Can Democrats actually stop the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh?

[Beckdawrek]

No, no. It happened. It was there for all to see. You can’t really walk all that back. He went batshit right up there on my big ol’ TeeVee screen.

[John_Mace]

@RTFirefly

I still can’t quite believe yesterday. I still can’t believe the nominee for a seat on the Supreme Court lost his shit on national TV, lied his ass off, yelled and ranted, and proposed bizarre conspiracies against him.

I get the feeling that most of that was a deliberate strategy, but it had the opposite of the intended effect on me. Some of it was painful to watch.

Did that really happen, or did somebody slip me something?

I see what you did there.

[Beckdawrek]

It was like seeing a car wreck, you cannot stop the rubberneck. You gotta look.

[wolfpup]

@HurricaneDitka

Absolutely nothing. They, and you, are free to have your own opinions on the matter, as am I.

The issue is not your freedom to have your own opinions, the issue is the remarkable reality-distortion field that informs them. Really more like the event horizon of a black hole, impenetrable to light or information. I have literally not heard a single person, in Congress, in the media, or the White House, Democrat or Republican, fail to acknowledge the strength of Ford’s testimony.

@HurricaneDitka

You made a specific claim. You said Flake “is not going to do it unless the FBI talks to Mark Judge.” It appears that he never did say that was the case though, right? He asked for a delay of up to a week so that the FBI could do their due diligence, but said nothing about opposing the nomination if they can’t / don’t talk to Mark Judge. I don’t know if you just really suck at being accurate or if you like making wild unfounded claims, but either one is not a good look.

This is not about any claim that I made, but I must note what a remarkable statement this is. The central allegation here concerns an attempted rape in which Kavanaugh and Mark Judge are alleged to be the perpetrators. Who do you suppose the FBI is going to want to talk to, according to your reality distortion field?

ETA: And for clarity, Flake did say he was voting to move Kavanaugh out of committee to a full vote conditional on the FBI investigation, and also made it clear that if the investigation did not occur (a point that is now moot) he would vote “no” in the full vote. Presumably he may also still vote “no” depending on what the investigation turns up.

@HurricaneDitka

You imagined most of that.

Everyone discussing it here and in the media saw it except, apparently, you.

[Fiveyearlurker]

Ted Cruz signaling that Mark Judge willplead the fifth. For an event that yesterday he told us didn’t happen.

[RTFirefly]

@John_Mace

I see what you did there.

Damn. I don’t see what I did there. Seriously. Can you clue me in?

[ThelmaLou]

@RTFirefly

I still can’t quite believe yesterday. I still can’t believe the nominee for a seat on the Supreme Court lost his shit on national TV, lied his ass off, yelled and ranted, and proposed bizarre conspiracies against him.

Did that really happen, or did somebody slip me something?

Can you imagine the reaction if Dr. Ford had had an outburst like that? “Strident! Shrill! Hysterical! Must be on the rag!” Any shred of credibility out the window.

[Aspenglow]

@Fiveyearlurker

Ted Cruz signaling that Mark Judge willplead the fifth. For an event that yesterday he told us didn’t happen.

Huh. I guess lying to the FBI carries a heavier penalty than signing a wee statement under “penalty of felony.” Whatever the hell that is.

If Judge takes the Fifth, Kavanaugh is toast.

[drad_dog]

@HurricaneDitka

You made a specific claim. You said Flake “is not going to do it unless the FBI talks to Mark Judge.” It appears that he never did say that was the case though, right? He asked for a delay of up to a week so that the FBI could do their due diligence, but said nothing about opposing the nomination if they can’t / don’t talk to Mark Judge. I don’t know if you just really suck at being accurate or if you like making wild unfounded claims, but either one is not a good look.

What does ISTY the FBI will need to do to investigate the Ford claim?

Why does ISTY that Flake stopped the vote?

[CoolHandCox]

@RTFirefly

Just to get the text of the agreement into the thread:
That’s the official Committee press release.

To be clear, that’s the Senate Jud Cmt asking the White House. The White House then decides to either do it or not (they did), but also the White House is who instructs the FBI the scope, duration, parameters on what the FBI will investigate. It’s up to Trump. Do we have the statement or instructions for how they instructed the FBI? That’s who the FBI works for and would be most relevant.

Then the FBI gives their findings to Trump, who decides if he wants to give them to the Senate Jud Cmt or not (he most likely would).

[HurricaneDitka]

@wolfpup

… This is not about any claim that I made, but I must note what a remarkable statement this is. The central allegation here concerns an attempted rape in which Kavanaugh and Mark Judge are alleged to be the perpetrators. Who do you suppose the FBI is going to want to talk to, according to your reality distortion field?

ETA: And for clarity, Flake did say he was voting to move Kavanaugh out of committee to a full vote conditional on the FBI investigation, and also made it clear that if the investigation did not occur (a point that is now moot) he would vote “no” in the full vote. Presumably he may also still vote “no” depending on what the investigation turns up.

Everyone discussing it here and in the media saw it except, apparently, you.

The FBI may want to talk to him. It’s entirely possible, probable even, that he does not want to talk to the FBI. If the FBI does not talk to Mark Judge in the next week, is it your understanding that Flake is a definite “no”, or was drag dog wrong?

[Beckdawrek]

I am convinced he knows things. He at least knows their drinking episodes. If he takes the fifth then all bets are off.
ETA can’t he be forced to testify?

[Procrustus]

@Aspenglow

If Judge takes the Fifth, Kavanaugh is toast.

Indeed. That would be a game changer.

[drad_dog]

@HurricaneDitka

The FBI may want to talk to him. It’s entirely possible, probable even, that he does not want to talk to the FBI. If the FBI does not talk to Mark Judge in the next week, is it your understanding that Flake is a definite “no”, or was drag dog wrong?

Let me be in my own arguments please…
Flake signalled he was a yes, but got confronted by some reality, and made a stand: He will vote yes, but will vote no in the senate if there is no FBI investigation.

The FBI will need to talk to Judge.

[RTFirefly]

@John_Mace

I see what you did there.

Damn. I don’t see what I did there. Seriously. Can you clue me in?

[Lance_Turbo]

@RTFirefly

Damn. I don’t see what I did there. Seriously. Can you clue me in?

You asked if someone slipped you something when that’s one of the things Kavanaugh is accused of.

[Beckdawrek]

@RTFirefly

Damn. I don’t see what I did there. Seriously. Can you clue me in?

I think he meant ‘slipped you something’ might be like what happened at those drunken parties.

[Fiveyearlurker]

@Lance_Turbo

You asked if someone slipped you something when that’s one of the things Kavanaugh is accused of.

Pretty sure you’re confusing Kavanaugh and Cosby!

[Lance_Turbo]

“I believe I was drugged using Quaaludes or something similar” - Julie Swetnick

[HurricaneDitka]

@drad_dog

Let me be in my own arguments please…
Flake signalled he was a yes, but got confronted by some reality, and made a stand: He will vote yes, but will vote no in the senate if there is no FBI investigation.

The FBI will need to talk to Judge.

Where did you get this last sentence from? Did it come from some FBI’s “Rules for Investigating”? From Flake? Or from your imagination?

I understand that the FBI may WANT to. Your side would probably LIKE them to. But you didn’t say “want” or “like”. You said “need”. What, in your view, compels this “need”?