After spending two weeks demanding an FBI investigation in the hope/belief that the GOP would never allow one, only to have Jeff Flake force the issue at the last moment, the minority party suddenly shifts to Plan B. Time now to start downplaying the value of the forthcoming FBI investigation that’s likely to find nothing incriminating against Kavanaugh.
Which feels familiar. It’s a bit like, say, demanding that Christine Blasey Ford be given a hearing and then, when one was offered, switching instantly to denouncing any hearing she might be offered as a sham.
A cynic might conclude that the goal is simply to delegitimize Kavanaugh and that any path to that destination will be followed, no matter how circuitous the route might end up being. Good thing I’m not a cynic.
I can’t tell if “dangerous” there merely means politically dangerous, i.e. a risk to overturn Roe (which any Republican nominee would be), or if he’s suggesting that Kavanaugh is not only presumed guilty of sexual misconduct but that the presumption is irrebuttable. Even the FBI can’t clear him.
Dismissing the results of the FBI probe before it’s begun will be S.O.P. among progressives before the weekend’s out. A truly next-level left-wing demagogue, though, will not only preemptively dismiss the results (unless they blow Kavanaugh up, of course), he’ll insist that preemptively dismissing them should be a 2020 litmus test.
Do we know any next-level left-wing demagogues?
Potential 2020 presidential candidate Michael Avenatti is calling for a “full and complete FBI investigation” into Brett Kavanaugh, with impeachment on the line, to become a 2020 litmus test for Democrats…
“I did take the lead on my belief that the court should be expanded” to 11 justices, “and if he’s confirmed I absolutely believe that should be a litmus test” for 2020 Democratic Party candidates for president…
“I think the expansion to 11 should be a litmus test and I think the other litmus test should be a full and complete FBI investigation, and if it is shown that Brett Kavanaugh perjured himself or committed any of these acts, he absolutely should be removed from the Supreme Court.”
Any FBI investigation that fails to completely vindicate Avenatti’s client, Julie Swetnick, will of course be deemed “incomplete.” What he’s trying to do here is get potential 2020 rivals like Booker and Harris and Gillibrand to make Swetnick their cause celebre if/when the FBI turns up nothing dispositive on the Ford allegations. And they know it, which is why Senate Democrats have been conspicuously reticent about Swetnick’s claims. Partly, I’m sure, it’s a matter of being as suspicious about them as everyone else is — rape parties, really? — but partly too they understand that any damage done to Kavanaugh by the Swetnick allegations will be credited entirely to Avenatti by Democratic voters. They’d essentially be doing PR for a presidential rival by hyping them. They’ll have no choice but to do so if the FBI finds something credible there, against all odds, but for now they’re going to let Avenatti carry his own water.
And if all of that sounds highly selfish and politicized to you amid a matter that’s supposed to be gravely serious, involving assault victims and their right to be heard, well, that’s politics 2018. As tends to happen with “outsider” candidates, Avenatti’s merely bringing the subtext to the surface.
If the FBI finds no corroborating evidence for Swetnick’s claims, he’ll still have a card to play. It’s not going to stop the confirmation vote, though:
@Richard Wheeler:
Well, your gut was wrong.
Yeah, she just handed the Democrats (your party) a$$ to them.
Are you sure that’s what the Democratic Party was just handed?
@Greg: The Democrats sold their souls to carry out this fight. They dropped all pretenses to civility, honesty, morality, fairness and integrity in order to pull this crap and they came up short. I know liberals love it when a liberal Senator or Representative throws blatant hypocrisy in our faces, lies on such a level to make it clear, THEY know they are lying and THEY know WE know they are lying, but that’s just how much respect they have for anyone that can detect a lie, but they’ve pushed it a little too far this time.
In the end the vote was 51-49 with only crossovers Murkowski and Manchin–no real surprise. Collins voted with her Party
I blame HRC nomination for giving us Trump and Kav and a Repub Congress.
I still got Webb 2016 on my car’s bumper—My conscience is clear
This has no bearing on Dems taking House next month.
Collins may have dropped a big hint today in her speech, Kavanaugh gets confirmed and republicans dont prosecute Ford for perjury. We may never find out who leaked her letter to the papers. But if they try to impeach him someone may make a surprise discovery.
@kitt: I don’t agree with that. Ford should not be let off the hook. Perhaps she is innocent and was used by Democrats; the only way to find out is to prosecute her. Crimes against justice need to be prosecuted again instead of considered politics as usual. This is why it has become politics as usual.
@kitt:
Oh, please do prosecute her for perjury. Have you given any thought to what that would involve? All of those witnesses who weren’t allowed to go on record under oath would go on record under oath. What’s off the record and hidden in a safe would suddenly be on the record, where everyone could see it. A soon-to-be Supreme Court Judge would be in the public eye, on the other side of the bench. (That does seem to be a serious challenge to his composure.) It would become an issue of determining in a court of law who is telling the truth.
Which means republicans won’t touch that case with a 10-foot barge pole. They’ll make growly noises, and spin out all manner of self-righteous b.s. which they will never be inconvenienced with the need for proving, but never in a million years will they put Ford on trial for perjury.
Unless, of course, my estimation of their stupidity is still too generous. I’ve been wrong on that point before. They have, after all, lined up to kiss Donald Trump’s ring. Or whatever.
One thing for certain this is a victory for beer lovers everywhere I’ll hoist one right now for my fellow DEKE BK.
@Deplorable me: Too late she has become the face of survivors, they will say they are punishing the victim. The mindset of feminists is extreme left they wont listen to silly old things like evidence.
It isnt just her its the Democrats that made the arrangements, tampered with witnesses Truth, honor and justice have been unpopular in DC for a looooooong time, its all about dirty little backroom deals, thats as close to bi-partisan as they get.
@kitt: Ford’s a flake and she would crumble easily, dropping dime on everyone involved. If Ford is so mentally unstable that she honestly mistook Kavanaugh for someone else, well, that’s a shame. But perjury is perjury and I am SURE the same people clamoring for Kavanaugh’s hide because they claim he committed perjury would be more than happy to see ANY perjurer get their just deserts.
Ramirez, Swetnick and Avenatti all need to be hauled up as well. Avenatti should be disbarred if found guilty and Feinstein should be expelled from the Senate.
Send a message.
@Deplorable me: Something bigger is breaking much bigger than the old fossil Feinstein I dont much care either way they have all gone around the bend, how much crazier can it get?
The ex FBI agent that Ford helped with the poly, her attorney left the FBI for personal reasons was involved with spy gate.
This little operation was sloppy, very sloppy a sure sign of desperation.
@Greg:
Greggie Gullible, I know how much you rely on leftwing publications and website so this is for you:
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/10/kavanaugh-hearings-republican-women-voter-turnout.html
“the Kavanaugh spectacle seems to have evaporated the Democrats’ enthusiasm edge, according to a poll conducted Monday by NPR, PBS NewsHour, and Marist. In July Democrats were likelier, by 10 percentage points, to say the November elections were “very important.” That gap has now narrowed to a statistical tie. “The result of the hearings, at least in the short run, is the Republican base was awakened,” Marist head Lee Miringoff told NPR.
The change is particularly striking when comparing women in the two parties. Of all the cohorts measured by the poll (including Independent men and women), Democratic women are the only group to display less enthusiasm for the midterms this week than they did in July. Meanwhile, Republican women seem invigorated. ”
While your pussy hat wearing harpies ((don’t the harpies work or have families to take care of?) are protesting in the halls of the Senate, even going so far as to (I think, illegally) harass the Senators, march in the street shouting “Let’s Fight!!”, it has awakened the sleeping giant, women who do not do any of those things but simply go about their business of everyday life.
I suspect, with early voting having already started in some states, the actions of the Democrats, and their harpie enablers, are going to backfire in your faces.
@Deplorable me:
Let’s see here. In the last week amongst other things they’ve: mailed white powder to PT, Gen. Mattis, and Sen. Cruz; threatened and intimidated U.S. senators; doxxed private information on Republican senators; advocated the Soviet concept of guilty until proven innocent, and promised violence in the streets should Kavanaugh be confirmed which at this point looks likely unless someone pulls a McCain. Brother Bob will have lots of ammo for his Week in Radical Leftism column.
They really need to switch the party colors so the dems are red. It’s a far more fitting color for their party.
@another vet:
The concept is guilty until it is no longer politically useful. Just like with Justice Thomas, Kavanaugh will NEVER be innocent in the liberal mind as long as they imaginary crime serves a purpose.
@another vet: What do you know about The Rise Above Movement and it’s leader Benjamin Drake Daley?
How bout Navy vet William Allen 111 ?
@Richard Wheeler: The huge and dangerous movement that claims total 50 members?
I know only what the left wing MSM says about them, cant trust that.
Antifa rock, explosives and bottle throwing masked basement dwellers vastly outnumber them.
@retire05, #212:
I guess, then, republicans shouldn’t worry so much about getting to the polls next month. They’ve got their turkey in the White House and the midterms locked up tight.
@Greg: All the protestors outside the capitol building many in zip-tie cuffs, makes me wonder how many poor cats are home all alone….
Got a better meme for you, Make womens voices heard all Democrat men stay home on election day 😉
@Greg:
The pussy wearing harpies with “Shame” written on their foreheads with a Sharpie, encouraged by the DNC, bet the farm and lost. What those absolute ridiculous women did was energize every woman that hold a job, takes care of a family and has conservative views. I have never seen conservative women so energized about a mid term election.
The tactic of loud and obnoxious protesting doesn’t sit well with the majority of Americans. This is NOT the 1960’s.
@kitt: I like it when everyone is energized—Already over 10 million dollars pledged by Dems to defeat Susan Collins and there isn’t even an announced Dem opponent yet–rumors of Maine res Susan Rice.
Greg NOV./TURKEY/DT LOL.—-looking forward to first Tues in Nov.
Meantime Dodgers 2-0 over scoreless Atlanta.
ND goes for 6-0 tonight against Va Tech
@Richard Wheeler:
Bring on Susan “The Attack Was Over A Video” Rice. She will get so hammered she will move to a cave.
@Richard Wheeler: Guess what the DNC is broke the GOP isnt .
She just defended and protected the part of the constitution Innocent until proven guilty, what did the dems do, broke their oath?
@kitt: If you think DT’S mocking of Ford will help you in Nov–stand by. I had no problem with Collins speech. see #198
I don’t worry about .DNC or RNC not having ENOUGH money—would like to see money spent on more worthy causes.
BTW you didn’t tell me who is gonna get arrested? 4 leaders of white supremacist org R A M arrested yesterday—that’s a good start– wouldn’t you agree?
@Richard Wheeler:
That was what the Democrats were banking by winning by the politics of personal destruction. How did that work out, Wheeler? America is sick of the protesters in their pussy hats, shouting and screaming at everybody.
Since the Democrats started their smear campaign against Brett Kavanaugh, the GOP has been raking in more money than ever, outraising the Dems by a wide margin.
Your party has awakened the sleeping giant; Republican women.
@retire05: That’s funny; repeating her testimony almost word for word was “mocking” her. Anyone giving that accusation any credibility based on the lack of useful details mocks the truth and justice.
@Richard Wheeler: The arrest remark was not aimed at anyone who follows MSM only and you most likely never heard of the Woods procedure it is really off thread and has to do with proof and evidence, something the left isnt interested in anyway.
6:14 p.m.
BREAKING: Brett Kavanaugh is sworn in as 114th Supreme Court justice in private ceremony at court. — AP Politics (@AP_Politics) October 6, 2018
Not sick of winning yet.
Here a good site for you theres an article how some dolt said Kav wouldnt be confirmed. https://democraticunderground.com/
Condemnation of all questioning Kavanaugh’s confirmation, from the adulterous hypocrite who orchestrated the republican effort to destroy Bill Clinton’s presidency based on an affair with Monica Lewinsky:
Newt Gingrich: Unless Stopped, Radical Democrats Will Rule Or Ruin America
What’s remarkable about this moment in American history is that a lot of people are seeing through and no longer willing to put up with this sort of lying, sanctimonious bullshit. The GOP’s trouble won’t be coming in elevators and restaurants. It will be coming at the nation’s ballot boxes.
More wisdom from the Newt:
Why Bill Clinton Deserved to Be Impeached but President Trump Doesn’t, According to Newt Gingrich
The elites in Washington? What did this character spend 20 years of his life being? What are most of the republicans presently controlling government? Regular folks?
@Greg:
Um… Clinton was GUILTY. He committed perjury (back when it was considered a crime). There’s been no condemnation of ALL questioning of Kavanaugh; in fact, the most illogical and unsupportable accusations were investigated and found to be false. What YOU have a problem with is that your little lie-centric smear failed.
Well, because Clinton committed a crime and Trump hasn’t. That’s really pretty simple to understand, if one has a brain that actually functions.
From the Tea Party to Trump, from Lenin to Chavez to Hitler…everything you need to know about Populism movements:
Check, check, check, and check yet again.
Can you say Trump? Can you say Twitter?
@Greg: No, but you can say “Obama” and “finally, he’s gone and we can begin to repair the damage he left”. Luckily, we avoided Hillary extending the damage and expanding the corruption.
Look, the other choice was Hillary and that was simply not an option. She ignored securing national security in order to have the option to delete 33,000 pieces of evidence of her corruption and criminal; activity. She was incompetent as a Secretary of State. She is, simply, a terrible person that treats people below her like trash. You should have tried harder to beat Trump. Hillary was a bad try, but Obama felt like she was his best bet to cover his tracks while she was covering her own.
In the aftermath, aside from keeping Hillary from packing the Supreme Court with activist liberals, Trump has proven to be more of a true leader than anyone could have imagined. He has taken on tough problems that all others before him simply bypassed because they feared the political fallout. The economy is doing better than ever before and we WILL secure the border. And all liberals can think about is destroying him because he denied them their Hillary. It is to laugh.
Can one of you Conservatives/Trump voters give YOUR definition of “elitist”.
How bout Yale educated— University and Law School– and D.C. circuit judge–KAV? Poster Boy-no?
@Richard Wheeler:
You mean like FDR, Columbia and Harvard; JFK, Harvard; Bill Clinton, Yale; Hillary Clinton, Yale; Obama, Columbia AND Harvard?
What a sexist you are, Wheeler. It should be poster person.
@retire05: Not to mention that Sen. Blumenthal attended Riverdale Country School, a private school (for BOYS only) in the Bronx. Blumenthal is a graduate of Harvard College, where he was editorial chairman of The Harvard Crimson. He studied for a year at Trinity College, Cambridge, in England before attending Yale Law School, where he was editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal. While at Yale, he was a classmate of future President Bill Clinton and future Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Good liar just like his classmates, the Clinton’s, too!
Never went to Vietnam.
@retire05: Exactly–thanks for confirmation that KAV an elitist which is a good thing don’t forget both Bush’s Yale and Trump Penn. Always seemed strange that elite would have a negative connotation with anyone.
BTW–Trump got 42% of female vote in 2016–currently he’s polling at 31% approval with female voters—good to hear you Repub woman are mobilized and motivated–what’s left of you..
“poster person” I like it