# 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:** 280
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5582 "2018-10-02T14:18:42Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > His friend who was with him said that Kavanaugh threw his beer in the other guy’s face, responding to what had been just words up to that point. Wait, wait, wait: there was ice in his beer? Nevermind anything else, this fact alone totally disqualifies him from any public office or gainful employment. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5583 "2018-10-02T14:22:38Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > WHITEHOUSE: So the vomiting that you reference in the Ralph Club reference, related to the consumption of alcohol? > > KAVANAUGH: Senator, I was at the top of my class academically, busted my butt in school. Captain of the varsity basketball team. Got in Yale College. When I got into Yale College, got into Yale Law School. Worked my tail off. [Samuel L. Jackson]_ **Check out the big brain on Brett!** _[/SLJ] Gotta love that _non sequitur_ of a response by Brett. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5584 "2018-10-02T14:25:11Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > KAVANAUGH: […] But I did not drink beer to the point of blacking out […] > > MITCHELL: OK. Have you ever passed out from drinking? > > KAVANAUGH: I — passed out would be — no, but I’ve gone to sleep, but — but I’ve never blacked out. That’s the — that’s the — the allegation, and that — that — that’s wrong. > > WHITEHOUSE: Let’s look at, “Beach Week Ralph Club — Biggest Contributor,” what does the word Ralph mean in that? > > KAVANAUGH: That probably refers to throwing up. I’m known to have a weak stomach and I always have. In fact, the last time I was here, you asked me about having ketchup on spaghetti. I always have had a weak stomach. > > DURBIN: I don’t know that I asked about ketchup on spaghetti, but… > > KAVANAUGH: You — you didn’t, someone did. And… > > WHITEHOUSE: OK. > > KAVANAUGH: … this is well-known. Anyone who’s known me, like a lot of these people behind me — known me my whole life — know, you know. I got a weak stomach, whether it’s with beer or with spicy food or anything. > > WHITEHOUSE: So the vomiting that you reference in the Ralph Club reference, related to the consumption of alcohol? > > KAVANAUGH: Senator, I was at the top of my class academically, busted my butt in school. Captain of the varsity basketball team. Got in Yale College. When I got into Yale College, got into Yale Law School. Worked my tail off. > > You can’t claim to be a safe drinker at the same time as pretending that there never could ever have been any ramifications - even when clearly there were. It’s not meaningful to say, “Well, maybe I drank one extra sip than I should have _teehee_.” If you’re then going to follow that up with some claptrap about spicy food. Get off my lawn. Never mind the spicy food, how is reciting your academic resume an acceptable answer to “So the vomiting that you reference in the Ralph Club reference, related to the consumption of alcohol?” ---
**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 2, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5585 "2018-10-02T14:34:05Z")
Kavanaugh’s responses to those questions, and the fawning over his performance by so many conservative pundits and office-holders, shows how massively broken huge parts of the American population’s understanding is for sexual assault and rape. Even today, after a year or two that should make it clear how utterly wrong this is, millions and millions of Americans (including many or even most of the rich and powerful) think that being an ostensibly upstanding and high-achieving person counts as evidence that one is not capable (or less likely to be capable) of rape or sexual assault. And based on many of the responses in this thread, there are some Dopers who believe that as well. Sad, but unfortunately not surprising. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5586 "2018-10-02T14:37:46Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Kavanaugh’s responses to those questions, and the fawning over his performance by so many conservative pundits and office-holders, shows how massively broken huge parts of the American population’s understanding is for sexual assault and rape. Even today, after a year or two that should make it clear how utterly wrong this is, millions and millions of Americans (including many or even most of the rich and powerful) think that being an ostensibly upstanding and high-achieving person counts as evidence that one is not capable of rape or sexual assault. > > And based on many of the responses in this thread, there are some Dopers who believe that as well. Sad, but unfortunately not surprising. From Kavanaugh’s end, there’s a chance he attacked her. And there’s a chance he did not. From Blasey Ford’s end, she was almost certainly assaulted, but there’s a chance that it wasn’t Kavanaugh. There’s no corroborating evidence to support either claim, Kavanaugh’s and Blasey Ford’s. So, what to do? Smear Kavanaugh? What? ---
**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:** [October 2, 2018, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5587 "2018-10-02T14:43:45Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > From Kavanaugh’s end, there’s a chance he attacked her. And there’s a chance he did not. > From Blasey Ford’s end, she was almost certainly assaulted, but there’s a chance that it wasn’t Kavanaugh. > > There’s no corroborating evidence to support either claim, Kavanaugh’s and Blasey Ford’s. So, what to do? Smear Kavanaugh? What? As Senator Robert Byrd said during the debate on the nomination of Clarence Thomas, we should give the benefit of the doubt to the Supreme Court. Just as the graveyards are full of indispensable men, Judge Kavenaugh is not the only person in the country suited to sit on the Supreme Court. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2018, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5588 "2018-10-02T14:44:46Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > From Kavanaugh’s end, there’s a chance he attacked her. And there’s a chance he did not. > From Blasey Ford’s end, she was almost certainly assaulted, but there’s a chance that it wasn’t Kavanaugh. > > There’s no corroborating evidence to support either claim, Kavanaugh’s and Blasey Ford’s. So, what to do? Smear Kavanaugh? What? It’s not a smear to comment on his lies and temperament. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5589 "2018-10-02T14:54:37Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > There’s no corroborating evidence to support either claim, Kavanaugh’s and Blasey Ford’s. So, what to do? We could consider the statements made by the two. One gave an earnest description of an assault, the other claimed his membership in the Beach Week Ralph Club had to do with spicy food. I don’t know whether or not her account is accurate, but I do know that’s he’s a liar, and appears to let no chance to lie about his past go by truthfully. Dude is a Bizzaro George Washington. Going with her account as the most likely to be true is the only play here. ---
**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 2, 2018, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5590 "2018-10-02T15:10:46Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > It’s not a smear to comment on his lies and temperament. And he revealed his temperament during the hearing for everyone to witness ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5591 "2018-10-02T15:11:08Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Never mind the spicy food, how is reciting your academic resume an acceptable answer to “So the vomiting that you reference in the Ralph Club reference, related to the consumption of alcohol?” This would all be so much easier if Judge Kavanaugh liked answering embarrassing personal questions half as much as he enjoyed posing them. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5592 "2018-10-02T15:16:12Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > From a Palo Alto newspaper. They report on the building permits and verify that the door was installed well before her 2012 marriage therapy. Read the comments as well. > > “Ford later told Sen. Dianne Feinstein during her questioning that she wanted the second front door because of her anxiety, PTSD and claustrophobia resulting from the 1982 assault.” There’s no reason to think that timeline is contradictory. She may have fought for the door without revealing the underlying reason why she wanted the door. I can totally see this timeline of events [Note: major assumptions on my part. Do not take as fact.]: - She was pressing for a 2nd front door during renovations. He was objecting because of cost. They argue heavily over this issue. - He eventually relents, but it creates resentment. - Whenever they argue, especially about money, he brings up the $XX,000 they wasted on that ugly front door. - For one reason or another, they go to counseling - He brings up the front door as an example of how she makes unreasonable demands - She comes clean as to why she wanted the door So the fact that they went to counseling after the renovations doesn’t necessarily mean she was lying. It’s consistent with the way people in a marriage work through problems. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5593 "2018-10-02T15:31:23Z")
This reminds me a bit of what was once attributed to Cardinal Richelieu > [@](#): > > If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him ---
**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 2, 2018, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5594 "2018-10-02T15:44:21Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > This reminds me a bit of what was once attributed to Cardinal Richelieu If only we were dealing with one of the “most honest of men”. Unfortunately, we’re dealing with someone who wants us to believe that “Renate Alumni”, which stood alongside in the yearbook a poem about how Renate was always available “late” for a “date”, was meant kindly and respectfully. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5595 "2018-10-02T15:45:52Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > And he revealed his temperament during the hearing for everyone to witness And if that was ‘judicial temperament,’ then every argumentative asshole in a bar has it. ---
**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 2, 2018, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5596 "2018-10-02T15:46:58Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > This reminds me a bit of what was once attributed to Cardinal Richelieu And it’s probably even easier if the 6 lines are written by an inveterate liar. ---
**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 2, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5597 "2018-10-02T15:51:27Z")
Here is Avenatti client Julie Swetnick’s recent interview. It’s 20mins long. > **[NBC News Exclusive: Julie Swetnick speaks about alleged behavior by Judge...](https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/watch/julie-swetnick-speaks-about-alleged-behavior-by-judge-kavanaugh-1334265923929?v=railb&)** > > In an exclusive interview with NBC News' Kate Snow, Julie Swetnick describes being attacked at a party that was attended by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. While Swetnick cannot confirm that Brett Kavanaugh was one of her attackers, she does... I’ll summarize my takeaways. 1. It’s a boring interview. She doesn’t seem nearly as credible or compelling as Ford. Which to me says a lot about Ford and her claims. 2. Her claim in the statement of Kav spiking the punch is walked back. It’s now just Kav standing around the punch, handing out solo cups. Nothing about “spiking” or even making the punch. 3. Her claim in the statement that clearly implied Kav was involved in a gang rape is walked back. It’s now just Kav standing around a door with other boys (not in a line or “train”). She didn’t see what was going on in the room, but now thinks it was “rape”. 4. She still alleges she personally was assaulted/raped. She remembers Kav and Judge being at the party. She told her Mom the next day (Mom is now deceased). She also told the local police (the officer she told is now deceased). I really don’t see how this has anything to do with Kav if there’s nothing else to No. 3 above. 5. MSNBC has tried to corroborate her story, but they have been unable to. 6. She is unclear on her timeline when/why she decided to come forward. She said it was about 6 weeks ago, when she learned Kav was on the “short-list” and in response to Ford’s allegation. That doesn’t add up. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2018, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5598 "2018-10-02T15:52:04Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Do you believe RBG can be trusted to fairly judge anything involving President Trump? Yes. :dubious: I take it by your attempted accusation of tu quoque, that you do not think that Kavanaugh can be? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5599 "2018-10-02T17:35:56Z")
Lindsay Graham apparently just said that if Kavanaugh is rejected, that Trump should renominate Kavanaugh. I can’t even tell what the possible strategy there would be. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5600 "2018-10-02T17:38:09Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Well, as long as you’re satisfied, then. Sweet dreams. So you couldn’t answer any of my questions? I’ll bet you yell at clouds too. ---
**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 2, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5601 "2018-10-02T17:38:12Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Lindsay Graham apparently just said that if Kavanaugh is rejected, that Trump should renominate Kavanaugh. I can’t even tell what the possible strategy there would be. I would guess there would be a different Republican makeup after the mid-terms. Flake is gone as a swing vote, and they might gain Senate seats after the election. Really embracing a come hell or high water strategy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=279) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=281)