# 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:** 67
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1321 "2018-09-18T15:25:15Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So, “Spartacus” is biting wit? … It’s an example of “theatrics” ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1322 "2018-09-18T15:29:19Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Nobody is attacking her You mean like the way they wouldn’t dream of coming up with a conspiracy theory ([already debunked, of course](https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2018/09/18/right-wing-media-concocted-conspiracy-theory-about-christine-blasey-fords-motives-it-quickly-fell/221348)) about how Dr. Ford’s accusation was revenge for Kavanaugh’s mother having foreclosed on Ford’s parents’ house? Yep, nobody’s attacking her. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1323 "2018-09-18T15:33:15Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I think the political effects of this nomination and its various possible resolutions (confirmed, withdrawn, voted down) are more complicated than that. > > The GOP’s theocratic base is basically saying, “this is why we support you - are you going to keep your promises, or what? No mulligan for you!” The GOP leadership is scared that if they back down on Kavanaugh, enough of their voters will stay home to make a real dent in their prospects. > > Meanwhile, red-state Dem Senators would love to avoid having to vote at all, because then nobody can get mad at them for voting the ‘wrong’ way. > > And yeah, a lot of women will be pissed at the GOP if they vote to confirm. But at this point, I suspect that if the Dems stop Kavanaugh, those same women will be eager to show their support for the Dems for having blocked his confirmation. > > On the whole, I agree with [Josh Marshall](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/you-never-win-by-losing): “as a general matter victories energize and defeats demoralize.” I think you are mixing two women’s issues that women don’t march lockstep on. Women are pretty much united in sexual assault is bad and we aren’t always treated with respect in the world - and this sucks. But the other issues - abortion being the elephant in the room - women are MUCH more divided on. There are plenty of women who are anti-choice - and plenty who are not black and white on the issue. So this changes that math fairly significantly. Having a guy who allegedly tried to force himself on someone at a party while blackout drunk - thats a humiliation a lot of us have personal experience with - us, a friend, a daughter. Or something worse. Or something similar in nature (but that one is NOT uncommon - and was not uncommon in the 1980s. I escaped one of those in my Freshman year in college - 1984. And you didn’t report it, because that was how the world worked - he didn’t manage to rape you. You have no evidence. My mother escaped one around 1963 by hitting a guy over the head with a coke bottle) Now the pool of disgusted women goes from those that have strong feelings about this country having access to legalized abortion, to all those women who have ever been groped or date raped. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1324 "2018-09-18T15:43:46Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I understand (by your posts) that you’re much, much more interested by whatever bad things (not involving the physical mistreatment of women) Democratic Senators might have done in this instance than whether or not Kavanaugh attempted to rape someone. It continues to amuse me that you have no problem making this so clear for everyone to see. I understand (by your posts) that you’re much, much more interested in downplaying the bad things Dems (“might”) have done. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1325 "2018-09-18T15:46:42Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > OK, so what does your latest example have to do with either one? … You don’t understand what “Spartacus” has to do with theatrics? Is that what you’re asking me to clarify? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1326 "2018-09-18T15:55:22Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I understand (by your posts) that you’re much, much more interested in downplaying the bad things Dems (“might”) have done. What’s the bad thing here again? Releasing the documents at an inconvenient time for Republicans? Potentially forcing a delay in the hearings? And, before you claim that the timing prevents a thorough investigation… the Republicans are in absolute control over the scheduling of this entire process, there is exactly enough time to investigate as the R’s decide there should be. The fact that the Dems are putting them in a position to decide how much time it deserves, is not a bad thing, except for Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1327 "2018-09-18T16:03:10Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > What’s the bad thing here again? … That she chose her political considerations over ensuring that the accuser’s allegations had the best chance to get a thorough investigation. ---
**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 18, 2018, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1328 "2018-09-18T16:17:57Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I understand (by your posts) that you’re much, much more interested in downplaying the bad things Dems (“might”) have done. Well, some of us believe that attempted rape is orders of magnitude worse than political shenanigans about the timing of allegations, but your mileage (apparently) varies. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1329 "2018-09-18T16:19:46Z")
Why can’t the accuser’s allegations get a thorough investigation now? Is there some reason that can’t happen? Or are you saying the investigation can happen, but it’s unfair because the process is irregular. Unfair? I thought there was a “there’s no crying in baseball” rule. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1330 "2018-09-18T16:21:32Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > When she said “false rape accusations almost never have serious consequences” is she talking about consequences for the _falsely accused_ or the\* false accuser?\* For the falsely accused, as her text makes clear: > [@](#): > > Let’s start with the idea that false rape accusations ruin lives, and are therefore a universal risk to men. Generally, feminists dismiss this idea by arguing that false accusations are rare—only between 2% and 10% of all reports are estimated to be false. What’s equally important to know, however, is that false rape accusations almost never have serious consequences. > > It’s exceedingly rare for a false rape allegation to end in prison time. > This may be hard to believe, especially considering that rape is a felony, punishable with years of prison. However—to start with this worst-case scenario—it’s exceedingly rare for a false rape allegation to end in prison time. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, since records began in 1989, in the US there are only 52 cases where men convicted of sexual assault were exonerated because it turned out they were falsely accused. By way of comparison, in the same period, there are 790 cases in which people were exonerated for murder. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1331 "2018-09-18T16:24:11Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > You mean like the way they wouldn’t dream of coming up with a conspiracy theory ([already debunked, of course](https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2018/09/18/right-wing-media-concocted-conspiracy-theory-about-christine-blasey-fords-motives-it-quickly-fell/221348)) about how Dr. Ford’s accusation was revenge for Kavanaugh’s mother having foreclosed on Ford’s parents’ house? > > Yep, nobody’s attacking her. Also, are we already forgetting she got doxxed? > NOBODY IS ATTACKING HER. In terms of truth value, this is up there with “everyone loves Donald Trump”. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1332 "2018-09-18T16:27:11Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > You don’t understand what “Spartacus” has to do with theatrics? Is that what you’re asking me to clarify? No, we’ve been talking about your “Is that why Feinstein kept it secret?” bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1333 "2018-09-18T16:30:20Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Well, some of us believe that attempted rape is orders of magnitude worse than political shenanigans about the timing of allegations, but your mileage (apparently) varies. Feinstein’s mileage (apparently) varies. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1334 "2018-09-18T16:32:38Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Feinstein’s mileage (apparently) varies. Well, I guess I won’t be supporting Feinstein’s confirmation to the Supreme Court then. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1335 "2018-09-18T16:33:38Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > I think you are mixing two women’s issues that women don’t march lockstep on. > > Women are pretty much united in sexual assault is bad and we aren’t always treated with respect in the world - and this sucks. > > But the other issues - abortion being the elephant in the room - women are MUCH more divided on. There are plenty of women who are anti-choice - and plenty who are not black and white on the issue. > > So this changes that math fairly significantly. Having a guy who allegedly tried to force himself on someone at a party while blackout drunk - thats a humiliation a lot of us have personal experience with - us, a friend, a daughter. Or something worse. Or something similar in nature (but that one is NOT uncommon - and was not uncommon in the 1980s. I escaped one of those in my Freshman year in college - 1984. And you didn’t report it, because that was how the world worked - he didn’t manage to rape you. You have no evidence. My mother escaped one around 1963 by hitting a guy over the head with a coke bottle) Now the pool of disgusted women goes from those that have strong feelings about this country having access to legalized abortion, to all those women who have ever been groped or date raped. I agree with what you’re saying. I believe you misunderstood that my starting point is **now** - I’m saying, given where we are already, what are the potential political effects of Kavanaugh’s nomination being confirmed, withdrawn, or rejected by a vote of the Senate? But you seem to be talking about how the conversation’s changed _in the past week_, and I agree with you there. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1336 "2018-09-18T16:33:39Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Why can’t the accuser’s allegations get a thorough investigation now? > > Is there some reason that can’t happen? Or are you saying the investigation can happen, but it’s unfair because the process is irregular. > > Unfair? I thought there was a “there’s no crying in baseball” rule. It could happen, might even, but the odds of it happening are less than if Feinstein had shared the information when she learned of it. What kind of a fucking _monster_ would undertake actions that risk this poor woman not being heard and having her story investigated? The Feinstein kind, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1337 "2018-09-18T16:35:11Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Well, I guess I won’t be supporting Feinstein’s confirmation to the Supreme Court then. Or calling for her resignation I suspect. ---
**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 18, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1338 "2018-09-18T16:37:42Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Feinstein’s mileage (apparently) varies. LOL. You be you, HD. It’s fun to watch! ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1339 "2018-09-18T16:37:51Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > No, we’ve been talking about your “Is that why Feinstein kept it secret?” bullshit. “Theatrics” came from post #1280 which, I don’t think, directly related to the question of why Feinstein kept it secret. It was about whether the Senate or the FBI should handle the investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1340 "2018-09-18T16:43:16Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > It could happen, might even, but the odds of it happening are less than if Feinstein had shared the information when she learned of it. What kind of a fucking _monster_ would undertake actions that risk this poor woman not being heard and having her story investigated? The Feinstein kind, apparently. Dude, this isn’t about the poor little woman being “heard”. She didn’t want to be heard. She just didn’t want the guy who tried to rape her get put on the Supreme Court. Jesus Titty-Fucking Christ. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=66) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=68)