Current Affairs General US politics (ie, not POTUS related)

[Tubey]

i think republicans are screwed either way here, nominate him and there will be backlash...dont nominate him and it will look they have 'lost' and a poor pick to begin with

Nominating him won't be considered a 'loss' for them as he's elected for life and that's the end of it.

They expect a spanking in the mid-terms anyway so they just don't care - they're ready for short term pain for long term gain. If they cared, it wouldn't just be one or two Republicans who 'might' be rejecting Kavanaugh; common sense dictates it should be dozens.

But we don't live in a common sense world anymore. The President got elected despite confessing on tape to sexual assault, and people basically weren't arsed. That's the reality of the situation we're in.

 

[Ruairi77]

There is almost no chance of that.

yea, after seeing the swing senators comments, I've given up hope.
I just thought that the church umbrella group and Bar association might have had some sway, obviously not.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Nominating him won't be considered a 'loss' for them as he's elected for life and that's the end of it.

They expect a spanking in the mid-terms anyway so they just don't care - they're ready for short term pain for long term gain. If they cared, it wouldn't just be one or two Republicans who 'might' be rejecting Kavanaugh; common sense dictates it should be dozens.

But we don't live in a common sense world anymore. The President got elected despite confessing on tape to sexual assault, and people basically weren't arsed. That's the reality of the situation we're in.

Looked at from a purely political lens I’m not even sure about the short term pain, Dems were already pretty motivated but the confirmation fight has probably re-energised a lot of Republican voters who were a bit apathetic on the midterms because of Trump


Sadly I think one of the impacts will be victims, both male and female, being even less willing to step forward especially with abuse by Republican office holders - why get mocked by the president, death threats by weirdos and be accused of being part of a left wing conspiracy when it isn’t going to make any difference anyway?

 

[Tubey]

Looked at from a purely political lens I’m not even sure about the short term pain, Dems were already pretty motivated but the confirmation fight has probably re-energised a lot of Republican voters who were a bit apathetic on the midterms because of Trump


Sadly I think one of the impacts will be victims, both male and female, being even less willing to step forward especially with abuse by Republican office holders - why get mocked by the president, death threats by weirdos and be accused of being part of a left wing conspiracy when it isn’t going to make any difference anyway?

Yeah it's one hell of a black day for the USA. To be honest, it extends beyond there because of the influence the USA holds over western democracy.

I see no reason why a woman would come forward now in the UK either. They'd fear the same treatment by power - paraded in front of millions and not listened to regardless.

The whole Trump presidency has been a disgrace for the entire human race. I can only hope we look back 20-30 years from now and shake our heads at it in disgust, rather than accept this disgusting reality we have now as the norm.

 

[ilikecheese]

Yeah it's one hell of a black day for the USA. To be honest, it extends beyond there because of the influence the USA holds over western democracy.

I see no reason why a woman would come forward now in the UK either. They'd fear the same treatment by power - paraded in front of millions and not listened to regardless.

The whole Trump presidency has been a disgrace for the entire human race. I can only hope we look back 20-30 years from now and shake our heads at it in disgust, rather than accept this disgusting reality we have now as the norm.

Or like with Reagan, who should have been impeached, Republicans will canonize him as a saint.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Heitkamp becomes the *second* "yes" on Gorsuch to be a "no" on Kavanaugh. Gorsuch was approved by 54-45 vote last year (Isakson didn't vote). With no's from Heitkamp, Donnelly, and Doug Jones, the ceiling for Kavanaugh is now 52-48

 

[ilikecheese]

Heitkamp becomes the *second* "yes" on Gorsuch to be a "no" on Kavanaugh. Gorsuch was approved by 54-45 vote last year (Isakson didn't vote). With no's from Heitkamp, Donnelly, and Doug Jones, the ceiling for Kavanaugh is now 52-48

Heitkamp has nothing to lose as she is losing her seat in November.

 

[Ruairi77]

Heitkamp has nothing to lose as she is losing her seat in November.

I dunno man, she was only 5 to 10 points behind in a red state. She was holding her own.
He support of ford will probably see alot of money from out of state small donations. That said, independents might side with the republican after this.

 

[ilikecheese]

I dunno man, she was only 5 to 10 points behind in a red state. She was holding her own.
He support of ford will probably see alot of money from out of state small donations. That said, independents might side with the republican after this.

Last I saw she was down over 8 percent. Seems unlikely that she'd win either way.

 

[Ruairi77]

Last I saw she was down over 8 percent. Seems unlikely that she'd win either way.

yea but in north Dakota that's only about 25 people!

 

[LinekersLegs]

Heitkamp has nothing to lose as she is losing her seat in November.

True but her best chance of a Hail Mary pass was probably to vote Yes on Kav. Dems in the state would likely hold their nose and vote for her knowing that her Republican challenger is a reliable Trump vote and the bigger picture of Senate control whilst she might have picked up some establishment republicans and Indys.

 

[ilikecheese]

yea but in north Dakota that's only about 25 people!

It really is kinda crazy that about 375k people from North Dakota have an equal voice in the senate as almost 20 million people in California.

 

[BirkenheadBlue]

True but her best chance of a Hail Mary pass was probably to vote Yes on Kav. Dems in the state would likely hold their nose and vote for her knowing that her Republican challenger is a reliable Trump vote and the bigger picture of Senate control whilst she might have picked up some establishment republicans and Indys.

I dunno, I think the last best chance is a no vote, energise the base, get people out knocking doors and registering voters, and actually showing up to vote.

 

[ilikecheese]

 

[BirkenheadBlue]

You know, he might be onto something