Kavanaugh SCOTUS Senate Judicial Hearing

[fskimospy]

I think its weird that we are considering second hand accounts from high school in the nth hour. Those are called rumors.

But hey, if this is the precedent we want to now accept

We have no idea what was contained in that letter and what corroborating evidence they may or may not have provided so it is impossible to call them rumors.

Again, it's just weird to me that people would try and make such definitive judgments over something when they have literally no idea what's in it. Like absolutely, positively no idea.

EDIT: And to repeat, I'm not aware of Feinstein pulling games in the past. If Devin Nunes suddenly found a letter that he said contained explosive allegations I totally understand why someone would dismiss it out of hand because he's a known bullshitter.

 

[Jhhnn]

Hey dumbshit, they don't need 60 votes anymore thanks to Harry Reid's nuke move on not requiring it for judges. The Republicans just expanded it a wee bit.

False. Reid's changes intentionally did not include the SCOTUS. That is the ultimate repository of power in our judicial system. All lower courts defer to their judgement. That's why it's so important for appointments occur by some sort of consensus rather than pure partisanship.

 

[fskimospy]

False. Reid's changes intentionally did not include the SCOTUS. That is the ultimate repository of power in our judicial system. All lower courts defer to their judgement. That's why it's so important for appointments occur by some sort of consensus rather than pure partisanship.

Let's be honest, had a SCOTUS nomination been filibustered Reid would have gotten rid of the filibuster for that too. Blaming this on Reid is also dishonest though as no sane person thinks McConnell would have hesitated for even a second to nuke the filibuster once they got control of the presidency and senate.

Now that we've nuked the appointments filibuster the next step is to nuke the legislative one. Then we will finally be rid of this stupidity.

 

[HomerJS]

Why are you so desperate that you’re willing to rarionalize nth hour allegations based off secondhand accounts that should have been addressed during the hearings.

I don't think the person that came forward was checking the hearing schedules. I'm not rationalizing the allegations because I don't have enough info. I'm saying let the FBI handle it and review the results.

 

[tynopik]

I don't think the person that came forward was checking the hearing schedules. I'm not rationalizing the allegations because I don't have enough info. I'm saying let the FBI handle it and review the results.

it's not the accuser, it's Pelosi who held on to it for months

 

[HomerJS]

it's not the accuser, it's Pelosi who held on to it for months

Got link for that?

 

[tynopik]

Got link for that?

Feinstein, sorrryyyyy

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...ination-amid-intrigue-over-secret-letter.html

Two sources familiar with the matter tell Fox News that Feinstein has had possession of the letter regarding Kavanaugh since July. Feinstein met privately with Kavanaugh on August 20 and also questioned him repeatedly in open and closed session during the Judiciary Committee hearings on his nomination last week. There is no indication that the matter came up in either the private meeting or the closed committee session.

 

[K1052]

The woman, who has asked not to be identified, first approached Democratic lawmakers in July, shortly after Trump nominated Kavanaugh. The allegation dates back to the early nineteen-eighties, when Kavanaugh was a high-school student at Georgetown Preparatory School, in Bethesda, Maryland, and the woman attended a nearby high school. In the letter, the woman alleged that, during an encounter at a party, Kavanaugh held her down, and that he attempted to force himself on her. She claimed in the letter that Kavanaugh and a classmate of his, both of whom had been drinking, turned up music that was playing in the room to conceal the sound of her protests, and that Kavanaugh covered her mouth with his hand. She was able to free herself. Although the alleged incident took place decades ago and the three individuals involved were minors, the woman said that the memory had been a source of ongoing distress for her, and that she had sought psychological treatment as a result.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news...ugh-stirs-tension-among-democrats-in-congress

 

[K1052]

Feinstein fucked up pretty bad here. She had no right to unilaterally withhold this information from the committee.

Edit: and the Rs seem to have done her one better now releasing a letter from 65 women who attended his HS who claim he "behaved honorably and treated women with respect". This signals they knew about the allegations.

 

[soundforbjt]

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news...ugh-stirs-tension-among-democrats-in-congress

No wonder Trump likes him.

 

[HomerJS]

Feinstein, sorrryyyyy

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...ination-amid-intrigue-over-secret-letter.html

First of all its a single unnamed source, need corroboration.
Second, need another media source for that allegation. Its Fox
Third, if the witness doesn't want to be named perhaps Feinstein agreed only to use if needed. I have no problem with that.

 

[jackstar7]

I think now that this particular Pandora’s Box is opened, we are going to start hearing an awful lot about what candidates did when they were teenagers.

I'm old enough to remember the GOP trotting out Beto's past like he should be shamed by it.

 

[fskimospy]

First of all its a single unnamed source, need corroboration.
Second, need another media source for that allegation. Its Fox
Third, if the witness doesn't want to be named perhaps Feinstein agreed only to use if needed. I have no problem with that.

Yes, for this to be impactful there would need to be more than a 35 year old he said/she said. Roy Moore's accusers were credible because they had people willing to back them up that they discussed the assaults at the time they happened. If she has that her accusation becomes a lot stronger. If she doesn't... meh.

 

[tynopik]

First of all its a single unnamed source

Two sources

 

[Starbuck1975]

I'm old enough to remember the GOP trotting out Beto's past like he should be shamed by it.

Beto’s past includes criminal behavior for which he answered in a court of law. Apples and crocodiles.

 

[Starbuck1975]

I don't think the person that came forward was checking the hearing schedules. I'm not rationalizing the allegations because I don't have enough info. I'm saying let the FBI handle it and review the results.

The timing and the nature of the allegations are suspect, and Feinstein is using the FBI for political purposes. I hope whatever she has is an Ace, but I doubt it.

 

[imported_tajmahal]

Some interesting questions being asked about his finances.

Kavanaugh contradicts White House account of credit card debt, raising more questions
https://www.yahoo.com/news/kavanaug...it-card-debt-leaving-questions-234449883.html

SPLAT! Toss a bit more shit and hope, hope and hope something, anything, sticks, no matter how minor.

 

[Jhhnn]

Let's be honest, had a SCOTUS nomination been filibustered Reid would have gotten rid of the filibuster for that too. Blaming this on Reid is also dishonest though as no sane person thinks McConnell would have hesitated for even a second to nuke the filibuster once they got control of the presidency and senate.

Now that we've nuked the appointments filibuster the next step is to nuke the legislative one. Then we will finally be rid of this stupidity.

You're projecting actions by Reid over a situation that never occurred.

The filibuster protects the rights of the minority party. The GOP abused it for decades. Now that they're in the majority they eliminate it. That shows just how radical their agenda really is & the craven nature of it.

They're seeking final victory in the top down class warfare they've waged for decades & elimination of the filibuster plays right into it.

 

[jackstar7]

Beto’s past includes criminal behavior for which he answered in a court of law. Apples and crocodiles.

And also looking scary in his band!

GOP looked for all the fruit, animals, and minerals they could gather to throw out there.

I don't think the Dems have opened some new can of worms here.

 

[fskimospy]

You're projecting actions by Reid over a situation that never occurred.

The filibuster protects the rights of the minority party. The GOP abused it for decades. Now that they're in the majority they eliminate it. That shows just how radical their agenda really is & the craven nature of it.

They're seeking final victory in the top down class warfare they've waged for decades & elimination of the filibuster plays right into it.

I'm making a reasonable inference based on the available facts.

The filibuster is a regressive tool used to block liberal legislation due to the inherent advantages of conservatives in the senate (lots of low population states). The filibuster makes an already highly undemocratic body even more undemocratic. If anything, the filibuster HELPS Republicans wage top down class warfare, not the other way around. Think about it this way, the Republicans really wanted to repeal the ACA and really wanted to pass a bunch of other legislation. They could have simply eliminated the filibuster and done so but they didn't. Why? Because they think it helps them. I mean did you really think Republicans didn't eliminate the filibuster to kill the ACA because of their dedication to institutional norms?

 

[Starbuck1975]

And also looking scary in his band!

GOP looked for all the fruit, animals, and minerals they could gather to throw out there.

I don't think the Dems have opened some new can of worms here.

Depends on what Feinstein has. If she has something more substantial than allegations seeded with innuendo, then I would be wrong, and have no problem admitting such.

 

[Jhhnn]

I'm making a reasonable inference based on the available facts.

The filibuster is a regressive tool used to block liberal legislation due to the inherent advantages of conservatives in the senate (lots of low population states). The filibuster makes an already highly undemocratic body even more undemocratic. If anything, the filibuster HELPS Republicans wage top down class warfare, not the other way around. Think about it this way, the Republicans really wanted to repeal the ACA and really wanted to pass a bunch of other legislation. They could have simply eliminated the filibuster and done so but they didn't. Why? Because they think it helps them. I mean did you really think Republicans didn't eliminate the filibuster to kill the ACA because of their dedication to institutional norms?

The filibuster is currently one of the few tools Dems have to block an all out right wing power grab. Trump's antics serve as cover for that, make no mistake.

 

[Jaskalas]

How do the two Trump picks not pass? Or rather... how would anyone else pass?

I'm looking to understand the contrast you speak of.

Uh...really? You can't understand that if they had to nominate candidates that had to get 60 votes, they'd have to find less radical candidates, ones that would require some Democrats to get on board as well?

Don't be dense. The 60 vote threshold means that the opposing party has to provide some buy-in, encouraging nominees with moderate views & records. They don't even have to be terribly moderate, either. Every Justice from the last 100 years has made that hurdle save one, Gorsuch, and there may be another with Kavanaugh.

Nothing I have ever seen speaks towards or explains how Kavanaugh is "radical".

My question is how. How did you define him that way?
And how would any SCOTUS nominee actually meet your supposed standard(s)?

 

[jackstar7]

Depends on what Feinstein has. If she has something more substantial than allegations seeded with innuendo, then I would be wrong, and have no problem admitting such.

Set your goalposts wherever you are comfortable.

 

[ElFenix]

Feinstein fucked up pretty bad here. She had no right to unilaterally withhold this information from the committee.

Edit: and the Rs seem to have done her one better now releasing a letter from 65 women who attended his HS who claim he "behaved honorably and treated women with respect". This signals they knew about the allegations.

what, you can't drum up a letter signed by 65 people you haven't seen in 35 years in 1 day?