# 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:** 212
**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, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4221 "2018-09-27T20:05:03Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Statements can be both plausible and untrue. If I told you I had sushi for lunch, would you consider that plausible? It doesn’t happen to be true, but how could you possibly know that? > > And since it seems highly unlikely that any clear evidence will emerge either confirming or rebutting the accusations against him, why shouldn’t we err on the side of making sure we don’t put a rapist on the Supreme Court? If you know that person A did not do X. You are certain that he didn’t do X, then it is not plausible that he did X. It’s plausible that some generic person might have done X, but not person A. > [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Yelling at Feinstein is a bad move. Very bad. Very, very bad. ---
**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, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4222 "2018-09-27T20:05:33Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Yelling at Feinstein is a bad move. Interrupting her to yell at her some more probably also not a great idea. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4223 "2018-09-27T20:05:37Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Yelling at Feinstein is a bad move. She is vulnerable. He is going for it. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4224 "2018-09-27T20:05:41Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > You are quite correct. I don’t understand what it would be like to continue to attend parties where others were being drugged and gang-raped. > > Regards, > Shodan I can though. I went to parties where things like that easily could have gone on and maybe did go on, in high school. I would have had to have been far less naive and more alert than I was at that time, to be like you. Unlike you, I was a sheltered, introverted, socially awkward girl. I was very vulnerable and it was only by the grace of God that worse things didn’t happen to me. I had no protection, no street smarts, and no one to warn me. I can easily, easily imagine being her. ---
**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, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4225 "2018-09-27T20:06:23Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Kavanaugh: “I’ve been a good judge”. Said very, very loudly. I guess that settles it. “I HAVE PEOPLE SKILLS!” l ---
**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 27, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4226 "2018-09-27T20:06:39Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > I must be the only anti-Kavanaugh that thinks he did an excellent job of making a case. I don’t believe him but I think he provided great cover for a “yes” vote. I thought his opening statement was pretty compelling. I thought his reaction to Feinstein’s questions was unhinged. ---
**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, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4227 "2018-09-27T20:07:29Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If you know that person A did not do X. You are certain that he didn’t do X, then it is not plausible that he did X. It’s plausible that some generic person might have done X, but not person A. Yes, but this is not a case where anything is “known”. If you assume a priori that Kavanaugh is innocent, then of course the accusations are implausible. But if you’re not making that assumption…well, then I’m not sure what your point is. ---
**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, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4228 "2018-09-27T20:07:45Z")
In defense of the GOP, the woman they hired to question him is reasonable. It sucks that they need to hire someone because they have no women on the committee, but she isn’t a hack and she’s asking tough questions. Edit: Oof. “I don’t know” is a bad answer to how many beers is too many. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4229 "2018-09-27T20:07:47Z")
I feel like I’m watching a “Caine Mutiny” type movie in which the main character, put under pressure, self-disintegrates. This guy is nuts, totally unstable. ETA: Watching him carefully, I’m wondering if he’s been medicated. ---
**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, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4230 "2018-09-27T20:08:06Z")
“We drank beer.” “We drank beer.” “We drank beer.” “We drank beer.” “We drank beer.” Do you think maybe they drank beer? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4231 "2018-09-27T20:08:06Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > I must be the only anti-Kavanaugh that thinks he did an excellent job of making a case. I don’t believe him but I think he provided great cover for a “yes” vote. Brietbart, Townhall and RedState are loving what he said. Fox seemed to have written him off after and are now walking back. If it riles up the base, then his chances of confirmation increase,. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4232 "2018-09-27T20:09:24Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > She is vulnerable. He is going for it. :eek: Most unfortunate post ever, in the circumstances. ---
**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, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4233 "2018-09-27T20:09:33Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > I think the point that most posters are making, and which Kavanaugh’s defenders here are willfully avoiding addressing, is that it DOESN’T MATTER if he’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 he’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) I agree with you, and have said so…he should be put aside. I’d have done it already (of course, I would never have picked him in the first place, but that’s beside the point). However, people in this thread are accusing the man of rape (hell, gang and systemic rape), of alcoholism and probably the lash too (that would hit all of the British RN’s sodomy, rum and the lash), and then presuming his guilt AND ascribing to him fairly low motives for what he’s saying (i.e. that he’s doing this for effect knowing his guilt, etc etc). Let’s be honest here…if we don’t automatically assume he’s guilty then it’s kind of understandable why he’s a bit pissed off by all of this. It’s the assumption of guilt that allows a lot of 'dopers to ascribe the bullshit they have been ascribing to his own testimony…just as the presumption of innocence and motive is what has conservative/Republicans defending the guy and seeing Ford’s testimony in a different light than many in this thread. ETA: That said, the crying thingy demonstrates, to me, that he is again not a viable candidate. You’ve got to have a MUCH thicker skin to be on the USSC, IMHO (or even in the rough and tumble US political system), and have to be much more in control of yourself and your emotions. ---
**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, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4234 "2018-09-27T20:09:48Z")
Fox News contributor calls Dr. Ford a skank and tells her to stop opening her legs. > **[Fox News contributor calls Dr. Christine Blasey Ford a slut -- tells her to...](https://www.rawstory.com/2018/09/fox-news-host-calls-dr-christine-balsey-ford-slut-tells-stop-opening-legs/#.W60pwxwbmQk.twitter)** > > UPDATE: A statement from Fox News sent to Raw Story reads "Kevin Jackson has been terminated as a contributor. His comments on today’s hearings were reprehensible and do not reflect the values of FOX News."While the Senate Judicial Committee hearing... ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4235 "2018-09-27T20:09:52Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > The women I can see on the screen are giving him the female stink-eye. I’ve seen it, that’s what it looks like. > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’m pretty sure one of the women on the screen is Kavanaugh’s wife, so … I doubt it. > [@elucidator](#): > > Single, I take it? Win. 🙂 ---
**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 27, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4236 "2018-09-27T20:10:08Z")
Kavanaugh’s explanation of the “Renate Alumni” thing struck me as entirely bullshit. It was almost certainly juvenile misogyny and slut-shaming, IMO. Which wouldn’t be disqualifying at all – lots of teenage boys engage in juvenile misogyny and slut shaming. But why on Earth would he lie about something so mundane unless he just doesn’t have any regard for the truth? ---
**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, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4237 "2018-09-27T20:10:11Z")
Is Mitchell just repeating the same questions she asked him the first time around? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4238 "2018-09-27T20:10:57Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I thought his opening statement was pretty compelling. I thought his reaction to Feinstein’s questions was unhinged. I think it’s pre-planned. Method in his madness. She is one other person who did not come across well in Ford testimony and they are going after her. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4239 "2018-09-27T20:11:19Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Wait. It doesn’t matter if he’s guilty or not? If he’s not guilty, the multiple allegations against him are not only not plausible, they’re not true. OK, maybe they aren’t true, maybe they are, neither of us were there. What are we supposed to do about that? If I were convinced that the allegations are not true, then I guess that removes the allegations as a reason to vote against him. But what if I don’t know if the allegations are true or false? What should I do then? If I were a Senator voting to put someone in a position of sacred trust like the Supreme Court, my obligation is to the country. Unless I’m convinced–pretty sure–that the allegations are false, I’m not voting for them, even if I agreed with his ideology, which I don’t in this case. ---
**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 27, 2018, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/4240 "2018-09-27T20:12:30Z")
Crying aside, I think his opening statement was too long-winded to be persuasive, and the things he used in his defense looked like straw grasping. Like going on and on about Leland Keyser. All she said was she had no recollection of that party, which is hardly surprising or revelatory. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=211) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=213)