২৪ সেপ্টেম্বর, ২০১৮

"These are smears, pure and simple. And they debase our public discourse ... But they are also a threat to any man or woman who wishes to serve our country."

"Such grotesque and obvious character assassination — if allowed to succeed — will dissuade competent and good people of all political persuasions from service. I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process. The coordinated effort to destroy my good name will not drive me out. The vile threats of violence against my family will not drive me out. The last-minute character assassination will not succeed."

Writes Brett Kavanaugh, quoted in the NYT. Also in the Times article is this undermining of the New Yorker's publication of a new allegation from a former Yale classmate named Deborah Ramirez:
The New York Times had interviewed several dozen people over the past week in an attempt to corroborate Ms. Ramirez’s story, and could find no one with firsthand knowledge. Ms. Ramirez herself contacted former Yale classmates asking if they recalled the episode and told some of them that she could not be certain Mr. Kavanaugh was the one who exposed himself. The New Yorker strongly stood by its article.
The NYT also refers to Michael Avenatti's "additional salacious allegations on Twitter," and characterizes Republicans as "caught between the growing anger of many female voters over the Kavanaugh allegations and the demands of core conservative voters infuriated by what they see as a Democratic plot."

The new allegations — from Avenatti and The New Yorker — are, I think, helping Kavanaugh's case. The NYT seems to realize this.

I read between the lines that NYT would not itself have published the Ramirez allegations. It had the story and tried unsuccessfully to corroborate it. And it won't even repeat the "salacious" allegations Avenatti dumped on Twitter. After all the careful work creating credence and empathy for Christine Blasey Ford, we now have an onslaught, a piling on, and it's making Kavanaugh into a sort of hero, who must stand his ground. It's no longer just about the fulfillment of his own aspirations to power and prestige and his own good name. He's now the champion of everyone in the future who — if he fails — will reject the call to public service.

ADDED: A preview of Kavanaugh on FOX News at 7 Eastern:

২৩৭টি মন্তব্য:

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Drago বলেছেন...

Smears.

From smear merchants who wear their smears proudly on their sleeves.

We have a couple of them on this very site.

Whatever it takes to get rid of Trump, defeat the conservatives and put the dems in their rightful place above us all.

Yep, we definitely have a couple of those around here....

Freder Frederson বলেছেন...

On the other hand, the accusations may be true. In that case, Kavanaugh is a liar who has been trapped by his categorical denial.

zipity বলেছেন...

Hold the vote now.

Hold the vote now.

Hold the vote now.

Hold the vote now.

Hold the vote now.

HOLD THE VOTE NOW.....!

theribbonguy বলেছেন...

All the left has to do to regain some of it's credibility is to not be insane...it can't even manage that.

Birkel বলেছেন...

I'm not sure Kavanaugh would have been a squishy Kennedy-esque kind of Justice before this nonsense. After this, I cannot see how Kavanaugh could be a squish. The treatment he is receiving from some quarters (Yale, the bureaucracy, the media, etc) is bad strategy even if it's good tactics.

Trump's pick to replace RBG will be largely inoculated, also.

zipity বলেছেন...

I have it on good authority from some people who went to college with him that Freder Frederson sodomized puppies before putting them on a Weber grill.

Nobody else remembers it, and I have no witnesses, but it MUST be true.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves বলেছেন...

The leftwing collective is a corrupt pile of horse shit. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris are disgusting. Diane Feinstein is vile.

tcrosse বলেছেন...

On the other hand, the accusations may be true.

And pigs might fly. Prove it, asshole.

Ken B বলেছেন...

He doesn't sound distraught. I guess he's lying then.

rhhardin বলেছেন...

They're doing smear maximization. Too little is too little, too much is too much. Somewhere in the middle is the maximum smear.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves বলেছেন...

Hillarywoodland Dildo(D). For the children.

breaking: Kavanaugh and Trump both gang raped Stormy Daniels in JUNIOR High School.

Chest Rockwell বলেছেন...

All this episode has done is convince me to repeal the 19th amendment. And have fainting couches available.

I quit voting for the Democratic party a decade ago. I can't image how any white male wouldn't do the same. That party is a steaming pile of sh!t.

Patrick বলেছেন...

I often wonder how much Trump is paying these idiots.

Ralph L বলেছেন...

Bill Clinton is upset that none of this Kavanaugh trash came out in 1998 when he needed it.

Amadeus 48 বলেছেন...

I canceled my subscription to the New Yorker at 5:30 this morning. Isn't the internet great?

Ken B বলেছেন...

Zipity
Bzzzt. Sorry not credible. Try it again but sound distraught and emotional. Distraught emotional people have perfect memories.

Bay Area Guy বলেছেন...

Good letter, Kavanaugh. A step in the right direction. Now, he has to hammer it home, under oath, at the Committee hearing. Call out these crazy cat ladies as lying political operatives. And he has to call out those Democrat Senators and media outlets pushing these smears.

Grassley should hold the committee vote on Friday, after the hearing.

McConnell should hold the full Senate vote on Monday. If Flake or Corker wimp out, not much can be done. Nominate Amy Barett and get moving quickly, perhaps even forego committee hearings and go straight to a Senate vote. These fuckers play dirty, gotta take off the gloves.

Big Mike বলেছেন...

... and it's making Kavanaugh into a sort of hero ...

And a better person you are, Althouse.

Unknown বলেছেন...

Blogger theribbonguy said...
All the left has to do to regain some of it's credibility is to not be insane...it can't even manage that.

And yet it seems Mr Trump can!

rhhardin বলেছেন...

Kavanaugh is arguing structure, big system. Women argue details, home economics.

Wayne Moore বলেছেন...

As I was reading the New Yorker article it seemed to be satire worthy of The Onion or The Babylon Bee.

Trumpit বলেছেন...

He must not be confirmed or there will be hell to pay for the GOP. Kavanaugh was a known carouser at Georgetown Prep. That's not a smear, it's the truth. He is not a good role model for anybody, or Supreme Court material. Bush and the GOP gave us unqualified Clarence Thomas, a known dolt with grubby paws. It's time for a rich entitled kid to pay the piper; a lot is known about him. As far as what we don't know about him, as Donald Rumsfeld so eloquently explained:

Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know. And if one looks throughout the history of our country and other free countries, it is the latter category that tend to be the difficult ones. I

Virgil Hilts বলেছেন...

Good for him. I starting writing something here last night, but deleted it. When this crap came out yesterday, I think I was more angry at the scumbags on the left than I have been at anything "political" since maybe the Obama's administration's gutless refusal to send help to our people in Benghazi (I'm still convinced Valerie Jarrett had a role in that).
I am still really, really pissed off. I have to think that this is going to increase Republican turnout in a few weeks. I sat out the 2016 election, disgusted with both sides, but not this time.

Ken B বলেছেন...

FF has made his standard plain. It may be true, that's enough. This is a laxer standard than Ann. She demands both that it might be true, and tears.

n.n বলেছেন...

Sex politics. Sex and politics.

Stand strong. Stand your ground.

Warlock trials are unconstitutional.

zipity বলেছেন...

Trumpit said...

Forgot to take your meds today, eh Trumpit?

Why don't you go play on the Interstate....

Henry বলেছেন...

He's now the champion of everyone in the future who — if he falls — will reject the call to public service.

This is why we need robot umpires.

Virgil Hilts বলেছেন...

I also started writing a couple days ago - but deleted it - that it's time for someone like BK to make a "have you no decency speech" and direct it right at Senator DiFi in an open hearing. God, I would love to draft it. It could be an epic moment in American politics.

Big Mike বলেছেন...

Grassley should hold the committee vote on Friday, after the hearing.

Why wait? Call the question immediately.

If Flake or Corker wimp out ...

I gather that the eponymous Jeff Flake thought highly of Brett Kavanaugh when Mitt Romney was going to nominate him. Now that Donald Trump nominated him, not so much. Everyone needs to send money to McSally so she can erase the stain of having Arizona represented by Flank and McCain.

(Or have Arizona revert to territory status.)

Matt Sablan বলেছেন...

Good on him standing firm. We'll learn the truth, one way or the other, and at the moment -- things look good for Kavanaugh, given neither accuser is credible. Avenatti might have some random ace in the hole, but... uh... multiple Fs in Ffffourth of July is not going to sink this ship.

Trumpit বলেছেন...

One mustn't confuse "smear" with "schmear."

Schmear is a spread such as cream cheese that you put on a bagel. A smear is a lie that you spread. Smearing is what the Trump trolls practice around here and elsewhere.

Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of New York বলেছেন...

If the standard is now "It might have been me!" then, yeah, I am in trouble in the #METOO era, after all, if it's true, I am a liar, and the " if it's true" part doesn't seem to count.

exhelodrvr1 বলেছেন...

Boy, if the beloved and full-of-integrity NYT wouldn't publish it, it must have been really bad. They wouldn't even attempt the anonymous source route!!

rcocean বলেছেন...

Too bad "High Tech Lynching" is already taken.

BTW, I watched parts of Judge Thomas' opening statement again, this AM.

It still gives me chills. And it still disgusts me to see Ted "the Swimmer" Kennedy up there on the Senate Panel.

Bilwick বলেছেন...

Say what you will, but Dingbat Hirono's rule (in the tradition of Hillary's all-rape-accusers-must-be-believed, which she withdrew once someone asked, "Even Juanita Broaddrick?") certainly simplifies things. Now if the accused is (a) male and (b) believes in the Constitution, he MUST be guilty! Thus avoiding the need for factual evidence and logical thought, two things "liberals" like to avoid the way Dracula avoided mirrors and crucifixes.

Francisco D বলেছেন...

Trumpit seems to be a pretty good representative for the Democratic Party.

Completely ruthless, devoid of facts and logic, showing no respect for the rule of law and pretending to be sooooo angry.

Thanks for participating. We need a reminder about how the modern Left operates because most of us cannot conceive of being so dramatically disingenuous.

Richard বলেছেন...

I feel empowered to corroborate fully Zipity's (2:40) credible accusation of puupyphilia etc., leveled against that Frederson fella.
Why? Because I believe Zipity. I am unaware that he has ever lied to me before.
Also, I stand ready to defend this view on all 50 cable channels.

rcocean বলেছেন...

Hirano is unbelievable. I've known plenty of Japanese-Americans, all them super-bright people. Hirano wins the award the dumbest Japanese American.

Heatshield বলেছেন...

This kind of garbage undermines the #MeToo movement - a movement I want to see succeed. I know too many women who have been on the receiving end. In the 90's there was real progress being made on women's rights and dignity in the workplace. The Dems and "feminists" threw it away in support of Bill. Now there is another chance. But by using these ridiculously thin and almost certainly politically motivated charges, the Dems are setting the stage to undermine other far more legitimate #MeToo claims.

Henry বলেছেন...

On the other hand, the accusations may be true. In that case, Kavanaugh is a liar who has been trapped by his categorical denial.

If the accusations are true, it doesn't matter how categorial Kavanaugh has been with his denails. If the accusations have been wildly exaggerated and some small semblance of them is shown to be true, only then is Kavanaugh's categorical denial an issue.

Biotrekker বলেছেন...

GOP needs to get the Ford testimony done, K's rebuttal, and then a quick vote to confirm. If enough RINO wimps puss-out, nominate Amey Coney Barrett, who's even more to the right on abortion, and ram her confirmation through. She will be impervious to the me-too smears.

BTW, assuming K is confirmed, Barrett is the obvious choice to replace RGB when the time comes.

Bill, Republic of Texas বলেছেন...

Speaking of Bill Clinton.

Has anybody seen the photo meme of Bill Clinton looking scared and the tagline is something like:

The FBI is going to start investigating 35 year old sex assault allegations? Let's all welcome Justice Kavanaugh!

Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of New York বলেছেন...

The Democrats are not even pretending anymore that they don't control the press.

Amadeus 48 বলেছেন...

Freder--the accusations aren't very believable. Ford doesn't know when, doesn't know where, and, according to the witnesses she named (all of whom essentially said they don't know what she is talking about), doesn't know who. Ramirez isn't sure who, and no one she cited as a witness backs her up anyway.

Kavanaugh, despite Althouse's "too good to be true" sniping, appears to have led an exemplary life according to those who know and have worked with him.

So, I am going with common sense and saying that Kavanaugh should be confirmed. Joe Donnelly, Heidi Heitcamp, and Joe Manchin are going to have to vote. Collins, Murkowski, Corker and Flake are going to have to decide if they like this process.

Would you want this to happen to your son?

The only good thing about this is that it shows the Democratic Party in the harsh light of truth. Their leaders (of which I am sure you are not one) are moral midgets.

নামহীন বলেছেন...

Virgil Hilts: I also started writing a couple days ago - but deleted it - that it's time for someone like BK to make a "have you no decency speech" and direct it right at Senator DiFi in an open hearing. God, I would love to draft it. It could be an epic moment in American politics.

First blast of the trumpet against the monstrous regiment of catladies.

Mike Sylwester বলেছেন...

... but ... but ... but ...

... Deborah Ramirez seemed to be distraught!

So, she must be telling the truth !!!

readering বলেছেন...

rcocean wins award for dumbest comment on Japanese-Americans?

Jim at বলেছেন...

The left will rue the day they decided to tear this country apart in their pursuit of power and control.

They don't care now.

But they will.

Matt Sablan বলেছেন...

"On the other hand, the accusations may be true. In that case, Kavanaugh is a liar who has been trapped by his categorical denial."

-- All accusations may be true. We have to weigh them on what we learn and know. One: Ford's accusation changed frequently. Two: No first-hand witness corroborates either accusation. Three: Both were "recalled" memories forgotten until recently.

There's no reason to think Kavanaugh is a liar.

Nonapod বলেছেন...

On one side we have a guy who went through 6 FBI background checks, seems to have more female witnesses to his good character than there are stars in the sky, and has evidently lead a pretty good life with a loving family.

On the other side we have an 11th hour single decades old sex assault allegation based on (probably) drunken fuzzy memories of events that happened at some sort of party at some vague house probably near a golf course sometime maybe in the summer of 1982... or maybe some other summer... or maybe it was some other season or year.

And then another apparently recently retrieved memory of a decades old event of... something sexually inappropriate... maybe... perhaps...

Draw your own conclusions I guess.

rcocean বলেছেন...

We got one piece of Luck.

The Maverick is dead.

Can you imagine the damage McCain would be causing right now. He'd have already formed another "Gang of 8" and gotten Kavanaugh to withdraw, to the applause of his buddies at the NYT.

Jim at বলেছেন...

there are things we know we know.

Yes. And we know you're batshit crazy.

rcocean বলেছেন...

"rcocean wins award for dumbest comment on Japanese-Americans?"

SJW: Derp, Derp.

Rcocean: What does that mean?

SJW: Derp, Derp.

Bay Area Guy বলেছেন...

If Roger Corman were alive, he'd come out with,"The Attack of the Crazy Cat-Women."

It follows a clan of 40-something year old sexually frustrated, woke women, mad at men for no longer hitting on them, but unwilling to fully go lesbian. Instead, they roam the college campuses and blog sites, irritating most sane people, until night-time, when they unleash their army of feral cats to rummage through garbage cans, looking for food scraps and the incriminating shredded papers of their enemies to post on websites.

Meow!

bagoh20 বলেছেন...

"characterizes Republicans as "caught between the growing anger of many female voters over the Kavanaugh allegations and the demands of core conservative voters infuriated by what they see as a Democratic plot."

Most women I talk to find this shit by leftist women attempting to destroy a man over politics embarrassing and infuriating. Not all females live in NYC. Yea, some are getting angry, but not at Kavanaugh.

Nothing would be better than women voters exacting a price from the unhinged party. Are you really going to vote for hysteria. I thought that was an insult.

Birkel বলেছেন...

Republican Party favorability is at 45%.
That is one percent above Democrat Party favorability.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/242906/republican-party-favorability-highest-seven-years.aspx

I'm sure the Michael Avenatti claims that lost Chuck, fopdoodle extraordinaire will improve the Blue Wave chances.

Mike Sylwester বলেছেন...

Zipity at 2:38 PM
HOLD THE VOTE NOW.....!

The Senate Republicans have to appease Flake, Corker, Collins and Murkowoski.

That's why the vote was not held last Thursday.

Ignorance is Bliss বলেছেন...

Breaking News: The New York Times has standards...

Dave Begley বলেছেন...

How in the world could any fair-minded and decent person remain a Democrat after this? Who wants to be associated with these evil and terrible people?

Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of New York বলেছেন...

Twice, as a young man, I had a van roll up to me while walking alone at night and had guys inside open the slide door and ask me for a light, or to get in. Both times I quickly split, nothing happened, they drove on. I could lead you today to both spots, 40 odd years later.

She is suffering Trump Derangement Syndrome.

dreams বলেছেন...

And I think this will help the Republicans in Nov., people have a sense of fair play and they can see that the crooked liberal dimms have gone mad with their lust for power. It's totalitarian.

Dave Begley বলেছেন...

I very much hope that Judge Kavanaugh launches the mother of all defamation cases against DiFi, The New Yorker, Ronan Farrow, Jane Mayer and Creepy Porn Lawyer.

These actions were all undertaken with actual malice, that is, reckless disregard for the truth. Bankrupt all of them. Burn them down.

CWJ বলেছেন...

"On the other hand, the accusations may be true."

We also don't know of dozens of other accusations which might be true.

For example someone might accuse Chuck Schumer of anal rape during his high school years. That may be true.

Or someone might accuse Barney Frank of having run a callboy service out of the congressional cloakroom. That might be ... oh wait.

rcocean বলেছেন...

"The Senate Republicans have to appease Flake, Corker, Collins and Murkowoski."

Yep, its these creeps who are the real villains.

rcocean বলেছেন...

'Twice, as a young man, I had a van roll up to me while walking alone at night and had guys inside open the slide door and ask me for a light, or to get in."

Really. How often do you visit Capital Hill?

Jess বলেছেন...

I think too many people fail to realize too many years passed. Regardless of what happened, and without evidence, the allegation of a crime is only vicious rumor. Feinstein knows this, the supporters of Ford know this, the Congressional Committee knows this, and anyone with more intelligence than a garden vegetable knows this. For this to have reached this point indicates a huge failure by public officials, and the media, to be honorable, while seeking integrity.

dreams বলেছেন...

"The Senate Republicans have to appease Flake, Corker, Collins and Murkowoski."

Not so, they don't like how the crooked Dems have behaved, Flake, Corker, Collins and Murkowoski don't like it either.

John Pickering বলেছেন...

He's now the champion of everyone in the future who — if he fails — will reject the call to public service.

Let's hope all the sex predators out there take their lead from Kavanaugh when he fails and decline the call to public service. For goodness' sake, Ann.

cubanbob বলেছেন...

Bill, Republic of Texas said...
Speaking of Bill Clinton.

Has anybody seen the photo meme of Bill Clinton looking scared and the tagline is something like:

The FBI is going to start investigating 35 year old sex assault allegations? Let's all welcome Justice Kavanaugh!"

No I don't care who you are but that there is funny!

Freder the easy answer to your dilema is simple. Confirm Kavanaugh and continue the investigation. If he is as bad as the Left claims he will be shamed into resigning. If not, then the drumbeat for his impeachment and removal will be loud and clear and he will see the light.

While we don't know what the final outcome will be, so far Trump is divinely blessed with the enemies he has. They appear to be Wile E Coyote to Trump's Road Runner. Either God loves Trump or he is setting him up for a fall. Time will tell. In the meantime his enemies are frothing at the mouth.

hombre বলেছেন...

"Piling on"? Seriously, Althouse? Ford named five people other than herself who had knowledge of the incident. All of them contradict her. Even her therapist's notes contradict her tale to the Democrats. She is not only uncorroborated, she is unanimously disputed. The others, BTW, were the equivalent of under oath. If she contradicts them under oath, she should be prosecuted for perjury.

Say, are any of the post-Fox #metoo women who have come forward not lefties/Democrats? Any of them at all? The CNN interview of Republican women voters certainly didn't go as planned by CNN.

(https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/09/when_the_puppets_wont_cooperate_cnn_surprised_by_womens_reaction_to_kavanaugh_case.html)

rcocean বলেছেন...

Kavanaugh is a Bushie.

So, why doesn't George Bush, roll up his sleeves, and come to DC and attack these smear merchants.

Or does he just attack Trump?

Chest Rockwell বলেছেন...

"I very much hope that Judge Kavanaugh launches the mother of all defamation cases against DiFi, The New Yorker, Ronan Farrow, Jane Mayer and Creepy Porn Lawyer. "

So do I.

Great book btw!
https://www.amazon.com/Conspiracy-Peter-Gawker-Anatomy-Intrigue-ebook/dp/B07637TDJJ

Amadeus 48 বলেছেন...

The party of Bill Clinton, Ted Kennedy, and JFK shows its true colors.

dreams বলেছেন...
এই মন্তব্যটি লেখক দ্বারা সরানো হয়েছে।
Mark Jones বলেছেন...

I, too, can confirm Freder molesting and then grilling puppies. I was there. I saw it happen. I can't...exactly remember when. Or where. Or who else was there. But the image of how he brutally abused those puppies and then murdered them is seared--SEARED--into my memory!

dreams বলেছেন...

As to the sluts are us, the crooked Dems have reached the point of diminishing returns or to put it another way diminishing marginal utility. Even worse, it's backfiring.

CWJ বলেছেন...

readering on record denying Japanese Americans are super smart.

rcocean বলেছেন...

"Piling on"? Seriously, Althouse?"

I don't know Hombre. Ford has made some convincing allegations.

I look forward to the hearings and learning what year the assault to place, and where.
And how she got to "somebodies house" and how she got home from "Somebodies house". Not to mention how she knew Kavenaugh and Judge, since they didn't live in the same neighborhood and went to different schools.

Birkel বলেছেন...

Like Mark Jones, the memory of Freder Frederson's puppy abuse is seared into my brain. I still have the hat.

I remember that the incident occurred somewhere near Freder Frederson's hometown and that he bragged about how he had stolen the puppies. I get very emotional thinking about how awful it all was. Fortunately, my psychiatrist helped me recover these memories.

Jim at বলেছেন...

John Pickering tried to rape me. In 1982. Or maybe it was '83.
Somewhere in California. Or New York.

Then - at Drunken State University - he tried to teabag my friend. My shrink tells me so.

I must be believed.

n.n বলেছেন...

Would you want this to happen to your son?

It's not just our sons.

Something is broken when the USA women are dominated by white girls next door
-- the guardian

Diversity is a left-wing (not even radical left), Progressive policy.

The Crack Emcee বলেছেন...

"After all the careful work creating credence and empathy for Christine Blasey Ford, we now have an onslaught, a piling on, and it's making Kavanaugh into a sort of hero, who must stand his ground. It's no longer just about the fulfillment of his own aspirations to power and prestige and his own good name. He's now the champion of everyone in the future who — if he fails — will reject the call to public service."

Stop it. I can't keep saying he's getting in already. This is theatre and nothing more. Except, there's not even a hint of drama in it because the result was a foregone conclusion years ago (Everybody say "Thanks" to Harry Reid). I was tripping on this paragraph:

Some of my students now want to bring a gun into my classroom. They think 9/11 was a conspiracy. They want to join the anti-vaxxer movement. They’re ready to begin the incel rebellion, or the second civil war. They promote watered-down forms of white nationalism.

Now, put that against - or with - the national deception going on with Kavanaugh and the Democratsand, seriously, THAT'S when you got a crazy mix somebody just might need to get going on.

Richard Dolan বলেছেন...

Glenn R likes to say that the Dems are going to hate having to live under their own rules, and that is very likely to be proven true many times over whenever next a Dem gets elected president. The Reps never went after Dem nominees (certainly not Dem nominees to SCOTUS) in this intensely personal way, focused on fuzzy, ancient and uncorroborated accounts of teenage hijinks. Kagan and Sotomayor were never quizzed on such stuff, nor was there ever a report that the Reps were trolling for that kind of dirt on them. But the Dems have made it the new normal. Now, every nominee will face the possibility of a no-holds-barred effort at character assassination. Lovely.

Why is it that nothing these progressives bring us ever seems like progress?

Francisco D বলেছেন...

"Like Mark Jones, the memory of Freder Frederson's puppy abuse is seared into my brain. I still have the hat."

Well, that does it.

You have far more evidence than Ramirez and Blasey Ford. You must be believed.

Amadeus 48 বলেছেন...

I suppose Heitcamp, Manchin, and Donnelly might skip the vote. Maybe they'll pair with Corker, Flake, and Murkowski. Collins seems really steamed at DiFi.

IgnatzEsq বলেছেন...

Brett turned me into a newt.

...I got better.

And now I'm ready for *my* payout.

Ignorance is Bliss বলেছেন...

Matthew Sablan said...

We'll learn the truth, one way or the other...

If, by this, you mean that we will get enough clear and convincing evidence that the vast majority of people will reach the same conclusion, then I disagree. The chances of Ford or Ramirez recanting, or of Kavanaugh admitting guilt are zero.

We might get additional claims, or someone coming forward to back up one of the existing claims. Such people will be easy to discount as motivated by partisanship, fame, or hopes of a future book deal. No hard evidence will ever be produced.

Likewise, Kavanaugh has no chance of proving he wasn't at a party at an undisclosed time and place.

We, the American people, will need to reach our conclusions based on the already available evidence. Unfortunately, people with different political affiliations appear to be reaching different conclusions.

gahrie বলেছেন...

There's no reason to think Kavanaugh is a liar.

Sure there is. He might be the fifth vote to overturn Roe, and that's all the reason some people need.

Laslo Spatula বলেছেন...

John Pickering said..."Let's hope all the sex predators out there take their lead from Kavanaugh when he fails and decline the call to public service. "

I will take this as your believing that Kavanaugh is a sex predator.

In all seriousness, what is a piece of evidence in each of the three accusations that has convinced you of this about this particular man (as opposed to what he may represent)?

And what supports these pieces of evidence?

I would like to see what I am missing. At one point I thought Althouse was going to provide this, but -- as far as I can tell -- there has only been the concept of alcohol-induced amnesia and carpets that are too clean.

I am Laslo.

dreams বলেছেন...

Men have mothers, sisters and wives, if you attack a man then you're also attacking the women in his life which makes other people think about what could happen them.

walter বলেছেন...

Dave Begley said...
I very much hope that Judge Kavanaugh launches the mother of all defamation cases against DiFi, The New Yorker, Ronan Farrow, Jane Mayer and Creepy Porn Lawyer.


Blogger Ignorance is Bliss said...
Breaking News: The New York Times has standards..
--
Or a cautious legal team..

dreams বলেছেন...

"We'll learn the truth, one way or the other..."

Bullshit, history is full of untruths.

n.n বলেছেন...

ever seems like progress

Despite the denotations and connotations, progress is merely monotonic change, unqualified change.

gahrie বলেছেন...

I, too, can confirm Freder molesting and then grilling puppies.

I saw him put kittens in a blender and then drink the liquefied results.

Caligula বলেছেন...

"the accusations may be true."

It also may be tru that I took a trip on an alien spaceship in, umm, sometime in 1982. Can you prove I didn't??

There is a reason why the burden of proof should lie with accusers: because accusations (especially about events made long ago) are trivially easy to make, yet (as is often the case with proving a negative) somewhere between impossible and very difficult to disprove.

Demanding that accuser and defender have an equal burden of proof thus rewards making easy-to-make-yet-impossible-to-disprove accusations. Thereby insuring an endlessly plentiful supply of them.

(Although "Believe women!" goes well beyond even that in declaring accuser=survivor, accused=guilty, thus no need to even consider any possible defense. "Why" (said Ms. Feminist) "should you have any rights at all, let alone due process? If you hadn't done it she wouldn't have accused you!")

bagoh20 বলেছেন...

If I self-identify as a woman, does everyone have to believe me. I can throw in distraught if needed. Then what happens when I change my mind, which will be irresistible once I'm a woman.

Dagwood বলেছেন...

rcocean said...

... I look forward to the hearings and learning what year the assault to place, and where.
...Not to mention how she knew Kavenaugh and Judge, since they didn't live in the same neighborhood and went to different schools.



Maybe because it wouldn't have been the first time she pulled a train with a couple or more G-Town boys.

NorthOfTheOneOhOne বলেছেন...

Richard Dolan said...
Glenn R likes to say that the Dems are going to hate having to live under their own rules, and that is very likely to be proven true many times over whenever next a Dem gets elected president. The Reps never went after Dem nominees (certainly not Dem nominees to SCOTUS) in this intensely personal way, focused on fuzzy, ancient and uncorroborated accounts of teenage hijinks.

Nah, the "gentlemen" of the Stupid Party will never, ever use tactics like that. They're too afraid of what the NYT will say about them!

Damn cucks!

walter বলেছেন...

Maybe there's a puppy stained grilling apron...

Ray - SoCal বলেছেন...

It would be great if one of the lawyers here, discusses the chance of a defamation suit by Kavanaugh.

Since he’s a public figure, evidence has been submitted indirectly, sounds like a stretch.

Dagwood বলেছেন...

Virgil Hilts said: ...I'm still convinced Valerie Jarrett had a role in that.

She had a role in everything for eight long years.

bagoh20 বলেছেন...

If I were to accuse Fredder of being a sexual predator, nobody here would really buy it. I would be ignored, and I don't even have a fraction of the motive these Soros connected lifelong leftists have to hurt Kavanaugh. Why would my charge be ignored?

gilbar বলেছেন...

Jim at said... back in 1861
The democrats will rue the day they decided to tear this country apart in their pursuit of power and control.
They don't care now.


But they will. W.T. Sherman

It's not like this is a new thing for the Dems

The Vault Dweller বলেছেন...

Althouse said...
"The new allegations — from Avenatti and The New Yorker — are, I think, helping Kavanaugh's case"


From a purely political standpoint the most effective thing the Dems could have done ironically would have been to treat the allegation seriously from the very beginning. If Feinstei had gotten the letter, contacted Dr. Ford right away and told her, she has a choice it can remain anonymous but then nothing would happen, or she can provide it to her other colleagues as well as the FBI right away, who will then investigate which may require her to come before the committee and testify, or almost certainly be interviewed by the FBI.

There is no clear standard on how Senators are supposed to evaluate the allegations. And contrary to what many claim Senate hearings are not about finding out truth, but rather giving political justification for Senators to vote and act a certain way. Simply raising the allegation fairly, with it's credibility problems and all, would be enough to provide political cover for vulnerable Red-State dems and left leaning Republican Senators, like Susan Collins to vote against Kavanaugh's confirmation if they wanted to. They could talk about how the allegations were "Troubling" and when it comes to a life-time appointment on the Supreme Court they can't take a chance on someone with even that possibility of poor character.

But nope, Dems went overboard in their usual fashion, probably because they only talk to one another so they are isolated from people who hold differing viewpoints, so they don't understand the different gradients of sympathy for accusers that are out there.

Amadeus 48 বলেছেন...

Althouse said she thinks that neither Planned Parenthood vs. Casey nor Obergfell are going anywhere if Kavanaugh is confirmed, that political gerrymandering cases will not be taken up, and affirmative action is on the way out (Roberts: "The way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.").

The Dems are fighting the last war.

CWJ বলেছেন...

Most of us earnestly serious commenters are full of snark and tongue in cheek here. Laslo is posting serious commentary.


Truly, Guam has flipped over.

hombre বলেছেন...

I am surprised by all the comments about how this will backfire on the Dems. The mediaswine will, as always, cover for them.

Democrats are not prosecuted for their grifting or email crimes. Republican achievements go unnoticed. Obama is lauded for a "scandal free" administration. These and other injustices result from biased coverage by a politically corrupt media. Leftmedia damage control will save the Dems here too.

dreams বলেছেন...

"Althouse said she thinks that neither Planned Parenthood vs. Casey nor Obergfell are going anywhere if Kavanaugh is confirmed, that political gerrymandering cases will not be taken up, and affirmative action is on the way out (Roberts: "The way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.").

"The Dems are fighting the last war."

It's all about controlling other people's lives, it makes them feel important.

Meade বলেছেন...

After all the careful work creating credence and empathy for [zipity and Birkel], we now have an onslaught, a piling on, and it's making [Freder Frederson] into a sort of hero, who must stand his ground. It's no longer just about the fulfillment of [Freder's] own aspirations[...]. [Freder] is now the champion of everyone in the future who — if he fails — will reject the call to [comment on this blog].

Ignorance is Bliss বলেছেন...

CWJ said...

Truly, Guam has flipped over.

Nope. Guam is facing the same way it always has. It's the rest of the world that has flipped around it.

Everything is spinning out of control

John Pickering বলেছেন...

Ann's been good enough to post the Kavanaugh letter but not the Blasey letter. Here it is. What if your wife or sister or daughter wrote such a letter, would you call her a slut who likes to pull the train?

Dear Senator Grassley:

There has been a lot of back and forth between your staff and my counsel, and I appreciate the chance to communicate with you directly. I kindly ask you to use your best discretion regarding this letter.

When I first learned that Brett Kavanaugh was on the short-list of nominees to fill a Supreme Court vacancy, prior to the President’s selection among a list among a list of what seemed to me as similarly-qualified candidates, I contacted my Congressperson’s office in an attempt to provide information that could be useful to you and the President when making this selection from among a list of candidates. The decision to first report the assault to my Congresswoman, Rep. Anga Eschoo, was a very difficult one, but I felt it was something a citizen couldn’t NOT do. I felt agony yet urgency and a civic duty to let it be known, in a confidential manner, prior to the nominee being selected. While it was difficult, I was able to share my information with two contacts during the period between the short list announcement and Mr. Kavanaugh’s selection.

Mr. Kavanaugh’s actions, while many years ago, were serious and have had lasting impact on my life. I thought that knowledge of his actions could be useful for you and those in charge of choosing among various candidates. My original intent was first and foremost to be a helpful citizen—in a confidential way that would minimize collateral damage to all friends and family involved.

I then took the step of sending a confidential letter to one of my senators, Ranking Member Feinstein, and I understand that you have a copy of that letter. I’m certainly prepared to repeat the facts in that letter and provide further facts under oath at a hearing. I would welcome opportunity to meet with you and other senators directly, person to person, to tell you what occurred. I will answer any questions you have. I hope that we can find such a setting and that you will understand that I have one motivation in coming forward—to tell the truth about what Mr. Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge did to me. My sincere desire is to be helpful to persons making the decision.

In addition to talking with you and other senators directly, I have asked my lawyer to continue discussions with your staff about the conditions you have proposed. As I am not a lawyer or a Senator, I am relying on them and you to ensure that the committee will agree to conditions that allow me to testify in a fair setting that won’t disrupt families and become a media tv show. While the nationwide outpouring of love has been heartwarming, I am spending considerable time managing death threats, avoiding people following me on freeways, and disconcerting media intrusion, including swarms of vans at my home and unauthorized persons entering my classroom and medical settings where I work. I have received an inordinate number of requests to appear on major TV shows to elucidate further information, to which I have not responded. My goal is to return soon to my workplace, once it is deemed safe for me and importantly, my students. Currently my family has physically relocated and have divided up separately on many nights with tremendous help of friends on the broader community. Through gracious persons here and across the country, we have been able to afford hiring security. While I am frightened, please know, my fear will not hold me back from testifying and you will be provided with answers to all of your questions. I ask for fair and respectful treatment.

Kind regards,

Christine Blasey

Milwaukie Guy বলেছেন...

Every man in America should be afraid. At the least, every woman in America with sons, husbands they still love, and fathers they still respect should be increasingly horrified.

I can't help but think that this is bad for the leftists (D, Blue America) and sensible people will prevail. I like to be optimistic.

Wince বলেছেন...

That was my first thought: Avenatti will end up helping rescue Kavanaugh’s appointment.

Freder Frederson বলেছেন...

And pigs might fly. Prove it, asshole.

I can't prove it any more than you can disprove it. So let's have the FBI interview high school and Yale classmates under oath (I bet Washington is crawling with contemporaries of Kavanaugh's alma mater). Find out if Kavanaugh had a reputation for heavy drinking and partying and see if there is any corroborating evidence. From his known associations at Yale (DKE and Truth and Courage), he hardly seems the boy scout he would like us to believe he is.

One thing is certain. Without further investigation and with only Kavanaugh and Ford testifying in front of the Judiciary Committee, some one is going to be lying on Thursday and we will be no closer to the truth.

hombre বলেছেন...

There is simply no reason not to destroy the integrity of the Senate and to distort the constitutional process. After all, what is at stake here is the right of lady Democrats to have unprotected sex with men they dont want to father the child - to the tune of 61 million aborted babies. /s

Amadeus 48 বলেছেন...

Thanks, John Pickering. I love to be emotionally manipulated by a woman who doesn't know who, where, or when. So brave.

What did she think was going to happen?

I think she is remembering a dream she once had.

Rocketeer বলেছেন...

There is more evidence of the existence of unicorns than there is of the allegations against Kavanaugh being true. And the FBI has just as much jurisdiction over unicorns as they have over 35+ year old sexual assault allegations.

Why aren't democrats demanding that the FBI investigate the existence of unicorns?

readering বলেছেন...

Reading the Blasey letter, my question is, did her Congresswoman follow up with anyone? It seemed the purpose was to influence the selection. There was talk at the time that McConnell was against picking Kavanaugh because he would be more difficult to confirm than others on the short list. Was this part of the mix or did her Congresswoman fall down on the job?

gahrie বলেছেন...

Find out if Kavanaugh had a reputation for heavy drinking and partying and see if there is any corroborating evidence

The party of Ted Kennedy is concerned about heavy drinking and partying?

lb বলেছেন...

David Begley at 3:09 - agree completely. He needs to make sure they never try to pull this crap on anyone again. Ruin them financially. I am so fed up with this garbage - I have never donated to any Senator or Presidential campaign. Just sent a note to Senator Baldwin - told her if she doesn't step up and try to put a stop to her party's ridiculous leadership - from paid protestors to calling for violence against Republicans to this obvious smear campaign, I will do everything in my power to make sure another Democrat never gets elected for anything in this state. Not that I have much power, but I have never seen a more disgusting display in my life.

M Jordan বলেছেন...

Blogger Freder Frederson said... And pigs might fly. Prove it, asshole. I can't prove it any more than you can disprove it.

Then you lose. Or don’t you understand the presumption of innocence?

Leland বলেছেন...

When you can start describing the railroading of Brett Kavanaugh along the lines of To Kill a Mockingbird, then Democrats have a problem.

gahrie বলেছেন...

What if your wife or sister or daughter wrote such a letter, would you call her a slut who likes to pull the train?

No woman must ever be made to feel bad about, or responsible for, anything, ever.

The Vault Dweller বলেছেন...


Blogger John Pickering said...
Ann's been good enough to post the Kavanaugh letter but not the Blasey letter. Here it is. What if your wife or sister or daughter wrote such a letter, would you call her a slut who likes to pull the train?


I certainly wouldn't call her a slut, or a whore, but she isn't just judged by that letter, but also her actions and lack of actions, and the circumstances of her actions, including timing of her allegation, and her declared and possible undeclared motivations, as well as evidence and lack of evidence supporting her allegation. All the facts matter. And her credibility including the possibility she might be willfully dishonest about this is at issue. The only way to evaluate all that is to examine all the facts.

gahrie বলেছেন...

Or don’t you understand the presumption of innocence?

The possible fifth vote to overturn Roe doesn't get the presumption of innocence.

Rocketeer বলেছেন...

What if your wife or sister or daughter wrote such a letter, would you call her a slut who likes to pull the train?

My wife, sister, or daughter would never write such a letter. They're mentally stable truth-tellers.

tcrosse বলেছেন...

I can't prove it any more than you can disprove it.

Acquaint yourself with the concept of Burden of Proof, and who carries it.

gilbar বলেছেন...

republican-party-favorability-highest-seven-years
makes you wonder what's causing this?

Heatshield বলেছেন...

Response to John Pickering: "What if your wife or sister or daughter wrote such a letter, would you call her a slut who likes to pull the train?"

I've been in that situation and I would expect such a letter to be treated with respect. I've seen too many women I know go through too much as it is. What I struggle with here is that Dr. Ford's actions don't seem in synch with her words. Up until now she has worked exclusively through Democratic party channels which have used her in a highly political fashion. She has engaged Democratic party activists as lawyers and advisers.

If Dr. Ford wrote that letter to to Sen. Grassley or to the overall committee at the outset, I would be a lot more likely to find her believable. But the charade of delays and conditions on her testimony make it clear that far too much emphasis is on partisan gamesmanship. A woman just wanting to get the truth out (and I know several) would not be playing such games.

n.n বলেছেন...

unprotected sex with men they dont want to father the child - to the tune of 61 million aborted babies

That's just in America. The tally for selective-child is hundreds of millions, perhaps billions, globally. On the other side, it has justified immigration reform, increased GDP, reduced childhood mortality, and, of course, social progress. Unfortunately, for Progressives, selective-child, the wicked solution, is not widely accepted, but grudgingly tolerated to avoid a civil war.

Matt Sablan বলেছেন...

"So let's have the FBI interview high school and Yale classmates under oath (I bet Washington is crawling with contemporaries of Kavanaugh's alma mater). Find out if Kavanaugh had a reputation for heavy drinking and partying and see if there is any corroborating evidence."

-- We have no need to find out. It doesn't matter if Kavanaugh got drunk every night or not. The only witnesses that matter HAVE testified under oath. They all say neither part either woman claims to have happened did. So, even if Kavanaugh was routinely blotto every day of his life, it wouldn't matter *because he was never at either event.*

Freder Frederson বলেছেন...

Acquaint yourself with the concept of Burden of Proof, and who carries it.

Since this is more akin to a civil case than a criminal one the burden is a preponderance of the evidence, not clear and convincing and not beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mike Sylwester বলেছেন...

A lot of young men are becoming Republican voters.

Martha বলেছেন...

Fox.com has excerpts from the Kavanaugh’s interview with Martha MacCallum now.

The Crack Emcee বলেছেন...

This is getting creepy all around:

Mia Farrow Calls for Clarence Thomas to Resign

Matt Sablan বলেছেন...

"Without further investigation and with only Kavanaugh and Ford testifying in front of the Judiciary Committee, some one is going to be lying on Thursday and we will be no closer to the truth."

-- Unless Ford's story changes, Ford is the one who is most likely lying/wrong. The other witnesses say she's wrong; she can't even be sure the number of attackers/guests, as that has varied with her letter, her therapist and what she told the WaPo.

So, yeah. You're basically banking on Ford admitting to having lied every other time she told her story and telling a new one that holds up to scrutiny if you want to believe her.

Freder Frederson বলেছেন...

The only witnesses that matter HAVE testified under oath.

Who are you referring to?

Francisco D বলেছেন...

Pickering said ... "What if your wife or sister or daughter wrote such a letter, would you call her a slut who likes to pull the train?"

How many commenters on this site have called CBF a slut who likes to pull a train?

Do you believe that CBF has received as much hate mail as Kavanaugh?

Why is the letter in two different fonts?

Why all the stage management with Democrat lawyers and consultants (e.g., Ricki Seidman) if the poor woman just wants to tell the truth?

Why hasn't she signed an oath with penalty of perjury?

Why hasn't ANYONE corroborated CBF or Ramirez' story despite massive media efforts to find such a person?

Why ask why?

Pickering doesn't care. He is just a SJW troll.

Matt Sablan বলেছেন...

"Since this is more akin to a civil case than a criminal one the burden is a preponderance of the evidence, not clear and convincing and not beyond a reasonable doubt."

-- It is not. The government is deliberating on it; the man is accused of a crime -- not a civil one.

This is a canard. But, let's say you WANT to use preponderence of the evidence. OK.

We have Ford--who has been wrong/lying about the alleged attack. She can provide nothing except the name of witnesses, a rough timeline and an accused.

We have Kavanaugh--who has character witnesses out the wazzoo. He has never been credibly accused of anything of the sort. He can provide nothing but that.

The witnesses... all say Ford is wrong.

What world does even the preponderence of the evidence fall in Ford's favor?

dreams বলেছেন...

"A lot of young men are becoming Republican voters."

And a lot blacks and hispanics are becoming Republican voters too.

Matt Sablan বলেছেন...

"Who are you referring to?"

-- Judge, Smyth and Leland who have all sent statements to the committee that are subject to perjury.

hombre বলেছেন...

@Freder and Pickering:

Your poster girl provided the names of several witnesses none of whom support her claims. In a sane world that would be considered near-conclusive evidence of Kavanaugh's innocence. Not in the demented world of Democrats, it seems, even though her therapist's notes from her first recounting of her tale differ materially from her current story.

When and in what world did a 35-year-old unreported, unsworn accusation by one person come to outweigh the statements of five others given under penalty of perjury?

Eleanor বলেছেন...

All of the nine judges who decided Roe v. Wade were men. Of the seven who voted yes, five were appointed by Republicans. Of the two who dissented, one was appointed by a Democrat. If women want Supreme Court justices who support a woman's right to abortion, the odds are in the favor of letting Republicans pick the justices.

Amadeus 48 বলেছেন...

Another point to consider is the life Kavanaugh has lived as an adult. Why does everything being discussed go back 35 years? And why all the support from people who knew him then as well as people who have worked with him since then?

Something really important is being buried in the news coverage.

No one is perfect, but the adult Brett Kavanaugh is widely liked and admired by people like Elena Kagan, Ruth Ginsberg, and Anthony Kennedy. All his of law clerks speak well of him. These accusations are not very believable.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together বলেছেন...

The Ramirez story had plenty of corroboration. And it's not like Ronan Farrow's been shooting blanks lately. Although I'm sure you'll change your tune once the truth comes out. Or will you?

Anyways, it all makes sense. Republicans like to push their penis in your face while you're passed out, just like they'll push their policies on your population, against its will. They really are Rape-publicans. Is there anything they want that the people are actually for?

Matt Sablan বলেছেন...

I mean, let's take preponderance of the evidence. No one but the accuser has knowledge of this attack. There's no physical evidence it happened. There's no physical or testimonial evidence that even puts Kavanaugh and her in the same room, save hers, which is flawed (the number of attackers and attendees has changed over the years), and is the weakest sort of evidence--witness testimony years after the event in question. When asked for a way to defend from the attack, the accuser can't provide a date or even exact year. All she can provide, besides her flawed memory, are the names of witnesses. None of whom support her story.

There is no rational world that this is a "credible" accusation. Ramirez's compounds this with being recruited and needing to have her memory of the event coached from her by Kavanaugh's enemies. She also can't produce witnesses, save ones who say they never saw it happen.

The only witness who even remotely corroborates them is a guy who says, he heard someone say Kavanaugh did something at a party, maybe.

That's it. That's what you've got to get even preponderance with.

Laslo Spatula বলেছেন...

John Pickering said..."Ann's been good enough to post the Kavanaugh letter but not the Blasey letter. Here it is. What if your wife or sister or daughter wrote such a letter, would you call her a slut who likes to pull the train?"

It is a well-written letter. I bet the PR person who assisted with that could do an equally fine job for a letter from Stormy Daniels.

And I wouldn't call Stormy a "slut who likes to pull the train," either. I skimmed the descriptions of many of her performances, and there are surprisingly few threesomes, much less trains. And those threesomes seemed to usually involve a second woman, not a second man.

As to "What if your wife or sister or daughter wrote such a letter"? It would depend a lot on if she was telling the truth. Which, for me, kinda includes remembering the truth. Which Ford seems to have a problem with up to this point.

But still: a nice letter. Sounds like she went to college.

I am Laslo.



Matt Sablan বলেছেন...

"The Ramirez story had plenty of corroboration."

-- It did not. The one witness was not at the party, but reporting what he thinks he remembered hearing be said about a party he did not attend. Unless something has changed since late this morning/early afternoon.

traditionalguy বলেছেন...

The Kavanaugh is released. As long as it is a war of words, the feisty Mr Perfect is going to wipe out his enemies surrounding him or die trying. I can’t wait to watch him attack in both directions.

Chuck বলেছেন...

Althouse said she thinks that neither Planned Parenthood vs. Casey nor Obergfell are going anywhere if Kavanaugh is confirmed, that political gerrymandering cases will not be taken up, and affirmative action is on the way out (Roberts: "The way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.").


When Kavanaugh is on the Court:
~Planned Parenthood v Casey will not be overturned; but there will be a dozen other cases that will gradually return the issues to the states.

~Obergefell might not be overturned, but the one and only reason that Obergefell exists at all -- Kennedy -- is gone. And the Obergefell dissents from Roberts, Thomas, Alito and Scalia were scathing. Remember the words of the most moderate and conciliatory member of the dissenters (Chief Justice Roberts): :If you are among the many Americans—of whatever sexual orientation—who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today’s decision. Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner. Celebrate the availability of new benefits. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it." Obergefell might not be overturned, but there will be five justices who loathe it.

~As for the political gerrymandering cases, SCOTUS might not have the choice in taking them up, if there is a split in the circuits, or a decision from one of the special election panels that requires reversal.

~Affirmative action was always problematic, and will continue to be and Althouse is not wrong by suggesting that SCOTUS will continue its disfavoring of reverse discrimination schemes. But even Justice O'Connor, in reluctantly supplying her vote for an affirmative action remedy in 2003, wrote that she expected it to be gone from the scene in 25 years. That was 15 years ago.

lb বলেছেন...

And Ford still hasn't called police in Maryland to report the crime. Wonder why? They said they would be happy to investigate. Every single thing she has done has been so she doesn't have to implicate herself legally.

Bay Area Guy বলেছেন...

Pickering said ... "What if your wife or sister or daughter wrote such a letter, would you call her a slut who likes to pull the train?"

Pickering makes the plaintive cry based on emotion and outrage, but many of the deplorables here in the commentariat have wives and daughters. Not speaking for anyone, but Yes, I take my duty to protect my wife and daughters pretty seriously.

The good news is that these ladies, like most stable and intelligent ladies, understand, too that FALSE, STALE, 36-YEAR OLD allegations do not carry much weight.

They recognize that, Yes, rape is a terrible deed, but false claims of rape are just as bad, because it slanders a man's well-earned reputation.

Ford is a slander artist. She got woke, and inserted herself into the Kavanaugh drama, in secret, to try and sink him from afar. Her "eyewitnesses" totally refute her claims.

So, NO, I don't believe Ford. I hope she is grilled under oath. She gives women a bad name.


Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together বলেছেন...

Are you saying that Rape-publicans don't like to force themselves on others, the way they force their unpopular policies on the country, Matthew Sablan?

They're a party of force. If they can't force something on you, they don't want it.

Whether it's a penis or a policy.

Sebastian বলেছেন...

"Such grotesque and obvious character assassination"

Since his showing an emotional state, surely Althouse now believes him more than his accusers.

President-Mom-Jeans বলেছেন...

I'm not sure why anyone is engaging with that puppy molesting predator Freder. I'm convinced by a preponderance of the evidence of his sick bestiality rape of helpless puppies.

Matt Sablan বলেছেন...

Well, I tried to engage with PPT substantively. Looks like that was pointless.

Bilwick বলেছেন...

The always-brilliant Pee Pee says of Republicans: "They're a party of force."

Not like statist Democrats at all--right, Pee Pee?

President-Mom-Jeans বলেছেন...

"Well, I tried to engage with PPT substantively. Looks like that was pointless."

Bitchmo is even worse of a rapist deviant. He rapes transgendered puppies of color, as I have been informed of by reliable sources.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together বলেছেন...

"...that was pointless."

I believe the word you're looking for, Matthew Sablan, is penis. Not pointless. Penis.

Do Rape-publicans or do they not like to force what they want on others? Why are you dodging the question?

mccullough বলেছেন...

Check Out the Balls on Brett!

I thought Kavanaugh was a weak choice when Trump nominated him. A typical double-ivy Federalist Society douchebag.

But I like the fight he's putting up. He passed the test. Welcome to the team.

Birches বলেছেন...

I don't really believe there is growing outrage among female voters. We have husbands and sons too. Cat ladies? Yeah, they're outraged, but they always are.

Unknown বলেছেন...

let's play "spot the troll"....

rcocean বলেছেন...

“Mr. Kavanaugh’s actions, while many years ago, were serious and have had a lasting impact on my life,” Ford wrote to Grassley. “I thought that knowledge of his actions could be useful for you and those in charge of choosing among the various candidates."

“While I am frightened, please know, my fear will not hold me back from testifying and you will be provided with answers to all of your questions. I ask for fair and respectful treatment,” Ford wrote."


"Oh, I'm frightened Auntie Em, I'm frightened" LOL!

Read this and read what Ms. Ford said her letter to Feinstein. Notice the prose style. Can you "Ghostwritten by Lawyers, boys and girls"?

And why are some women such fucking cowards? They actually think its a virtue to talk about how scared they are. Pathetic. And why do other women give them a pass?

Yes, we know Dr. Ford, you are so BRAVE to win the applause of the MSM and the Left-wing media. And make much dinero in the upcoming book deal.

mccullough বলেছেন...

Mia Farrow flew to London in 2005 to testify on behalf of Roman Polanski.

She's calling for Clarence Thomas to resign?

Gimme a fucking break.

She's a loon. And Ronan Farrow is Rosemary's Baby.

Mid-Life Lawyer বলেছেন...

If the GOP rolls over on this and Kavanaugh is not confirmed, prior to the election, then I am done with politics. I'm 58 and I've had two major cancers in the last 4 years. I won't waste another minute on politics if it's come to this. I deleted my Twitter account today and I've been on there for at least 10 years. I'm sick of identity politics character assassination and defense against identity politics character assassination and that's pretty much all there is on Twitter.

tcrosse বলেছেন...

Just as a matter of style, whoever writes "John Pickering" does not write convincingly as a man.

Paul বলেছেন...

If Kavanaugh fails then any man who has ever read Playboy magazine will be ineligible for office. At least if they are Republican.

mockturtle বলেছেন...

Crack reports: This is getting creepy all around:

Mia Farrow Calls for Clarence Thomas to Resign


He should step down immediately! A mediocre-at-best 'actress' said so!

iowan2 বলেছেন...

Why hasn't she signed an oath with penalty of perjury?

I say this everyday on the this site and others.

The Senate has never received a signed complaint. Neither woman has put her name on anything, nor been interviewed under penalty of perury.
I think Grassely has done better than can be expected of any person put in the position he is in. This weekend he should have shut down the negotiations and told Ford, until she swears out a statement, show up at the appointed time, or buzz off.

rcocean বলেছেন...

And the passive-aggressive bullshit.

"I ask for fair and respectful treatment,” Ford wrote.

You'll get fair treatment, Ms. Ford. As for "respectful" - you're not the Queen of England or the Queen of America.

Yet.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together বলেছেন...

"They're a party of force."

Not like statist Democrats at all--right, Pee Pee?


Glad to see you don't disagree that the Rape-publicans are a party of force.

The country is, what you call, "left wing." Do people want expanded/universal coverage or higher/unaffordable premiums? Do they want health insurance as a right or a luxury good?

Do they want gerrymandering?

Do they want tax cuts for hedge fund traders to add $1 trillion to the annual deficit or do they want that paid down so that their descendants won't be taxed to pay off that added debt when it comes due?

Do they want hundreds of billions more for the war machine than the Pentagon requests?

Do they want to see our water poisoned and our air polluted?

Do they want corporations buying out the politicians in a web of dark money?

Do they want their pregnancies forced to term by a bunch of dudes who think the Vatican and televangelists should somehow have a deciding say on when and how pregnancies are allowed to end?

Amateur hour's over, asshat. It's time to throw in the towel. You know the people don't want what you're selling. Open the polls and relinquish control over the districting process.

chickelit বলেছেন...

Blogger Freder Frederson said:

“Since this is more akin to a civil case than a criminal one the burden is a preponderance of the evidence, not clear and convincing and not beyond a reasonable doubt.”

“Preponderance of evidence” is something Stormy Daniels has — at least the “preponderance” part. The Kavanaugh accusers? — not so much. Have you even looked?

mockturtle বলেছেন...

Birches asserts: I don't really believe there is growing outrage among female voters.

I, for one, am outraged. Outraged that grownups in positions of power are taking these nitwits and their ancient histories seriously.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together বলেছেন...

I thought Kavanaugh was a weak choice when Trump nominated him. A typical double-ivy Federalist Society douchebag.

But I like the fight he's putting up. He passed the test. Welcome to the team.


Rapists and their fellow rape-enablers get turned on by a struggle. If they worked around consensus - just like working around consent - it wouldn't be as fun for them.

rcocean বলেছেন...

Mia Farrow Calls for Clarence Thomas to Resign

Alternate Title:

Freakish Left-wing actress calls for Supreme Court Justice to quit because Feelings.

wildswan বলেছেন...

Belief in CBF - it's a cult.


Bay Area Guy বলেছেন...

I like Freder's analogy on the burden of proof here to a civil case.

Pray tell:

1. Who had the burden of proof in the rape claim by Juanita Broaddrick against Bill Clinton, and was it met?

2. Who has the burden of proof in the extant claim by Karen Monahan against Keith Ellison for domestic abuse?

Dare I even mention the sainted Lion of the Senate, Ted Kennedy?

You know, I'm getting the impression that sex-related claims tends to fade away depending on whether the alleged defendant is of a certain party, but not another.

Doesn't sound like equal justice under law. Sounds like, nail the GOP bastard by whatever means necessary; ignore the evidence when our Dem bastard feels the heat.

Bay Area Guy বলেছেন...

Bumper sticker seen on Mia Farrow's Prius -- I believe you, Roman!

walter বলেছেন...

He's still clutching his Pee Pee tape fantasy...proof isn'tin his interest.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together বলেছেন...

Check Out the Balls on Brett!

To be fair, it was his penis that he forced into her face. Not his balls.

But why get picky about the exact anatomy when it comes to how you wish to cheer on your fellow rapists and rape-enablers?

Milwaukie Guy বলেছেন...

The kind of high schoolers and university students that we other boys cat-called as Boy Scouts or Choir Boys really did and do exist. It is a choice, just like some of us were hell-raisers.

That Kavanaugh could be one these "straights" shouldn't be presumed as impossible, or even improbable. Hundreds of people say he is.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together বলেছেন...

Hey Sablan - how much more evidence do you have of Clinton's "rapes" of the Arkansas Ladies Home Knitting Circle than there is of what Bart did?

Fred Drinkwater বলেছেন...

John Pickering:
The letter you quote (Blasey to Grassley) is not THE letter. It's subsequent lawyer-negotiation-speak regarding committee testimony.
THE letter is the one she sent to Rep. Eshoo.
Where's that letter?

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together বলেছেন...

Republicans should be able to rape their way to power. It's more honest than gerrymandering, selling out to lobbyists and lying to the people.

Come on. Do you guys want political power or don't you?

I know you do!

Kirby Olson বলেছেন...

There is a new movie out as of yesterday about Brian Banks. He was headed for stardom in the NFL when a woman named Wanetta falsely accused him of raping her on the grounds of their SoCal college. She got 1.5 million from the college. He got 6 years in prison. Then, after five years, she admitted that she had lied. This is apparently what the movie is about. The football player is black. I couldn't figure out the race of his accuser from the storyline. Her name is Wanetta. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3920820/releaseinfo?ref_=ttfc_sa_1

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together বলেছেন...

Check out this new Republican campaign song!

chickelit বলেছেন...

Wow, Mia and Ronan Farrow combine forces to affect politics...what would Frank say?

Stephen A. Meigs বলেছেন...

Hmm. Looking more closely at Christine Blasey Ford, I see she has co-written a paper seeming to suggest that it is important for young people with homosexual tendencies to come out lest they get symptoms of social phobia (anxiety?). Did the paper ever suggest that maybe young people might be anxious about becoming sodomized or about sharing supposed gay tendencies with sodomizers because anxiety is a natural defense against getting sodomized? I doubt it. Since she doesn't publish in an open access journal, I won't read the details, but I suspect from the abstract that the article panders to sodomizers, not something I'd expect of a heroine sincerely wishing to fight sexual abuse, of which that mediated by sodomy is even worse than that mediated by alcohol, in my opinion. I mostly think now she is not trustworthy.

chickelit বলেছেন...

We always knew that Ritmo was a Clintonista. I still believe that he detests Hillary, but wow. Just wow.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together বলেছেন...

Serious question:

Do you Rape-publicans believe Republicans would rather rape the people's will or the treasury?

It's a tough question. Maybe one of y'all can help out with the answer.

Brian বলেছেন...

I still don't think she testifies Thursday. It's 50/50 at best.

Politically, her testimony can be spun as anything right now. Once she's under oath and answering questions anything can happen. The whole story can fall apart. Better to have the media provide top cover and speculate what the testimony would have been for hours on end.

I know that some on the left side of the aisle think they can beat up on the republicans on the committee for being mean to her, but these are seasoned politicians. Nobody is going to make a gaffe.

Expect a last minute "plea for delay".

iowan2 বলেছেন...

Kavanaugh with Martha McCalum on FOX tonite. Clip just played has Kananaugh saying he was a virgin well into his collage days. Yep that's a sure sign of the type of guy groping drunk girls and shoving his dick in random girls faces.

The only conclusion any American can make is Kavanaugh is innocent, because proving any guilt is impossible.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together বলেছেন...

I still believe that he detests Hillary, but wow. Just wow.

What kind of a brain defect do you have that leads you to believe that just because I hate what the Rape-publicans are doing to the country that I should like Hillary Clinton - the moderate, "CONSERVATIVE", war-mongering, hedge-fund trading, corporatist, dishonest, Democrat-in-name-only (DINO) who grew up a Barry Goldwater-supporting Republican?

Sometimes I think you just refuse to think. What the hell does Hillary Clinton have to do with the Kavanaugh nomination - let alone his quasi-rapey past?

Roughcoat বলেছেন...

Simple questions: Why has the vote not been taken? Why has there been no explanation for not taking the vote? Why has no date been given for the vote?

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together বলেছেন...

Simple questions: Why has the vote not been taken? Why has there been no explanation for not taking the vote? Why has no date been given for the vote?

Lol. Because not having a rapist in the chair is more important.

Yancey Ward বলেছেন...

A lot of progressives don't understand basic logic, or at least they pretend to not understand. The two stories, Ford's and Ramirez's, don't corroborate or support each other. Ford's accusation against Kavanaugh isn't made stronger by Ramirez's, and vice versa. Two completely unsupported accusations don't make for one supported accusation from two people.

Both stories needed to have the support of eye witnesses that could support at least some of the details each provided- Ford's story has failed that test since she is the only person supporting her story today in any way; and Ramirez's story is in even worse shape since she claimed far more witnesses to the actual behavior of Kavanaugh, and none of those witnesses corroborated it either.

Kavanaugh, in his statement clearly identified the real issue here in the absence of evidence that both women are telling the truth- without evidence, the only issue is whether or not one is willing to go forward with the argument that, in the future, any unsupported accusation is enough to disqualify a candidate. This really is in the Republicans' hands- the Democratic caucus was going to overwhelmingly vote against Kavanaugh just on his political philosophy alone, and are perfectly within their rights to do so, but any Republican who votes against Kavanaugh or even withholds by voting present is betraying a deep principle, and really should be deeply ashamed.

iowan2 বলেছেন...

I still don't think she testifies Thursday. It's 50/50 at best.

Neither woman will testify under oath. Ever. They will put themselves at risk.(there's a new law invented by Mueller, 'defrauding the Untited States') That should cover interfering with a nomination of a Supreme Court Justice.

Mike Sylwester বলেছেন...

I am relying on them and you to ensure that the committee will agree to conditions that allow me to testify in a fair setting that won’t disrupt families and become a media tv show. .... I am spending considerable time managing death threats, avoiding people following me on freeways, and disconcerting media intrusion .... My goal is to return soon to my workplace, once it is deemed safe for me and importantly, my students. Currently my family has physically relocated and have divided up separately on many nights with tremendous help of friends on the broader community. Through gracious persons here and across the country, we have been able to afford hiring security. ...

I diagnose her as manic-depressive, Type 1 (the most severe type).

In a manic phase, the person's thoughts jump around quickly and erratically. Thinking is incoherent.

The person strives to use extraordinary insights in order to instruct and save the world.

The person is extraordinarily critical and accusatory.

The person has episodes of hypersexuality and promiscuity.

In general, manic-depressives are trouble-makers.

Freeman Hunt বলেছেন...

This is a debacle. Time to vote.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together বলেছেন...

This is a debacle. Time to vote.

Lol. What's your rush? Thieving away the Merrick Garland nomination isn't leaving you in the mood for waiting out the vote until the appropriate time in November?

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