# 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:** 297
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5922 "2018-10-04T01:45:25Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > As an aside. What actor does Kavanaugh look like. It’s driving me nuts and please don’t say Matt Damon. John Ritter with a wider nose? ---
**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 4, 2018, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5923 "2018-10-04T01:55:22Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > No and never saw THAT guy before. Phil Hartman? Maybe? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5924 "2018-10-04T02:00:22Z")
The National Council of Churches has [denounced Kavanaugh’s nomination](https://secondnexus.com/news/national-council-churches-brett-kavanaugh/?utm_content=inf_677_1164_2&tse_id=INF_c6207a20c76d11e8872dc93302272904). > [@](#): > > The organization, which Jack Jenkins of Religion News Services says “represents 38 denominations and faith communities encompassing roughly 45 million people,” offered a list of reasons they feel Kavanaugh’s nomination should be immediately withdrawn. > > Interest in the story has crashed their website, but they posted the statement on Twitter… > > The NCC said Kavanaugh “exhibited extreme partisan bias and disrespect towards certain members of the [Senate Judiciary Committee] and thereby demonstrated that he possesses neither the temperament nor the character essential for a member of the highest court in our nation.” > > …“Judge Kavanaugh’s extensive judicial and political record is troubling with regard to issues of voting rights, racial and gender justice, health care, the rights of people with disabilities, and environmental protections,” the NCC wrote. “This leads us to believe that he cannot be an impartial justice in cases that are sure to come before him at the Court.” ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5925 "2018-10-04T02:01:37Z")
Ken Marino. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5926 "2018-10-04T02:03:24Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > As an aside. What actor does Kavanaugh look like. It’s driving me nuts and please don’t say Matt Damon. Mark Holton. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5927 "2018-10-04T02:25:43Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > The National Council of Churches has [denounced Kavanaugh’s nomination](https://secondnexus.com/news/national-council-churches-brett-kavanaugh/?utm_content=inf_677_1164_2&tse_id=INF_c6207a20c76d11e8872dc93302272904). And then [there’s this](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kavanaugh-judicial-temperament-law-professors_us_5bb40200e4b028e1fe38cf9d): > [@Huffpost](#): > > More than 500 law professors from nearly 100 law schools around the nation have signed a letter to the U.S. Senate to say that the volatile temperament Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh displayed on Thursday as he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee disqualifies him from sitting on the nation’s highest court. Signatories includes several from Yale, Kavanaugh’s alma mater. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5928 "2018-10-04T02:33:28Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Ken Marino. Maybe that’s it. Just enough like him to “ping” my radar, but not enough to get a lock on it. (I did regularly watch not one, but two shows he was in, so…) Thanks. Still if anybody else has any nominations… ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5929 "2018-10-04T02:35:08Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > And then [there’s this](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kavanaugh-judicial-temperament-law-professors_us_5bb40200e4b028e1fe38cf9d): > > Signatories includes several from Yale, Kavanaugh’s alma mater. if only our country were run by professors, amirite? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5930 "2018-10-04T02:37:06Z")
[McConnell files cloture motion Wednesday night](https://www.vox.com/2018/10/3/17934260/mitch-mcconnell-brett-kavanaugh-cloture) ---
**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 4, 2018, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5931 "2018-10-04T02:45:44Z")
I think anyone going before the scotus will be able to petition his recusal in their case if they can be put under the umbrella of “Dem” or “liberal.” They do film these hearings… ---
**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 4, 2018, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5932 "2018-10-04T02:46:50Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > [McConnell files cloture motion Wednesday night](https://www.vox.com/2018/10/3/17934260/mitch-mcconnell-brett-kavanaugh-cloture) He’s on track to get the vote done this week, as promised. I still don’t think it happens this week, though. Too many surprises so far to up and run out of them now. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5933 "2018-10-04T02:48:37Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > He’s on track to get the vote done this week, as promised. I still don’t think it happens this week, though. Too many surprises so far to up and run out of them now. You think he has the votes to force this through regardless? ---
**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:** [October 4, 2018, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5934 "2018-10-04T02:51:42Z")
NYT says the number of law professors is now at 650+. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5935 "2018-10-04T02:53:03Z")
> [@susan](#): > > NYT says the number of law professors is now at 650+. And 47 Senators. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5936 "2018-10-04T03:00:14Z")
He has to schedule the vote to have the vote, regardless. So, yeah, he schedules it. He also has no good reason to think its going to get better, but bluffing may work in keeping the quivering votes in line. Bottom is, if he changes his mind, nobody can _make_ him go through with it, he can just cancel it. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5937 "2018-10-04T03:08:11Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > And then [there’s this](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kavanaugh-judicial-temperament-law-professors_us_5bb40200e4b028e1fe38cf9d): > > Signatories includes several from Yale, Kavanaugh’s alma mater. Thank you for posting that. I had been looking for a link that included the signatories. Lot of heavy hitters in the legal educational community on that list, including Chemerinsky, Lemley, and Samuelson. I note also that Barry Scheck has signed the letter, which I find very amusing. I’m surprised that some others like Akhil Amar or Jonathan Turley are not on the list. It would seem to fit from what I’ve read of their writings. I’m also surprised that several in the community whom I’ve known—and would have expected to have signed instantly—haven’t either. Nice to see yet another thing the country is divided so strongly on…sigh. ---
**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 4, 2018, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5938 "2018-10-04T03:13:16Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > You think he has the votes to force this through regardless? Yes. I’ve always thought that. I think the process is fair enough now to give cover to confirm. With that said, I get less confident everyday. I’ll wake up to FBI report spin. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5939 "2018-10-04T03:14:16Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > You think he has the votes to force this through regardless? I do. He needs 50. So far as we know, he has 48 now, with three Republican Senators publicly on the fence. Doubt he’s getting Flake, but I see Collins and Murkowski going along, once there are enough goodies promised to them. I thought that Murkowski was hinting broadly in very recent public statements about rural Alaskans needing broadband internet or something or other. Give her what she wants, and whatever Collins needs, then McConnell doesn’t need any Democrat defectors, and Flake can go off to whatever talking head or JFK School of Government position he wants after the Senate. I’m sure there’ll be some other disruption that’ll happen between now and the end cloture and final confirmation votes though. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5940 "2018-10-04T03:17:37Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > I think anyone going before the scotus will be able to petition his recusal in their case if they can be put under the umbrella of “Dem” or “liberal.” They do film these hearings… No one can force a supreme court judge to recuse themselves. There have been a few examples of egregious conflicts of interest where the supreme court judge has not recused themselves because they pretend to be above such minor considerations. Of course their votes were in line with their personal interests but no doubt that was just a fluke. Certainly it is in violation of judicial ethics but there seems to be no one that actually enforces that against supreme court judges. Indeed you can’t impose ethics violations on supreme court judges except to impeach them. As our current congress has shown there is almost no ethics violation to which they would hold a judge accountable. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/5941 "2018-10-04T03:17:52Z")
Some complain that there have been too many white men on the court. Some complain that there have been too many Catholics lately. Some complain that there have been too many women since Obama made his appointments. But let’s think the about sex offenders and how lonely Clarence Thomas has been. Finally, a fellow traveller for the poor man. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=296) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=298)