# 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:** 305
**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, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6082 "2018-10-04T20:42:36Z")
And an avalanche is nothing more than a bunch of snowflakes. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6083 "2018-10-04T20:43:36Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > That must be why TIME magazine just put Ford on the cover of the current issue, under the headline “Her Lasting Impact”, with her picture actually being an illustration composed from her words and phrases. Because, you know, she was so horrible. :rolleyes: Also why even Fox News declared it a bad day for Republicans after her testimony. Because of its non-forceful horribleness. Also why there are now protests against Kavanaugh breaking out all over. I think the reason for Ford’s impact is much more that times have changed versus Ford giving compelling testimony. We as a society (well, some of society) have moved forward morally about what constitutes sexual assault. If Ford had given the same testimony back when Hill did, she would not have gotten the same support nor would it have had the same effect. The attitude back then would have been more like “Well, what did she expect getting drunk around a bunch of horny boys? She probably just regretted her actions” Think about what if she gave that testimony back in the 50’s when attitudes about sex were even more primitive. The senators would probably be openly mocking her from the stand and the newspapers would be referring to her using salacious terms. I think the farther back in time you go, the less people will believe what happened was sexual assault. People may believe that something happened, but the farther you go back, the more they’ll think it was consensual or expected. ---
**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, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6084 "2018-10-04T20:45:59Z")
Should be notable but isn’t that John Paul Stevens, Republican former SC justice said Kavanaugh shouldn’t be confirmed. [https://t.co/OBGRikhVFp?amp=1](https://t.co/OBGRikhVFp?amp=1) ---
**Author:** ![UnwittingAmericans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d9b06d/32.png) [@UnwittingAmericans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwittingAmericans)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6085 "2018-10-04T20:49:39Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > And an avalanche is nothing more than a bunch of snowflakes. What did you do today to get rid of Trump other than dick on your phone? ---
**Author:** ![LAZombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b38774/32.png) [@LAZombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LAZombie)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6086 "2018-10-04T20:50:00Z")
Christine Ford’s actions are despicable. When she contemplated submitting these allegations against Kavanaugh, her first prudent and responsible action should have been to contact her life long friend Leland Keyser, who Ford said was at the party, to get her recollection of the party as well as fill in gaps of her own memory. It was 36 years ago, and by her own admission, Ford did not remember many crucial details. You would think that if she had contacted Leland Keyser and found out she does not remember the party or has never met Kavanaugh Ford would reconsider going forward. But instead, she decided to lawyer up. Her beach friends, her husband, her lawyers, and the Democrats are equally despicable for not advising her to contact Keyser. “EXCLUSIVE: ‘ **Christine Ford threw her under the bus**.’ Strained ‘sex assault’ witness Leland Keyser is seen for the first time as close family member confirms she did NOT corroborate school friend Ford’s story to FBI” My bolding. > **[Christine Ford's friend was 'blindsided' when named as a witness](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6235463/Christine-Fords-high-school-friend-blindsided-named-corroborating-witness.html)** > > Leland Keyser was shocked when Christine Ford named her as a corroborating witness to claims Brett Kavanaugh attempted to rape her at a high school party, her relative told DailyMailTV. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6087 "2018-10-04T20:52:38Z")
ACLU: Sen. Sasse’s staff tells a group of sexual assault survivors that Sasse’s undecided on Kavanaugh. [Susan Hennessey of LawFare](https://twitter.com/Susan_Hennessey/status/1047926802256158723): “Sasse will of course vote yes, but if he’s still seeing which way the wind blows then I don’t think this is nearly as wrapped up as McConnell and Grassley are pretending it is.” Also, from [Elaina Plott of the Atlantic Monthly](https://twitter.com/elainaplott/status/1047927165797486594): “I’m told by source with direct knowledge that Flake is ‘still having issues’ and that some colleagues are trying to ‘walk him through them.’ Sen Coons tells me just now that Flake reached out to him and asked if they could speak at length later.” Guy’s a regular Hamlet, he is. The fat lady keeps getting up and clearing her throat, but she hasn’t sung yet. We’ll see what happens tomorrow morning - they’re saying the cloture vote will be called at 10:30am. ---
**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 4, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6088 "2018-10-04T20:53:00Z")
> [@UnwittingAmericans](#): > > Time magazine was influential the last time we got rid of a president. Not now, it got purchased by some social media asshole. TIME is owned by Meredith Publishing, which is owned by the Koch Brothers ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6089 "2018-10-04T20:55:23Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > “EXCLUSIVE: ‘ **Christine Ford threw her under the bus**.’ Strained ‘sex assault’ witness Leland Keyser is seen for the first time as close family member confirms she did NOT corroborate school friend Ford’s story to FBI” My bolding. > > [Christine Ford's friend was 'blindsided' when named as a witness | Daily Mail Online](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6235463/Christine-Fords-high-school-friend-blindsided-named-corroborating-witness.html) Wow, you’re bolding the headline of a UK tabloid. Who can stand against that? Every argument I had has just been refuted. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6090 "2018-10-04T20:55:49Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > Christine Ford’s actions are despicable. > > When she contemplated submitting these allegations against Kavanaugh, her first prudent and responsible action should have been to contact her life long friend Leland Keyser, who Ford said was at the party, to get her recollection of the party as well as fill in gaps of her own memory. It was 36 years ago, and by her own admission, Ford did not remember many crucial details. You would think that if she had contacted Leland Keyser and found out she does not remember the party or has never met Kavanaugh Ford would reconsider going forward. But instead, she decided to lawyer up. Her beach friends, her husband, her lawyers, and the Democrats are equally despicable for not advising her to contact Keyser. > > “EXCLUSIVE: ‘ **Christine Ford threw her under the bus**.’ Strained ‘sex assault’ witness Leland Keyser is seen for the first time as close family member confirms she did NOT corroborate school friend Ford’s story to FBI” My bolding. > > [Christine Ford's friend was 'blindsided' when named as a witness | Daily Mail Online](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6235463/Christine-Fords-high-school-friend-blindsided-named-corroborating-witness.html) Thrown under the bus? That’s terrible! Good thing she has a “close family member who asked not to be named” to shift into reverse so they can move forward again. ---
**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 4, 2018, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6091 "2018-10-04T20:56:09Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > I think the reason for Ford’s impact is much more that times have changed versus Ford giving compelling testimony. Yes, times have changed, in recent decades as well as just in the last couple of years. That doesn’t take away from the fact that Ford’s testimony was indeed compelling, and many including myself found it surprisingly so, and therefore powerful and emotional. I personally found Kavanaugh’s testimony to be shockingly arrogant and aggressive and partisan in the extreme, although some of this is probably bias on my part (though SNL certainly seemed to agree!). But the power of Ford’s testimony was pretty much universally acknowledged. ---
**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 4, 2018, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6092 "2018-10-04T20:58:53Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > …Perhaps if it wasn’t plainly obvious that democrats were going to vote along the party line no matter what from day one, we wouldn’t be in this situation. Oh yeah. THAT’S the root of the whole problem. You’ve put your insightful finger right on it. :rolleyes: ---
**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, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6093 "2018-10-04T21:00:42Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > ACLU: Sen. Sasse’s staff tells a group of sexual assault survivors that Sasse’s undecided on Kavanaugh. Sasse is a reliable “yes” vote. Any noise to the contrary is him just trying to have it both ways. > [@](#): > > Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) gave a little performance on the Senate floor last night. As Sasse and his colleagues waited to receive the FBI’s report on its investigation into the sexual assault claims made against Brett Kavanaugh, the Republican from Nebraska took to the podium to talk about how friends of his have been raped, how the #MeToo movement is “a good thing” and how President Trump’s mockery of Christine Blasey Ford earlier this week was unacceptable. “We all know that the president cannot lead us through this time,” Sasse said. Despite all the bluster, Sasse has never been considered anything but a reliable vote to confirm Kavanaugh, and he concluded his speech on Wednesday by arguing that someone can still care about all the important stuff he just got emotional about and still vote for Kavanaugh. > > SOURCE: [Ben Sasse Wants Your Respect While Simultaneously Voting for Kavanaugh](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/ben-sasse-speech-kavanaugh-732823/) ---
**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, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6094 "2018-10-04T21:02:24Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Wow, you’re bolding the headline of a UK tabloid. Who can stand against that? Every argument I had has just been refuted. 😃 Well Breitbart has it too so it must be reliable! Honestly I’d be willing to bet this person did claim to have no memory of the party though. Just not sure how much that means without more information. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6095 "2018-10-04T21:08:38Z")
> [@](#): > > there are times when circumstances may call on you to risk your career in favor of your principles. > > But you – and your country - will be better for it. You can go elsewhere for a job, but you cannot go elsewhere for a soul. -[Jeff Flake](https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=C8DD8743-5373-4200-9DF5-DEBF9F6C54FF) Yeah, but that post-Senate lobbyist career is a pretty sweet gig! Let’s see how you do, guy. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![UnwittingAmericans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d9b06d/32.png) [@UnwittingAmericans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwittingAmericans)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6096 "2018-10-04T21:10:29Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > TIME is owned by Meredith Publishing, which is owned by the Koch Brothers Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6097 "2018-10-04T21:11:05Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Anyone else remember (and participate in) the outrage leading up to the Thomas vote? Stupid me, I hoped things might be better at this point. > > And anyone who criticizes Dem opposition, please try to recall what the Repubs did to Garland. I recall it just fine. They didn’t advise or consent. They didn’t call him a sex offender, though. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6098 "2018-10-04T21:12:37Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Sasse is a reliable “yes” vote. Any noise to the contrary is him just trying to have it both ways. No question about it! But I agree with Hennessey: on both counts: he will vote ‘Yes’, and he wouldn’t be bothering trying to have it both ways if this were a done deal already. ---
**Author:** ![UnwittingAmericans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d9b06d/32.png) [@UnwittingAmericans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwittingAmericans)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6099 "2018-10-04T21:13:32Z")
Raise your hand if you are willing to Walk off your job Stay out until Trump resigns I’m willing. You’re not. You’re going to say Why should I have to. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6100 "2018-10-04T21:14:50Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I recall it just fine. They didn’t advise or consent. > > They didn’t call him a sex offender, though. Why, was he a sex offender? If so, the Repubs certainly should have brought that up. Now it’s possible that a habitual liar like Kavanaugh might be telling the truth about having not been a sex offender. But he’s not the most reliable witness, is he now? ---
**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, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6101 "2018-10-04T21:16:03Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > -[Jeff Flake](https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=C8DD8743-5373-4200-9DF5-DEBF9F6C54FF) > > Yeah, but that post-Senate lobbyist career is a pretty sweet gig! Let’s see how you do, guy. :rolleyes: Flake seems to be considering a 2020 presidential run. He recently said he probably won’t do that but he has also been to New Hampshire twice very recently, purportedly to test the waters for a run in 2020. Too soon to say yet but I think Flake is keeping his options open on this count. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=304) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=306)