A PLEA TO THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TO TREAT DR. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD WITH FAIRNESS, DECENCY AND RESPECT
By William Dwight McKissic, Sr.
How Dr. Christine Blasey Ford is treated by the Senate as a woman who confesses that she was victimized by Brett Kavanaugh during their high school years is not a matter of politics, from my perspective. It is a moral, justice, ethical, due process, and gender-fair treatment matter. I am equally as concerned that Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, receives the same equal and fair treatment by the Senate and the process, related to Dr. Ford’s accusations against him.
Because elections have consequences, and I am passionately pro-life, I am not among those who hope that Dr. Ford’s accusations would derail the Kavanaugh nomination. My heart would rejoice if Judge Kavanaugh casts the decisive vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. My purpose in addressing this issue is simply to add another voice to those who are concerned that Dr. Ford receives the utmost respect, fairness, and justice from the Senate regarding how her case is handled, by the powers that be.
I am deeply concerned by the Senate’s unwillingness to require an FBI investigation, and depositions be taken on all related parties involved in Dr. ford’s attempted-rape allegations against Judge Kavanaugh.
Two of the senators currently serving on the Senate Judiciary Committee also served on the Committee during the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill saga. Those senators requested FBI investigation/depositions then, but are not in favor of FBI investigations/depositions on the Kavanaugh /Ford accusations. This speaks hypocrisy and duplicity.
References to Dr. Ford being confused, a pawn, and unreliable because she did not report this matter to the law at the time of the alleged occurrence, by President Trump and Republican Senators, have been disheartening, because it demonstrates a certain insensitivity and indifference to Dr. Ford—and by extension—women victims. These kinds of dubious and ill-informed expressions by political figures in high places are beneath the dignity of their offices. Those comments do not bode well that she will be judged fairly and impartially.
Therefore, my plea is for the Senate Judiciary Committee and President Trump to demonstrate to the world, America’s value, respect, and due process rights, to all of her citizens including women who bring accusations against, powerful men.
Judge Kavanaugh’s due process rights and fair and respectable treatment are not in question. But, if from Democrats or anyone else tempted to demonstrate a lack of fairness, due process, disrespect or male bashing toward Judge Kavanaugh, my plea is the same: Let’s demonstrate to the world the greatness of America by conducting the Ford/Kavanaugh hearings, with decency, dignity, and cross-gender fairness, respect, and equality. America, our daughters and the women of the world are watching. Let all things be done decently and in order.
I’m too am for fairness and justice. I detest sexual assault in any form and consider those who do it to be true dregs of society.
Problem is here justice is not likely to happen.
Whether Dr. Ford is telling the truth, telling the truth as she knows it, is mistaken, or something else is not going to be determined in part because no one on the judiciary committee wants it to be.
Dems are using her and her story to “seal the deal” against a man they opposed since before he was even nominated.
Reps want Kavanaugh on the court so unless there’s a confession or a video they’re not budging either.
It’s a mess and a mess largely caused by desperate democrats using a woman who either naively or nefariously reached out to a group of dem senators who couldn’t care less about her or the truth.
I trust politicians to be politicians – the truth is irrelevant – to Reps and Dems.
I’m disgusted by the whole thing. Neither Dr. Ford nor judge Kavanaugh will come out unscathed.
My opinion for what it’s worth – this man’s whole life testimony stands contrary to the quite vague accusations levied. Her testimony of an alleged event is honestly to put it mildly and gently is more than a little wanting and suspect.
Therefore, Unless other evidence comes foward – I tend, as a matter of fairness, to disbelieve the accusation.
May my last paragraph read like so:
**Therefore, with an open mind, unless other evidence comes foward – I, as it stands now, tend, as a matter of fairness, to disbelieve the accusation.
That more accuratatly states my point of view currently.
The editing system for comments IS a bit lacking, isn’t it? Good clarification, though.
Also, at the risk of committing an act of thread necromancy, I left a looooooong reply to your question in the “no ‘newfound obsession’ for Christians” thread.
Hopefully this will teach you to NEVER AGAIN ask for specifics. 😀 But I also hope it’s useful!
I’m sorry, David Light. I still can’t find it… This new format intentionally makes it incredibly difficult to find and follow conversations taking place…
There is nothing new about the format here and you really need to stop complaining.
We tried a few things and went back to the old format.
Yes sir.
Dwight, I agree with you that a fair hearing is essential.
I do not think that an FBI investigation is necessary- this is he said and she said. This is not a criminal concern- statute of limitations passed long ago and there is no evidence. Just memories of people who can give them under oath. I don’t think the FBI is needed.
Justice can be preserved by simply allowing both parties to tell their stories in an open environment. Senators should resist their partisan tendencies and ask informational questions.
I just officially registered independent- I have no confidence either party will do right. This is not about justice for them but about political opportunism.
Give Dr. Ford a chance to speak.
Give Kavanaugh a chance to respond.
Vote.
“Give Dr. Ford a chance to speak.
Give Kavanaugh a chance to respond.
Vote.”
Yep! That’s the only option.
It’s all Complicated though by constant goal post moving by the Dems and her lawyers.
To tamp down the circus atmosphere – I think both Dems and Reps should select one and only one senator from thier side to immediately and for a reasonable amount of time ask questions after both involved give sworn testimony (and use the same asking both the judge and Mrs. Ford).
I’ve been looking into how to change my voter registration but haven’t followed through yet. I just heard a report that 10-15 million former republican voters no longer identify has republicans although they have not changed their registration yet.
How in the world would “they” know that to be the case if registrations haven’t officially been changed yet?
I had to renew my driver’s license and in Iowa you can choose party affiliation at that time
Perhaps it is Herod’s birthday and the daughter of Herodias dances one again? Just sayin Dwight. This is as probable (perhaps more) as the “supposed” hypocrisy and duplicity you speak of.
The great hypocrisy is that none of those legitimately/legally questioning Kavanaugh will be required to open the closet door to their personal lives whether from the 5th grade or present.
Whether this woman has a truthful claim or not, her personal background, connected with the Democrats need to squelch a conservative SCOTUS, and the amazing timeliness (3.5 decades) of immoral high school awakenings, spell, I mean smell of political smearings more than someone answering a call of conscience and insisting on accountability. Perhaps she will testify under oath?. We know that he will.
“Decently and in order” by Republican or Democrat standards?
Our daughters need to scrutinize the #Me Too movement as well as men and boys gone wild. Neither should be trusted beyond their humanity. If our women and girls are truly watching, this they will do. We have before us such a prized opportunity.
Wisdom for both Kavanaugh and Ford:
“Don’t accuse anyone who isn’t guilty. don’t ever tell a lie or say to someone, “I’ll get even with you.” Proverbs 24:28-29
Meanwhile, I expect Kavanaugh’s chess partner of 35 years ago to surface and reveal that Kavanaugh cheated, so be ready.
Dr. McKissic, How would you expect a group of politicians to act other than political?
The senior senator from the great state of California has had all this information since July, repeat July.
I now have very little confidence or pride in the FBI, or the DOJ.
They all know how they are going to vote, this as usual is political grandstanding
It does seem that Senator Grassley, the committee chair, absolutely bent over backwards to accommodate the Dems in the hearing and let them “perform” repeated obnoxious stalling tactics and even allowed thier “Spartacus” and other clowning moments to go on unfettered – it now seems he’s doing the same with regard to the Dems and Dr. Fords lawyers wishes.
I think it’d be hard to intellectually honestly say that he’s “shutting down” anything.
This is a political hit-job pure and simple. There will be no justice in this case. This is purely and solely about making sure the liberals don’t lose the Supreme Court should they somehow win the Senate in Nov. Then nobody (I repeat) nobody the President appoints will be good enough for the Democrats unless he/she is willing to murder babies and re-write the Constitution as the liberals desire. The Republican Senators are gutless! If the shoe was on the other foot, a) the Republicans would never pull this stuff (they are too timid) and b) the Democrats would have already voted and told the Republicans that elections have consequences. Where have we heard that before? From President Obama! This group of Republican Senators are completely spineless and they all should be voted out starting with Grassley.
Bingo. There is no need to legitimize their lies and tactics.
You’re right – in the past republicans have objected and registered those objections with no votes for liberal justices appointed by liberal presidents….although many republicans tend to vote yes – even when they don’t like the nominee because of the conviction that Presidents should get thier qualified nominations….to illustrate this – the most liberal justice on the court Ginsberg got, I believe, 92 votes….her qualifications were outstanding and President Clinton had won the election….both Kagen and Sotomayer were confirmed without much strenuous opposition from Reps.
Dems never do this though…. In fact their play book has been exactly the same for every conservative Supreme Court Justice nominated since justice Robert Bork in the 1980s… The same mantra… The EXACT same immediate, unilateral and unequivocal announced opposition… every time – Dems have shouted – if (Roberts, Alito, Gorsuch (yes, even Kennedy) are confirmed) Women will die, children will die, air will be so polluted we will all die… these judges will strip civil rights – and so on – NONE of Which have come to fruition once that justice was placed on the court. It’s the classic false wolf cry… In the children’s tale “the little boy who cried Wolf”
And on two occasions (Thomas and Kavanaugh) the exact same last-minute scurrilous accusations – Is there any wonder that this last minute accusation is legitimately faced with great suspicion??
If this happened to Dr. Ford… As I posted above… She either naïvely contacted people who care nothing about her in order to share her story and is being used …. if it did not happen – or if judge Kavanaugh did not do it – then there must be some nefarious intent OR the “ falling down drunk” status of every (minor) allegedly involved according to Dr. Ford – renders Everyone’s “memory” as suspect – Meaning that and the passage of a tremendous amount of time likely renders the “truth” of the situation sadly unascertainable.
I expect the reps are gonna start en masse behaving the same way going forward for dem president SCOTUS nominations. It’s gonna get even uglier going foward folks, IMO. (Yes, I sadly think that’s possible)
No they won’t. They are unwilling to ever band together like the dems. They are weak and impotent
I didn’t say they would do it for principle… I said they do it…
#SpiteIsReal
Name one time they have put out a political hit job on a Democratic appointment
Funny. The same mantra that the Dems use “women will die, children will die, etc” is the EXACT same one a bunch of pastors used as an excuse to vote for Donald Trump. Which is what has given us Kavanaugh.
Here’s the frustration with Kavanaugh. All of his records have not been released. Many were released late. (And yes I know he has more docs in the record than any other nominee. He also has had a long career and produced a lot of docs. Percentage wise he’s way short of normal) He’s also on record as being against a sitting President being indicted. That’s why he was nominated. And that’s why he is being so strenuously opposed.
What’s even more frustrating. Amy Barrett was just as qualified. Just as pro-life. And much more confirmable. And the Trump team passed because she wasn’t on record on that subject.
This Presidency continues to reap what is sows and the court evangelicals and their supporters continue to back bad horses in the race to the bottom.
If Kavanaugh is confirmed, it will be under a cloud. If he is defeated, that’s a disaster for the GOP, because the November elections are looming, and the math is looking bad for the Republicans.
I guess you are saying the same about President Reagan (Bork) and President H.W. Bush (Thomas). It had to be that Reagan and Bush were reaping what they sowed. Thank God that Gorsuch and Kavanaugh are whom we are talking about and not another Ginsburg or Kagan. Because that is exactly who would have ALREADY been appointed had the Dems had Full Control of the Presidency and the Senate. They would have said (as Obama did), “Elections have consequences.” Keep drinking the Kool-Aid if you believe for a moment that the Democrats would have rolled over and voted for any Pro-Life, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Constitution Appointee.
Um – Ryan your critique under my comment falls a bit (a lot) short since I was not one of the pastors who argued in anyway to vote for Donald Trump and I’m not one of the pastors who is a fan of DT.
The only records that have not been released our records that he had absolutely nothing to do with and simply passed his desk (As staff secretary) on the way to the president… President Bush… To release those documents would be to betray every person and every bit of advice and every confidence given to the president and from the president… not to mention state secrets…. And most importantly will tell us ABSOLUTELY nothing about Kavanaugh… Everything we need to know about judge Kavanaugh as a judge ARE found in his rulings… And in his personal records and books written and speeches… Of which ALL have been released…..perhaps you should stop listening to “Spartacus” and Co. who complained about documents having not been released that had actually been released and Announced virilant opposition before Kavanaugh was even nominated… And the night he was nominated were within minutes standing with professional pre made anti-Kavanaugh signs and sharing prewritten speeches against him on the steps of Congress.
The fact that you would pretend there is any sincere objectivity whatsoever in the Democrats call for “more documents” is quite frankly laughable.
President Trump has been under the Democrat “cloud” since the day he was elected and has been extremely successful in doing what is right for America and the American people.
I am certain that when Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed, he will be under that same Democrat “cloud”, but I am also certain that, being the man of integrity that he is, the Supreme Court of the United States will regain its status as a non-political, Constitutional body functioning as the framers intended. And have no fear—that dark Democrat “cloud” is dispersing with the light of truth bursting through.
I posted this on Facebook but I believe it fits here as well.
Our political discourses have resorted to unsubstantiated MEMES. We justify our indignation with unrighteous moral equivalencies. What have we become but a “Land of Bread and Circuses”?
Let me add one sad caveat – including in our churches.
If you assume Kavanaugh is innocent because he is conservative and Dem/liberals are making the accusations you are putting politics ahead of truth and justice.
If you assume Ford is telling the truth because Kavanaugh is conservative you are just as unjust.
To write this off before we have heard her tell her story is why we had the #metoo movement.
I have no idea if Kavanaugh abused this woman. It seems out of character. But WE MUST NOT abuse her today!
Listen. To both sides.
Vote.
Accept the outcome.
I am pessimistic simple justice will prevail.
I am discouraged at the attitudes of Christians and conservatives.
.
Like I said I’m open to new evidence or testimony… But My tendency to disbelieve this particular accusation ( as it has been presented thus far) has not so much to do with the fact that she, her lawyers and the democrat senators are liberal and Kavanaugh is a conservative….
it’s more about Not trusting politicians in general – from either party … And having seen this exact game played out before our very eyes before… by the exact same people Numerous times…
Gerry Milligan
Very well said Dave. What I am reading here saddens me on a Christian site. Let us hear both sides and decide, not listen to FOX (Faux) news or MSNBC and decide. I do not think that those talking heads know much more substantive facts than I do. A saying I learned while with the IMB, “Politicians can teach the devil tricks.” Let us hear both then decide.
Dave: Would it not be reasonable to say that unless Dr. Ford is going to present something significantly different than what we know right now, there is nothing for her to say that will help evaluate the situation? Judge Kavanaugh has issued a blanket denial. He’s not going to say anything else, either. If this is turns out to be the reality then what purpose is served in “listening to both sides?” How is it “abuse” to her not to listen, IF what I’ve described is the situation? (I agree if I’m wrong, then we should hear both sides). I’m not asking to be a jerk, so please give me a fair answer. I’m truly struggling with this idea that somehow it’s not fair to women if we don’t hear her out, given what seem to be the facts here, and given the manner in which this all came about.
Apparently she has excepted the invitation to testify… But is now demanding that it be on Thursday… I hope Grassley does not give in… She should know what her story is after all it’s been 30+ years it’s not going to change between Monday and Thursday.
“Coincidentally” Chuck Schumer said late yesterday that the hearing should not be done until at least Thursday or Friday of next week… How many of us believe that her lawyers request is in fact a coincidence?
How old where you when this took place?
“I dont know.”
What year of high school?
“I dont know.”
How many people at the party?
“I dont know.”
Where did the party take place?
“I dont know.”
Were you drunk at the time?
“I dont know.”
Was Kavanaugh drunk at the time?
“I dont know.”
Her inability to recall details doesnt mean that something didnt happen.
But it proves useless to determine what happened, when it happened, and by who.
My prayer for her is that she will find peace and healing in her heart and soul through the love of God in our Lord Jesus Christ.
No matter what happens in the confirmation hearings.
I dont have the stats or recall the exact number, but young women get abused by men, including by those in her family, by trusted neighbors, by their peers, and by those in authority over them, at ALARMINGLY high rates. Sexism has warped the American culture
and has for a long time. We Christian men need to repent of any role or roles we have played or are even now playing in this sinful travesty. Throw away your porn or stop watching it, quit ogling young women [they notice], dont make sexist jokes, and so on. If that shoe fits, repent; and if it doesnt, pray for your brothers.
I personally do not believe Dr. Ford will ever testify because the Dems do not want her to. Dems would actually prefer Kavanaugh be confirmed without resolution so they can accuse Republicans of being insensitive to women with Kavanaugh as exhibit A.
There is a reason Feinstein has not released the original letter to the Republicans. If she does it becomes just like sworn testimony. Just like Kavanaugh’s on the record statements and the other two identified, supposed, witnesses, who submitted written denials.
The Democrat political goal is to delay this until Thursday as then no floor vote could occur to seat him for this session of the SCOTUS. The Republican political goal is no later than Wednesday to allow for that vote.
The negotiating is all about that. There really are no pressing cases this session where Kavanaugh could be a swing vote other than a sanctuary city case.
One thing is sure. No one’s past is safe. Any accusation can be raised from any point in anyone’s life with little to no evidence and your reputation trashed. I have no idea who is telling the truth here. But basically, a nominee to the highest court in the land has had his life turned upside down by a charge that supposedly occurred when he was a minor and would have been resolved at worst by PTI.
That’s the world we now live in
Allen, to your point of her never testifying. Now all three “witnesses” who the accuser claims were at the party deny all together they were ever at such a party. The latest is the most damaging, a lifelong female friend of the accuser who not only denies the party, but also denies knowing Kavanaugh at all. So all three are on the record under threat of perjury denying the charges outright
I don’t know if this has been brought up already but there really is no reason the FBI would ever be involved in a case like this. Remember, the F stands for Federal, this particular case would be investigated at a local level (which is practically impossible at this point considering 1) the length of time since the alleged assault and 2) the lack of any meaningful detail about when or where, hence the desire for a hearing). The Hill-Thomas issue that has been alluded to was a different matter because Thomas was a federal employee at the time the alleged offensive/inappropriate comments were made and they allegedly took place on Federal property.
Otherwise, great article – justice and decency must prevail in these hearings.
The President can & ought order an FBI investigation, just to insure reliabile information, giving under oath, is available to the judiciary committee & the interrogators. If the Prez was interested in gaining greater knowledge on the alleged incident an FBI investigation couldn’t help, but help toward that end. It could lead to Judge K’s total exoneration. It could point toward guilt. Nevertheless, what could it possibly hurt to have an investigation?
They could let Peter Strozok and Lisa Page do a quick investigation.
They seem impartial, and apparently have a lot of free time as of late.
What could possibly go wrong…….
You are right, the Prez can order a special investigation, but it wouldn’t really add anything and that really is not the process. The Senate committee are the ones tasked with and equiped to follow up on whatever is presented at the hearings. Besides, to investigate something like this the Feds are going to have to start with Ford and her claims anyway. At this point there really is nothing to go off of and testifying in public under oath (under the threat of perjury) is the most efficient way to get to the bottom of this “she said they said case.” Coincidentally, that might be why Ford’s lawyers and others are trying to prolong or scuttle the hearing with their insane demands (that they want Kavanah to present a defense first before Ford brings her case is outrageous and should deeply offend anyone with any sense of justice). With no federal crime on the table and nothing they could add to Ford’s testimony, there really is not much reason for the FBI to conduct their own investigation, in my opinion (for all its worth, which isn’t much).
With all do respect, he should not. Not unless we plan to place sexual assault as a federal crime instead of state. Part of justice being blind is that it’s supposed to be fair across the board. Unless the FBI is going to equally investigate every sexual crime from here out, let local jurisdictions handle it.
There are two very big reasons why it would hurt for the President to have the FBI investigate: separation of powers and federalism. First, this is a Senate review of a judicial candidate not a criminal matter. The president not only shouldn’t intervene but has no authority to intervene and should let the Senate advise and consent as it sees fit. If the Senate concludes some sort of federal crime has been committed, the Senate can always advise the President of such and the Justice Department can then investigate. Second, this kind of matter is ordinarily a state crime and is properly (and only) investigated by state authorities, over which the president has no control. Our system of government is set up this way for many reasons, not the least of which is to keep authority diffuse to avoid any one person or branch of the government from obtaining too much authority. It simply wouldn’t be legal for the President to order an investigation at this point. Thus, he should not.
Just some bits and pieces here.
First, all of BK’s documents have been produced. The Dems came up with a strategy of asking for every White House document that ever crossed BK’s desk when he was a WH employee. The count was in the millions. This was done for delay purposes. BK’s opinions and professionally related docs were produced long ago.
If the Rs had the votes, they should have voted. But they couldn’t get Collins, Corker, or Flake to go along. Collins has been so mistreated, she’s on board now.
The negotiations at this point are basically with Flake. Sometimes people’s names fit.
There should be no further hearings unless Senator Feinstein produces Dr. Ford’s letter to the Senator. There is a reason Feinstein did not bring this up in July and a reason she is not producing the letter.
People who are guessing why BK was picked vs. Barrett are just speculating. No one who has commented so far, has any background or personal knowledge that would even qualify their guess as educated.
If the letter is produced, allow the witness to appear. If BK wants to appear afterwards, fine.
There’s nothing to investigate. With no witnesses, no date, no place, etc., there’s just nothing left to do but hear from the participants.
Note the language that is used by some, not on this blog fortunately. In the West generally and the US, each person is treated as an individual and is deemed to be equal before the bar of justice. In some religious countries, the testimony of a believer is accorded more weight than a non-believer. In some philosophies, the testimony of a person may be accorded more weight because of their wealth, position, ethnicity, or gender. Nowadays, being in an oppressed group means your testimony is given greater weight, hence, “Women should be believed.”
Don’t allow “experts” to testify or credibility witnesses to testify. Only fact witnesses.
Remember who abused this woman. She said she did not want to come forward. Remember who forced her into this place by disclosing what she asked not to be disclosed. They have hurt this woman and women in general.
As a woman, I am appalled at the behavior of Dr. Ford. 35 years ago, is at least 30 years too late to be bringing up the behavior of teenagers.
For those of you who want another FBI investigation, why aren’t the other six FBI vettings enough? How many should we have?
This is yet more circus politics. The only thing missing is the appearance of Gloria Allred on the trapeze. I thought that Ms Feinstein’s lowest point was to bring out the children as an attempt to shame Kavanaugh. She is a master manipulator
Brett Kavanaugh has demonstrated a stellar record.
Come to think of it. I’m sure I did some things as a 17 year old young woman that I’m ashamed of now.
As others have stated; when a 37 yr old male comes out and say he was molested as an a Catholic altar boy, he’s supported and even celebrated for his courage. When an older lady(50, or thereabouts) comes out and says she was molested at 15 yrs of age, doubt and verbal daggers are lodged at her. I believe that due process should be respected and honored for the accusor & the accused. If she’s not allowed witnesses, particularly a subpoena issued to the one she claims was an eyewitness, I will be sorely disappointed with the Senators responsible. It will be the wrong statement to send to our daughters and grandaughters. If the friend say under oath, in the Senate hearings, what he’s already saying, it should exonerated Judge Kavanaugh. Not understanding why the Republican Senators refuse to subpoena him. The facts that there minds are made up without hearing all tje facts, speaks volumes.
The written denials of the other two witnesses are the same as sworn testimony, including the penalty of perjury. There is no need for them to come in and State what they have already stated under that standard
Those persons were brought in during the Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas Senate hearings. President Bush & the Senate Republicans asked the FBI to investigate. Baffled by the duplicity here, other than their minds are made up.
Please Please do research before you start talking about this.
The reason why there was an FBI investigation for the Anita Hill/ Clarence Thomas hearings was that both were federal employees, and also the supposed “sexual harassment” happened on federal property.
This “assault” supposedly happened in a town in Maryland, which would make it a state crime. From what she has claimed, that crime would have a misdemeanor. Which the statute of limitations would have run out 35 years ago.
Bro, just google this stuff, it’s not hard. lol
None of what you’ve stated here removes the fact that President Trump could call for a FBI investigation and secure one. Dr Ford is requesting such an investigation. If Judge Kavanaugh is as innocent as he says(I’m keeping an open mind, ‘til I hear both sides), then, there’s absolutely nothing to be lost, only something to be gained by honoring Dr Ford’s request for an investigation. Googling is unnecessary in this matter. Please, Mr President and Senators, honor Dr Ford’s request, that’s what would be the honorable, fair and right thing to do. It’s not an unreasonable request.
That is entirely untrue. A FBI investigation would actually need evidence other then she said, and it would need to show that the State was not doing what they should have done, or that they were covering up. She can’t even recall minor details. This is a political hit-job. The only thing to be gained is that the Democrats are hoping and praying that Kavanaugh will withdraw or be set aside and that they somehow gain the Senate, which would ensure the President wouldn’t get anyone confirmed who didn’t want to murder babies in the womb and rewrite the Constitution based on the liberal socialistic agenda.
Nolan,
Are u telling me if the President & Republican Senators requested the FBI to investigate this matter, they wouldn’t?
BTW, a Harvard Law School graduate and retired U S federal attorney, wrote on my FB page, that if the President made the request, the FBI would conduct the investigation.
I think you may have meant Nate, not Nolan b/c I don’t think there is a Nolan in the thread. The President isn’t going to request a FBI investigation because he sees this as what it is: a political hit-job. The Republican Senators however haven’t shown any smarts in the last 40 years dealing with Democrats on SCOTUS appointments dating all the way back to Bork. So they might capitulate. Fortunately, I believe only the President could call for a FBI Investigation and he’s smart enough not to fall prey to the Democrats duplicitous tactics.
Remember, the matter was already referred to the FBI, and having viewed (a copy of) the letter, they concluded that there was no basis for further investigation.
All 4 people(one a woman), who she said they were witnesses to the event deny it happening.
The woman is a lifelong friend who also denies knowing Kavanaugh at all.
It’s out of the FBI jurisdiction. Just like if I rob a gas station, the FBI is not going to arrest me, the local police will.
The Thomas/Hill alleged harassment was within FBI jurisdiction, the Kavanaugh/Ford is not. Ford’s lawyers know this, which is why they are asking for FBI investigation. They are trying to stall the Kavanaugh nomination. Her main lawyer is a big Democrat donor and lobbyist. If this did happen to do Dr. Ford, it’s awful, but her lawyers do not care. They are using her as a weapon against Kavanaugh.
Thank you Nate for bringing in the law and normal procedures. With all due respect to everyone who wants an FBI investigation because why not, you have covered the why not well. And it’s not partisan. At some point actual normal procedures have to be in place.
The honorable, fair, and right thing to do would have been for this to be brought forward during the months before the confirmation process when it was known, Senator Feinstein’s private meeting with Kavanaugh, the 3 day, 33 hour hearings, or the private committee hearings. The accused has the right to be treated honorably, fairly and rightly as well. Has that been the case here?
Private citizens who have no constitutional knowledge, which would include pretty much all of us, have no legal right to request, must less demand an FBI investigation. This is political pure and simple. The democrats have also already made up their mind. I suppose all of this is being carried out for the sake of 3 republicans and about that many democrats whose positions could be in jeopardy due to their vote.
Not sure I’d say the RCC is celebrating the accusers since the pope is saying these accusations are satanic. These “molestations” are also to numerous to count and involve pedophilia. This is the word of one teen against another, that if it did happen, both were most likely drunk, and no actual sexual act took place. Surely you see the difference there?
Last comment 4 2night. Largely dismissive and disrespectful to Dr Ford, and by extension, to women, 4 the Prez/Senators to not honor her request 4 an investigation in my judgement. The ‘18 & ‘20 elections will demonstrate whether my opinion is a majority or minority one. It would be a great challenge 4 me, and many people in my world, to vote 4 persons who would deny such a sensible, reasonable, & fair request; one likely to exonerate Judge K, if he’s being completely truthful.
We’ll, apparently there is a Thursday tentative agreement for her to testify. All 4 now witnesses named by her deny her account, even a lifelong, female friend of hers. We’ll see if she shows. Right now under penalty of perjury it’s 4 witnesses who deny her account against her.
Unless another accuser comes out of the woodwork, I don’t believe she testifies. And the FBI was not needed to gather that testimony.
Dwight, with all due respect, you weren’t voting for the President anyway. Everybody already knew that and to my knowledge you have never stated that you have changed your mind toward the President. But you’re right, we will see how the mid-terms go down. If the Republicans capitulate to the Democrats on this and no confirmation occurs before the mid-terms, then they (the Republicans) will pay a higher price (in my opinion) than if they do confirm. And if they do confirm, the Republican Senators that will come up for vote in 2020 better be prepared to lose their primaries because I for one will campaign against any in my state that are up for re-election.
There is nothing sensible, fair or reasonable about these false allegations purposely produced immediately prior to the vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation after many days of intense hearings. This is an obvious smear campaign of spurious charges
designed to deny a conservative, originalist a seat on the Supreme Court, having been done twice before by Democrats in our recent history. However, Judge Kavanaugh has the integrity and courage to fight which will result in his confirmation.
It is not a “reasonable and fair request.” It is unconstitutional. Proper protocol is being followed and much grace is being extended to the accuser, whose accusations to this date are totally and completely unsubstantiated in any way.
Agreed if the democrats had really cared they would have cooperated with investigators and not hid accusation.
I agree.
Fact witnesses only though. Under oath. Only those she claims were there at the party – no “experts”; no character witnesses for him or for her; no one but fact witnesses.
Fairness dictates – she and her witness(es) testify publicly with previously submitted prepared Sworn statements of what happened – one senator from each party questions witnesses for reasonable amount of time…..then he responds in public with previously submitted prepared statement….one senator from each party questions him for reasonable amount of time.
This could start at 10am on Monday and be done by end of day.
Committee Vote Monday night.
Full Senate vote Monday night or Tuesday Morning.
If he is confirmed – he’s confirmed – if not Trump nominates another justice and we move on.
Other than she has refused to show up on Monday and the time keeps getting pushed further back. Fairness would have dictated that Sen Feinstein had brought this up 2 months ago. Fairness would have dictated the Democrats actually desire Fairness. But they don’t. Surprise, surprise. Instead, Democrats and their proxies are withholding information and/or refusing to show up unless their terms are met perfectly. All of which is geared to keep the confirmation from happening before the mid-term elections. And the Republicans are too thin-skinned to call the vote. As Ross Perot famously said, “This is not Rocket Science.”
Someone tell me what the Republicans and Judge Kavanaugh are so afraid of that they do not want to conduct a thorough investigation. If, as most of those commenting on this thread, there is nothing to be found in these accusations all that has happened is a delay of a few days. How long did Mitch McConnell delay Judge Garlands appointment?
Gerald, if you’ve interviewed all 4 people the accuser has said were there, and all deny even being at the party or any party, how can you say it hasn’t been investigated?
The accuser is the only one who has not entered sworn testimony. All others have under the penalty of perjury.
The Garland situation was pure politics based upon a standard Joe Biden himself laid out to not nominate someone for SCOTUS in a Presidential election year, and did not involve 36 year old character assassination of someone.
Quite honestly, Kavanaugh would have been better served if he had done it, she reported it and it was adjudicated in 1983. He would have entered PTI as a minor, had his record sealed and eventually erased.
Instead he’s fighting a case he can’t win against charges she can’t prove
Gerald Milligan: Two responses, in reverse order: Not going to let you get away with the Garland reference. No one, not a single person on the Republican side, said a single thing about Garland’s character or in any way suggested he was unfit. Was it a politically calculated move? Yes. But it had everything to do with not giving a lame duck president something he wanted – it had nothing to do with a massive effort to characterize a man as unfit for something which may or may not have happened when he was 17 years old. Sad that you see any semblance of equivalence between the two situations. Second, as has been noted here and elsewhere, Kavanaugh has been investigated thoroughly already. The Ford allegations offer little hope for an investigation to actually “reveal” anything particularly in light of Kavanaugh’s unambiguous denial and her vague complaints. It seems incredibly unlikely that a DC Circuit Court of Appeals judge, who would be intimately familiar with the idea of perjury, would put his entire career and his family’s welfare on the line knowing full well he lied. Barring an eyewitness who contradicts one or the other version, what, precisely would an investigation do?
It all happens before the mid terms. The deadline is Oct 1 and the beginning of this SCOTUS session. The docket for this fall is not terribly divisive, 1 case regarding sanctuary cities. But immigration is one of the areas where Kavanaugh is questionable to many conservatives.
Thursday is tentatively set for the hearing pending “further” negotiations. With all 4 witnesses now rebutting her account, I can’t see her testifying, unless another accuser emerges
????
Two things!
First, the pendulum has swung. Until the #MeToo movement, women who came forward as victims of sexual assault were viewed as “the guilty party” until a jury ruled in their favor. This is why so many sexual assault victims remain silent. I thank God that the #MeToo movement has given women a voice. The problem now lies that accused men are automatically guilty. Where is the room for justice? Every #MeToo story has been met with automatic vilification of the accused. We need to let justice run its course.
Second, truth stands firm while lies create sinking sand. I left a church as an Interim after they hired a new preacher. Less than two months later he resigned due to “inappropriate counseling techniques.” He picked a young girl (16 or less, I cannot recall) from the church to offer counseling and spent half the day riding around unsupervised with her alone. He made some inappropriate advances which she was too naive to understand. It wasn’t until recounting it to her Youth Minister that it came to light. How do I know who told the truth and who lied? The young girls story never changed. The Pastor constantly changed details about his version.
Dr. Ford’s story is falling apart due to supposed collaborators changing their mind. Judge Kavanaugh’s is not. Between that fact, the timing, and Sen. Feinstein’s holding the story until confirmation hearings, I think we can call a spade a spade. This is a political witch hunt.
Sad but true!
There is no need for a plea. Your one point of contention here is the lack of an FBI investigation concerning this matter. The FBI has made it implicitly clear that an investigation of an attempted sexual assault ALLEGATION, from 36 years ago, is not within their jurisdictional purview. However, why would that matter to the Democrats and others demanding an FBI investigation—legality and Constitutional guidance have become irrelevant to them.
Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee have treated Professor Ford, a person with a history of Democrat activism, with the utmost respect and accommodation, even while receiving absurd demands from her lawyer. The Democrats, on the other hand, have consistently stated that Professor Ford should be believed before any testimony has even occurred which, by extension, implies that Judge Kavanaugh is guilty of the ALLEGATION.
The Democrat’s actions are apparently nothing more than an attempt to permanently delay a vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation and thereby derail his appointment to the Supreme Court—the bottom line being to protect Roe v Wade. Would those willing to protect the murder of pre-born children have any reluctance whatsoever to bring false witness against an honorable man in an attempt to destroy him because of his personal views?
Hopefully Republicans are going to “plow right through it” as Senator McConnell stated.
Excellent observation…
A couple more points.
Dr. Ford has not been subpoenaed. She has been given the option to appear or not.
The people she says were witnesses to the event, BK and Mr. Judge, should be treated the same. If they want to testify, fine. If not, fine.
It’s not fair to treat Dr. Ford with such kid gloves, and then to force Mr. Judge to appear by subpoena, especially when he says the event didn’t happen.
People seem to be missing the point re the investigation. There’s nothing for the FBI to do here. Judge says he doesn’t know anything. Dr. Ford is going to testify. BK is going to testify.
Since there is no known date or time or place, and the people who are alleged to have seen this event will have all spoken, what is it that the proponents of FBI investigation want the FBI to do?
In Anita Hill’s case, she alleged sexual harassment in the workplace. Thomas denied it. It made sense to have the FBI interview people who worked with them, to look at employee files, phone records, to interview common social acquaintances to see if corroborating evidence might be found.
In this case, there is no scene to be visited, alibis to be checked (bc of the vagueness as to place and time BK can’t look at old calendars to see if he could claim an alibi) people to interview who have already agreed to testify or said it did not happen,
Maybe the people who are advocating for an FBI investigation should say specifically what they want the FBI to do? That might help.
And again, most people who are for an FBI investigation are silent when the letter to Feinstein is brought up. That is the one available piece of evidence that we know exists. Shouldn’t that be produced?
Well, I must have jinxed this blog. The minute I compliment everyone for leaving off with identity politics, some one raises it.
Dr. Ford should note be treated differently because she is a woman, either against her or for her. Appeals to her gender just echo a philosophy that treats people differently because they belong to an oppressed group. All people should be treated the same.
Finally, in the Catholic Priest scandals, all of the cases I have heard of that have been successful involved numerous incidents, confirmed locations, children who can place themselves in the church or priest’s residence, and often resulted in more people coming forward. The fact that these stories come to be believed is not because the allegations are being made by males, but because they are backed up by details and information and other people.
Here we have one event. We don’t know where. We don’t know when. No one who is alleged to have been involved says it happened. No one else has said BK did this at any other time or to any other person.
For all of the reasons this alleged event cannot be compared to the Catholic Church scandals.
Louis,
“In Anita Hill’s case, she alleged sexual harassment in the workplace. Thomas denied it. It made sense to have the FBI interview people who worked with them, to look at employee files, phone records, to interview common social acquaintances to see if corroborating evidence might be found.”
Good points. The calls for “FBI investigation” are ridiculous and the comparisons to the Thomas/Hill investigation is comparing apples and rocketships.
With Thomas/Hill: the FBI actually had jurisdiction in that accusation because a.) The alleged incident(s) took place on federal property making it potentially a federal crime. b.) both Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill were federal employees at the time the incident(s) allegedly took place c.) The accusations were specific enough and recent enough to actually be for investigated. d.) Several Federal crimes were actually alleged to have been committed.
Exactly none of that are true in this case.
The FBI stated early in this fiasco… that there was no federal criminal investigation warranted.
Also the FBI does not even do what is being demanded by the Democrats and Dr. Ford’s lawyers – which is to conduct a “ non-criminal” investigation…..If they investigate either charges will be filed because they are warranted or charges will not be filed because they are not…
The FBI agents are not the United States Senate’s “advise and consent” private investigators.
Not to mention that all of the drama surrounding the FBI and politicization these days – I imagine it is completely true that the director (and regular agents) of the FBI is not wanting to touch this absolutely no win political hot potato with a 20 foot pole.
Excellent observation…I am a staunch independent by a check of the Holy Spirit as a senior in high school. I would be embassered to be a Democrat. I have always voted person over party. There was a change during the 80’s that turned the tide in partisanship. And the Democrats keep going further left…
Hey yall – let’s all reminisce about that time when the Anita Hill accusations were investigated by the FBI which found the accusations to be baseless ….. remember how The Democrats dropped it and said well the FBI has spoken and then treated Thomas as if he were innocent…
Oh yeah…..that didn’t happen – did it?
It was a political tactic then it is a political tactic now.
Let’s dispense with the idea of a “federal investigation” into something that’s not a federal crime and hear out the accuser and the accused under oath before the senate…and then the senators should vote. But that cannot happen until her lawyers stop making ridiculous demands and moving the goalposts and she actually appears.
Who could object to fairness, decency and respect? Of course Dr.. Ford should receive all of those as should Judge Kavanaugh.
Dr. Ford has made serious charges for the self admitted purpose of derailing Judge Kavanugh’s nomination. Her purpose does not by itself invalidate the truth behind her allegations. She should testify and be heard.
This has moved into the constitutional realm. She should expect questions about exactly what happened, her motives, her memory and the process she followed in making these charges. She should expect questions about scrubbing her social media accounts, the nature and funding of her polygraph, and picking a high profile anti Trump lawyer instead of an equally well known victim’s right’s attorney. If her allegations are found to be untrue, she should expect a charge of perjury. Hard questions are not unfair, indecent or disrespectful. They are mandatory in a case which seeks to undo the results of an election.
I don’t think that not reporting at the time makes Dr. Ford a pawn or unreliable or confused. Many victims don’t report until much later. for perfectly valid reasons. However, Dr. Ford may yet be, in fact, a pawn, unreliable or confused.
What is unfair, indecent is disrespectful is senators and others who have make up their minds based on unsworn allegations from the press and who do not care about the truth. Senator Gillibrand’s suggestion that having Dr. Ford testify is somehow silencing her is beneath contempt.
For anyone, including the esteemed Dr. McKissic, to suggest that not supporting an FBI investigation is by some tortured logic a slam against all women is ridiculous on a logical level and just unhelpful and dishonest polemics otherwise.
Identity justice is no justice at all.
Amen, what John R. said.
Yes…
Just keeping up to date on the news.
Not only have the only witnesses identified by Dr. Ford say it didn’t happen – BK and Mr. Judge.
Now 3 other people – 2 men and 1 woman, whom Dr. Fords says were at the party say BK wasn’t at any party and they don’t know what Dr. Ford is talking about. The woman, who is supposedly Dr. Ford’s friend, says she doesn’t even know BK.
And Louis, get this. The woman is Democrat operative Bob Beckel’s ex-wife. No conservative in other words
A total of 3 ladies now claim they were violated by Judge K. I really wanted him to cast the vote(and indeed he still
might be able to) to reverse Roe V Wade. I’m reluctant though to believe all 3 ladies are not telling the truth. We need to take a deep breath and ask, do we really want to say to all 3 ladies, u all are liers. Our granddaughters may pay a high price for us allowing politics to “trump” principles in this matter. Republicans turned on Herman Cain when there were multiple accusations against him. But, are sticking with Judge Kavanaugh. Interesting?
No matter how it’s spent, I don’t buy the explanations why FBI were called to investigate Hill/Thomas but not this case. I’ll say it again, it’s duplicity and hypocrisy. A federal attorney and Harvard trained lawyer, agrees with me. President Trump has more and worse allegations against him. If he were a man of moral character, he would have already call for an investigation to clear Judge K’s name. One of latest accusations is from a woman with date, time, places, and very specific allegations, that took place @ Harvard. Can’t wait to see u all justify, excuse, dismiss, and disregard her allegations to, while explaining why the FBI don’t investigate. Please reconsider what u r communicating regarding a female’s worth & value. Please at least support an FBI investigation & ask the Prez, to order one. It should give a clearer picture yhan we have now.
Bro. Dwight, Hope all is well with you. I was going to post something yesterday, but my original comment was too long. As it happens, the last 24-hours, particularly the last few hours, have changed my thinking anyway. You stated in your post that Dr. Ford’s allegation “is not a matter of politics, from my perspective. It is a moral, justice, ethical, due process, and gender-fair treatment matter.” I will have to respectfully disagree. Dr. Ford’s uncorroborated allegations, along with the uncorroborated allegations of Deborah Ramirez (at Yale, not Harvard), the second accuser, and the uncorroborated allegations of a client of anti-Trump lawyer Michael Avenatti (if that is the third woman you are referring to) appear to be entirely a matter of politics. To rephrase your question, “Do we really want to say that Judge Kavanaugh is a liar and destroy his life, including his career and family, with uncorroborated (and, in the case of both Dr. Ford and Ms. Ramirez, totally contradicted by other witnesses named by the accusers) allegations from 35+ years ago?” My answer is an emphatic NO! The FBI has investigated Judge Kavanaugh’s six times. I repeat. Six times. None of these allegations surfaced in any of these background checks. While I respect your opinion that the FBI should open another investigation into one or all three of these allegations, I respectfully disagree. The calls by Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, especially Sen. Diane Feinstein, are nothing more than a political stunt. The Democrats have “unclean hands,” having sat on Dr. Ford’s allegations since late July. They have no standing — moral or political — to call for an FBI investigation. While I believe that victims of crimes (including sexual assault and attempted rape, as has been alleged) have a right to be respected, have a right to be heard, have a right to participate in (although not dictate) a fair process, no victim, including Dr. Ford, has an automatic right to be believed. In fact, the accused in our system of justice has a fundamental right to a presumption of innocence (even if this is not a criminal proceeding). The burden of proving the charges always is on the one prosecuting the case (the state in a criminal proceeding or a plaintiff in a civil proceeding). In this case, it would be any of the alleged victims. Unless and until any of these allegations can be proven by clear and convincing evidence (not beyond a reasonable doubt), including testimony under oath, then I believe what we are witnessing will do far more damage to our political, legal, and moral system than the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill hearings. To allow the character and reputation of Judge Kavanaugh to be destroyed by what appears to be an increasingly political smear campaign should not be rewarded with additional hearings or further delays, but rather strongly rejected. To do otherwise is too high a price for anyone to pay, including our granddaughters AND our grandsons. Thanks and God Bless.
Howell, the thing people forget about the Hill hearings is that the Senate was controlled by Democrats then, and a Democrat controlled Senate confirmed him because the claims could not be proven.
Dwight,
“Our granddaughters may pay a high price for us allowing politics to “trump” principles in this matter.”
Agreed.
As might our sons and grandsons if vague and unsubstantiated (and non defensible) allegations are taken as unassailable fact and railroaded over a man’s life and family… BK’s daughters are granddaughters too….
There is a lot at stake here… It’s a mess for sure.
PS. I was a supporter of Herman Cain during that campaign… And it came to the point to where his denials were simply running contrary to the known and documented facts…if that happens here – I expect you’ll see republican politicians pull away and the nomination will be withdrawn.
Jeff P.
That’s interesting.
Dwight:
I just read about a woman from Yale.
I don’t believe the Ford incident requires investigation because it doesn’t look like there’s anything to investigate.
The deal at Yale has more moving parts, people to interview etc. The FBI would be a good fit there to keep it all straight and get everyone on the record.
As to a third woman, I haven’t seen that. I have seen where another woman says that the Yale college student told her about it, so I don’t know if you are referring to her. Or is there a 3rd woman who says BK assaulted her?
Louis,
The 3rd woman is being represented by Stormy Daniels lawyer, Averatti(not sure if I spelled his name right). He tweeted this out. He’s also calling for a Senate hearing and(if memory serves me correctly) an FBI investigation. Can’t remember exactly where I read this tonight, but, his info was tweeted out.
The porn Lawyer has gone underground because they are saying he was the victim of a scam or hoax and there seems that there is no 3rd person.
The woman from Yale identified six people to corroborate her story. All 6, ALL 6, denied knowledge of it and said they never heard it from her until the Kavanaugh nomination. Now we have Michael Avenatti claiming Kavanaugh was part of a gang rape crew.
Dwight, I respect you and agree with you on many things. But what we are witnessing is an all out frontal attack on men who hold to biblical principles when it comes to life of the unborn. When you have two women making claims who identify between them 10 witnesses who refute their claims in full, something far more nefarious than a #metoo moment is occurring.
This type of unsubstantiated, purely political, no evidence required tactic will not only harm the cause of any man who stands for life, for God, for anything opposed to the agenda of the far left that has completely overtaken the Democratic Party, it will also irreparably harm the cause of women who have indeed suffered legitimate harm. How can it Not?
If all that is required is an accusation to bring down a man with an impeccable public record who has been scrutinized countless times by the the same FBI you now want to investigate finding nothing remotely close to this, don’t you have to ask why that is?
This is scorched earth politics, pure and simple. And if it works, no one is immune from it. Not in politics, business, or the church. If there is one witness anywhere, or any physical evidence, to corroborate any claim against him, by all means allow the full weight of law enforcement to investigate. But if it’s 2 accusers against 10 witnesses named by them who all refute the accusers claims, how can we allow any credence to be given to their claims? These type claims are always to be taken seriously, but no accusation against anyone is to be believed simply because it is made.
And honestly, I’m not giving any consideration to any claims made by Avenatti as it is pretty clear he’s only in it for any attention he can bring to himself.
Right on, Jeff P!
I hope people are considering and caring that due process rights are essential for a free people – assuming and essentially declaring guilt based in political maneuvering and the type of charges levied is dangerous to *all of us*.
I don’t think I am being overly dramatic here: When politically based and unfounded accusations can ruin the life of a nominee for SCOTUS and our politicians lead that charge – all of our freedoms hang in the balance.
The democrat senator from Hawaii has said several times that she and we must assume he’s guilty because he a pro life man accused of an heinous act by a woman ….sorry, ma’am but that’s not enough. Real evidence must be not just required but demanded – it’s not rocket science.
To borrow a word from a famous twitter account:
SAD!
There’s no question that Avenatti is a left leaning attention hound, but I’d be cautious in dismissing him because he seems to be pretty careful before he makes a claim. We’ll see. The whole thing is a mess.
Looks like Avenatti was trolled by some 4chan kids. He’s muted his Twitter and backed awsy
In what manner has Avenatti shown any caution before making a claim? From all indications he has sought out disreputable people to make charges (that are impossible to disprove) with no evidence of support. From a Biblical standpoint, that is called false witness, destroying an innocent person’s reputation which is tantamount to murder.
Wow, how did I miss this discussion?
Anyone who thinks the Dems or the Repubs have the moral high ground on this issue is hopelessly naive. This is a complete mess.
I could be wrong, but no FBI investigation is going to turn up anything other than what we already know.
Just because the Dems are despicably using Ford (they certainly are), doesn’t mean Ford is lying.
Just because Kavanaugh is allegedly pro-life doesn’t mean he is telling the truth. He’s the nominee because Trump is banking on Kavanaugh siding with him if subpoenas or indictments come his way.
I know most here are saying “let’s hear them out”. But practically, what good is that going to do? If Ford becomes rattled and Kavanaugh remains cool and professional, does that mean Kavanaugh is telling the truth? If Ford is emotional and sympathetic and Kavanaugh seems smug and arrogant, does that mean Ford is telling the truth? Do you really think this “hearing” led by a pack of immoral politicians is going to lead to the truth?
The biggest disappointment is this whole affair is when one of a group of female Trump supporters say this: “what teenage boy hasn’t done this?”
I shouldn’t this was a disappointment, that kind of attitude is all too predictable in the situation we find ourselves, but it is pretty sad. The next biggest disappointment is when Franklin Graham said this incident, even if true, is irrelevant. How far we have fallen.
But to Dwight’s original point, the Republicans will absolutely hang themselves if they treat Ford with anything but courtesy and respect.
Hopefully she will be asked the hard questions that should be asked—in a respectful manner, however there is no need to give her a pass on any issue. She has made a serious allegation against a person of impeccable character. Judge Kavanaugh should receive the same respect from Democrats, but don’t count on it-respect is a foreign notion to them.
But who determines how they treated her? There will be little or no objective determination.
They’ve apparently hired a female sex crimes attorney to question both Ford and Kavanaugh on their behalf. Pretty smart move to avoid what the Democrats clearly want, “a bunch of old white guys” doing the questioning
However, there are now objections coming from Democrats to that scenario also. I hope the independent female lawyer is allowed to question Professor Ford. Professor Ford does not have a right to be automatically believed. There are women who willing to lie to suit their political agenda, and there are men willing to do the same. A serious ALLEGATION has been made against a man with an impeccable record, and hard, serious questions need to be asked of both parties.
William H. why does Professor Ford NOT have a right to be automatically believed? Judge Kavanaugh has been automatically believed by the president, Mitch McConnell, Sens Grassley, Hatch, and the vast majority of the posters on this thread. Why do we not want the truth to come out with a thorough vetting?
Six prior FBI vettings did not turn up anyone who said anything about any parties/assaults in Judge Kavanaugh’s past. Not these women, not any classmate, not a parent or teacher, not a concerned observer or friend, nothing that anyone, Democrat or Republican, expressed a concern about.
Also, it doesn’t matter how carefully or respectfully Professor Ford is treated. Someone will be outraged. And various bases of outrage are already in motion : the fact that most of the Senators are male, the non-referral to the FBC, the very holdings of hearings this week, the timing, the setting. Add to that any tone or facial expression that anyone dislikes. It’s a fait accompli. The truth has become irrelevant, and justice is irrelevant. The mob speaks, the mob determines, the mob is us. We are all acting like ridiculous children, IMO. Founding principles of the country are irrelevant. Law is irrelevant. Evidence is irrelevant. Regular procedures are “inhumane.” Journalists are looking for secret codes in high school yearbooks. What a complete and total farce, all the way around. Satan must be very happy.
Dr. Ford has made allegations that all seem carefully tailored to avoid corroboration.These allegations were made at the eleventh hour after months of collaboration with her attorney. She seems quite worried about the possibility of tough questions that might expose her to a potential perjury charge. Her story has been inconsistent in important details. Her “friends” don’t agree with the details of her story. Her therapists notes don’t agree with her current story. Dr. Ford went to a high powered anti Trump lawyer rather than a high powered victims rights attorney. She has admitted that her primary concerns here are not her “healing” but preventing Kavanaugh from being a Supreme Court judge. There are a lot of good sound reasons to question Dr.Ford’s allegations.
And lets be clear that it’s perfectly possible to do so while maintaining an appropriate environment. Neither does one’s doubts about Dr. Ford’s story say anything whatsoever about ones view of women in general.
I understand that different people will come to different conclusions but this nonsense that anyone should be automatically believed is dimwitted, lazy and unconstitutional among other things. Would you revoke the presumption of innocence and the right to due process when anybody makes an allegation or only when it’s Dr. Ford? Is she so special that the rules of evidence no longer apply?
John R first, how is believing an accuser unconstitutional? Have you seen what the president, Senators Grassley and Hatch and McConnell have said? Talk as they have shows that they are dimwitted and lazy because they automatically believe Kavanaugh. As I have said above, a thorough investigation of charges should reveal which one is correct and which one has a memory problem. But a thorough vetting would help answer these questions.
The lack of a subpoena for Judge Kavanaugh’s friend, who Dr Ford claim was an eyewitness, is most troubling. Not sure how the Senate could in good conscience vote to confirm him, without i interrogating the only alleged eyewitness. Unwise and unfair for the Senate judiciary committee to engage in such an injudicious(if there is such a word) act.
There is no reason not to confirm him. They held this back and tried to play a gotcha card. There was time to do things normally but the Democratic members wouldn’t even cooperate . She does not even know who drove her and no one has come forward to corraborate her story. They four witnesses of upi call them that denied it happen or they were there. CONFIRM the man.
Actually Gerald, all you’ve named here and pretty much everyone on thus thread believe she should be heard. But, many can also see the elements of a pure, political hit job. And the more that comes out, the more that likelihood emerges
No one has stated that Judge Kavanaugh has a right to be automatically believed. However, prior to the hearings Democrat Senator after Democrat Senator stepped forward stating they believed her without a shread of evidence thereby implying Kavanaugh is guilty of the action of which he has been accused.
Her gender does not render her automatically truthful nor does his gender render him automatically guilty of the accusation. Do you believe, Gerald M., that it is prudent, fair or honorable to believe an accusation against a person with no evidence other than the accusation?
William Hudson, as I have said above, a thorough investigation might reveal if the accuser or the accused were telling the truth. At no time have I said you should believe the accused or the accuser without evidence. But the president, Senators McConnell, Grassley an Hatch sure showed — before any evidence — who they believed.
Gerald Milligan, none of the Republicans made statements of that type prior to the hearings as many Democrats did. As the hearings progressed and no evidence was presented supporting Professor Ford’s ALLEGATION, some Republican Senators did make statements concerning their beliefs, but that is only natural since an ALLEGATION without evidence is just that—an ALLEGATION.
Judge Kavanaugh has undergone 6 prior FBI investigations without even a hint of the alleged behavior. In this country, an accused person is presumed innocent of accusations devoid of any evidence much less proof. The present FBI investigation is something the FBI had already deemed unnecessary, and is obviously nothing more than an unethical, purposeful delay of the confirmation process.
“The biggest disappointment is this whole affair is when one of a group of female Trump supporters say this: “what teenage boy hasn’t done this?”
I posted the same objection to that notion on my Facebook page… I have heard it by both used by BK Supporters and BK detractors. It’s stupid and offensive either way.
Maybe, but is it wrong? Asked my wife. Said she was grabbed and groped in high school plenty. As an unsaved, heathen high schooler running with unsaved, heathen friends, everyone of us were trying to cop a feel when we could. 1st base, 2nd base, etc. When the girl said stop, you stopped. Not saying it’s right. But I’m a year older than Kavanaugh. In my SC public high school, a party at a friend’s house with booze was pretty common fare. And guys and girls seeking some “alone” time was a given
To add to the chaos, a Kavanaugh supporter actually posted a theory that it was a lookalike that assaulted Ford, named him and posted his picture. He apologized and was placed on leave almost immediately, but not before the sycophants at Fox and Friends picked it up and reported on it.
Yeah, if that was reported on F&F as a legit news story that was bad for sure for F&F to do that – to be sure there’s a plethora of ridiculous sycophantry going on all the cable networks and printed/online outlets.
More chaos: there are supposed confessors who say they may be the guys in the incident Professor Ford recalls; also some Maryland legislators are demanding that every woman’s decades-old claim against Kavanaugh be investigated by Maryland or Montgomery County law enforcement, regardless whether the alleged victims want that or not. This entire thing is a downward spiral in which everyone ends up victimized.
He Said, She Said cartoon:
https://townhall.com/political-cartoons/natebeeler/2018/09/20/160077
David R. Brumbelow
The US Senator from Hawaii suggested this week that Judge Kavenaugh does not deserve fairness because she believes he is pro life. Does anyone else find the notion that our political and constitution rights ares contingent on having the “right” political beliefs to be shocking?
If you believe in citizen’s rights to bear arms, do you only qualify for some of your rights? How about if you are a Christian? Does being a follower of Christ infringe on which constitutional rights you may be allowed to exercise?
How would the senator propose that the matter of who has which rights be decided? Twitter?
The more we here from foolish Democrats such as the Senator from Hawaii the better. The American people as a whole are not stupid and will flock to the polls in November as more Democrat treachery, including the unsubstantiated charges against Judge Kavanaugh, is revealed. The economy is soaring, America is reassuming a position of strength in the world, and with the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh we will be in position to rid our nation of the unGodly travesty called Roe v Wade.
William Hudson, go talk to some young people. Even the smartest are greatly influenced by headlines, a photo or remark here or there, a politician’s appearance, Twitter, peer pressure – a whole world we’re unaware of. I think we have little idea what will happen in November.
I agree with what you are saying, however I believe we are all aware of the fact that young people are today highly influenced by social media–Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc. as well as other various blogs. However, the same was realized only two short years ago, and those platforms are no longer the sole domain of the progressive left. Incidentally, maybe it’s the section of the country in which I live, but the young people to whom I speak are also highly influenced by family.
Here is the world we are living in: Senators who have the power to call for an FBI investigation, but didn’t, repeatedly blame the accused and imply he is guilty for NOT doing so, when he doesn’t have the power to call for investigation of himself,,, they do! (And I’ve heard him respond that he’ll do whatever they want). I think that’s where we are.
Actually Karen, only the President has the power to call for a FBI investigation.
Appreciate that correction. I did not like the Senators blaming Kavanaugh for the lack of an FBI investigation, and trying to make it sound like it’s because he’s “afraid” of what the FBI may find. From their questioning, one would think he was single-handedly preventing an fBI investigation.
So what did we learn? Prof. Ford was authentic, emotional, and believable. Judge Kavanaugh was authentic, emotional, and believable. Call Ripley. Are we any closer to the truth? Of course not. All we know is that the lust for power is so all consuming for Democrats and Republicans that the Democrats would slander and destroy Mother Theresa to achieve it and the Republicans would put Charles Manson on the court if they thought he would vote their way. This is the world we live in.
Bill, while I agree that both the Republicans and the Democrats lust for power, your hyperbole is way too far over the top. Certainly the Republicans held back the Garland confirmation for political purposes. However, they did not assassinate his character. Dating back to FDR there have (to my findings) only Three cases of Character Assassination for Judges who were slated to be appointed to SCOTUS. Bork, Thomas, and Kavanaugh. Surprise! All these were Republican President appointments.
So while I agree politicians from both parties lust for power, this display of character assassination is only a game played by the Democrats. Disparage Republicans when and where appropriate, but this is not one of those times.
Politics is, and will always be about power. I’ve been in the camp for many years now our entire system is corrupted, primarily by power, and money. The quest for power has always been there, the massive amounts of money is a more recent development.
We, when we vote, decide who will have power. For years it’s been a vote between a lesser of two evils in one’s view. We most of the time decide to split power between Congress and the executive branch. But the quest for power has become so intense, and the radical elements of either side so extreme, neither side can be completely trusted. It is truly a toxic swamp. If Trump is right about nothing else, he’s right about that.
I actually wish their were a Democrat of 20-30 years ago for a national office I could consider voting for. I’m old enough to remember the now extinct species known as a blue dog Dem. I live in a county in SC where no Republican will win, but there are plenty of that type Dem on the ballot. Not so nationally. That’s dangerous IMO. Both parties are radicalized to some extent. But only one on a national level has eliminated any diversity in opinion on highly divisive issues. When total group think is required to serve nationally, that is a recipe for totalitarianism. When disagreement is not tolerated, how can it be called anything else?
When 3-4 Dems do vote to confirm Kavanaugh, just watch the reaction. While many Republicans would have howled at the moon if a Flake, or Collins, voted against him. The reactions are a stark contrast. One side still tolerated, even if it doesn’t like disagreement. The other does not. If both sides ever reach the point where no disagreement is tolerated, we will have fully reached the point of no return
Jeff, if you wouldn’t mind, could you please name one Democratic Senator since 1988 (last 30 years) that would have stood up and declared themselves as Pro-Life, Pro-Gun, Pro-Marriage and would have said the Democratic Party should not have (in its Party Platform) that they would only nominate a Pro-Abortion presidential candidate? Not saying there might have been some, just that I don’t recall any standing up and saying this from the Senate Floor or during a campaign.
Nate: They did not assassinate Garland’s character because they didn’t have to. The Dems tried to derail Kavanaugh without going nuclear on him. If they had the votes to defeat him, I don’t think we would have had yesterday’s debacle. If you don’t think Republicans are into character assassination I would point you to the oval office.
At least 2 of the three branches of government are so morally bankrupt it boggles the mind. I’m beginning to wonder if we have passed the point of no return.
Bill, this is concerning SCOTUS. Neither you or I would teach our children that 2 wrongs make a right. The Democrats have practiced this at SCOTUS confirmations for the last 30 years. The Republicans haven’t. Blaming both parties for this debacle is simply not a reasonable assessment (in my opinion).
I’m perfectly willing to concede that the democrats have been evil longer, but the repubs have caught up and then some.
Which two branches are morally bankrupt?
I was referring to the executive and legislative branches.
So, in your opinion, the judicial branch is not corrupt. Is this not the branch that has continually usurped legislative authority—that has declared the murder of innocent children to be legal and has corrupted God’s holy covenant of marriage? The executive branch is now in the process of attempting to remedy this debauchery by placing justices on the Supreme Court who are committed to the rule of law and the Constitution. This is the reason for the lies, deceit and treachery coming from the left. But make no mistake—God’s Truth will prevail.
Alito too – not quite as badly though.
Which nominations have Republican Presidents ever made who were not eminently qualified to serve on the Supreme Court—by experience, intellect and character?
Which nominations have Republican Presidents made that we’re not eminently qualified persons?