# 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:** 95
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1881 "2018-09-20T13:09:40Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Anyone who cares more about the timing of an announcement than the idea that a SC nominee tried to forcibly rape someone at a party, needs their moral compass checked. The GOP’s moral compass always points to power. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1882 "2018-09-20T13:10:22Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > To be clear - Democrats … want to stall. We certainly can’t have _that_, can we? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1883 "2018-09-20T13:15:10Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Glad we have a mind-reader on the board. > > But what are the dire consequences of taking them at their word? The FBI was able to complete their investigation into Anita Hill’s allegations in two or three days. Sure, it would be shiny if Kavanaugh could be sworn in before the first Monday in October, but if he has to wait an extra week or two, why, we’d just roll with it like it was 2016, right? At least two mind readers. There is no question that is the goal of the Democrats. Further, again, the FBI has declined to investigate. Yes, Trump could order them to investigate, but didn’t your side say how bad that was when Comey was in charge? The FBI should be independent, blah, blah, blah? As I said earlier, Ford is getting the most thorough investigation of her claims than any other person who has made an allegation of sexual assault in the history of the world. She also has an opportunity to tell her story to the entire world. In the end, however, the Dems will say the nomination was rushed and improperly investigated. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1884 "2018-09-20T13:18:00Z")
The FBI investigation of Anita Hill’s claims was done in 3 days. But we’re all just desperate, aren’t we? ---
**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 20, 2018, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1885 "2018-09-20T13:29:12Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Ford is getting the most thorough investigation of her claims than any other person who has made an allegation of sexual assault in the history of the world. Indeed, what other allegation of sexual assault gets to be the focus of not just 1, but 2 whole interviews! And she gets to submit a written statement! The generosity of Republican Senators is truly without bound. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1886 "2018-09-20T13:34:59Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Glad we have a mind-reader on the board. It doesn’t take mind-reading to see the nose on your face. > [@](#): > > But what are the dire consequences of taking them at their word? Because [list=A][li]Their word isn’t worth anything. See Feinstein, Diane, and Corey “I Am Spartacus, and So Is My Wife” Booker. And [\*]Nothing will ever be enough. Ford says she doesn’t want to testify publicly. Republicans offer to let her testify in private. That’s not enough. Republicans offer to send staffers to her home to get her testimony. That’s not enough. The FBI has already investigated Kavanaugh. That’s not enough. If the FBI investigates again for three days, that won’t be enough. [/list]At least we know how the process for Supreme Court nominees will be handled from now on. And no, the next time a Dem is in the White House and a seat on the Court becomes available, “no backsies” is not gonna fly. [/li] Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1887 "2018-09-20T13:36:25Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Indeed, what other allegation of sexual assault gets to be the focus of not just 1, but 2 whole interviews! And she gets to submit a written statement! The generosity of Republican Senators is truly without bound. Any other 36 year old allegation of sexual assault would not even get that. But again, you are ignoring the fact that she has a national stage and has every liberal journalist in the world aching for corroboration. You cannot deny that if there is someone out there with information, they have been contacted. ---
**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 20, 2018, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1888 "2018-09-20T13:37:18Z")
we already saw what the process is for a SC opening when a Dem is president in 2016. The process is nothing happens. ---
**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 20, 2018, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1889 "2018-09-20T13:37:23Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > At least we know how the process for Supreme Court nominees will be handled from now on. That’s what I said in 2016. Glad you finally caught up. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1890 "2018-09-20T13:39:37Z")
> [@UnwittingAmericans](#): > > Ford’s attorney’s move was overreach and it backfired, cause now she’s probably lost the 1% shot at swinging a couple of repubs. It just makes it look like she’s overtly lined up with dems. I kind of agree with this. The Senate confirmation process doesn’t owe Ms Ford anything. They need to decide for themselves whether or not to confirm Kavanaugh. Certainly they can take her claim into context, but she doesn’t have rights in regards to this that they need to respect. The notion that she can demand anything smacks of political motivations. On a completely unrelated note, one thing I was hoping would come out in questioning Ms Ford was how she knows that Kavanaugh was attempting to rape her. Her story was that he was a stone-drunk guy trying to take off her clothes. How does she know what his intentions were (assuming he even had any coherent thoughts at the time)? Significance of this - for those wondering - is that it relates to the issue of whether her imagination might be filling gaps in a hazy 36 year old memory, which could have broader application as well. ---
**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 20, 2018, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1891 "2018-09-20T13:40:49Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > But again, you are ignoring the fact that she has a national stage and has every liberal journalist in the world aching for corroboration. You cannot deny that if there is someone out there with information, they have been contacted. You mean the lamestream fake news media? I’m confused, I thought they weren’t to be trusted. Frankly, the fact that journalists see this story as a positive revenue generating activity doesn’t absolve the actual decision makers in this process from doing their jobs. ---
**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 20, 2018, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1892 "2018-09-20T13:41:59Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > To be clear - Democrats are not calling for investigation because they want to know the truth. They want to stall. That’s your classic False Dichotomy right there. And, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the Democrats wanting to stall. That’s about the only tool they have in the political process. As much as the Republicans have stymied an investigation, Ford doesn’t have too difficult a task ahead of her. She only needs to convince Flake to vote “no” or to vote for a delay and a further investigation. She almost certainly loses that chance if she decides to skip the opportunity to testify on Monday, either in DC or at a place of her choosing per Grassley’s offer. ---
**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 20, 2018, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1893 "2018-09-20T13:42:44Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > On a completely unrelated note, one thing I was hoping would come out in questioning Ms Ford was how she knows that Kavanaugh was attempting to rape her. I’d pay $1,000 right now to anyone who can guarantee a Republican asks her that question. ---
**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 20, 2018, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1894 "2018-09-20T13:43:19Z")
well maybe he was trying to take off her clothes to wash and dry them since they looked a bit dirty? ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1895 "2018-09-20T13:46:09Z")
Rumor confirmed, cross-dressing Kavanaugh forcibly strips women for their fabulous outfits. ---
**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 20, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1896 "2018-09-20T13:47:44Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Rumor confirmed, cross-dressing Kavanaugh forcibly strips women for their fabulous outfits. Which only goes to show that he has sympathy for the LGBTQX community after all! ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1897 "2018-09-20T13:49:06Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I kind of agree with this. > > The Senate confirmation process doesn’t owe Ms Ford anything. They need to decide for themselves whether or not to confirm Kavanaugh. Certainly they can take her claim into context, but she doesn’t have rights in regards to this that they need to respect. The notion that she can demand anything smacks of political motivations. > > On a completely unrelated note, one thing I was hoping would come out in questioning Ms Ford was how she knows that Kavanaugh was attempting to rape her. Her story was that he was a stone-drunk guy trying to take off her clothes. How does she know what his intentions were (assuming he even had any coherent thoughts at the time)? Significance of this - for those wondering - is that it relates to the issue of whether her imagination might be filling gaps in a hazy 36 year old memory, which could have broader application as well. I agree as well. She tried to get this out there anonymously and hopefully derail his confirmation without giving him a chance to respond. That didn’t work, so she demanded a delay so she could be heard. She got that, but it wasn’t the delay she wanted, so now she is demanding an additional delay so that the precise type of investigation she demands can be performed. Much is said about how an alleged sexual assault victim has a right to be “heard.” That is absolutely true of any allegation of criminal activity. If I go to the police station and tell them I was robbed, they don’t tell me to get out. They are the pros and they investigate according to procedure and their training and expertise. I don’t get to demand how they investigate. They have the discretion, up to and including telling me that an investigation will not be fruitful, to do whatever they want. Flake, Collins, and Murkowski fell for this okey doke on Sunday, but it seems that they have come around to allow sanity to prevail. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1898 "2018-09-20T13:52:49Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Rumor confirmed, cross-dressing Kavanaugh forcibly strips women for their fabulous outfits. I didn’t say it, but I think the implication was that even if this was true, you cannot prove that the goal was rape. It could be that Kavanaugh was trying to get her clothes off and improperly persuade her to consent to sex. Note how I said “improperly.” That being said, that may not be an attempted rape even if every word she said is true. ---
**Author:** ![Modesty\_Blaise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Modesty\_Blaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modesty_Blaise)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1899 "2018-09-20T13:55:47Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I kind of agree with this. > > The Senate confirmation process doesn’t owe Ms Ford anything. They need to decide for themselves whether or not to confirm Kavanaugh. Certainly they can take her claim into context, but she doesn’t have rights in regards to this that they need to respect. The notion that she can demand anything smacks of political motivations. > > On a completely unrelated note, one thing I was hoping would come out in questioning Ms Ford was how she knows that Kavanaugh was attempting to rape her. Her story was that he was a stone-drunk guy trying to take off her clothes. How does she know what his intentions were (assuming he even had any coherent thoughts at the time)? Significance of this - for those wondering - is that it relates to the issue of whether her imagination might be filling gaps in a hazy 36 year old memory, which could have broader application as well. :dubious: Yes, the confused female could not possibly know what was happening to her. This kind of BS is infuriating to women who have been through similar events and are asked if it was somehow a misunderstanding. _ **He held her down and covered her mouth so her screams wouldn’t be heard.** _ I’m sure his intentions were nothing but good. Jesus. ---
**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 20, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733/1900 "2018-09-20T13:57:26Z")
I suppose we’ll never know the answer to this, but I keep wondering what she expected Feinstein (or Eschoo) to do as a result of her letter, assuming she trusted either of them to keep it confidential. > [@UltraVires](#): > > I didn’t say it, but I think the implication was that even if this was true, you cannot prove that the goal was rape. It could be that Kavanaugh was trying to get her clothes off and improperly persuade her to consent to sex. How does anyone prove “attempted rape”? I suppose that, in a legal sense, there is some minimum things that a prosecuting attorney has to prove, but it seems to me that “I feared he was trying to rape me” is perfectly believable if the scenario she described happened. Certainly enough for the purposes of this Committee. Call it “sexual assault” if it makes you feel better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=94) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-democrats-actually-stop-the-nomination-of-brett-kavanaugh/820733.md?page=96)