suctioned himself to McCain when he was the media darling and now he’s doing it with Trump. I think the abrupt switch came when it was clear that McCain was exiting public life and Graham needed a new pair of coattails.

The Pod Save America guys said something similar, that he often radically changes his position based on what’s popular at the moment. I tend to think this makes the most sense. He just has no actual substance of his own.

He's been known as Flip Flop Lindsey for years here in SC. Liberals don't like him, the Tea Partiers/Trumpers don't like him. He needed to stay relevant. 

[msmerymac]

Just emailed Pat Toomey's office again, got the same pat response he was handing out last week.

My favorite part:
I found Dr. Ford's testimony to be sincere and moving, but lacking important specifics. Judge Kavanaugh's repeated and unequivocal denial was also sincere and very persuasive. In addition, Judge Kavanaugh's testimony has been corroborated and Dr. Ford's testimony has not. All of the witnesses she claimed were present, including her lifelong friend, either failed to corroborate or refuted her testimony. The other sexual misconduct allegations against Judge Kavanaugh are either completely unsubstantiated or preposterous.

Unsubstantiated or preposterous, huh?

My other favorite part:
If the FBI discovers new information during its supplemental background check, I will certainly take it into account before voting.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on Brett Kavanaugh. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of assistance.

1) You do not actually care about my thoughts
2) The old tired, "well if anything substantial is found, of course we'll use that to influence our decisions" and then the deflection that nothing meaningful has come up. They could have a video of him participating in a gang rape and write it off that it was thirty years ago and of course he's changed.

[icedcoffee]

It's a scary time to be a man.

[hocus2]

Oct 4, 2018 11:12:21 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

Oct 4, 2018 11:07:45 GMT -5 isabel said:

This is where I sit. The assault allegations are bad. I believe Ford. But his opening speech was more than enough to disqualify him all on its own. It was outrageous coming from a man who will sit on the highest court in the land and make decisions that impact everyone in this country. I am appalled that that display of partisan attitude and his inability to control his emotions is not enough to convince these people that he cannot and should not do this job.

No, see, he was just standing up for himself because he’s oppressed:

  While I don't agree that Kavanaugh is currently oppressed or has even been oppressed at any time in his life I found the article helpful to understand what the other side is thinking. I do agree that our personal beliefs will act like a lens on what you hear and believe. I generally see and the 3-ring-circus that has been going on has been designed to be in the GOP favor. I also just don't buy that conservatives are particularly shunned or limited on collage campus. Didn't most of the conservative on SCOTUS go to Harvard or Yale? 

In the end I feel that what is really going on is the impact of fox news on a generation of folks. Politics has become much more about identity and tribe than it was when I younger.