# 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:** 79
**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:** [September 19, 2018, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1561 "2018-09-19T00:20:30Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > You know who else wants to investigate? People who want to delay a decision on a matter. And? ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1562 "2018-09-19T00:21:15Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I don’t know. It’s certainly a possibility. Why would she lie? (In other words, how _probable_ a _possibility_ is it?) I’ll list reasons; feel free to tell me which is most plausible (or add your own). 1. faulty memory. I.e., it was someone else. Not technically a lie if she believes it. 2. mental illness to the point of delusion. (See above.) 3. desire to hurt Trump or the GOP. 4. desire to hurt Kavanaugh personally. 5. desire for personal fame, possibly with accompanying fortune (book deal, etc.) I honestly don’t find any of 3-5 too plausible, but really all of these assume there’s something seriously wrong with Ford (mentally or ethically). Seems much more likely to me that Kavanaugh is continuing to lie to keep himself out of trouble. That doesn’t assume more than an average level of ethical failing — lying to keep oneself out of trouble is pretty common. But YMMV. ---
**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 19, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1563 "2018-09-19T00:21:40Z")
how dare a political party in DC want to delay a supreme court vote!! The gall of them!! The nerve! I have not heard of anything that awful since 2016! ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1564 "2018-09-19T00:23:20Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > How can you complain about delaying tactics? You were for them before you were against them? For the same reason your side was against them before they were for them. Welcome to the world of politics. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1565 "2018-09-19T00:24:20Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > You know who else wants investigations? People who want to delay a decision on a matter. Why would Ford merely want to delay his confirmation? Whether she’s telling the truth or not, I’d think she doesn’t want him confirmed at all. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1566 "2018-09-19T00:24:21Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > how dare a political party in DC want to delay a supreme court vote!! The gall of them!! The nerve! I have not heard of anything that awful since 2016! And do you recall the weeping and wailing and demands for a prompt up-or-down vote from back then? Which side was arguing for that at the time? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1567 "2018-09-19T00:25:36Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > Why would Ford merely want to delay his confirmation? Whether she’s telling the truth or not, I’d think she doesn’t want him confirmed at all. It isn’t just Ford calling for an FBI investigation. It’s a call that’s been taken up by Schumer and company. THEY want to delay a vote to spare the red-state Dem senators a difficult vote right before the mid-term. ---
**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 19, 2018, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1568 "2018-09-19T00:25:43Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > … We all already know the FBI has declined to investigate this allegation. You keep repeating this as though it’s some sort of proof that Ford’s accusations are without merit. _That’s not what it shows._ It shows _only_ there is no allegation that a federal crime _ **that could currently be prosecuted** _ was committed. That’s all. The FBI’s statement does NOT indicate that Kavanaugh didn’t assault Ford. It does NOT show that Kavanaugh has been truthful in his denials. It does NOT put Kavanaugh in the clear. Further, it does _not_ show that the FBI would be unable to learn anything from an investigation. It does _not_ show that the FBI would be unable to shed light on the allegations. It merely shows that Kavanaugh can’t be prosecuted for an assault on Ford. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1569 "2018-09-19T00:26:24Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > When someone makes a demand that she knows isn’t going to happen, I’m going to say there’s a good chance she doesn’t actually want to testify. Like making her testify [while sitting at a table](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4901608-180918-Ltr-to-Grassley.html#document/p1) with the dude who tried to rape her? ---
**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 19, 2018, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1570 "2018-09-19T00:28:14Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I don’t think that’s a word, but anyways, to not have Scalia replaced by a leftist. I’m pretty certain that was the unofficial purpose. How can you describe Orrin Hatch’s favorite judge as a “leftist” with a straight face? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1571 "2018-09-19T00:32:00Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > And do you recall the weeping and wailing and demands for a prompt up-or-down vote from back then? No, nor do you. The demands were for a full hearing of all issues, followed by a vote. Also–GUESS WHAT!–Merrick Garland wasn’t credibly accused of being a rapist. So, y’know, there’s that slight and POSSIBLY RELEVANT difference. > [@](#): > > Which side was arguing for that at the time? The Sasquatch and Unicorn party, no doubt. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1572 "2018-09-19T00:33:31Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > This was a gotcha ploy to release it at the 11th hour. Relax, chum: there are roughly 2500 hours between now and when the new Senate is sworn in. Let me know when we’re past the 2000th hour of those 2500. I’ll be more sympathetic to the “last-minute” (got ~150,000 of those left) bushwa you guys are feeding up when we get down around that point in the proceedings. ---
**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 19, 2018, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1573 "2018-09-19T00:34:36Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > how dare a political party in DC want to delay a supreme court vote!! The gall of them!! The nerve! I have not heard of anything that awful since 2016! They weren’t delaying a vote. There was no intention to have a vote at all. McConnell used Senate rules to deny Obama the consent he needed to seat Garland. I’m sure the Democrats are tying to do the same thing, but they have to use different tactics since they are the minority party. Those tactics involve delay. The issue they have with Kavanaugh is the best tool for delay they have right now. If this episode ends with a vote for Kavanaugh from the Committee, the Democrats will continue to try and delay the full Senate vote. It’s hard to blame them. That is not to say they don’t have other reasons for what they are doing. Some of them honorable and some of them less so. You might think we were dealing with politics or something! ---
**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:** [September 19, 2018, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1574 "2018-09-19T00:35:04Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > For the same reason your side was against them before they were for them. Welcome to the world of politics. So when are you going to stop complaining about it? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1575 "2018-09-19T00:35:48Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > Why would she lie? (In other words, how _probable_ a _possibility_ is it?) > > I’ll list reasons; feel free to tell me which is most plausible (or add your own). > > 1. faulty memory. I.e., it was someone else. Not technically a lie if she believes it. > 2. mental illness to the point of delusion. (See above.) > 3. desire to hurt Trump or the GOP. > 4. desire to hurt Kavanaugh personally. > 5. desire for personal fame, possibly with accompanying fortune (book deal, etc.) > > I honestly don’t find any of 3-5 too plausible, but really all of these assume there’s something seriously wrong with Ford (mentally or ethically). … IF (and I readily admit it’s an “if” at this point) what she has claimed did not happen as she claimed it has, then I suspect that reason #1 or #2 are most likely, with a side of #3. She appears to have a bit of a history as a Democratic activist (donations, attended the Women’s March, etc.). Again, if it did not happen, I haven’t yet heard of any motive why she’d want to hurt Kavanaugh personally, and it doesn’t seem like a good route to fame and/or fortune (although I suppose, some people have played worse hands into substantial money). At the risk of bringing up another sore subject, we recently had another college professor shoot himself in the arm to protest Trump. I don’t consider lying about a fictitious sexual assault to be outside the realm of possibilities for someone similarly situated. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1576 "2018-09-19T00:38:51Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > from the [WSJ Editorial Board - Schumer’s FBI Ploy](https://www.wsj.com/articles/schumers-fbi-ploy-1537313532): Yeah, the same WSJ that talks about “[hysterical fantasies](https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-spectral-witness-materializes-1537225498)” in the context of Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford. Fuck that noise. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1577 "2018-09-19T00:39:45Z")
I mean, here’s the thing: Democrats play politics. Republicans play politics. Those two can more or less cancel out. Our equation looks like Democrats Play Politics + Kavanaugh Might Be a Sex Predator=Republicans Play Politics Go ahead, cancel out. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1578 "2018-09-19T00:41:41Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > … The demands were for a full hearing of all issues, followed by a vote. … As noted previously, Kavanaugh had a full hearing, during which Feinstein chose to keep this matter to herself. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1579 "2018-09-19T00:42:04Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > At the risk of bringing up another sore subject, we recently had another college professor shoot himself in the arm to protest Trump. I don’t consider lying about a fictitious sexual assault to be outside the realm of possibilities for someone similarly situated. If I’d made up a story, you know what I would totally do? [I would totally ask the FBI to conduct an investigation](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/grassley-says-mondays-hearing-will-be-limited-to-two-witnesses-kavanaugh-and-his-accuser/2018/09/18/301da074-bb48-11e8-a8aa-860695e7f3fc_story.html?utm_term=.3d24e137b2d6). Because that would be sure to go well for me. Your ideas about this woman and her motives are bonkers and are the sort of terribly-written motives that would make me put down a trashy thriller in disgust. That’s not how actual humans think or behave. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1580 "2018-09-19T00:43:58Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I agree, though the description of the drinking culture at 1980s-era Georgetown Prep in the yearbook that’s been made public, leads me to wonder if any of those people can really remember any of those parties. > > [Brett Kavanaugh high school yearbook raises new questions about Supreme Court nominee | wusa9.com](https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/brett-kavanaugh-high-school-yearbook-raises-new-questions-about-supreme-court-nominee/65-595626391) > > (Scroll down a bit and there are photos of some of the yearbook’s pages.) But didn’t Kavanaugh testify about what a moral place it was? Of course, he’s also [speechified](https://twitter.com/joshtpm/status/1042182664592281600) (in 2015!) about “what happens at Georgetown Prep, stays at Georgetown Prep. That’s been a good thing for all of us.” It’s not the only place he’s said that about, IIRC. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=78) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=80)