# 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:** 51
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1001 "2018-09-17T00:32:52Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Kavanaugh was nominated on July 9th. That was 69 days ago, and it’s still probably another 10 or so until his final confirmation vote. That’s not “rushed”. Its right in line with the nominations of previous SCOTUS justices. 69 days is a blink of an eye compared to what happened to Garland. And Garland wasn’t even accused of attempted rape! ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1002 "2018-09-17T00:42:17Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Well, for one thing, Kavanaugh’s denial has a corroborating witness. The other guy implicated saying, “never happened,” is technically a corroborating witness, but I don’t know why anyone would give that much weight. Furthermore, Matt Judge also corroborates parts of Ford’s story. **HurricaneDitka** , do you believe that Christine Blasey Ford is lying? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1003 "2018-09-17T00:45:20Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Worth saying for the record that if Kavanaugh is withdrawn the GOP will very likely install someone worse. There isn’t anyone worse. Not for those of us who deplore the idea of presidents being given a free pass—free, even, of investigation!—for all the violations they might commit. Kavanaugh was unique on that Heritage Foundation/Federalist Society list for his extremely unusual views on the supposed immunity of presidents from virtually all accountability during their term in office. > [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > For me, at least, this is not about shaping SCOTUS opinions. Common decency says this should be investigated. And the more the GOP tries to argue that it’s Bad and Wrong to investigate, the more firmly they become identified with views that will NOT help them get the votes of women. And the votes of many men, as well. After all, any father of a teenage daughter is going to picture her in the situation Christine Ford described. Shrugging off the alleged actions of Kavanaugh as ‘youthful indiscretion’ won’t sit well with many of those fathers. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1004 "2018-09-17T00:46:52Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > … **HurricaneDitka** , do you believe that Christine Blasey Ford is lying? I don’t know. It’s certainly a possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1005 "2018-09-17T00:49:58Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Yes, one who wrote a book about how black out drunk he was at all these parties. One who wrote a book characterizing O’Kavanaugh himself as a less than stellar actor. > > Having him as corroborating witness is like hitching a ride on Willie Nelson’s bus to your drug screening. He also wrote about [“uncontrollable male passion”](https://www.splicetoday.com/pop-culture/hard-case-crime-the-beauty-of-male-passion) : _“Of course, a man must be able to read a woman’s signals, and it’s a good thing that feminism is teaching young men that no means no and yes means yes. But there’s also that ambiguous middle ground, where the woman seems interested and indicates, whether verbally or not, that the man needs to prove himself to her. And if that man is any kind of man, he’ll allow himself to feel the awesome power, the wonderful beauty, of uncontrollable male passion.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1006 "2018-09-17T00:50:35Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I don’t know. Given this uncertainty, what should the next steps be? ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1007 "2018-09-17T00:51:22Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > The other guy implicated saying, “never happened,” is technically a corroborating witness, but I don’t know why anyone would give that much weight. Furthermore, Matt Judge also corroborates parts of Ford’s story. > > **HurricaneDitka** , do you believe that Christine Blasey Ford is lying? > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I don’t know. It’s certainly a possibility. I agree with Hurricane Ditka. I’m not willing to pass judgment on Kavanaugh based upon news stories published within the last 12 hours. Which is why there should be an investigation of the allegations. [Jeet Heer](https://twitter.com/HeerJeet/status/1041371365432025089): I’m all for forgiveness & restorations but there has to be contrition and repentance first. If the accusation against Kavanaugh is accurate (on which it’s proper to remain agnostic until further investigation), then there has been no contrition and repentance. [James Fallows](https://twitter.com/JamesFallows/status/1041420428311449601): No one can offer any defensible reason why there needs to be a vote on Kavanaugh _now_, for a lifetime omni-powerful no-recourse job, before hearing all evidence. In crassest terms, whatever happens in midterms, GOP will control Senate till end of this year. What _is_ the rush? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1008 "2018-09-17T01:05:49Z")
[Corker](http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/406945-corker-says-kavanaugh-accuser-should-be-heard-out-before-committee-votes) joins Flake. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1009 "2018-09-17T01:12:36Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Well, for one thing, Kavanaugh’s denial has a corroborating witness. …that corroborating witness is on record as saying [“reached the point where once I had the first beer, I found it impossible to stop until I was completely annihilated.”](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/09/brett-kavanaugh-mark-judge-high-school-drunk-allegation-alcohol/) Would that statement, in your opinion, affect that witness’s credibility on this particular issue? What has Christine Blasey Ford said that gives you reasonable grounds not to believe what she has said? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1010 "2018-09-17T01:17:09Z")
She sure sounds credible to me. It’s not “proof” yet, but it’s pretty darn credible. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1011 "2018-09-17T01:17:14Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > [Corker](http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/406945-corker-says-kavanaugh-accuser-should-be-heard-out-before-committee-votes) joins Flake. That should be enough to, at the very least, prevent a vote until Ford speaks to the committee. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1012 "2018-09-17T01:29:48Z")
Yeah, I gotta agree with the others here that since Judge has acknowledged he often got black out drunk in high school that makes him a pretty piss poor corroborating witness. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1013 "2018-09-17T01:31:13Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > [James Fallows](https://twitter.com/JamesFallows/status/1041420428311449601): No one can offer any defensible reason why there needs to be a vote on Kavanaugh _now_, for a lifetime omni-powerful no-recourse job, before hearing all evidence. In crassest terms, whatever happens in midterms, GOP will control Senate till end of this year. What _is_ the rush? The rush is to get somebody on the Court who can be counted upon to rule against criminal prosecutability of a President, added to the 4 established reliable partisans. The timing isn’t driven by the election but by Mueller. Pretty sure Fallows knows that and was asking rhetorically. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1014 "2018-09-17T01:43:01Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > … > What has Christine Blasey Ford said that gives you reasonable grounds not to believe what she has said? That she can’t remember key details about the incident. She’s not sure about where or when it happened, or how she got there or home. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1015 "2018-09-17T01:43:37Z")
> [@](#): > > To add on about the letter from 65 women… Heard a plausible story about that, the veracity of which I dunno. Jist being that the list of character witnesses is the result of several different standard government background checks. Business references, stuff like that there, on various such forms. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1016 "2018-09-17T01:44:34Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > … the 4 established reliable partisans. … Do you consider Ginsberg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagen to be “reliable partisans” as well? ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1017 "2018-09-17T01:46:32Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Now that the woman has come forward, if she’s willing to testify in front of the committee, I agree that a delay in the vote is warranted to allow her to testify. If she’s not willing to testify in front of the committee, then no delay in the vote. But if this is the only accusation of sexual assault against him I don’t think it’s reason enough to not seat him. We’ll see if more women come out of the woodwork. Since the alleged crime took place when the perp (whomever he is) was a minor, it may have not been repeated though. I don’t think the victim should be necessarily forced to testify in front of the committee, certainly not this coming week. Regardless, an FBI investigation should come first. I expect media reports to be hopelessly biased, so I’ll turn the mike over to LOLGOP: [INDENT] Trump wanted a human pardon — and there were dozens of judges who’d gut Roe but just one who thinks a (Republican) president is too busy to have answer for crimes. I mean, who are you supposed to believe – a woman who risked everything to expose the worst moment of her a life or the guy who spent the last week lying to the Senate? I hope dudes will take a second to step back and realize why vanishingly few sexual assaults are ever reported, let alone prosecuted, is because guys can’t stand their friends being called predators – and their opinions usually matter more than the survivors. Brett Kavanaugh spent 3 years and millions of taxpayer dollars investigating Vince Foster conspiracy theories and we shouldn’t spend a few months looking into credible allegations against Kavanaugh? [/INDENT] > > > > > Caleb Hull @CalebJHull > ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1018 "2018-09-17T01:51:52Z")
From what I"m hearing she does not wish to appear, so there’s really no reason to hold up the vote. There are four Republicans who could vote no and that would be the end of it if they follow through. Hold the vote, let the chips fall at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1019 "2018-09-17T01:59:08Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > From what I"m hearing she does not wish to appear, so there’s really no reason to hold up the vote. There are four Republicans who could vote no and that would be the end of it if they follow through. Hold the vote, let the chips fall at this point. I think the FBI should request an interview with her, as well as Kavanaugh’s alleged accomplice. There is evidence that needs evaluation. Congress shouldn’t rely on mere media reports, unless Kavanaugh decides to withdraw his nomination of course. Totally separately from LOLGOP: Imagine having such a low opinion of conservatism that you think Brett Kavanaugh is the best you can do right now. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1020 "2018-09-17T02:02:17Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > … I don’t think the victim should be necessarily forced to testify in front of the committee, certainly not this coming week. … I don’t think she should be “forced” either, but if she doesn’t want to testify this week, I don’t think the committee should delay action on the nomination. She’s the one that chose to wait until the very last minute to come forward. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=50) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=52)