# Can Democrats actually stop the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 4, 2018, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733 "2018-09-04T12:49:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 152
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3021 "2018-09-24T16:02:01Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > This is a lot to glean from a 30 year old hearsay account. First, she never said that Judge said that Kavanaugh was involved. Second, we don’t know how good her memories are with the actual words that he said, and the context of those words. Third, he could have been bragging or exaggerating. Or maybe he was telling the absolute truth. We don’t even know if Rasor was actually Judge’s ex. Maybe the press fabricated her to add more drama to this soap opera. Or maybe she’s a Russian bot. Maybe none of this is really happening and we’re all living in a simulation! > [@](#): > > In any event, I don’t know how we go from there to picking up low class women from skeevy bars and plying them with booze to near unconsciousness. Researchers study stuff like this, you know. There is a [pattern of behavior associated with recreational gang rape](http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0743558407310773) that is not inconsistent with the hardcore party culture Kanavaugh grew up in. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3022 "2018-09-24T16:04:05Z")
NPR and CNN are not reporting the Avenati claims. At least from what I’ve heard. Are any reliable news sources biting yet? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3023 "2018-09-24T16:08:26Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > NPR and CNN are not reporting the Avenati claims. At least from what I’ve heard. Are any reliable news sources biting yet? Nothing. I hope Avenatti isn’t full of shit. Though, to be fair he’s probably waiting until prime time for the first release. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3024 "2018-09-24T16:10:32Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > NPR and CNN are not reporting the Avenati claims. At least from what I’ve heard. Are any reliable news sources biting yet? Fox News. But just reporting from Avenatti’s tweets/letters to Grassley aide. With that said, only Avenatti can confirm this right now. He knows all the details and he’s not sharing (he’s in court today in LA for Stormy related stuff). It’s too salacious for the press to report without knowing more about the claims. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3025 "2018-09-24T16:11:30Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > That’s depends on the reaction of the base. I did some checking of Conservative outlets both crazies like Breitbart and more normal ones like Townhall, National Review as well as WSJ are holding firm that confirmation should proceed. For now. Unlike Moore where only the crazies were supporting him. > If the base demands a fight, then it’ll happen. I suspect it really depends on how Thursday goes. If he holds up and Ford gets cut to shreads\* it’ll go ahead. If not, then its over. 1. McConnell knows the crazies are going to be pissed no matter when and how Kavanaugh gets the heave-ho. Might as well get it over with, give them time to get over it and develop the same intense, insane feelings about the new nominee. 2. You think there’s going to be a hearing on Thursday? I think it’s still possible, but if I had to bet, I’d put my money on the other side. If Kavanaugh hasn’t already withdrawn by then, McConnell will be looking for a way to let this one down easy. Assuming Kavanaugh doesn’t withdraw, I bet this is the week they finally get around to saying, “hey, maybe the FBI _should_ look into these allegations.” Then they’ll hold off on the hearing until they investigate. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3026 "2018-09-24T16:11:57Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Let’s see what someone who knew them both has to say: > > Kavanaugh’s roommate at the time of the alleged incident, James Roche, said he never witnessed Kavanaugh commit any act of sexual misconduct but he told The New Yorker that Kavanaugh was “frequently incoherently drunk.” > > Roche became friends with Ramirez, whom he called “exceptionally honest and gentle.” He said he could not “imagine her making this up” and said it was “believable” that Kavanaugh could have been involved in an incident like the one alleged by Ramirez. > > So this guy, who knows them both better than you do, says Ramirez wouldn’t lie, and that it’s believable that Kavanaugh assaulted her. > > Probably more Dem lies, huh? Some one who knew them both said > [@](#): > > James Roche, said he never witnessed Kavanaugh commit any act of sexual misconduct I don’t consider that a lie. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3027 "2018-09-24T16:16:23Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > If Kavanaugh drank as much as alleged, I would believe that he is an alcoholic. I mean, sure, many of us drank more when we were younger than we do know, but from these reports, there were very few times that he was actually sober. > > I would believe that a guy who drank that much would have rumors of alcoholism swirling around his life. Why are you not assuming that such an alcoholic would surely have had cirrhosis take his life at a very young age; therefore the rumors can’t possibly be true? Because as far as I can tell, there’s no hard evidence that that Kavenaugh has ever engaged in the physical act of love! [/sarcasm] ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3028 "2018-09-24T16:21:00Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Some one who knew them both said > > > [@](#): > > > > James Roche, said he never witnessed Kavanaugh commit any act of sexual misconduct > > I don’t consider that a lie. “I never saw him rape anyone, but it would be completely in character for him to do that” isn’t the stunning defense of Kavanaugh’s character that you might think. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3029 "2018-09-24T16:28:55Z")
I always take character witnesses with a grain of salt. Many family members of convicted murders say that it’s a big mistake and there’s no way he could do it. And I’m guessing many members of Congress would have strongly supported the personal integrity of Hastert, the 51st Speaker of the House, right up until the point at which the news broke that he had been involved in bank fraud and molesting boys. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3030 "2018-09-24T16:29:30Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > NPR and CNN are not reporting the Avenati claims. At least from what I’ve heard. Are any reliable news sources biting yet? [Newsweek](https://www.newsweek.com/stormy-daniels-lawyer-michael-avenatti-significant-evidence-brett-kavanaugh-1135395) [CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/24/michael-avenatti-claims-to-have-damaging-information-about-brett-kavanaugh.html) I’m sure there’s more. That was just the results of a quick search. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3031 "2018-09-24T16:32:15Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > See my post several pages ago on why it makes literally no political sense for Republicans to defend Kavenaugh, except that a white male conservative is under fire. R’s control the Senate schedule for another three months, and more likely for the next two years and three months. They could easily move things along to get a “better” nominee to replace Kavenaugh, but they just can’t bring themselves as a party to have an Al Franken moment. Don’t think its that. They would have stood by him even if he was a she and or black. He is a known entity to them. Was with Starr, in W’s White House and then on the Bench for 12 years. Someone like Bennett is not,she is a wild card. They can’t predict how she is going to rule on things like they can with him. With her they run the risk of decisions finding fetal personhood to be protected, which is a headache they can do without Secondly, the base wants them to fight (right now). A mid term election is all about energizing the base. If the base reacts well (as it seems to be from various publications I have see) to a _"fight to protect a highly qualified and patriotic family man from slanderous and false allegations by the family hating feminazis_" then by golly its a fight they’ll relish. > [@](#): > > From a purely political perspective, it’s as though Democrats over the last several years have laid out a bunch of rakes from the MeToo Rake Factory, with a warning sign that says, “Hey guys! There’s a bunch of rakes over here, careful not to step on one!” and the Republicans are Sideshow Bob stepping on every single one. Over. And over. And over. And over. Well for embarrassment to work, the guy needs to be one who gets embarrassed. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3032 "2018-09-24T16:35:16Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > That’s depends on the reaction of the base. I did some checking of Conservative outlets both crazies like Breitbart and more normal ones like Townhall, Isn’t this the same Townhall that gave column space to, among others, Ann Coulter, Ted Nugent, and Chuck Norris? Man, the line between “crazy right-wing outlet” and “more normal” right-wing outlet really does keep moving further towards the asylum day by day. Meanwhile, it’s almost as if every time I open the thread, someone else is accusing Kavanaugh of sexual assault. I wonder - how many more will it take before there’s a few statements along the lines of, “I’m sorry I spent so much time and energy trying to disparage a victim of sexual assault”? I’m guessing more than 10, but less than 40. Probably somewhere between Cosby and Trump, in other words. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3033 "2018-09-24T16:43:17Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > [Montgomery County Sentinel:](https://mont.thesentinel.com/2018/09/24/supreme-court-nominee-kavanaugh-faces-more-allegations/) Can’t believe I missed this. We’re up to four women now. Great guy, great guy. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3034 "2018-09-24T16:45:28Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Isn’t this the same Townhall that gave column space to, among others, Ann Coulter, Ted Nugent, and Chuck Norris? Man, the line between “crazy right-wing outlet” and “more normal” right-wing outlet really does keep moving further towards the asylum day by day. > > Meanwhile, it’s almost as if every time I open the thread, someone else is accusing Kavanaugh of sexual assault. I wonder - how many more will it take before there’s a few statements along the lines of, “I’m sorry I spent so much time and energy trying to disparage a victim of sexual assault”? I’m guessing more than 10, but less than 40. Probably somewhere between Cosby and Trump, in other words. I can find more than 10 to 40 people in this country who SWEAR that they were abducted by aliens. Listen, Ford came forward in a reasonable time. I know that it’s been years, but the left’s argument on the reluctance to disclose is correct. I will stick with analyzing Ford’s allegation. However, anyone from this day forward is automatically very suspect as they are advocating exactly what the Dems are advocating. Unless they have pictures of Kavanaugh’s penis, I discount them out of hand. This always happens; you get a legitimate allegation about something and then every crazy comes rolling out of the woods wanting a piece of the pie. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3035 "2018-09-24T16:51:00Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > This always happens; you get a legitimate allegation about something and then every crazy comes rolling out of the woods wanting a piece of the pie. You are saying that the original allegation was legitimate? ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3036 "2018-09-24T16:54:13Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I can find more than 10 to 40 people in this country who SWEAR that they were abducted by aliens. Oh, okay, so now “I was raped by person X” is about as impossible of a claim as “I was abducted by aliens”. Wow. _The bar keeps getting lower_. > [@](#): > > However, anyone from this day forward is automatically very suspect as they are advocating exactly what the Dems are advocating. Unless they have pictures of Kavanaugh’s penis, I discount them out of hand. Okay, so it doesn’t _matter_ if more people are inspired by Ford to come forward and break the silence on their abuse, you’re just going to ignore them out of hand. > [@](#): > > This always happens; you get a legitimate allegation about something and then every crazy comes rolling out of the woods wanting a piece of the pie. We laugh because it beats crying. :rolleyes: I repeat myself: obviously, the lesson we have learned from #MeToo is not that powerful people can dodge accusations of sexual assault for a long time and that accusations of sexual assault are exceedingly risky, but rather that there’s a bunch of crazy lying women out there who will jump on _any_ opportunity to accuse someone of sexual assault, because… apparently that’s a thing women like. You should show this thread to your wife. 🙂 See what she thinks of this. Show it to your mother. Any female relative, really. See how they feel about what you’re saying. 🙂 Or better yet - show it to any female clients you have. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3037 "2018-09-24T16:59:37Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Can’t believe I missed this. We’re up to four women now. I read this article earlier and found it unclear as to whether this allegation was separate from Ford’s. The report was filed anonymously, so it could be hers, right? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3038 "2018-09-24T17:02:48Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I can find more than 10 to 40 people in this country who SWEAR that they were abducted by aliens. Listen, Ford came forward in a reasonable time. I know that it’s been years, but the left’s argument on the reluctance to disclose is correct. I will stick with analyzing Ford’s allegation. > > However, anyone from this day forward is automatically very suspect as they are advocating exactly what the Dems are advocating. Unless they have pictures of Kavanaugh’s penis, I discount them out of hand. > > This always happens; you get a legitimate allegation about something and then every crazy comes rolling out of the woods wanting a piece of the pie. Does anyone else remember some comments earlier in the thread to the effect of, “It’s just one accuser; it can’t possibly be true – because if it were true, such a monster would have done this more than once!” My, how the times have changed. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3039 "2018-09-24T17:05:42Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You are saying that the original allegation was legitimate? That allegation is worth taking seriously, but the process has to move forward. Suppose we delay the hearings, have an FBI investigation into every allegation and then on October 10, we are set for a vote. At 11:00 p.m on October 9, another allegation comes out. Do we rinse, repeat, and keep delaying? ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3040 "2018-09-24T17:09:27Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > That allegation is worth taking seriously, but the process has to move forward. Suppose we delay the hearings, have an FBI investigation into every allegation and then on October 10, we are set for a vote. At 11:00 p.m on October 9, another allegation comes out. Do we rinse, repeat, and keep delaying? No, at that point we unanimously decide Kavanaugh has too much baggage and we withdraw his nomination. That’s what “we” would do if “we” were sane, ethical, and intelligent. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=151) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=153)