Kavanaugh Hearing Open Thread
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 41 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
She’s giving her opening statement now. Quite surprised she actually showed up.
Note that she does not name the friend who caused her to become acquainted with Bret Kavanaugh.
Of all the persons she named as being at the “party” none of them recall such a party, including her girlfriend, Bob Beckel’s ex-wife, who she says was present.
She says that she was ashamed to tell anyone. Why?
Her demeanor reminds me of several of the psych majors I knew at the U of I as an undergrad.
The woman is obviously damaged goods, but I doubt if it is from this event, even if the event occurred.
According to Dr. Ford, why is the news media not the villain here?
Of course she damaged goods. They’re all damaged goods. All of them Otherwise they wouldn’t let themselves be used by Democrats like this, would they?
Senator Leahy says we should have an FBI investigation. He points to the Anita Hill case. He says he believed Anita HIll. IIRC, didn’t the FBI conclude there was no way to determine guilt?
Interesting. She has testified that Chris Garrett originally introduced her to Kavanaugh and Mark Judge. This the same Chris Garrett who Ed Whalen theorizes that she may have mistaken for Kavanaugh. She denies that such a mistake in identity occurred.
Note that she does not name the friend who caused her to become acquainted with Bret Kavanaugh.
A professional association between the parents has not been identified (Mr. Blasey and Mrs. Kavanaugh worked in very different segments of the legal profession, and there would have been close to 10,000 lawyers in greater Washington at the time), no one has contended the two families were personal friends, they didn’t live all that proximate to each other (about 8 miles apart in a county which at the time contained about 500,000 people living in its suburban tracts), nor were any of the Blasey children enrolled at Georgetown Prep. If they were at all acquainted, there has to be a discrete event or a person who introduced one to the other because they would not have crossed paths ordinarily.
She has testified that Chris Garrett originally introduced her to Kavanaugh and Mark Judge.
Supposedly Mr. Garrett has some technical managerial position with a company in Alberta. I don’t know that he’s had anything to say about all this It would seem audacious to make this claim if it were false but she’s already been undercut by two other people in addition to Mark Judge.
According to Dr. Ford, why is the news media not the villain here?
As far as I can tell, the media’s left her in peace and published just two photographs of her, one taken around 1984 and one taken recently which makes her look rather more handsome than she actually is. The unfortunate Mr. Judge, who has been roadkill in this whole imbroglio has been stalked with candid shots distributed of his mug and the contents of his car.
Art, actually according to her testimony, she came forward because the press was camped outside of her house, was invading her privacy, was hounding her at work and even coming into her classroom. To me, that sounds rather villainous.
Well, according to CBS, she is completely credible and you can definitely see the crime happening. So there you go.
“It becomes a verdict on whether women should be believed, not about the facts of what happened that night.” That is the assessment of the CBS round table. Take it for what it s.
‘How you acted in high school and college could shine a light on the type of person you are.’ Again, CBS. Eeek. So much for the Animal House generation.
One thing about any hearing is that I always like to go last. Let’s see how Kavanaugh does at the most important hearing of his career.
Art, actually according to her testimony, she came forward because the press was camped outside of her house, was invading her privacy, was hounding her at work and even coming into her classroom. To me, that sounds rather villainous.
Did you see any shots of people on her lawn?
Here’s a brain squeezer: how would they know it was her unless someone in Eshoo’s office or Feinstein’s office was handing out her name? And if they’re so assiduous about keeping tabs on her, how come no one’s taken and published but one picture of her?
She is now being questioned about her mythical fear of flying. She admits that she frequently flies although she doesn’t like to fly. She says that she hoped she could be interviewed at her home. The Committee offered to send staffers to take her deposition on the West Coast where she lives. She refused the offer. The claim that her fear of flying prevented testimony on Monday is bunk, total bunk. The Democrats simply wanted to delay the hearing.
The Republican chattering heads on twitter and television are so full of cowdung, it’s unbelievable. They’re so intent to avoid standing up to this circus that their cowardice is contemptible.
I cannot watch a repeat of the Anita Hill saga. Simply cannot do it.
I’m with you LQC. I was also wrong on my prediction that she wouldn’t show.
Let us pray for Congress during this whole sad debacle. Yes, I know, not Roman, but I like these prayers.
MOST gracious God, we humbly beseech thee, as for the people of these United States in general, so especially for their Senate and Representatives in Congress assembled; that thou wouldest be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations, to the advancement of thy glory, the good of thy Church, the safety, honour, and welfare of thy people; that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be establish among us for all generations. These and all other necessaries, for them, for us, and thy whole Church, we humbly beg in the Name and mediation of Jesus Christ, our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.
Interesting:
Ford’s polygraph expert has been a subcontractor of the Democrat law firm representing Ford in DC. Hanafin’s a “progressive” from Boston who says that when administering polygraphs on “victims” like Ford u automatically “believe them” & don’t ask them specific questions
https://twitter.com/paulsperry_/status/1045362332455628801
The Senate tends to be the Home of Fake, but Cory Booker raises Fake to a smarmy art form.
Art, I’m simply pointing out that according to Dr. Ford, it was the actions of the press that compelled her to come forward. I’m not saying it happened one way or another. I’m saying that she, who the press has declared totally believable, and some Democrats agree, has said it was thus. I find that interesting.
The Senate tends to be the Home of Fake, but Cory Booker raises Fake to a smarmy art form.
He’s gotten away with it. The newspapers never looked into his employment history or discovered where he actually lived. Off-brand outlets and bloggers interviewed people living on the block of the structure he used as a voting address and they said you see security personnel loitering about, but do not see the mayor and the house has no furniture on its ground floor. Try to find any information on the “Newark Youth Project” of which he said he was (his claim) the executive director. He supposedly did legal work for some NGO in New York which does appear to exist (whether or not he actually worked there), otherwise, it’s just elected offices. And, of course, important crime metrics in Newark grew worse during his time in office. The man is absolute unadulterated hype.
Art, I’m simply pointing out that according to Dr. Ford, it was the actions of the press that compelled her to come forward.
She had an attorney lined up who scheduled a polygraph. It was a matter of days between when Feinstein dropped her stink bomb and Blasey’s name was published. Are you saying that press was camped out all around her but keeping her name unpublished?
Art, No. I’m saying that by her statements, she has said it was the press. I’m not rendering judgment. For all I know Senator Feinstein sent Ninjas in to kidnap her and force her to go public. I’m saying that she, who the press and a growing number of Democrats have declared completely credible and to be believed, has put the blame pretty much on the behavior of the press. I’d think the press would answer that. That’s all.
She testified that she dated Chris Garrett for a while. Odd. Maybe Ed Whelan wasn’t crazy after all and/or maybe Christine Bassey Ford is.
So, what was the prosecutor getting at? My guess – and I’m no lawyer – she seems to struggle with facts from weeks ago. She also was clearly pushed along by the Democrats, who didn’t suggest doing what should be done in these cases. That’s what I got.
She testified that her friend Leland as health problems, implying that is the reason why she can’t recall a party where her good friend left in a hurry after being nearly raped. If this were a trial the jurors would be rolling their eyes at this point.
Art, No. I’m saying that by her statements, she has said it was the press.
And I’m telling you that complaint is no more believable than any other complaint she has.
all’s fair in love war and politics,,,,,,,statute of limitations anyone,,,,?
She testified that she dated Chris Garrett for a while.
Unless I’m mistaken, the Garretts lived in Chevy Chase and the Blaseys in Potomac. There’s 13 miles between the two addresses. Unless I’ve confused his family with someone else’s, Christopher Garrett had a pair of sisters. I suppose if one or the other had been enrolled at ‘Holton-Arms’….
Art, I’m not saying it is or isn’t. I’m saying the press – who she is accusing – has called her entirely credible and believable. Multiple Democrats have said they believe her, no questions. So by that, shouldn’t they be condemning the press? My point is, she has been declared absolutely believable by the same ones who should be hanging their heads if they really think she is believable. But they’re not. Why not? Do they not really believe her? Or do they not care that they are the cause of so much of her pain, at least according to her? That is the whole point.
That is the whole point.
At this point, you’re making sense only to yourself.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter whether Dr. Ford is right about the assault, lying, or mistaken. Unfortunately, I don’t think it matters what Judge Kavanaugh says or how credibly he says it.
All that matters to this nomination is whether the political realities carve off two GOP Senators or not. All that matters in the larger sense is that this tactic worked brilliantly and we will see it repeated again and again since such claims cannot be effectively defended against if Congress lacks the guts to use its contempt powers… Which it does.
There are serious broader ramifications for society as folks are schooled in the art of slander and libel and the inability of folks to defend against claims. We’ll see it replayed in schools, work, and social organizations whenever someone seeks to move someone on.
Dems don’t care about the broader results, of course. Republicans don’t care enough to act either. This is going someplace terrible and I am not sure there is a way to survive such an assault or to prevent against it.
Art, it seems so simple.
1. Dr, Ford said it was the behavior of the press that compelled her to come forward though she didn’t what to. I’m not saying she lied. I wasn’t there. I don’t know hearts and souls. I just know that’s what she said.
2. The press, and Democrats, have declared her entirety believable and trustworthy and credible.
3. I find it interesting that they are missing the fact that if she is so believable – per their own testimony – then why aren’t they discussing the role that the press played in her having to come forward into this horrible process? They’ve dwelt on how brave she is, and how horrible it is she has to go through this. And yet, per her believable testimony, they are the ones who made it happen.
then why aren’t they discussing the role that the press played in her having to come forward into this horrible process?
Because they don’t care and have no reason to. This isn’t that difficult.
Lots of emotion by Judge Kavanaugh. Good.
Of course
The Judge is reviewing the fact that none of the persons she names as being at the party support her allegations.
All that matters to this nomination is whether the political realities carve off two GOP Senators or not.
None of the 2-4 GOP troublemakers are in danger of ‘political realities’ should they vote ‘yes’. Three of them might be if they vote ‘no’: Flake because it might kill off a K Street hire (if he’s interested at all in that) and Collins and Murkowski should it stoke primary challenger. Collins and Murkowski are not young women and may be planning to retire anyway. Collins has 36 years under her belt as a federal employee and is due a premium pension by virtue of beginning her federal service prior to the reset of federal pensions in 1984. These four will do what they want.
I’m not watching, but reading the news websites and the comments here, it “seems” that Ford knocked Kavanaugh out of the SCOTUS.
Does that sound right?
No, that is almost certainly wrong.
Granted Kavanaugh just started his testimony.
Put the TV on for Kavanaugh. He’s knocking it out of the park (should take a minute to blow his nose). Good job slamming the Dems on the committee. He’s doing well establishing that he is not a monster.
Tito, then we get Amy Coney Barrett. Neither she nor Kavanaugh will forget how vile the Dems are. But that does nothing for Kavanaugh’s reputation.