# 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:** 188
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3741 "2018-09-26T16:18:31Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Is it just me, or should a sworn affidavit, under penalty of criminal liability, attesting to a SCOTUS nominee’s participation in drugging and gang raping women, maybe be fully investigated prior to confirming him to the court? Not a sworn affidavit, but that does not matter. 🙂 ---
**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 26, 2018, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3742 "2018-09-26T16:20:54Z")
The allegations in that sworn deposition need to be investigated. Not just because we might be putting a rapist on the court. But also because falsely making such an accusation would be an extremely serious and extremely damaging (to the country!) crime, and such potential crimes need to be fully investigated, and prosecuted if found to be false sworn statements, to dissuade future such false allegations from being made. ---
**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 26, 2018, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3743 "2018-09-26T16:22:34Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Not a sworn affidavit, but that does not matter. 🙂 Sorry, sworn declaration. But, according to what I’m reading online, at least, still prosecutable if made falsely. ---
**Author:** ![2ManyTacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/3da27b/32.png) [@2ManyTacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2ManyTacos)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3744 "2018-09-26T16:22:54Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I don’t particularly care for Avenatti and think any candidacy of his would simply add to the polemic - on the other hand, the less rational side of me admires his testicular fortitude. He’s fearless and he goads Trump in ways that others are afraid to. My only concern with a potential Avenatti candidacy is any skeletons that may or may not be buried in his closet. But again, Donald fucking Trump is president, so I am dubious whether any such potential embarrassments would be damaging to Avenatti in any meaningful sense. ---
**Author:** ![Modesty\_Blaise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Modesty\_Blaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modesty_Blaise)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3745 "2018-09-26T16:25:27Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > “It is our job to make his pattern of revolting behavior clear - piece by painful piece.” > -[Brett Kavanaugh](https://www.apnews.com/9557360d689e4593a8788369672e30d6), 1998 > > Karma. THIS warms my heart. I hope this all ends with him not only losing the job he has now and his law license, but jail time. It won’t, but it should. ---
**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 26, 2018, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3746 "2018-09-26T16:26:48Z")
> [@Modesty\_Blaise](#): > > THIS warms my heart. I hope this all ends with him not only losing the job he has now and his law license, but jail time. It won’t, but it should. I would think someone has already made a bar complaint regarding his lies to Congress about the stolen memos. However, I honestly don’t know if being disbarred would disqualify him from his current job or potential seat on USSC. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3747 "2018-09-26T16:28:04Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Majority of Republicans would not care if he raped her and got her pregnant and then paid for her to have an abortion. They might even elect him President. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3748 "2018-09-26T16:28:43Z")
> [@Modesty\_Blaise](#): > > THIS warms my heart. I hope this all ends with him not only losing the job he has now and his law license, but jail time. It won’t, but it should. It’s a bit harder to prove stuff in a real court, as opposed to the court of public (or SDMB) opinion. While I think what we are seeing right now pretty much should put the kibosh on his nomination to the USSC, I don’t think I’ve seen anything (yet) that would be good enough to do anything you are talking about here. Nor should it, based on what we’ve seen so far. Not unless you want a system where mere accusation equates to guilt automatically. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3749 "2018-09-26T16:29:41Z")
The 3rd accuser has a security clearance based on her past jobs. I believe she worked in the state department at one point. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3750 "2018-09-26T16:30:26Z")
> [@2ManyTacos](#): > > My only concern with a potential Avenatti candidacy is any skeletons that may or may not be buried in his closet. > > But again, Donald fucking Trump is president, so I am dubious whether any such potential embarrassments would be damaging to Avenatti in any meaningful sense. I think Donald Trump’s presidency has in some ways damaged the presidency forever. I don’t see how we get back to ‘normal’ after this. Even if we get Democrats to sweep the 2020 elections, the best the country can hope for is 2008 all over again - and that lasted 2 years. Two freakin years after the worst financial collapse in 80 years and with twin wars raging on. When it’s all said and done, I wouldn’t mind seeing a British or Canadian style parliament replacing the shit show we’ve got now. Presidential republican systems are just anti-democratic time bombs waiting to go off. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3751 "2018-09-26T16:31:31Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > The 3rd accuser has a security clearance based on her past jobs. I believe she worked in the state department at one point. Well I guess she’ll get that revoked ---
**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 26, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3752 "2018-09-26T16:34:11Z")
I hope this will continue to help to inspire anyone else who was abused by a prominent US politician (or anyone, in fact) to come forward and make detailed accusations about what they experienced. I don’t care who it is. I don’t care if it’s fucking Barack Obama – if he raped or assaulted or groped someone, I hope they come forward and call him the fuck out. I bet there are still hundreds, if not thousands, of Congressmen, judges, state reps and senators, police chiefs, mayors, and local officials, quaking in their boots hoping against hope that the girl or boy they assaulted stays silent. And I hope those survivors don’t stay silent. Fuck sexual abusers and assaulters, every last one of them. Fuck every Republican, independent, and Democrat who ever sexually abused anyone. Let the chips fall where they may. This country is still seriously fucked on this issue, and we may need a political bloodbath, with dozens or hundreds of prominent officials in both parties being prosecuted or forced to step down, to see this big change the country needs. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3753 "2018-09-26T16:37:10Z")
When they went after Clinton for the Lewinski stuff we found out a lot of the GOP guys in Congress also cheated on their wives like Gingrich, Hyde, etc. Beware of what you wish for ---
**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 26, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3754 "2018-09-26T16:38:48Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Fuck every Republican, independent, and Democrat who ever sexually abused anyone. I assume you don’t mean that literally. It just reads kinda odd. 😉 These new allegations, should they have merit, will indeed bring this to a swift close. If they are true, one wonders why Kavanaugh thought they wouldn’t come out. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3755 "2018-09-26T16:41:30Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I hope this will continue to help to inspire anyone else who was abused by a prominent US politician (or anyone, in fact) to come forward and make detailed accusations about what they experienced. I don’t care who it is. I don’t care if it’s fucking Barack Obama – if he raped or assaulted or groped someone, I hope they come forward and call him the fuck out. I bet there are still hundreds, if not thousands, of Congressmen, judges, state reps and senators, police chiefs, mayors, and local officials, quaking in their boots hoping against hope that the girl or boy they assaulted stays silent. And I hope those survivors don’t stay silent. > > Fuck sexual abusers and assaulters, every last one of them. Fuck every Republican, independent, and Democrat who ever sexually abused anyone. Let the chips fall where they may. This country is still seriously fucked on this issue, and we may need a political bloodbath, with dozens or hundreds of prominent officials in both parties being prosecuted or forced to step down, to see this big change the country needs. Um, didn’t seem to make a dent in Trump’s chances. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3756 "2018-09-26T16:42:25Z")
[Talia Levin](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-kavanaugh-rape-assault-supreme-court_us_5baa94dde4b07dc0b87eb3ad?wzh): > [@](#): > > I Googled my rapist this week. I looked through his Instagram photos. There he is, sharing a margarita with a woman I don’t know. There he is, sharing photos of a cat, making jokes about bagels. I never reported him, and he’s served no time. By all appearances, he’s doing fine. > > I do not want him to be doing fine. I would like him to be afraid. > > If I must live with my pain, I would like him to live with the fear, just under the surface, that what my body remembers so vividly can come disrupt his life, as it disrupts mine daily. I would like him to live with a little of the fear I’ve lived with my entire life, the same fear every woman I know lives with: the quiet safety protocols that I put in place for each date and each walk alone and each time I get drunk in public. Perhaps if he fears me, he cannot ignore me; perhaps if he fears me, I will be his equal at last. ---
**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 26, 2018, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3757 "2018-09-26T16:43:02Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > When they went after Clinton for the Lewinski stuff we found out a lot of the GOP guys in Congress also cheated on their wives like Gingrich, Hyde, etc. Beware of what you wish for If this is directed at me, I don’t care. My partisan political goals are tiny compared to the idea of actually doing the right thing, as a country, with regards to sexual assault and rape. If 100 Democratic Congressmen had to step down due/were prosecuted due to credible allegations, I’d be beaming if it meant that we, as a country, were finally treating this shit with the seriousness and moral strength it deserves. I’d be fucking ecstatic. ---
**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 26, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3758 "2018-09-26T16:45:24Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I assume you don’t mean that literally. It just reads kinda odd. 😉 > > These new allegations, should they have merit, will indeed bring this to a swift close. If they are true, one wonders why Kavanaugh thought they wouldn’t come out. How will we know if they have merit? At the hearing, only Kavanaugh has any knowledge of the veracity of the statements. Hell, I bet Ford might say she never witnessed anything like that happening. Does not mean the last statement is not true, but those are the only two witnesses testifying. I expect some witness statements to drop. ---
**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 26, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3759 "2018-09-26T16:45:59Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > Um, didn’t seem to make a dent in Trump’s chances. Hopefully our society is changing for the better. ---
**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 26, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/3760 "2018-09-26T16:51:06Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > How will we know if they have merit? At the very least, every major new outlet in the US (world?) will be picking this story apart to see how much merit it has. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=187) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=189)