# 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:** 275
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5482 "2018-10-01T17:56:26Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > Yes. You a conflating evidence with media source. Shooying the messanger ss it were. 4chan can post a shit ton of crap but that doesn’t preclude a true post. The NYT can post stellar well sourced reporting but still occasionally badly misreport something. [Get to Know the New Tax Code While Filling Out This Year's 1040 - The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/02/23/business/how-to-fill-out-1040-form.html) > > Public records can be searched and verified by NYT reporters or by a 4chan poster. I am not arguing to simply take as true something posted on 4chan. But the idea of using a public record to help confirm or refute testimony is not a bad idea. > > If you take the view that an investigation should be a search for the truth then it is no longer about supporting a particular side. The New York Times wouldn’t fabricate shit. Literally anything posted from 4chan is suspect, and I’m not gonna waste the time to verify whether one of the shitbag neo-nazis on /pol/ literally made shit up about someone they didn’t like. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2018, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5483 "2018-10-01T18:07:56Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > Yes. You a conflating evidence with media source. Shooting the messenger as it were. 4chan can post a shit ton of crap but that doesn’t preclude a true post. The NYT can post stellar well sourced reporting but still occasionally badly misreport something. [Get to Know the New Tax Code While Filling Out This Year's 1040 - The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/02/23/business/how-to-fill-out-1040-form.html) > > … I think we are in agreement. I think the NYT’s is more reliable. I think it’s fair to shoot the messenger in this example of 4chan and I’ll take my chances they might be right every so often (stopped clocks and all that…). I’m not following why 4chan has been recently brought up in this thread (nor do I want to know) so that’s probably what I’m missing. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2018, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5484 "2018-10-01T18:10:39Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > 4chan can post a shit ton of crap but that doesn’t preclude a true post. 4chan’s argument is that Ford made up the attempted rape story so that she’d have an ‘out’ if she got fined for having a tenant. That’s pretty fucking stupid. I don’t really think it needs a whole lot of discussion, other than to wonder about the kind of people who think there’s a possibility it might be true. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5485 "2018-10-01T18:26:50Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > 4chan’s argument is that Ford made up the attempted rape story so that she’d have an ‘out’ if she got fined for having a tenant. That’s pretty fucking stupid. I don’t really think it needs a whole lot of discussion, **other than to wonder about the kind of people** who think there’s a possibility it might be true. My bold. Easy. They’re wearing MAGA hats. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5486 "2018-10-01T18:31:02Z")
> > [@](#): > > Breaking: White House authorizes FBI to expand its abbreviated investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh by interviewing anyone it deems necessary as long the review is finished by the end of the week. Very glad they’re doing this (though obviously it should have been like this from the beginning, as well as no artificial time limitations), but I’m continually surprised by how little the WH is resisting these calls for a real investigation. It almost makes me suspect that they expect Kavanaugh is going down due to what the FBI will find this week, and they want to make sure he goes down while still being protected from attacks from the far-right for not standing up enough for Kavanaugh. But we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5487 "2018-10-01T18:59:09Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > 4chan’s argument is that Ford made up the attempted rape story so that she’d have an ‘out’ if she got fined for having a tenant. That’s pretty fucking stupid. I don’t really think it needs a whole lot of discussion, other than to wonder about the kind of people who think there’s a possibility it might be true. So busy shooting the messenger that you seem to be unwilling to realize that the idea 4chan has stumbled upon may add to Ford’s credibility? Ford provided compelling testimony but critics have argued she did not take steps consistent with being attacked, at least not until Kavanaugh was on the bench. But if public records such, as a building permit, show she made this unusual alteration to her home before Kavanaugh made the DC court then it is something that can be concretely corroborated from her version of events. Frankly, any corroboration from before Kavanaugh took the bench would help. Hypothetically, joining a sexual assault survivor’s group, taking self defense classes, seeking therapy… anything predating Kavanaugh’s appointment on the bench would help discredit the idea put forward by some on the right that this is an orchestrated and fabricated hit job. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5488 "2018-10-01T19:04:27Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > So busy shooting the messenger that you seem to be unwilling to realize that the idea 4chan has stumbled upon may add to Ford’s credibility? I’m pretty sure the 4chan folks, and those in this thread advancing the 4chan post, see it that way. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2018, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5489 "2018-10-01T19:05:13Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > So busy shooting the messenger that you seem to be unwilling to realize that the idea 4chan has stumbled upon may add to Ford’s credibility? > > Ford provided compelling testimony but critics have argued she did not take steps consistent with being attacked, at least not until Kavanaugh was on the bench. But if public records such, as a building permit, show she made this unusual alteration to her home before Kavanaugh made the DC court then it is something that can be concretely corroborated from her version of events. > > Frankly, any corroboration from before Kavanaugh took the bench would help. Hypothetically, joining a sexual assault survivor’s group, taking self defense classes, seeking therapy… anything predating Kavanaugh’s appointment on the bench would help discredit the idea put forward by some on the right that this is an orchestrated and fabricated hit job. She was going to therapy before Kavanaugh’s judicial nomination. It’s in the record. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5490 "2018-10-01T19:09:52Z")
Which one? He was nominated in 2004, filibustered, nominated in 2006, confirmed and then the current nomination. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2018, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5491 "2018-10-01T19:17:30Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Which one? He was nominated in 2004, filibustered, nominated in 2006, confirmed and then the current nomination. Oh, nominated to any post. Her therapy was in 2012. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5492 "2018-10-01T19:18:44Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > 4chan’s argument is that Ford made up the attempted rape story so that she’d have an ‘out’ if she got fined for having a tenant. That’s pretty fucking stupid. I don’t really think it needs a whole lot of discussion, other than to wonder about the kind of people who think there’s a possibility it might be true. Oh, I can tell you about one of the people who thinks this is plausible: I went to grad school with her. Yes, she has a PhD. In a field where evaluating claims and evidence from written sources is essential. I want to go and bang my head against a wall. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5493 "2018-10-01T19:43:21Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > [https://twitter.com/peterbakernyt/status/1046825828720496640](https://twitter.com/peterbakernyt/status/1046825828720496640) > > Very glad they’re doing this (though obviously it should have been like this from the beginning, as well as no artificial time limitations), but I’m continually surprised by how little the WH is resisting these calls for a real investigation. It almost makes me suspect that they expect Kavanaugh is going down due to what the FBI will find this week, and they want to make sure he goes down while still being protected from attacks from the far-right for not standing up enough for Kavanaugh. > > But we’ll see. Which is better: having Kavanaugh on the court, or having some just as reliably conservative dickwad on the court and Kavanaugh as a new political martyr to rally the faithful ahead of critical midterm elections? Is it possible Trump and the Republican hierarchy have concluded Kavanaugh is a loser with the public even if he gets confirmed? Is it possible they want additional evidence, allegations and/or inconsistencies in da judge’s statements to be brought to light, forcing him to fall on his own sword and withdraw (or be withdrawn) while sparing Republicans from having to vote for his drunken douche bag ass? Timing is critical, and it is clearly too early to call for the bus under which Kavanaugh will be thrown (a well-worn Trump tactic). But in a week, things may look different. The longer he goes unconfirmed, the greater likelihood more unsavory info about him will surface. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5494 "2018-10-01T19:46:23Z")
Well, fill us in, Porcupine. What about your interaction with her tells us that Ford went to the trouble of setting up a phony assault story - one that specifically implicated a real person - in order to win a theoretically possible minor lawsuit? If it’s that she went to grad school… well, that’s a hell of a connection. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5495 "2018-10-01T19:53:27Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > So busy shooting the messenger that you seem to be unwilling to realize that the idea 4chan has stumbled upon may add to Ford’s credibility? I don’t really give a shit what anyone who posts to 4chan has to say about anything, pro or con. It’s 99% horseshit, and 1% also horseshit. I made the mistake of going to that link and reading it. Their theory (no joke) is that Ford made up the attempted rape accusation so that she could avoid a fine for having an illegal tenant. That’s on-it’s-face stupid. I’ve already wasted more time talking about that stupid horseshit then it deserves. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5496 "2018-10-01T19:58:36Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Au contraire, multiple people on the left have started threads trying very hard to listen to those on the right! It’s just that they seem to have very little to say that isn’t nonsense. (post shortened, underline added) And there you have it. If conservatives/Republicans do not speak as the Democrats wish/demand that they do, then their statements must be nonsense. And why would a Hillary-worshipping Democrat listen to nonsense? Not listening to the other side is SOP now. Neither side is currently listening to the other side. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5497 "2018-10-01T20:01:08Z")
> [@Dropo](#): > > Which is better: having Kavanaugh on the court, or having some just as reliably conservative dickwad on the court and Kavanaugh as a new political martyr to rally the faithful ahead of critical midterm elections? Except that Kavanaugh is much, much more than just “reliably conservative”. He’s an unprincipled liar, at least a former uncontrolled heavy drinker if not a present one, a probable would-be rapist, and an extreme partisan viciously biased against all things Democratic and progressive. I’d happily take an ordinary principled conservative over this asshole. Winning the midterms is very poor compensation for poisoning the Supreme Court for generations. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5498 "2018-10-01T20:05:05Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened, underline added) > > And there you have it. If conservatives/Republicans do not speak as the Democrats wish/demand that they do, then their statements must be nonsense. And why would a Hillary-worshipping Democrat listen to nonsense? Not listening to the other side is SOP now. Neither side is currently listening to the other side. What factual argument from the right has been neglected in this thread? What factual argument on the left has been answered by anyone from the right? You have to have better things to do than play this groundhog day sad trombone all the time. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5499 "2018-10-01T20:08:16Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > …I made the mistake of going to that link and reading it. Their theory (no joke) is that Ford made up the attempted rape accusation so that she could avoid a fine for having an illegal tenant. That’s on-it’s-face stupid. > > I’ve already wasted more time talking about that stupid horseshit then it deserves. (post shortened) But shouldn’t the Democrats be demanding that this claim should also be investigated by the FBI? Aren’t the Democrats doing everything to discover the truth? Isn’t “Anything to delay the confirmation,” or “Resist”, the new mantra of the Democrat Party? You can chose to waste your time anyway YOU chose. No one is forcing you to enjoy the internet banter. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2018, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5500 "2018-10-01T20:08:20Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Except that Kavanaugh is much, much more than just “reliably conservative”. He’s an unprincipled liar, at least a former uncontrolled heavy drinker if not a present one, a probable would-be rapist, and an extreme partisan viciously biased against all things Democratic and progressive. I’d happily take an ordinary principled conservative over this asshole. Winning the midterms is very poor compensation for poisoning the Supreme Court for generations. In this environment the only thing that is “better” is to push bad outcomes down the road as long as possible. On this I agree with Mitch Mcconnell. The more time the better basically. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5501 "2018-10-01T20:09:12Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > There’s only 4 or 5 days left in this sad, sordid process. How many times have I heard that one before? 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=274) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=276)