# 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:** 286
**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 3, 2018, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5702 "2018-10-03T01:31:33Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > If he’s such a bad judge and a bad person, why was he confirmed 12 years ago? Did YOU complain at that time? Are you aware of the assertions - fairly reasonable in my view - that he lied during that confirmation hearing? If he lied in that hearing, would it be so extraordinary for him to lie in another? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5703 "2018-10-03T02:06:53Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > If he’s such a bad judge and a bad person, why was he confirmed 12 years ago? Did YOU complain at that time? Easy - there wasn’t the same level of scrutiny. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2018, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5704 "2018-10-03T03:12:36Z")
For all the attention on Flake let’s not forget the other key actors. Here is an interesting bit [about Collins’ circumstances.](https://www.pressherald.com/2018/10/02/collins-walks-a-political-tightrope-with-kavanaugh-decision/) Voting to confirm would be very unpopular in her state but vote against _might_ get her a primary challenge. > [@](#): > > … recent polling has found that Collins’ popularity among Maine voters has declined. > > A Suffolk University poll in early August found that 49 percent of respondents said they had a favorable opinion of Collins. That’s significantly below the 67 percent who had a favorable opinion of her in an October 2016 poll conducted for the Portland Press Herald by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. > > Collins’ vote on Kavanaugh could further affect her standing with voters. > > A poll conducted by left-leaning Public Policy Polling on Monday and Tuesday found that 49 percent of voters said they’d be less likely to support Collins if she votes to confirm Kavanaugh, while 39 percent said they’d be more likely to vote for her. The poll found that 41 percent of voters in Maine think Kavanaugh should be confirmed and 54 percent think he should be rejected. It had a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points. > > Clegg said a recent poll of 1,042 registered Maine voters conducted by Clarity Campaign Labs for the Planned Parenthood Action Fund found that 54 percent want Collins to vote against Kavanaugh while 34 percent want her to vote to confirm him. … ---
**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:** [October 3, 2018, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5705 "2018-10-03T03:22:56Z")
[And phone calls](https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/20/politics/susan-collins-kavanaugh-calls/index.html) … > [@](#): > > The two aides who take calls who sit in the cozy office estimated that they receive more than a hundred calls a day on the issue of Kavanaugh’s nomination. > Carol H. Woodcock, who oversees the Bangor office, told CNN that they have also received threatening calls to their office – more than she’s ever seen around any issue – and that she keeps track of them and refers them to the Collins’ DC office. Woodcock noted that the volume of calls regarding Kavanaugh and the Supreme Court are overwhelming calls on other issues like health care or veterans concerns. She is worried that other topics are getting drowned out. > Though CNN was not privy to the receiving end of the phone conversation, one of the women working the phone assured a caller at one point, “She (Collins) still does care what her constituents have to say.” > The tone and attitude of the callers varies – one call that CNN observed indicated support for Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the court. > Another theme in the calls: people crying. One of the staffers says she has spoken on the phone many times with women who are crying and calling to share their stories of sexual assault. ---
**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 3, 2018, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5706 "2018-10-03T03:35:07Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > The exchange went like this ([according to WaPo](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/national/wp/2018/09/27/kavanaugh-hearing-transcript/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.04df28d9ba18)): > > Earlier in this thread, I believe it was John Mace that shared the story about a lawyer prepping a client for trial. He’d ask them “what time is it?” and when they’d look at their watch, he would correct them that the answer is “I don’t know”. This exchange reminded me of that. Unacceptable answer for scotus. He needs some old fashioned authoritarian respect for authority and I’m surprised at the leeway some would give him. You’d think he was “protected” or something. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2018, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5707 "2018-10-03T03:39:38Z")
Meanwhile the expected calculus plays out. [Quinnipiac polling](https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2574) showing no big change in what Democrats and Republicans think but a shift in the Independents from +6 in his favor to 10 points against. Likely though those who support are more enthused than they were. > [@](#): > > With wide gender, racial and partisan gaps, and a shift in support among independent voters, 48 percent of American voters say the U.S. Senate should not confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, as 42 percent say Kavanaugh should be confirmed, according to a Quinnipiac University National Poll released today. > > This compares to the results of a September survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University National Poll, showing 41 percent of American voters supporting a Kavanaugh confirmation, with 42 percent opposed. Independent voters, who supported Kavanaugh 45 - 39 percent September 10, oppose his confirmation 49 - 39 percent today. ---
**Author:** ![LAZombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b38774/32.png) [@LAZombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LAZombie)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5708 "2018-10-03T05:00:50Z")
Yes, Fox News is that good! “Christine Blasey Ford ex-boyfriend says she helped friend prep for potential polygraph; Grassley sounds alarm” > **[Christine Blasey Ford ex-boyfriend says she helped friend prep for potential...](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/christine-blasey-ford-ex-boyfriend-says-she-helped-friend-prep-for-potential-polygraph-grassley-sounds-alarm)** > > In a letter released Tuesday, an ex-boyfriend of Christine Blasey Ford, the California professor accusing Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, seemingly contradicted her testimony under oath last week that she had never helped anyone prepare for a... Christine Blasey Ford may have committed perjury. Here’s her testimony. Mitchell: “Have you ever had discussions with anyone, beside your attorneys, on how to take a polygraph?” Ford: “Never” Mitchell: “And I don’t just mean countermeasures, but I mean just any sort of tips, or anything like that.” Ford: “No” Mitchell: “[H]ave you ever given tips or advice to somebody who was looking to take a polygraph test?” Ford: “Never” ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5709 "2018-10-03T05:20:09Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > Yes, Fox News is that good! > > “Christine Blasey Ford ex-boyfriend says she helped friend prep for potential polygraph; Grassley sounds alarm” > > [Christine Blasey Ford ex-boyfriend says she helped friend prep for potential polygraph; Grassley sounds alarm | Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/christine-blasey-ford-ex-boyfriend-says-she-helped-friend-prep-for-potential-polygraph-grassley-sounds-alarm) > > Christine Blasey Ford may have committed perjury. Here’s her testimony. > > Mitchell: “Have you ever had discussions with anyone, beside your attorneys, on how to take a polygraph?” > Ford: “Never” > Mitchell: “And I don’t just mean countermeasures, but I mean just any sort of tips, or anything like that.” > Ford: “No” > Mitchell: “[H]ave you ever given tips or advice to somebody who was looking to take a polygraph test?” > Ford: “Never” Oh brother. I’m pretty sure it was implied that the senator was talking about RECEIVING tips, NOT giving them. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5710 "2018-10-03T05:25:22Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > Yes, Fox News is that good! > > “Christine Blasey Ford ex-boyfriend says she helped friend prep for potential polygraph; Grassley sounds alarm” > > [Christine Blasey Ford ex-boyfriend says she helped friend prep for potential polygraph; Grassley sounds alarm | Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/christine-blasey-ford-ex-boyfriend-says-she-helped-friend-prep-for-potential-polygraph-grassley-sounds-alarm) > > Christine Blasey Ford may have committed perjury. Here’s her testimony. > > Mitchell: “Have you ever had discussions with anyone, beside your attorneys, on how to take a polygraph?” > Ford: “Never” > Mitchell: “And I don’t just mean countermeasures, but I mean just any sort of tips, or anything like that.” > Ford: “No” > Mitchell: “[H]ave you ever given tips or advice to somebody who was looking to take a polygraph test?” > Ford: “Never” Considering Fox News is simply poaching from other sites…uh, no? But fuck it, let’s hear his testimony too! How does Friday sound? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5711 "2018-10-03T05:32:21Z")
It looks like “Go to Timmy’s for skis w/Judge, Tom, PJ, Bernie, Squi” on 7/1/82 is a bust for the Dems: "The FBI on Tuesday reportedly interviewed Tim Gaudette, a Georgetown Prep classmate of Brett Kavanaugh’s who hosted a July 1, 1982 party referenced on a calendar kept by Mr. Kavanaugh. … Ms. Ford said the incident occurred at a single-family home near the Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase. Tim Gaudette lived 11 miles away in a townhouse in Rockville." [source](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/oct/2/tim-gaudette-host-july-1-1982-party-brett-kavanaug/) ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5712 "2018-10-03T05:38:29Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Oh brother. I’m pretty sure it was implied that the senator was talking about RECEIVING tips, NOT giving them. How in the actual fuck do you read the question “[H]ave you ever given tips or advice to somebody who was looking to take a polygraph test?” as an implication “about RECEIVING tips, NOT giving them”?!? It literally used the exact phrase “given tips or advice”. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5713 "2018-10-03T06:21:45Z")
[Here](https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2018/10/02/records_raise_questions_about_fords_double-door_story__138225.html) is a pretty good analysis of Ford’s second-front-door story. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5714 "2018-10-03T06:22:34Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > How in the actual fuck do you read the question “[H]ave you ever given tips or advice to somebody who was looking to take a polygraph test?” as an implication “about RECEIVING tips, NOT giving them”?!? It literally used the exact phrase “given tips or advice”. I missed that part. Mea culpa. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2018, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5715 "2018-10-03T06:38:23Z")
Can someone explain to me why it matters that she had an extra door? Even if she had a tenant. The only people it matters to is planning/zoning committee. I assume if she’s caught up in this it’s not a felony, in any case. There would possibly be a fine and eviction of the tenant. Seems like it’s a moot point. It is not germane to what happened to her at age 15. I don’t understand how it could change anything about her testimony to the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5716 "2018-10-03T06:42:46Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Can someone explain to me why it matters that she had an extra door? Even if she had a tenant. The only people it matters to is planning/zoning committee. I assume if she’s caught up in this it’s not a felony, in any case. There would possibly be a fine and eviction of the tenant. Seems like it’s a moot point. It is not germane to what happened to her at age 15. > I don’t understand how it could change anything about her testimony to the Senate. Well, she said that it was because she had PTSD-like symptoms from her alleged assault and she wanted a second escape route (or something along those lines, I don’t have the exact transcript in front of me). If it actually turns out that she was doing it so she could rent out a separate living space, that changes the accuracy of her testimony to the Senate and undermines her credibility. Of course, she’s already done that with her statement about never giving tips for polygraphs. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5717 "2018-10-03T06:57:16Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Well, she said that it was because she had PTSD-like symptoms from her alleged assault and she wanted a second escape route (or something along those lines, I don’t have the exact transcript in front of me). If it actually turns out that she was doing it so she could rent out a separate living space, that changes the accuracy of her testimony to the Senate and undermines her credibility. Of course, she’s already done that with her statement about never giving tips for polygraphs. So, what you’re saying is that the demonstrable fact that Kavanaugh perjured himself before the Senate several dozens of times doesn’t disqualify him from being a Supreme Court justice in your opinion. Duly noted. ---
**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 3, 2018, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5718 "2018-10-03T09:44:15Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > If he’s such a bad judge and a bad person, why was he confirmed 12 years ago? Did YOU complain at that time? Yeah! And when he was starting bar fights or sexually assaulting women, RTFirefly was nowhere to be found! Some superhero he is! Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk ---
**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 3, 2018, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5719 "2018-10-03T09:45:21Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I never did speak about congressional procedures. I spoke about Democrats and their willingness to play coy, smug games while being played for fools. Pro tip: Admitting you don’t know what you’re talking about yet authoritatively calling other people fools is ironic and not a very good look. Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5720 "2018-10-03T10:38:40Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > Yes, Fox News is that good! > > “Christine Blasey Ford ex-boyfriend says she helped friend prep for potential polygraph; Grassley sounds alarm” > > [Christine Blasey Ford ex-boyfriend says she helped friend prep for potential polygraph; Grassley sounds alarm | Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/christine-blasey-ford-ex-boyfriend-says-she-helped-friend-prep-for-potential-polygraph-grassley-sounds-alarm) > > Christine Blasey Ford may have committed perjury. Here’s her testimony. > > Mitchell: “Have you ever had discussions with anyone, beside your attorneys, on how to take a polygraph?” > Ford: “Never” > Mitchell: “And I don’t just mean countermeasures, but I mean just any sort of tips, or anything like that.” > Ford: “No” > Mitchell: “[H]ave you ever given tips or advice to somebody who was looking to take a polygraph test?” > Ford: “Never” Oh, gimme a break. IIRC, perjury requires **intent** to deceive. We’ve gone over this whole memory business: that people are much more prone to remember details of events that affected them deeply at the time, but unmemorable events get lost in the fog of memory. I can remember a fair number of details around hearing the news that JFK was shot, but I’d have a hard time reconstructing similar details from last week. So sometime between 20 and 26 years ago, Dr. Ford discussed polygraphs with someone who was going to take one. a) It’s pretty damn easy to see how this would be lost in the fog of her memory. Sorry, no perjury. b) We really don’t know what was said. We just have this guy’s interpretation of his recollection that Ford “explained in detail what to expect” and explained “how polygraphs work.” What that actually meant, who knows? It undoubtedly would have seemed more in-depth to someone who had only a TV-watcher’s knowledge of polygraphs than to someone who actually knew something meaningful about them. Conclusion: :shrug: ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5721 "2018-10-03T11:05:16Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > It looks like “Go to Timmy’s for skis w/Judge, Tom, PJ, Bernie, Squi” on 7/1/82 is a bust for the Dems: > > "The FBI on Tuesday reportedly interviewed Tim Gaudette, a Georgetown Prep classmate of Brett Kavanaugh’s who hosted a July 1, 1982 party referenced on a calendar kept by Mr. Kavanaugh. > > … > > Ms. Ford said the incident occurred at a single-family home near the Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase. Tim Gaudette lived 11 miles away in a townhouse in Rockville." > > [source](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/oct/2/tim-gaudette-host-july-1-1982-party-brett-kavanaug/) CNN: [FBI interviews in Kavanaugh investigation go beyond initial White House mandate](https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/02/politics/fbi-investigation-ford-kavanaugh/index.html) > [@](#): > > (CNN)The FBI is expanding its inquiry into sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh beyond the initial four interviews that the White House directed to be conducted. > > Two sources told CNN on Tuesday that more interviews are happening with a focus on other Kavanaugh high school friends who are listed as attending a July 1, 1982, party on the nominee’s calendar. It mentions that they’ve already interviewed Gaudette and Chris Garrett. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=285) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=287)