# 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:** 270
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5382 "2018-09-30T18:10:59Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > My cat just pushed something off the table and it fell to the ground. All the evidence points to the conclusion that it fell due to gravity. There is no alternative explanation that has been offered. But, I guess gravity is just very, very likely the answer, and we can never draw any conclusions. Have you considered the possibility that George Soros paid your cat to pretend to push it off the table, then had Hillary snatch it off the table at the last second and dash it on the floor? They have to do that from time to time in order to keep John Kerry happy while he mans the controls of Rosenstein’s weather machine in Antarctica, otherwise, when they go to their child sex ring under the ice cream parlor, it may be raining, and that would simply be a tragedy. That seems as likely to me as an invisible force that magically pulls everything to the ground. Can you even _explain_ gravity? Please, be specific. ---
**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 30, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5383 "2018-09-30T18:24:09Z")
It looks like the FBI is investigating Ford and Ramirez without any limitations. Unclear about Avenatti client Swetnick. It’s not clear to me what Swetnick’s specific allegation is against Kavanaugh. Avenatti or his client or his witnesses can make that clear, and as of now, they haven’t. Personally, I’m satisfied in a way I wasn’t prior to Flake’s request for a one week FBI look that a more fair process has occurred. I don’t care about Kavanaugh’s drinking outside of how that might come up and/or is related to the specific allegations. Meaning, I would not want nor expect the FBI to investigate his drinking alone. I don’t care if I don’t see the findings of the investigation. It’s sole purpose is for the President who can tell the Senators. The Senators can assess the info and then vote - the important stuff will leak. Let it play out. I’d assume nothing comes out of it, but I needed the FBI process to happen to get on board with a more legit confirmation. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5384 "2018-09-30T18:29:57Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > I think he refers to a chart. He actually said something along those lines. Ha. That reminded me of when I get asked how fast I was driving at the time of the accident and I say “25 mph” except he doesn’t know the actual number to say, so he refers to the “chart” that he basically has used to selectively enforce, and knock people of color around for decades. It sucks to be on the other end of the stick I guess. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5385 "2018-09-30T18:47:34Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > If the audience is highly sympathetic, laughter is almost guaranteed. For an example, when Il Douche makes “jokes” at one of his pep rallies, his audience laughs, even though he couldn’t humor his way in to a paper bag, much less out of it. He told a real knee-slapper recently, something about him achieving more than any president before him… I can’t do it justice, but it brought the house down, believe me. ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5386 "2018-09-30T18:53:49Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > I don’t care about Kavanaugh’s drinking outside of how that might come up and/or is related to the specific allegations. Meaning, I would not want nor expect the FBI to investigate his drinking alone. I do, because I care about assessing the credibility of the witness. It is unlikely that the FBI will be able to reach much of a conclusion on the actual assault charges; however, it is much more likely that they could have more to say about how the claims Kavanaugh makes about various things in his past, claims that strain credulity, are supported or contradicted by others who knew him during this time. ---
**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 30, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5387 "2018-09-30T19:09:45Z")
> [@jshore](#): > > I do, because I care about assessing the credibility of the witness. It is unlikely that the FBI will be able to reach much of a conclusion on the actual assault charges; however, it is much more likely that they could have more to say about how the claims Kavanaugh makes about various things in his past, claims that strain credulity, are supported or contradicted by others who knew him during this time. I get that. And if this were a general investigation into Brett Kavanaugh’s character then drinking habits would be fair game and very relevant. But it’s not, it’s a specific investigation/look into credible allegations of sexual assault - that’s the specific task the FBI was given and I think it’s fair. As long as the FBI has authority to fully look into those allegations, I’m good. I think the drinking is relevant in that it’s a common element to all the allegations and that Kavanaugh testified he never drank to a point that he ever forgot what happened to any part of the night before. However, I don’t expect or want the FBI to investigate that specific point generally (let’s talk to anyone who can speak to drinking habits). Just to witnesses as it relates to these specific allegations of sexual assault. The Senators of course can take his character into account when they vote, but I don’t expect the FBI to investigate his “character”. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5388 "2018-09-30T19:10:14Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > National polls on this issue don’t matter. Nobody cares what Californians or New Yorkers think of Kavanaugh. It’s people in places like West Virginia, Missouri, Maine, and Montana that matter. I’m from Missouri. We’re a lot more libertarian than you on the coasts realize. We are also, many of us, evangelical Protestants. Kavanaugh is an East Coast elite, a Roman Catholic, and a part of a corrupt Washington cabal, besides being a drunkard who lies about the law. You’re not putting him in for _us._ ---
**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 30, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5389 "2018-09-30T19:28:37Z")
My above post aside, it’s still unclear how restricted the FBI actually is. Times says McGahn, working with McConnell/Senate GOP, is indeed setting FBI limits: only 4 people are approved for FBI interviews: Judge, Keyser, PJ Smyth & Ramirez. FBI to ask Judge about Swetnick allegations, but not Swetnick. Question of Kav downplaying drinking are off limits. Kav and Ford not on list, either. I’d hope, but not st all convinced, the FBI can follow up with anybody if necessary. > **[Details of F.B.I.’s Kavanaugh Inquiry Show Its Restricted Range (Published 2018)](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/29/us/politics/kavanaugh-fbi-inquiry.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage)** > > The F.B.I. will interview four witnesses about accusations of sexual assault against President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee as part of a background check. ---
**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 30, 2018, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5390 "2018-09-30T19:37:53Z")
don’t think it was mentioned on this thread yet but Kellyanne Conway said today she is a victim of sexual assault. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5391 "2018-09-30T19:51:58Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Have you considered the possibility that George Soros paid your cat to pretend to push it off the table, then had Hillary snatch it off the table at the last second and dash it on the floor? > > They have to do that from time to time in order to keep John Kerry happy while he mans the controls of Rosenstein’s weather machine in Antarctica, otherwise, when they go to their child sex ring under the ice cream parlor, it may be raining, and that would simply be a tragedy. > > That seems as likely to me as an invisible force that magically pulls everything to the ground. Can you even _explain_ gravity? Please, be specific. Notice how this lib dem deflects from the FAKE MOON LANDING???!!! ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5392 "2018-09-30T20:02:32Z")
Ford says she has still not been contacted by the FBI. Possibly because she is not one of the four witnesses the FBI is allowed to talk to. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5393 "2018-09-30T20:05:24Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Ford says she has still not been contacted by the FBI. Possibly because she is not one of the four witnesses the FBI is allowed to talk to. Probably because FBI agents don’t like to work weekends anymore than you or I. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5394 "2018-09-30T20:13:26Z")
Comey penned a piece for the Times and State’s that Kavanaugh’s small lies will lead to the big lies. That the FBI will get this done because it isn’t actually as challenging an investigation as the Republicans hope it is. [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/30/opinion/james-comey-fbi-kavanaugh-investigation.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/30/opinion/james-comey-fbi-kavanaugh-investigation.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share) ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5395 "2018-09-30T20:14:55Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Probably because FBI agents don’t like to work weekends anymore than you or I. I honestly cannot tell if this is sarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5396 "2018-09-30T20:22:45Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > I’m from Missouri. We’re a lot more libertarian than you on the coasts realize. We are also, many of us, evangelical Protestants. Kavanaugh is an East Coast elite, a Roman Catholic, and a part of a corrupt Washington cabal, besides being a drunkard who lies about the law. You’re not putting him in for _us._ Here, here! I am from Arkansas and he will not be confirmed for me either. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5397 "2018-09-30T20:33:06Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Probably because FBI agents don’t like to work weekends anymore than you or I. > [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > I honestly cannot tell if this is sarcasm. Especially since I am here, at work, on a weekend. You know, crime doesn’t keep banker’s hours, and neither does law enforcement. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5398 "2018-09-30T20:44:02Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Comey penned a piece for the Times and State’s that Kavanaugh’s small lies will lead to the big lies. That the FBI will get this done because it isn’t actually as challenging an investigation as the Republicans hope it is. > > [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/30/opinion/james-comey-fbi-kavanaugh-investigation.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/30/opinion/james-comey-fbi-kavanaugh-investigation.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share) Unfortunately this is the money quote: > [@](#): > > Unless limited in some way by the Trump administration, they can speak to scores of people in a few days, if necessary. That’s a freakin’ big “unless”. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5399 "2018-09-30T21:07:17Z")
The crucial question is the issue of “credible” accusations. Worlds of mischief can be hidden with that word. Luckily, we have experts in semantic distinction to help us in that. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5400 "2018-09-30T21:44:39Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Have you considered the possibility that George Soros paid your cat to pretend to push it off the table, then had Hillary snatch it off the table at the last second and dash it on the floor? > > They have to do that from time to time in order to keep John Kerry happy while he mans the controls of Rosenstein’s weather machine in Antarctica, otherwise, when they go to their child sex ring under the ice cream parlor, it may be raining, and that would simply be a tragedy. > > That seems as likely to me as an invisible force that magically pulls everything to the ground. **Can you even _explain_ gravity?** Please, be specific. It’s only a _theory_. So all proudly right-wing humans should feel free to disregard it! Go ahead, step off that cliff! emphasis mine ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5401 "2018-09-30T22:09:25Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Gotta go with [Josh Marshall’s standard](https://twitter.com/joshtpm/status/1046408647667044352): “It’s a reasonable, blanket standard that judges will not engage in public tantrums or casually lie.” … > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > …That man lost his grace right on TV for the whole world to see. … Last Thursday was a shameful day for any sane American. I, for one, am embarrassed for him. Sad. > [@RickJay](#): > > Brett Kavanaugh is nominated to be a Supreme Court judge and he has, on national TV, repeatedly lied to United States senators asking him important questions. Even if it wasn’t him who attacked Christine Blasey Ford, he has no business being a judge. Anyone who still says he should be seated isn’t really serious about the Supreme Court being a court, and its justices dealing in justice. I’m wondering if, in coming days, there will be additional attention given to the fact that a man hoping to be seated on the Supreme Court _ **made an open threat of retribution against those opposing him** _. > [@](#): > > “This is a circus,” he continued. “The consequences will extend long past my nomination. The consequences will be with us for decades. This grotesque character assassination will dissuade confident and good people of all political persuasions from serving our country, and as we all know, in the political system of the early 2000s, **what goes around comes around**.” - [Read: Brett Kavanaugh’s angry, emotional opening statement - Vox](https://www.vox.com/2018/9/27/17911256/brett-kavanaugh-christine-blasey-ford-senate-hearing) The open threat was greeted with glee by many on the right. This two-minute excerpt from Kavanaugh’s remarks, from a rightt-wing YouTube site, does contain the threat, at the end. Read the comments if you want to be depressed by the appetite for authoritarianism and bullying you’ll find in them: The excuse may be offered that Kavanaugh was _not_ telling his opponents to expect his vengeance, but instead was stating a belief about the quality of future SCOTUS nominees. This excuse starts out reasonably, because he did refer to the example of his being questioned about serious allegations made against him, and the theory that this would dissuade future potential Justices from being willing to be nominated. But it’s weak. He only _starts_ out his sentence referring to that issue. His segue to “what goes around comes around” _makes no sense_ in the context of an entire nation suffering because good candidates will say ‘no.’ It makes sense only in the context of a man, feeling wronged, telling those he believes wronged him that They Will Get Theirs. Very clearly,Brett Kavanaugh told Democrats to watch out when he’s on the court, because “what goes around comes around.” How this is not immediately and on its face disqualifying, I cannot understand. \*That link contains the entire transcript. It also contains a one-minute video excerpt from Kavanaugh’s statement, but not the part in which he speaks his threat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=269) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=271)