# 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:** 75
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1481 "2018-09-18T22:21:40Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > has anyone answered why there is a hurry to get this done? > > I seem to recall a group of people a few years back that were totally OK with having only 8 members on the court for a year. Or did I dream that ? We can go back and forth on this forever and I feel like those in this thread have. The “hurry” is that the GOP wants to have Kavanaugh on the Court before the midterms and have set a schedule to have that happen. The Dems, by waiting until the 11th hour, are attempting to delay the vote beyond that as a partisan measure while using a sexual assault allegation to accomplish it. I dispute that this is hurried at all. Next Monday, we get to hear from both parties about what happened. That’s all we ever will know because it is from 19-fricking-82. This can be done both fairly and expeditiously and have a final vote to either confirm or deny Kavanaugh before October 1. To suggest that more time is needed is a ploy. Why do I believe it is a ploy? First, all of the Dems who are demanding more time have ALREADY said that they are opposed to the nomination. What do they want to do? Double vote to deny him a seat on the Court? I propose a committee of: Flake, Collins, Murkowski, Manchin, Heitkamp, and Donnelly to vote on whatever procedure they want for next Monday and Tuesday. Four votes and documents are produced and witnesses are subpoenaed–committee vote on Thursday, full Senate vote the following Thursday. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1482 "2018-09-18T22:23:03Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’ll answer it – because the Republicans are worried that the longer this drags out, the less chance Kavanaugh will be confirmed, and the less time they’ll have to confirm another Republican-preferred justice before a risky election. All reasons why the Dems want to drag it out. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2018, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1483 "2018-09-18T22:23:39Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’ll answer it – because the Republicans are worried that the longer this drags out, the less chance Kavanaugh will be confirmed, and the less time they’ll have to confirm another Republican-preferred justice before a risky election. so they hurry when it helps them, and they don’t hurry when it helps them. I guess that’s just typical politics. anything less than a 1 year wait is a hurried compared to 2016 . ---
**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, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1484 "2018-09-18T22:25:32Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > All reasons why the Dems want to drag it out. Politically, of course. Morally, they also happen to be in the right here (at least more so than the Republicans, many of whom made statements that they’d prefer to ignore the allegations, and their current plan is also not a full investigation) – credible allegations of attempted rape should be fully investigated, not rushed, including calling all potentially illuminating witnesses, probably preceded by a full FBI investigation, whose findings can then be presented at the hearing. ---
**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, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1485 "2018-09-18T22:30:04Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Announcing that Ford will testify without checking with her first, refusing to conduct an FBI investigation, and refusing to call in witnesses to evaluate Ford’s account is not a full and fair investigation. My claim stands. What the GOP now is doing is kabuki for the rubes. LOL, no. The GOP didn’t “announce that Ford will testify without checking with her first”. They _invited_ her to testify: > [@](#): > > [On Monday, the committee invited both Kavanaugh and Ford to testify on the allegations](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-latest-on-brett-kavanaugh-nominee-denies-accuser-allegation-live-updates/)… The _GOP_ didn’t “refuse to conduct an FBI investigation”, the _FBI_ did that. > [@](#): > > [In a statement, a Justice Department spokeswoman said the FBI — which has added a letter from Christine Blasey Ford to Kavanaugh’s already completed background report file — had already done all it was going to do, because “the allegation does not involve any potential federal crime.”](https://www.npr.org/2018/09/18/649085712/democrats-want-fbi-to-investigate-kavanaugh-allegations-it-likely-wont) ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1486 "2018-09-18T22:30:08Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Announcing that Ford will testify without checking with her first… \*snip. This isn’t second grade where you get to whisper to the teacher that little Johnny is chewing gum in class. This is a serious allegation against a Supreme Court nominee. The idea that she can throw a bomb into this process, embarrass this man, his wife, and his two young daughters with these politically horrific allegations, yet sit on her couch and keep quiet and not be examined under oath is an anathema to truth and justice in the United States. If she will not stand by her allegations, then she should not have made them. ---
**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, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1487 "2018-09-18T22:33:25Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > \*snip. This isn’t second grade where you get to whisper to the teacher that little Johnny is chewing gum in class. This is a serious allegation against a Supreme Court nominee. The idea that she can throw a bomb into this process, embarrass this man, his wife, and his two young daughters with these politically horrific allegations, yet sit on her couch and keep quiet and not be examined under oath is an anathema to truth and justice in the United States. If she will not stand by her allegations, then she should not have made them. Saddened, but not surprised, to see the simple act of a woman speaking called “throwing a bomb”. It’s okay. There’s no reason to believe at this point that she’s doing anything other than just talking about her experiences. That should be welcomed, literally always, and it’s wrong to shame or criticize someone without very solid evidence of dishonesty. ---
**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, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1488 "2018-09-18T22:35:57Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Saddened, but not surprised, to see the simple act of a woman speaking called “throwing a bomb”. It’s okay. There’s no reason to believe at this point that she’s doing anything other than just talking about her experiences. That should be welcomed, literally always, and it’s wrong to shame or criticize someone without very solid evidence of dishonesty. Is it also wrong to shame or criticize Kavanaugh “without very solid evidence of dishonesty”? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1489 "2018-09-18T22:37:16Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Saddened, but not surprised, to see the simple act of a woman speaking called “throwing a bomb”. It’s okay. There’s no reason to believe at this point that she’s doing anything other than just talking about her experiences. That should be welcomed, literally always, and it’s wrong to shame or criticize someone without very solid evidence of dishonesty. She’s an adult, right? Just because she is a woman does not mean she should be held to a lesser standard than a man. She is not a delicate flower. If she makes such a serious allegation, she should have the decency to be examined by the mean white Senators and have her credibility tested like anyone else who makes an accusation. I was just watching and there is serious talk about having Kelly Ayotte ask all of the questions so the optics are better than having white guys question her. This is madness. Yesterday, your side wanted fairness and an opportunity for her to be heard. Now, she doesn’t need to be heard. Which is it?!? ---
**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, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1490 "2018-09-18T22:41:19Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > … I was just watching and there is serious talk about having Kelly Ayotte ask all of the questions so the optics are better than having white guys question her. … This gives me a glimmer of hope that the Senators understand the games being played here. ---
**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, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1491 "2018-09-18T22:44:45Z")
It takes a certain amount of gall for [Feinstein to now claim “What we have wanted is an investigation carried out to look at the facts before there was a hearing.”](https://twitter.com/alanhe/status/1042174165057454080) ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1492 "2018-09-18T22:45:34Z")
As of yesterday, the signs were there that Kavanaugh is toast. Kellyanne Conway announced that she was in a position to know that president’s thinking on the matter and that Ford deserved to be heard. She was positively respectful. Trump talking to the press yesterday had also begun the same soft backpedal that we see before he throws one of his darlings under the bus. “He’s a good guy, but we need to have a full process.” Trump sounded positively mature about it. [Today we have the following developments](https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/kavanaugh-sexual-assault-allegation-dle/index.html): [ul] [li]Thursday’s vote is cancelled[/li][li]Monday’s testimony is scheduled[/li][li]GOP members threaten to proceed without Ford on Monday[/li][li]Offer extended for private testimony[/li][/ul] Kavanaugh will withdraw sometime soon. I doubt the GOP want to have “Anita Hill Part 2” right before the mid-terms. I don’t see Ford agreeing to private testimony at this point. If they try to push this through without Ford, the mid-term blow back will be horrific. ---
**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, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1493 "2018-09-18T22:45:53Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Is it also wrong to shame or criticize Kavanaugh “without very solid evidence of dishonesty”? I don’t think anyone who characterizes a woman as a “useful idiot” or “willing schemer” for doing nothing more than speaking about her experiences has any possibility of understanding the morality of these kinds of issues. ---
**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 18, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1494 "2018-09-18T22:46:19Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Is it also wrong to shame or criticize Kavanaugh “without very solid evidence of dishonesty”? We already have very solid evidence of dishonesty when it comes to Kavanaugh. [Five Times Brett Kavanaugh Appears to Have Lied to Congress While Under Oath](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/09/five-times-brett-kavanaugh-appears-to-have-lied-to-congress-while-under-oath/) ---
**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, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1495 "2018-09-18T22:46:59Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I don’t think anyone who characterizes a woman as a “useful idiot” or “willing schemer” for doing nothing more than speaking about her experiences has any possibility of understanding the morality of these kinds of issues. You’re evading the question. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1496 "2018-09-18T22:48:14Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I was just watching and there is serious talk about having Kelly Ayotte ask all of the questions so the optics are better than having white guys question her. This is madness. Yesterday, your side wanted fairness and an opportunity for her to be heard. Now, she doesn’t need to be heard. Which is it?!? Do the rules allow that? She’s not on the Senate Judiciary Committee. ---
**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, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1497 "2018-09-18T22:48:31Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > She’s an adult, right? Just because she is a woman does not mean she should be held to a lesser standard than a man. She is not a delicate flower. If she makes such a serious allegation, she should have the decency to be examined by the mean white Senators and have her credibility tested like anyone else who makes an accusation. That’s not about “decency”, but I also hope she agrees to testify. That’s entirely up to her. Reliving such trauma, especially in public in a very hostile environment, is far more difficult than anything I ever experienced (and I’ve spent over a year under water!), and I’m not inclined to judge her for making whatever decision she deems wisest for her circumstances unless strong evidence of malice comes to light. > [@](#): > > I was just watching and there is serious talk about having Kelly Ayotte ask all of the questions so the optics are better than having white guys question her. This is madness. Yesterday, your side wanted fairness and an opportunity for her to be heard. Now, she doesn’t need to be heard. Which is it?!? No idea what this is referring to. She should be heard if she wants to speak. I hope she still wants to speak. ---
**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 18, 2018, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1498 "2018-09-18T22:51:11Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > And yet, she made Mark Judge’s name public, even though he apparently has no interest in testifying. She implicated Mark Judge. Mark Judge is not an innocent bystander who happened to be 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, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1499 "2018-09-18T22:52:41Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > … She should be heard if she wants to speak. I hope she still wants to speak. And what if she doesn’t want to speak? Should the Senate delay the nomination indefinitely, hoping that she changes her mind one day? Should Kavanaugh be denied the position because a woman made an unverified allegation and then refused to support it? Or if she refuses to testify before the committee would you find it acceptable for the Senate to proceed with consideration of the nomination? ---
**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:** [September 18, 2018, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1500 "2018-09-18T22:53:21Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Kavanaugh will withdraw sometime soon. I doubt the GOP want to have “Anita Hill Part 2” right before the mid-terms. I don’t see Ford agreeing to private testimony at this point. If they try to push this through without Ford, the mid-term blow back will be horrific. I think it will look very bad for Ford if she refuses to testify. Her lawyer went on national television yesterday and said Ford would do whatever it took to have her story told, including testify in front of the Committee. But even without that statement out there, she is going to look like she is unwilling to take questions about her accusation. That’s not good. > [@](#): > > A lawyer for Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who said Judge Brett Kavanaugh assaulted her when the two were in high school, said Monday that Ford is willing to testify about the allegations before the Senate Judiciary Committee. > > “She is. She’s willing to do whatever it takes to get her story forth,” lawyer Debra Katz said on NBC’s “Today” show when asked if her client would speak publicly about President Donald Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=74) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=76)