# 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:** 321
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6402 "2018-10-05T20:49:56Z")
Trump has never had any major health issues has he? Cancer , diabetes, heart issues, etc? If he has he has covered it up well. I know he’s overweight and his diet is bad. ---
**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 5, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6403 "2018-10-05T21:06:24Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Trump has never had any major health issues has he? Cancer , diabetes, heart issues, etc? If he has he has covered it up well. I know he’s overweight and his diet is bad. Oh. He’s the vision of hearty health, according to his doctor. He’ll never die. Sen Collins was so hard to listen to. It actually hurt. Shes a weasel, if Maine doesn’t kick her to curb I will be very disappointed. Which is not a new feeling. I am kinda getting used to it. Man, this just bites, AGAIN. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6404 "2018-10-05T21:14:51Z")
Murkowski not up for election until 2022 when she turns 65 so she may not run again. If she does I’m sure she will have primary opponents. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6405 "2018-10-05T21:18:50Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > What they’re secretly hoping for is another massive bombshell allegation to come forward in the next 24 hours. Not gonna happen - especially after what Dr Ford just went through. I think the only thing that could derail confirmation at this point would be if Kavanaugh, celebrating his impending victory, went out tonight and had so many drinks he got shitfaced, got pulled over for drunk driving, and after screaming “Do you know who I am?!?” assaulted the arresting officer – and the arrest was caught on movie-quality video. And even that might not do the trick. ---
**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 5, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6406 "2018-10-05T21:21:15Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > I think the only thing that could derail confirmation at this point would be if Kavanaugh, celebrating his impending victory, went out tonight and had so many drinks he got shitfaced, got pulled over for drunk driving, and after screaming “Do you know who I am?!?” assaulted the arresting officer – and the arrest was caught on movie-quality video. > > And even that might not do the trick. Or maybe what you said and then tried to rape the arresting officer. (Maybe that’s what you meant by _assault_?) Nah. That would be fine. Boys will be boys. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6407 "2018-10-05T21:23:54Z")
Murkowski was already primaried the last time. Don’t forget, she won as a write-in candidate and relies on support outside the Republican base. ---
**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, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6408 "2018-10-05T21:26:04Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Murkowski not up for election until 2022 when she turns 65 so she may not run again. If she does I’m sure she will have primary opponents. Are you kidding? The average age of Senators is 61. If she doesn’t run, it won’t because of being 65. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6409 "2018-10-05T21:28:58Z")
The best line I read on Twitter was something like, “Collins’s speech is taking longer than the FBI investigation did.” ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6410 "2018-10-05T21:29:12Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > Murkowski was already primaried the last time. Don’t forget, she won as a write-in candidate and relies on support outside the Republican base. yes but in the primary she got 71% so that was not much of a challenge. in the general election she got 44% and 2nd place was a Libertarian with 29%. the Dem got 11% and was 4th. an Independent got 13% ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6411 "2018-10-05T21:41:46Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Or maybe what you said and then tried to rape the arresting officer. (Maybe that’s what you meant by _assault_?) > > Nah. That would be fine. Boys will be boys. Well, putting violent hands on the officer, whatever the gender, at least – and maybe the cops find his wife’s got a couple of black eyes and various other bruises and abrasions… ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6412 "2018-10-05T21:43:36Z")
Since this is essentially a done deal, I am going to weigh in with my thoughts. First-I don’t want Kavanaugh on the court for ideologic reasons but I acknowledge that that is not a valid reason to keep him off the court if a majority does support him. Things that I don’t think disqualify him to be a Supreme Court Justice: -The fact that he drank when underage -The fact that he wrote offensive things in his high school yearbook -The fact that he was alleged to have flashed somebody in college. (I am essentially the same age as he is and that kind of crap happened all the time. Stupid college kids get naked and streak and try to deliberately embarrass their peers and while in today’s society we recognize this as sexual assault, in those days it wasn’t regarded as assault and although I personally find the behavior reprehensible I don’t think we should go back and impose retroactive penalties. In short, he is the definititive embodiment of _THAT GUY_, a douche of the highest order, but that does not make him unfit to serve. Things I think disqualify him for the bench: -The fact that IMO he assaulted Dr. Ford -The fact that he repeatedly lied to Congress in his testimony -The fact that he is unable to overcome his partisan feelings under stress All that said, I personally think that a narrow victory for confirmation is likely the best outcome for the Democrats. All indicators seem to point to the fact that Republicans enthusiasm is increasing with the challenge to Kavanaugh. They are almost definitely going to retain the Senate, and if the Republican base is fired up, they will likely increase their majority. However, if he is approved, the base may not be as fired up to vote because they will not feel that their Dear Leader’s actions are being threatened. The Democrats are going to be fired up either way, but will certainly not be any less fired-up if he is confirmed. Even, if were rejected, however, and the Democrats took both houses of Congress, the Senate would have 2 months after the election to nominate and confirm another candidate and I have no doubt that McConnell would do everything in his power to seat a conservative justice during the lame duck period. In short, no matter what the Democrats do, there will be a far right ideologue on the court. It doesn’t matter how the midterms go because the Senate will make sure that someone is confirmed before January. The only different between having Kavanaugh and having another candidate is that the Republican base may sink back into complacency and the Democrats will remain energized. In addition, we shouldn’t ignore the fact that women (even some Republican women) are enraged and may show up in droves to vote, while it is entirely possible that a replacement candidate would be a far-right woman, who would vote the same as Kavanaugh on most cases, but would appease Republican women. ---
**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 5, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6413 "2018-10-05T21:55:16Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Well, putting violent hands on the officer, whatever the gender, at least – and maybe the cops find his wife’s got a couple of black eyes and various other bruises and abrasions… God, can you imagine being married to that man? Or be his daughter? He must be a bitch to live with. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6414 "2018-10-05T21:58:04Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > It won’t happen, of course, but here’s my fantasy: Cory Gardner realizes this means he has a free ‘No’ vote and takes advantage of it, **but since they vote in alphabetical order** , that puts Manchin in the position of knowing he’ll be the 50th vote. No, they don’t. They call the roll in alphabetical order, but individual Senators can vote whenever they like. ---
**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 5, 2018, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6415 "2018-10-05T22:15:11Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > Since this is essentially a done deal, I am going to weigh in with my thoughts. > First-I don’t want Kavanaugh on the court for ideologic reasons but I acknowledge that that is not a valid reason to keep him off the court if a majority does support him. > > Things that I don’t think disqualify him to be a Supreme Court Justice: > -The fact that he drank when underage > -The fact that he wrote offensive things in his high school yearbook > -The fact that he was alleged to have flashed somebody in college. (I am essentially the same age as he is and that kind of crap happened all the time. Stupid college kids get naked and streak and try to deliberately embarrass their peers and while in today’s society we recognize this as sexual assault, in those days it wasn’t regarded as assault and although I personally find the behavior reprehensible I don’t think we should go back and impose retroactive penalties. > In short, he is the definititive embodiment of _THAT GUY_, a douche of the highest order, but that does not make him unfit to serve. > > Things I think disqualify him for the bench: > -The fact that IMO he assaulted Dr. Ford > -The fact that he repeatedly lied to Congress in his testimony > -The fact that he is unable to overcome his partisan feelings under stress > > All that said, I personally think that a narrow victory for confirmation is likely the best outcome for the Democrats. All indicators seem to point to the fact that Republicans enthusiasm is increasing with the challenge to Kavanaugh. They are almost definitely going to retain the Senate, and if the Republican base is fired up, they will likely increase their majority. However, if he is approved, the base may not be as fired up to vote because they will not feel that their Dear Leader’s actions are being threatened. > > The Democrats are going to be fired up either way, but will certainly not be any less fired-up if he is confirmed. Even, if were rejected, however, and the Democrats took both houses of Congress, the Senate would have 2 months after the election to nominate and confirm another candidate and I have no doubt that McConnell would do everything in his power to seat a conservative justice during the lame duck period. > > In short, no matter what the Democrats do, there will be a far right ideologue on the court. It doesn’t matter how the midterms go because the Senate will make sure that someone is confirmed before January. The only different between having Kavanaugh and having another candidate is that the Republican base may sink back into complacency and the Democrats will remain energized. In addition, we shouldn’t ignore the fact that women (even some Republican women) are enraged and may show up in droves to vote, while it is entirely possible that a replacement candidate would be a far-right woman, who would vote the same as Kavanaugh on most cases, but would appease Republican women. You have to bring up every objection and try to make sure it’s heard, to the last detail on each nominee, in his turn. Then think about who else it might be after that. Or else we could just cede the govt to mcconnell? How often have you been right on predictions in the last two years? I know I am shocked every day. It doesn’t give me confidence that I can pin down what happens next anymore. I’m not worried about the republican women. I think that’s much more a clickbait phenomenon than the DSA or BLM, or metoo. But I’d rather have a civil war than conduct myself so that republicans won’t get angry. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6416 "2018-10-05T22:19:47Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > It’s pretty clear the only way Ginsberg leaves under Trump is if she dies or is very sick. And the same is true for the other liberals although they are younger. Ginsburg is only leaving the court under Trump feet first. Whatever the opposite of a DNR is I’m sure she has it. Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6417 "2018-10-05T22:27:31Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Ginsburg is only leaving the court under Trump feet first. Whatever the opposite of a DNR is I’m sure she has it. I think we should start calling it an RBG. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6418 "2018-10-05T22:54:15Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Ginsburg is only leaving the court under Trump feet first. Whatever the opposite of a DNR is I’m sure she has it. > > Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk It would set up a particularly ugly legal fight if instead of dying outright, Ginsburg instead developed severe dementia or entered a vegetative state. Then you would have conservatives arguing that she should be declared incapacitated, and liberals arguing that as long as she has a pulse, she has a pulse. And both sides would be fighting to determine which doctors get to have the official say. ---
**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, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6419 "2018-10-05T23:21:12Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > True, but Daines has to come back and vote Yes for that to be true. And he’s not going to make it until some time after the start of voting. Who says? Mitch controls the calendar. They get 30 hours of debate, and that has to be Senate floor time. The clock isn’t running if they shut down for the night, or part of the night. Or if they go into recess for part of the day, for that matter. If Daines has a problem getting back, Mitch will make sure the vote doesn’t happen without him. ---
**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, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6420 "2018-10-05T23:23:45Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > No, they don’t. They call the roll in alphabetical order, but individual Senators can vote whenever they like. So they’re calling the roll, and Senators are voting when their name is called just like they did this morning, but Manchin can jump in and vote when the B’s are being called or something? I don’t think so. They don’t have to vote when their name is called, but they can’t just vote “whenever they like.” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/6421 "2018-10-05T23:25:09Z")
The big cloud of Maybe hanging over the horizon is women. What will they do, how will they react? Maybe they go to the closet and look through their shoes, something comfortable for marching but sturdy enough for ass-kicking. I offer no advice. I will confine myself to an unwavering “Yes, dear” and stay out of the way. Its their turn. Guys been running things for what?..ten thousand years? Maybe they won’t do better, but they could hardly do worse. And us? We could just run through the woods peeing on trees, they’ll call us when its time to vote. Or perform whatever other services are needful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=320) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=322)