Senate Hearing Today With Ford and Kavanaugh

By Jeralyn, Section Trump Administration
Posted on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 07:23:00 AM EST
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The Senate Hearing on Christine Ford's allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh begins at 10:00 am. I will be in court by 8 am MT, so I'm putting the thread up early. It's meant to be a live thread for your comments as the hearing is happening and your thoughts on it afterwards.

The Judiciary Committee has posted these items:

Ford's Written Testimony
Kavanaugh's Written Testimony
A letter from 64 of Kavanaugh's high school friends on the Avanatti/Swetting allegations
A letter from 65 of Kavenaugh's female high school friends dated Sept. 14 when Ford's allegations first arose

[More...]

As to Avenatti's client, Julie Swetnick, Politico has interviewed a former boyfriend of hers from the 80's who says he had to take out a restraining order against her after they broke up due to threats she made against him and his new wife, and that she is not credible.

And now there is news that two men have come forward separately to claim that they were the one who was with Ford at the time of the Kavanaugh incident.

I assume Ford will tell her truth as she believes it to be. But that's not the end of the matter. As I've said before, faulty eyewitness testimony is one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions. In most of these cases, these witnesses weren't lying, but they were mistaken.

I would be a lot more comfortable with a hearing on Judge Kavenaugh's legal views than the one we're getting today. Just watching it will make me feel like a voyeur into highly personal events in the lives of two people 38 years ago that are none of my business.

< Wednesday Open Thread | Kavenaugh Comes Out Strong and Angry >

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Senate Hearing Today With Ford and Kavanaugh | 64 comments (64 topical)

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This is just plain insulting. (5.00 / 2) (#6)
by vml68 on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 10:46:19 AM EST

This was not an assault by a stranger in a dark alley. I can accept a case of mistaken identity in a situation like that. Most people are assaulted/molested/raped by people known to them. It's hard enough to come forward and talk about your experience without having to hear that your memory of the incident and the person/s involved can't be trusted.

: Thank you. Blasey Ford an EYEWITNESS? (5.00 / 1) (#55)
by Towanda on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 04:18:05 PM EST

Heaven help women who are raped in Colorado.

"Grimmness" (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 11:53:53 AM EST

Is being reported in the White House

Don, Jr. is live tweeting. (none / 0) (#17)
by oculus on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 11:56:53 AM EST

: Orin Hatch (none / 0) (#27)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 01:20:58 PM EST

Looks like he may have had or be having a stroke.

Lindsey Graham (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 12:08:39 PM EST

Just lost his mind

On camera

You are assuming (5.00 / 1) (#20)
by Zorba on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 12:28:31 PM EST

that he had a mind to lose. ;-)


It was something (5.00 / 1) (#21)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 12:29:47 PM EST

Even for him

I was looking for the video. Can't find it yet but I've seen it on both CNN and MSNBC.


Tell us more (none / 0) (#23)
by Peter G on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 12:37:32 PM EST

please


It will show up (none / 0) (#24)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 12:50:29 PM EST

Watching this I think this is going to be seen as worse than Anita Hill. For several reasons not least of which is the "prosecutor" the gutless republicans hired to question her.

The word prosecutor is going to be important. She is acting like one and the Drs lawyers are starting to treat her like one.

This is an absolute unmitigated disaster for republicans


Lindsey (none / 0) (#25)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 12:53:43 PM EST

Watch Lindsey Graham's meltdown in front of reporters over Ford testimony: `God help us as Republicans'

Lindsey (none / 0) (#29)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 01:22:14 PM EST

Feels ambushed

And not in the way he likes getting ambushed


: I thought we were (none / 0) (#31)
by jondee on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 01:25:15 PM EST

finished talking about trains.

To be clear (none / 0) (#33)
by Yman on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 01:29:57 PM EST

It looks like he was talking about what would happen if Republicans fail to confirm Kavenaugh. Then he threatened future Democratic nominees. Not a happy man - and very stressed.

Such a shame.


Graham has aspirations... (none / 0) (#30)
by desertswine on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 01:24:13 PM EST

of being rewarded by being the next attorney general, imo.


first time I've ever agreed (none / 0) (#53)
by Jeralyn on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 03:57:30 PM EST

with Lindsay Graham.


I think the real real reason (none / 0) (#56)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 04:22:12 PM EST

Lindsey is so flustered is it just sunk in the democrats have learned to use their tactics against them.


: Well, that (none / 0) (#57)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 04:31:01 PM EST

And that little performance was for an audience of one and it was an audition for AG.

Kavanaugh (5.00 / 4) (#48)
by KeysDan on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 03:27:40 PM EST

is an embarrassment as an appellate court judge and does not show the temperament for elevation to the Supreme Court. Anger and belligerence, even when justified, should be managed. not displayed so as to bring into question his judicial even Ness

Looking forward (5.00 / 3) (#49)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 03:29:14 PM EST

To him shouting down the women


He (5.00 / 2) (#58)
by FlJoe on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 04:33:02 PM EST

just apologized for his terrible bounce back question to Klobuchar about his drinking. His lawyers had to write him a note to tell him he fked up, Grassley called a break after that so he could be rehabilitated.

Over all he comes off as a total dick IMO.


: My take on the note was that (none / 0) (#62)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 05:59:51 PM EST

it related to his calendar somehow. As soon as he read the note he then started flipping through his calendar as though he was looking for something.

He has probably (5.00 / 3) (#52)
by Zorba on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 03:55:17 PM EST

never been questioned, so he cannot handle it.
Yes, I agree, a temperament that should not be on any court, much less the Supreme Court.


: But but but ... (none / 0) (#63)
by Erehwon on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 11:14:25 PM EST

that's what makes him the perfect Trump nominee!

That hissing sound (none / 0) (#1)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 09:41:05 AM EST

Is the air escaping from the Kavanaugh nomination.

She asked for caffeine (none / 0) (#2)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 09:48:52 AM EST

And the offer her a coke?

I think it will be seen as a mistake (none / 0) (#3)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 10:17:50 AM EST

To hire Delores Umbridge as the inquisitor

I anticipated Kavanaugh would (none / 0) (#4)
by oculus on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 10:42:17 AM EST

be in the room during Dr. Ford's testimony.

: That was one of her (none / 0) (#5)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 10:44:11 AM EST

Conditions
Not in the room.

Delores totally wiffs (none / 0) (#7)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 11:01:14 AM EST

On "scientific terminology"

WHEN DID YOU STOP BEING AFRAID OF FLYING

Sounds like Delores (none / 0) (#9)
by jondee on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 11:21:42 AM EST

might be an Erica Jong fan.


She is so outmatched (none / 0) (#13)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 11:38:01 AM EST

Ha (none / 0) (#15)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 11:46:08 AM EST

Steve Schmidt
Steve Schmidt
@SteveSchmidtSES
Every GOP campaign strategist and Hill staffer wishes they had the button to open the trap door under Rachel Mitchell's chair. What a total and complete Political disaster for Republicans.

: Andy Borowitz (5.00 / 2) (#28)
by Yman on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 01:21:28 PM EST

"Congratulations Rudy Giuliani on no longer being the worst lawyer in TV!"

Remember (none / 0) (#8)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 11:08:19 AM EST

This is the warm up act. As important as this is the best part of this "hearing" is going to be when democrats go after Kavanaugh like choreographed kamikazes.

Can't watch (none / 0) (#10)
by Steve13209 on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 11:24:58 AM EST

I keep turning off the live video and escaping to a live blog. The whole episode horrifies me. I am waiting for that nice, female assistant to stick a shiv in Dr. Ford's side any minute.

And those 11 GOP men on the Committee...just sitting back in judgement...disgusting.

: This is history (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 11:30:44 AM EST

So Far I Haven't Heard Satisfactory Answers to: (none / 0) (#12)
by RickyJim on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 11:34:50 AM EST

Why didn't the Democrats get the FBI to investigate the allegations when they first learned of them in July?

Why didn't the Republicans ask the FBI to reopen their background check after the allegations became public in September?

Because the only person (none / 0) (#14)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 11:41:04 AM EST

Who can direct the FBI background check be reopened is the president. That's all.

Not DiFi

Not Chuck

He was never going to do that because they knew about all this long before the first accuser same forward

That is Exactly What I Mean (1.33 / 3) (#18)
by RickyJim on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 11:58:33 AM EST

by an unsatisfactory answer. Was there any way the Democrats could have gotten the investigation started while keeping Dr. Ford's identity secret? They really had to just sit on it? Have the Republicans requested that the background check be reopened and been rebuffed?


Reread previous response (5.00 / 2) (#22)
by Peter G on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 12:36:48 PM EST

The FBI is a Bureau within the U.S. Dept. of Justice. It is not available as an on-call resource to any given Senator (or Senate Committee, for that matter). The FBI, as one of its tasks, conducts background checks on prospective federal employees, including presidential nominees. In the latter case, it is acting at the request of the President/White House.


Another Unsatisfactory Answer (1.00 / 3) (#32)
by RickyJim on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 01:27:02 PM EST

Of course I know that. Please reread my questions.


Read them (5.00 / 2) (#34)
by Yman on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 01:32:57 PM EST

Democrats have no power to have the FBI investigate the claims.
The White House, who had the power to do so, didn't. Republicans didn't request it. You'll need to ask them why. Personally, I think they were afraid of what they'd find.

As for 1. (2.00 / 2) (#35)
by RickyJim on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 01:59:10 PM EST

The Republicans like Grassley and Graham keep insisting that the Democrats kept them in the dark about the Ford accusations and they would have been very happy to have them investigated in confidence if they were given a heads up back in July or August. Has Feinstein responded?

I agree that the response of the Republicans to the Democratic complaint that the FBI should get on this right away is not satisfactory. Senator Graham complains that the Democrats want to delay the Senate vote past the mid term elections. The new senators don't take office until Jan 3. That leaves plenty of time to get Kavanaugh confirmed.


Not what you asked (5.00 / 3) (#47)
by Yman on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 03:13:57 PM EST

What you asked was:

The answer is they don't have the authority to direct the FBI to investigate. As far as your new question, Feinstein indicated she was respecting Dr. Ford's desire to about going public and did not want to be identified.


How many times (5.00 / 4) (#51)
by Zorba on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 03:51:50 PM EST

do we have to put up with the idiots asking "Why didn't the Democrats get the FBI to investigate?" and how many times do we have to answer "They can't, legally or constitutionally."

And how many times do we have to tell them that Feinstein was, in fact, actually respecting the wishes of Dr. Ford to remain anonymous for a good while? But I guess that the Republicans would not have respected her wish for privacy if they thought it would benefit them. But then, that seems to be the way the Republicans roll. It's all about "me, me, me," or "us, us, us" and the heck with individuals.

Dr. Ford Wanted Her Charges Investigated (none / 0) (#50)
by RickyJim on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 03:48:24 PM EST

That doesn't mean her name would be outed. Does Feinstein claim that bringing the allegations to the Republicans to ask that they be investigated as part of the background check would have Ford's name to become public.


You have (5.00 / 1) (#59)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 05:07:07 PM EST

a lot more trust in the GOP than I do.


Are you under the impression (none / 0) (#60)
by Yman on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 05:32:26 PM EST

... that anyone here speaks for Sen. Feinstein? Because you appear to believe we do.

As for my opinion, I have absolutely zero doubt that Dr. Ford's name would have come out had she given the letter to the committee. Not that it matters one bit.


Feinstein Explains (none / 0) (#61)
by RickyJim on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 05:44:53 PM EST

She said neither she or her staff leaked the Ford letter. Her theory is that one of the "beach friends", with whom Ford was discussing how she could alert the President or Senate to what she had to say, told the media and that is how the allegations became public. I was left with the impression that Feinstein was implying that the Democrats would have never run with this issue had the media not taken it up first.


: Not sure how to address (none / 0) (#64)
by Yman on Fri Sep 28, 2018 at 08:14:56 AM EST

... "impressions" of what someone believes Feinstein is "implying" ... or what difference it makes.

Just to be clear (none / 0) (#26)
by jondee on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 01:12:48 PM EST

it's somewhat inconsistent at best to bring up the unreliability of eyewitness testimony and then give creedence to the testimony of two men who were in such an altered state that they can't agree on which one was "with" Dr Ford.

: neither one has been shown (none / 0) (#54)
by Jeralyn on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 03:58:30 PM EST

to have been with Ford any night

Will he call it (none / 0) (#36)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 02:06:29 PM EST

A "high tech lynching"?

Maybe a high tech (5.00 / 1) (#39)
by jondee on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 02:10:47 PM EST

yacht club suspension.


: Well honestly (none / 0) (#42)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 02:25:09 PM EST

I think we are past his being elevated
Just my impression
I think he is now worried about being demoted

The wife (none / 0) (#38)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 02:10:18 PM EST

Is NOT helping


It would (none / 0) (#37)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 02:07:03 PM EST

seem judging the news in general this has gone very badly for the GOP.

Avenatti says (none / 0) (#40)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 02:17:28 PM EST

He has eye witnesses. Does he? Elifino.

But if he does I would expect them soon.


: Note (none / 0) (#41)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 02:23:31 PM EST

That might only be his client. But I thought there was more.
Don't feel like checking.

: My understanding (none / 0) (#44)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 02:57:33 PM EST

is his client can name the people that gang raped. However if Avenatti says he has witnesses, he has witnesses.

Beer is (none / 0) (#43)
by KeysDan on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 02:49:43 PM EST

confirmed, not so sure about him.

Ok (none / 0) (#45)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 02:59:15 PM EST

Grassley to Hatch

get the hook Orin

: Ha (none / 0) (#46)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 27, 2018 at 03:01:36 PM EST

DiFi
Would you like to say more about it? (Please)