dagblog - Comments for "'Not helpful': GOP Senators sour on Trump's handling of Kavanaugh accuser"

Will tries, and fails again,

AmericanDreamer — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 16:53:44 +0000

In reply to George Will, meanwhile, has

Will tries, and fails again, to thread a needle. He does not say what he believes is the right vote or course of action. Even though he hints at a position Democrats in the Senate declined to take, which is that postponing appointment of the next justice until ~~after the November~~ ~~elections~~ the next Congress may be the least bad option under the circumstances considering how the GOP majority dealt with the Garland nomination.

More fundamentally, he falls into the trap of treating the FBI findings as the decisive issue. Kavanaugh manifestly lacks judicial temperament. Confirming him would wreak immense damage to the Court, the Senate, and the country. Elevating the national interest above other considerations, as Will's column superficially may appear to do, requires a no vote.

Of any patriot willing to uphold the oath of office they took to protect and defend our Constitution, that is.

ETA: Potentially a major difference between "after the November elections" (which, if the vote were held before the next Congress, would have a lame duck, and especially spineless and lame, GOP majority still in control) vs. "the next Congress" (where there will be a different makeup, possibly with a different party in the majority and possibly not).

Enjoyed getting your input,

artappraiser — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 16:24:29 +0000

In reply to Will tries, and fails again,

Enjoyed getting your input, Dreamer, on all 3 points.

Maybe he'll pull a shocker

AmericanDreamer — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 15:10:45 +0000

In reply to Senator Sasse on the floor:

Maybe he'll pull a shocker and vote no in the end, which would definitely attract my interest and reconsideration. But Sasse isn't even on the list of GOP senators considered open to a no vote. Unless and until he takes actions that provide substance and integrity backing up the image he seeks to project with his words, he has zero credibility as being anything other than one more party and ideology-over-country GOP hack, when push comes to shove as now.

I can confirm that was true

AmericanDreamer — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 12:21:27 +0000

In reply to James Comey reveals being a

I can confirm that was true during his law school years.

George Will, meanwhile, has

artappraiser — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 05:32:14 +0000

In reply to 'Not helpful': GOP Senators sour on Trump's handling of Kavanaugh accuser

George Will, meanwhile, has chosen instead to call out their hypocrisy on Merritt Garland; who'd thunk it? (Obviously written before McConnell set up the vote)

Jeff Flake let down the GOP — and served the nation @ WaPo, Oct. 3

[...] Do enraged Republicans think the national interest, or even their party’s interest, would have been well-served if, with the embers still smoldering from Christine Blasey Ford’s and Kavanaugh’s testimonies, Senate Republicans had used their legislative muscle to shove Kavanaugh’s confirmation to completion by now?

With midterm elections impending, Democrats will soon say: “We should wait and let the voters be heard from.” This argument for a plebiscitary confirmation process is an argument that Republicans richly deserve to have turned against them. It is as anti-constitutional and unconservative as it was in March 2016 when it was concocted for use against the nomination of Merrick Garland. Had the Republican-controlled Senate confirmed him — he was manifestly qualified, moderate and 63 — today’s nominee to replace Anthony M. Kennedy could have been Neil M. Gorsuch. Are Republicans happy with the way things have worked out?

At this point in a cringe-inducing process that is not apt to become less so, one consideration is more important than all the other considerations — justice for her, justice for him, raising awareness about bad sexual behavior, etc. — combined: What best serves, or least further injures, the court’s institutional standing? Which is worse, confirming Kavanaugh, who diminished himself by his strident self-defense, or not confirming him, validating what has been done to him with as yet uncorroborated accusations? [....]

James Comey reveals being a

artappraiser — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 04:07:37 +0000

In reply to 'Not helpful': GOP Senators sour on Trump's handling of Kavanaugh accuser

James Comey reveals being a Reagan fan:

After last night’s rally, it is important to remember we once had a President who spoke these words: “Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God.” Ronald Reagan
— James Comey (@Comey) October 3, 2018

Senator Sasse on the floor:

artappraiser — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 02:39:23 +0000

In reply to 'Not helpful': GOP Senators sour on Trump's handling of Kavanaugh accuser

Senator Sasse on the floor: We all know that the President cannot lead us through this time. We know that he's dispositionally unable to restrain his impulse to divide us. His mockery of Dr. Ford in Mississippi was wrong but it doesn't really surprise anyone. It’s who he is."
— Alan He (@alanhe) October 4, 2018

Senator Sasse grew weepy on the Senate floor as he read excerpts from this Atlantic Mag @CaitlinPacific story https://t.co/a1XBEaVxAl
— Alan He (@alanhe) October 4, 2018