# 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:** 210
**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 27, 2018, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4181 "2018-09-27T19:43:57Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I hope I am not the only one on whom the rich irony of this -following this is not lost. šŸ˜ƒ That wasnā€™t snark. And if Iā€™d had a few minutes to calm down I wouldnā€™t have posted it; I donā€™t think it was helpful to the discussion. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4182 "2018-09-27T19:44:14Z")
Reading through the last couple pages of this thread, Iā€™m TOTALLY NOT FUCKING shocked that this board is perceived by many posters as an unfriendly space for women. (Iā€™m not shocked because it was already obvious that there was a problem. However, I am kind of shocked how a few posters on this thread are letting their freak flags fly, loud and proud, and it turns me off even more. And Iā€™m a straight guy ā€“ hence more clueless than the average woman, Iā€™d bet, about this stuff. I wish I had more to contribute than just shaking my head and wagging my finger, but jeez. Every heretic isnā€™t Giordano Bruno, and lots of iconoclasts are just assholes.) ---
**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 27, 2018, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4183 "2018-09-27T19:44:36Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I suspect that at least part of the emotional tear-up is genuine. Because it really sucks when youā€™ve practically clinched the Supreme Court and then your past catches up with you. Plus, why not crank it up a bit, it canā€™t hurt! Gee, you think? And of course you are assuming that heā€™s guiltyā€¦and that he knows heā€™s guilty and has perfect recall of the events. Itā€™s an assumption of guilt that most in this thread seem to be making. Iā€™d say heā€™s pretty genuinely pissed off from what little Iā€™ve seenā€¦no need to ham it up or play to the crowd. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4184 "2018-09-27T19:44:50Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Hey, did you guys know that drinking beer and raping people are two different things? I wasnā€™t aware. This guyā€™s really smart - figuring out stuff like that! ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4185 "2018-09-27T19:44:51Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > His wife and daughters have both had death threats. Thatā€™s destroyed? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4186 "2018-09-27T19:45:08Z")
This guys DEFINITELY gonna have to pee if he keeps slugging down water. :eek: For folk who support his nomination, what is your reaction to his crying? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4187 "2018-09-27T19:45:56Z")
Brettā€™s going to have to ask for a bathroom break if he keeps guzzling the water like that. And women who defended him are putting their reputations on the line? Really? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4188 "2018-09-27T19:47:11Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Thatā€™s destroyed? I agree. Letā€™s not minimize any harm he suffered, but letā€™s not exaggerate it either. Sorry - being a judge, Iā€™m not persuaded by exaggeration. A Circuit Ct judge should be more careful with his language. ---
**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 27, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4189 "2018-09-27T19:47:22Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > Againā€¦ much of the article is about photos that Ford isnā€™t in. How do you feel about guilt by association? Heā€™s in favor of it today. He was opposed to it yesterday. Tomorrowā€¦who knows? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4190 "2018-09-27T19:47:40Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > ā€¦ For folk who support his nomination, what is your reaction to his crying? Ehhh ā€¦ I couldā€™ve done without it. Itā€™s the sort of thing that probably plays better on TV cameras for women than men. OTOH, I can imagine heā€™s rather emotional about all of this and itā€™s been hard on him and his family. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4191 "2018-09-27T19:48:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Heā€™s in favor of it today. He was opposed to it yesterday. Tomorrowā€¦who knows? Hey, things change! You never pee in the same river twice. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4192 "2018-09-27T19:48:42Z")
I think the point that most posters are making, and which Kavanaughā€™s defenders here are willfully avoiding addressing, is that it DOESNā€™T MATTER if heā€™s guilty or not. The mere existence of multiple plausible allegations of this nature casts sufficient doubt on his integrity to justify withdrawing his nomination. If heā€™s not guilty, that sucks for him personally. But keeping people of questionable integrity off the Supreme Court is more important than being fair to any one particular person. (edit: that was to XT a few posts above) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4193 "2018-09-27T19:49:15Z")
Is it total left wing freak bias, or is he going down in flames? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4194 "2018-09-27T19:49:34Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Heā€™s in favor of it today. He was opposed to it yesterday. Tomorrowā€¦who knows? False and wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4195 "2018-09-27T19:49:52Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > Reading through the last couple pages of this thread, Iā€™m TOTALLY NOT FUCKING shocked that this board is perceived by many posters as an unfriendly space for women. > (Iā€™m not shocked because it was already obvious that there was a problem. However, I am kind of shocked how a few posters on this thread are letting their freak flags fly, loud and proud, and it turns me off even more. Iā€™m not seeing any otherwise-respected posters who are doing that. And if the posters are not generally respected then I canā€™t see how they can be reflective of ā€œthis boardā€ in general. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4196 "2018-09-27T19:50:04Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Ehhh ā€¦ I couldā€™ve done without it. Itā€™s the sort of thing that probably plays better on TV cameras for women than men. > > OTOH, I can imagine heā€™s rather emotional about all of this and itā€™s been hard on him and his family. Soā€¦your hypothesis is that women, as a group, will view this statement more positively than men will? Weā€™ll see how that goes. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4197 "2018-09-27T19:50:23Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > I think the point that most posters are making, and which Kavanaughā€™s defenders here are willfully avoiding addressing, is that it DOESNā€™T MATTER if heā€™s guilty or not. The mere existence of multiple plausible allegations of this nature casts sufficient doubt on his integrity to justify withdrawing his nomination. If heā€™s not guilty, that sucks for him personally. But keeping people of questionable integrity off the Supreme Court is more important than being fair to any one particular person. This. Evidence is rational, doubt is reasonable. And sometimes, doubt is what you got. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4198 "2018-09-27T19:50:40Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Ehhh ā€¦ I couldā€™ve done without it. Itā€™s the sort of thing that probably plays better on TV cameras for women than men. > > OTOH, I can imagine heā€™s rather emotional about all of this and itā€™s been hard on him and his family. Iā€™ll give him the benefit of the doubt that the crying appears genuine to me. Doesnā€™t mean that heā€™s crying because heā€™s innocent though. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4199 "2018-09-27T19:50:43Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Is it total left wing freak biasā€¦ Yes. The bias in this thread is palpable. You guys are imagining things that less partisan viewers arenā€™t seeing. ---
**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 27, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4200 "2018-09-27T19:51:59Z")
He needs to significantly reduce the amount of crying. I can understand a tear or two (maybe even three) if heā€™s recalling some painful event. But heā€™s crying about everything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=209) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=211)