# 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:** 16
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/301 "2018-09-06T18:27:43Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > … It might be best to let him in and impeach later. If they don’t have the votes and know it, this might be the best of all possible worlds for them right now. … If they do’t have the 51 votes to deny him a nomination now, the odds of them having the 67 votes needed to impeach him later seem … slim. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/302 "2018-09-06T18:39:17Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I have to agree with this. I’m not seeing what was so great about this clear rule-breaking action. If the rules are being used to allow someone to safely commit perjury and obtain a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land, I’m OK with breaking those rules. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/303 "2018-09-06T18:39:52Z")
n/m, out of posting order ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/304 "2018-09-06T18:41:45Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > If the rules are being used to allow someone to safely commit perjury and obtain a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land, I’m OK with breaking those rules. And do the released emails show that someone was allowed to safely commit perjury? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/305 "2018-09-06T18:43:11Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > The president is not OK in the head. It is a problem. That seems to be the working theory behind releasing something outside of rules. ISTM the theory behind this is to defeat Kavanaugh by any means, fair or foul. > [@](#): > > What was the rationale behind “The Garland Ignoration”? That was within the rules. Releasing confidential information is not. > [@](#): > > Rules get broken in ways we admire all the time. Are you going to pretend that’s not true now? You are committing to be the Rules man for eternity? Just because this thread? No, I have always thought that both parties should abide by the rules. If you can cite some instances of GOP Congressmen releasing confidential information to smear a Supreme Court nominee, I will join you in condemning it. > [@](#): > > These are not comparable situations. I agree with you there. Refusing to hold hearings on Garland was within the rules. That is not at all comparable to what Booker is doing. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/306 "2018-09-06T18:48:06Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > ISTM the theory behind this is to defeat Kavanaugh by any means, fair or foul. … It’s got nothing to do with Trump or Kavanaugh. It’s got everything to do with the Dems. Harry Reid had no problem lying on the Senate floor about Mitt Romney’s taxes. His justification was “[Romney didn’t win, did he?](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/15/harry-reid-lied-about-mitt-romneys-taxes-hes-still-not-sorry/?utm_term=.faa05dfc244e)” Democrats have no problem playing dirty, cheating, lying, etc. to win. They’ve sucked at the winning part lately, so they’re working overtime to convince themselves that it’s because they are so noble and they refuse to play dirty, but that’s just a lie they’re telling themselves. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/307 "2018-09-06T18:53:02Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Democrats have no problem playing dirty, cheating, lying, etc. to win. They’ve sucked at the winning part lately, so they’re working overtime to convince themselves that it’s because they are so noble and they refuse to play dirty, but that’s just a lie they’re telling themselves. THANK YOU. I’ve long very strongly suspected this is how you felt about me, my family, many of those I served with in the Navy, and millions of other Americans, but you’ve never really let it overtly slip out until now. Much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/308 "2018-09-06T18:57:43Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > THANK YOU. I’ve long very strongly suspected this is how you felt about me, my family, many of those I served with in the Navy, and millions of other Americans, but you’ve never really let it overtly slip out until now. Much appreciated. That Democrats aren’t as noble as they tell themselves (and the rest of us) they are? Yeah, I think that. That shouldn’t really be a surprise or secret. LOTS of people think that. I’m not sure what it has to do with you, or your family, or “millions of other Americans”. I’m speaking primarily about elected Dem public officials, because they’re the ones whose words get the most attention. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/309 "2018-09-06T18:58:16Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > And do the released emails show that someone was allowed to safely commit perjury? They certainly show that emails were considered “confidential” by the Republicans without any apparent justification. I’ve read the emails. I can’t see any argument that they need to be kept from the American public. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/310 "2018-09-06T18:58:57Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Refusing to hold hearings on Garland was within the rules. Yes, it was technically legal. Bravo, you’re now occupying the same ethical space as Pay Day Lenders, Buy Here Pay Here car dealers and guys selling Florida Swampland. It was a dick move. The biggest, dickest move a Senate has pulled in at least 100 years. Totally legal, but throbbingly dickish. Dems aren’t going to forget, nor are they going to forgive, and reminding us that it was “within the rules” doesn’t matter in the slightest, and it doesn’t put your party on an ethical plane above slime mold. If Kavanaugh doesn’t get approved by the Senate, it’s going to be because he was unbearably toxic, and deservedly rejected, regardless of where the info to sink him came from. ---
**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 6, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/311 "2018-09-06T18:59:53Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > THANK YOU. I’ve long very strongly suspected this is how you felt about me, my family, many of those I served with in the Navy, and millions of other Americans, but you’ve never really let it overtly slip out until now. Much appreciated. I think it’s pretty clear he was talking about Congessional Democrats, not folks like you. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/312 "2018-09-06T19:02:29Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > That Democrats aren’t as noble as they tell themselves (and the rest of us) they are? Yeah, I think that. That shouldn’t really be a surprise or secret. LOTS of people think that. > > I’m not sure what it has to do with you, or your family, or “millions of other Americans”. I’m speaking primarily about elected Dem public officials, because they’re the ones whose words get the most attention. 😃 I like how you added that last paragraph after a few minutes. Good stuff! Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/313 "2018-09-06T19:05:41Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I think it’s pretty clear he was talking about Congessional Democrats, not folks like you. That he submitted his reply without saying that at first, and only added it in an edit a few minutes later, confirms my suspicions, which were based on many, many other posts from him over the last year or two. IMO, anyway; YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/314 "2018-09-06T19:06:54Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > … It was a dick move. The biggest, dickest … throbbingly dickish. … Is this an attempt to make a joke about sexualizing / dehumanizing / objectifying language from the mod note earlier? > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > If Kavanaugh doesn’t get approved by the Senate, it’s going to be because he was unbearably toxic, and deservedly rejected, regardless of where the info to sink him came from. It’s got nothing to do with Kavanaugh. ~90% of the Dem senators knew they were going to vote “no” on the nominee before he was even named. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/315 "2018-09-06T19:07:29Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > They certainly show that emails were considered “confidential” by the Republicans without any apparent justification. I’ve read the emails. I can’t see any argument that they need to be kept from the American public. It seems to me that they were marked “Committee Confidential”. What types of information should be marked “Committee Confidential” and why? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/316 "2018-09-06T19:11:32Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > 😃 I like how you added that last paragraph after a few minutes. Good stuff! Thanks again. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > That he submitted his reply without saying that at first, and only added it in an edit a few minutes later, confirms my suspicions, which were based on many, many other posts from him over the last year or two. IMO, anyway; YMMV. I’m not sure what delicious “gotcha” you think you’ve uncovered by the fact that I edited a post within the edit window, but have at it … I guess. If I had posted the whole thing at once without the edit would that have _not_ confirmed your suspicions? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/317 "2018-09-06T19:17:09Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > It seems to me that they were marked “Committee Confidential”. What types of information should be marked “Committee Confidential” and why? Beats me. But I think it should be national security or trade secrets, or something to justify it. “We don’t want the public to see this” shouldn’t be the standard. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/318 "2018-09-06T19:20:15Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Is this an attempt to make a joke about sexualizing / dehumanizing / objectifying language from the mod note earlier? Nope, it’s just plain regular person language, you know, like a 12 year old would use when calling one of their friends a jerk. It’s juvenile, perhaps, but fits as a descriptor for their behavior. > [@](#): > > It’s got nothing to do with Kavanaugh. ~90% of the Dem senators knew they were going to vote “no” on the nominee before he was even named. It’s more about the Republicans, if you get enough of them to vote no, it’s not going to be a result of an empty claim. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/319 "2018-09-06T19:33:05Z")
Has there been anything of substance released from the emails? I’ve been in meetings and haven’t been able to read them. Seems like a nothing burger - they probably shouldn’t have been classified, and there is nothing actually there. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/320 "2018-09-06T19:34:45Z")
Who pays for these billboards that Coons puts up to try to have a gotcha moment for Kavanaugh? If it is the taxpayers, I have a proposal to cut government spending. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=17)