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

[Ruairi77]

If you set the allegations aside for a sec,
I think the thing that bothers me is how rattled he got on Thursday.
He blames the stress of the accusation. That might be a reasonable excuse if he had no experience of dealing with people being accused of stuff but that's his whole career. He's a judge for heavens sake. He's made a whole career of practicing impartiality with regard to allegations yet as soon as he faces one he crumples like a house of cards. If he had carried on like that in front of himself, he'd charge himself with contempt of court. (clunky but you know what I mean).
His mask slipped and the world saw a partizan bully who's clearly not fit for the job intended. I'd boot him off the circuit court too.

 

[Ruairi77]

Don't think that will happen, IMHO. Roe v Wade is one of those things that gets the religious base out on the warpath, energises republican support, but do moderate republicans really want abortion outlawed when it gets right down to it? I don't think the political arithmetic makes sense - it would satisfy an extremist minority but antagonise a vastly bigger (currently) silent majority. Many millions of people who probably think abortion is a bit of an unpleasant subject, and aren't going to go out of their way to vocalise support for it, but when it comes down to the brass tacks of taking it away they categorically won't stand for that. Could bury the republican party for a generation.

They wont stand for a federal ban but they'll push for it to be decided at state level and that would mean overturning Roe.

 

[verreauxi]

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.

Yeah, these "swing" votes are simply Republicans underneath. They'll toe the line, I'm certain.

 

[Ruairi77]

Trump is blaming Soros for professionally made signs!
Kavanaugh is blaming the Clintons.
And some smart people think this is all ok

 

[LinekersLegs]

Collins looks to be a yes, at least on cloture.

 

[mezzrow]

This is an opinion piece making the obviously correct statement that false rape accusations are wrong and bad. No one would disagree with that, including me. It doesn't speak to anything about how Ford was lying, being slanderous, or that the Dems+illuminati were engaged in some well-plotted consipiracy.

By the way, have you asked your wife/daughter/close female friend if she's ever been harassed? And if she happens to say yes, have you suggested that she's lying?

No. With respect, I would drop this line of questioning. Now.

 

[dublinbluenose]

Don't think that will happen, IMHO. Roe v Wade is one of those things that gets the religious base out on the warpath, energises republican support, but do moderate republicans really want abortion outlawed when it gets right down to it? I don't think the political arithmetic makes sense - it would satisfy an extremist minority but antagonise a vastly bigger (currently) silent majority. Many millions of people who probably think abortion is a bit of an unpleasant subject, and aren't going to go out of their way to vocalise support for it, but when it comes down to the brass tacks of taking it away they categorically won't stand for that. Could bury the republican party for a generation.

Conservatives have been quietly bringing in laws and amendments to state law for years slowly clawing back abortion services and care. The state of Missouri has only one abortion clinic left for instance.

 

[Ruairi77]

No. With respect, I would drop this line of questioning. Now.

With respect, you're getting a hard time here because you haven't made a convincing argument for your decision to support Kavanaugh.
By your reckoning, Dr. Ford is lying. Having seen her testimony and read your educated posts on here over the years, I find it very hard to reconcile the two.
Please put up a good argument for your support of Kavanaugh.

 

[Ruairi77]

Conservatives have been quietly bringing in laws and amendments to state law for years slowly clawing back abortion services and care. The state of Missouri has only one abortion clinic left for instance.

Yea I know, and when it has none and the ACLU or PP take that to the supreme court, Roe will be revisited.

 

[Pittsburgh Footy]

This will come off as insensitive to the whole subject of sexual assault, but big picture the question no longer should be whether Kavanaugh sexually assaulted Dr. Ford or anyone else.

The bigger question should be whether his actions over the past month or so should raise questions as to whether he's fit to be a Supreme Court Justice.

I think by any measure, most level-headed people can have serious doubts about whether he should be on the Court.

Isn't this something that most of us should be able to agree on?

 

[dublinbluenose]

This will come off as insensitive to the whole subject of sexual assault, but big picture the question no longer should be whether Kavanaugh sexually assaulted Dr. Ford or anyone else.

The bigger question should be whether his actions over the past month or so should raise questions as to whether he's fit to be a Supreme Court Justice.

I think by any measure, most level-headed people can have serious doubts about whether he should be on the Court.

Isn't this something that most of us should be able to agree on?

TBH that was the whole point of Ford bringing the complaint. I don't think it was ever a runner that he would be charged with sexual assault, despite there not being a statute of limitations issue.

It was just another reason why he's not a fit and proper person to sit on the SC.

 

[Pittsburgh Footy]

TBH that was the whole point of Ford bringing the complaint. I don't think it was ever a runner that he would be charged with sexual assault, despite there not being a statute of limitations issue.

It was just another reason why he's not a fit and proper person to sit on the SC.

I don't disagree with you - I don't think Ford was trying to bring criminal charges - clearly it was to question his character.

But in the court of public opinion, the right is generally arguing about whether he sexually assaulted her, ignoring the question of integrity, how he handled himself through the process, etc. I also still continue to be baffled about the "innocent until proven guilty" narrative in terms of this issue, as he's not on trial. He's interviewing for a job. Two completely different sets of relevant facts and circumstances

 

[Ghoat]

This will come off as insensitive to the whole subject of sexual assault, but big picture the question no longer should be whether Kavanaugh sexually assaulted Dr. Ford or anyone else.

The bigger question should be whether his actions over the past month or so should raise questions as to whether he's fit to be a Supreme Court Justice.

I think by any measure, most level-headed people can have serious doubts about whether he should be on the Court.

Isn't this something that most of us should be able to agree on?

I agree. Schumer stated 10 mins after the nomination was announced that he was voting no, and that he would do everything to defeat him. From there to here, I would have to say he is man of his word. When it comes down to it, the democrats can not afford for this nomination to go thru. The Court will be 5-4 conservative for the next 10-20 years. The only hope is to somehow defend 26 seats and flip 2 of 9 next month.

The democrats simply cannot afford to lose this, at any cost.

 

[Ruairi77]

I agree. Schumer stated 10 mins after the nomination was announced that he was voting no, and that he would do everything to defeat him. From there to here, I would have to say he is man of his word. When it comes down to it, the democrats can not afford for this nomination to go thru. The Court will be 5-4 conservative for the next 10-20 years. The only hope is to somehow defend 26 seats and flip 2 of 9 next month.

The democrats simply cannot afford to lose this, at any cost.

that's all fair enoug
but he lied under oath.

 

[LinekersLegs]

I don't disagree with you - I don't think Ford was trying to bring criminal charges - clearly it was to question his character.

But in the court of public opinion, the right is generally arguing about whether he sexually assaulted her, ignoring the question of integrity, how he handled himself through the process, etc. I also still continue to be baffled about the "innocent until proven guilty" narrative in terms of this issue, as he's not on trial. He's interviewing for a job. Two completely different sets of relevant facts and circumstances

“Innocent until proven guilty” is a very fine standard to follow when applied equally but Republicans seem quite happy to be judge/jury/executioner in the court of public opinion on the character of Dr Ford, the sexual abuse elevator protesters and any democrat such as Keith Ellison.