# 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:** 311
**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 5, 2018, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6202 "2018-10-05T13:05:23Z")
They only need to secure 50 votes; Pence will break the tie. Whether it happens today, tomorrow, or next week, Kavanaugh is going to be on the Court bench. The GOP is wholly owned by the billionaire class and Kavanaugh is the guy that’s going to help them gut everything from civil liberties to basic labor and wage protections. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6203 "2018-10-05T13:12:13Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > You’re not, but your level of certainty isn’t really a level I share with you. I rarely got incredibly drunk; if someone told me I’d done something terrible when I did, I’d pay attention, and certainly wouldn’t make any sort of claims about my memory as though I was a superman who wasn’t affected by alcohol in the way it affected mere mortals. Drunk people don’t act in a way that is completely different from how they are at least inclined to act when sober. Someone who is violent, or racist, or an abuser or whatever when drunk has those tendencies when sober - although they might keep them suppressed. Alcohol reduces inhibitions, it doesn’t change your personality. As you are not me, you can’t be certain what inclinations I have when I’m sober, so it makes sense that you can’t share my certainty. I, however, do know, and can be certain. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6204 "2018-10-05T13:12:47Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Any last bets about what’ll happen today? I’m sticking with my prediction that there will be no vote this morning (EDT). The vote this AM would be for cloture, right? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6205 "2018-10-05T13:13:50Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > They only need to secure 50 votes; Pence will break the tie. Because one Senator will be absent from the vote on Saturday, there will only be 99 votes, so there cannot be a tie. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6206 "2018-10-05T13:16:15Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > They only need to secure 50 votes; Pence will break the tie. As of last night, it looked like they had 47. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6207 "2018-10-05T13:17:15Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > The vote this AM would be for cloture, right? That’s correct. After the cloture vote, a minimum of 30 hours of debate before the vote to confirm him. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6208 "2018-10-05T13:19:19Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > As of last night, it looked like they had 47. There are 51 Republicans. So, they have 51 votes. Or 50, if the absent Senatorthat Fear Itself was talking about is a Republican, but that’s still enough. There has never been any sign that any Republican will break their their party. That isn’t how it works anymore. ---
**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 5, 2018, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6209 "2018-10-05T13:20:10Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Manchin votes with the Dems a little more than half the time. > > If he were to lose, his replacement would vote with the Dems only slightly above 0% of the time. > > He’s about as good as it gets for us, from a state like WV. Fair enough. I recall the days of Joe Lieberman and have little patience for the guys who seem to help the other side more than your own team. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6210 "2018-10-05T13:20:29Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Because one Senator will be absent from the vote on Saturday, there will only be 99 votes, so there cannot be a tie. I don’t think they’ll schedule the confirmation vote without him. Looks like he is planning to fly right back to DC after his daughter’s wedding. That might push the vote to Sunday AM, but that’s probably not so big a deal for the Republicans, I don’t think. ---
**Author:** ![LAZombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b38774/32.png) [@LAZombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LAZombie)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6211 "2018-10-05T13:21:07Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Not going to read the Daily Mail. Anyone want to take one for the team and let me know if there’s anything in this story that’s not already in Keyser’s public statement from some time ago (that she didn’t remember the party, but did support Ford)? Leland Keyser is gravely ill. The photos are heart wrenching. By putting her in this circus, Ford has made her suffering much worse. It’s too bad you don’t want to get all sides of the story. The key point is that Ford did not contact Keyser before going public with her unsubstantiated claims. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6212 "2018-10-05T13:23:04Z")
Are we now supposed to check up on the health of everyone we know before saying or doing important things? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6213 "2018-10-05T13:24:32Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > Leland Keyser is gravely ill. The photos are heart wrenching. By putting her in this circus, Ford has made her suffering much worse. It’s too bad you don’t want to get all sides of the story. > > The key point is that Ford did not contact Keyser before going public with her unsubstantiated claims. The story went public before Ford could do anything about it. She sent the letter with the expectation it would be held in confidence. It was leaked. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6214 "2018-10-05T13:25:15Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Drunk people don’t act in a way that is completely different from how they are at least inclined to act when sober. Someone who is violent, or racist, or an abuser or whatever when drunk has those tendencies when sober - although they might keep them suppressed. Alcohol reduces inhibitions, it doesn’t change your personality. > > As you are not me, you can’t be certain what inclinations I have when I’m sober, so it makes sense that you can’t share my certainty. I, however, do know, and can be certain. I hate it when people say this. Your inhibitions are part of your personality, so yes your personality is changed. And when you’re drunk you misread social cues so while sober you and drunk you would never get in a fight unless you thought you had no choice, sober you and drunk you aren’t equally capable of knowing where that is. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6215 "2018-10-05T13:31:31Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > The key point is that Ford did not contact Keyser before going public with her unsubstantiated claims. Keep saying “unsubstantiated”. It’s totally working. Of course, the fact that she had discussed the incident years before is a form of substantiation. The fact that she came forward before Kavanaugh was even the nominee is a form of substantiation. The fact that she repeatedly invited an FBI investigation into the incident and the Republicans have repeatedly worked to block or hamstring one is a form of substantiation. Circumstantial, perhaps, but a lot more than Kavanaugh, who lied, bullied, blubbed and blustered under questioning, has. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6216 "2018-10-05T13:31:49Z")
Obviously if there is a no vote on cloture, that is bad, but the undecided Senators, or even no votes could vote for cloture under the guise that it is time to get the matter over with one way or the other. However, I do believe that Murkowski said that she would announce her decision today. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6217 "2018-10-05T13:39:17Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > There are 51 Republicans. So, they have 51 votes. Or 50, if the absent Senatorthat Fear Itself was talking about is a Republican, but that’s still enough. > > There has never been any sign that any Republican will break their their party. That isn’t how it works anymore. I, too, would bet that they’ll all come home and vote with their party in the end. BUT they may do some protracted dithering first. We’ll find out shortly whether I’m right about the vote. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6218 "2018-10-05T13:39:27Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > Kavanaugh apologizes in WSJ op-ed: > > [https://www.wsj.com/articles/i-am-an-independent-impartial-judge-1538695822](https://www.wsj.com/articles/i-am-an-independent-impartial-judge-1538695822) > > Does he still need some votes? The guy is such a mediocre writer. Almost every sentence starts with “I”. Why does he have to come across as such an intellectual lightweight on top of being dishonest and partisan? Why?? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6219 "2018-10-05T13:40:19Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I do believe that Murkowski said that she would announce her decision today. Sure, but why should your belief system be a matter of interest to the rest of us? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LAZombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b38774/32.png) [@LAZombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LAZombie)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6220 "2018-10-05T13:49:07Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Keep saying “unsubstantiated”. It’s totally working. > > Of course, the fact that she had discussed the incident years before is a form of substantiation. The fact that she came forward before Kavanaugh was even the nominee is a form of substantiation. Thus, she has had five years to contact Leland Keyser and PJ Smythe to get their recollection of that party and did not do so. That is reckless and irresponsible behavior. I spend more effort on my average post here on SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6221 "2018-10-05T13:56:19Z")
Saving the above-average ones for a special occasion, I assume. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=310) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=312)