I'm guessing that 95% of current congressmen, supreme court justices, federal justices, cabinet members, and all past and current presidents spent nearly every weekend as a teenager at a beach house they owned. It takes a crucible like that to produce real leadership.
This is ridiculous. Why can't we just move on to the next conservative judge already? Are there fixed timelines on confirmations? Can they withdraw Kavanaugh today, nominate Barrett immediately, and confirm her tomorrow? Can it be done before elections? What are the rules?
While that is true for presidents (except for Bill C.) and increasingly true for congressmen, it has not been true generally for SCOTUS.
Consider:
Justice sotomayor grew up in housing projects in NY; Clarence Thomas was destitute until he went to live with his grandfather (who had indoor plumbing!) at age 7;
Justice Breyer comes from a middle class family (SF); Justice Roberts is from the midwest and his family appears to have been middle class. Justice Ginsburg (NY) had two immigrant parents.
Justice Alito's family and Jutice Kagan's family had cash (NJ and NY).
Of course Trump's two picks (Gorsuch and Kavenaugh) both come from families that were rich enough to send their kids to the same very private school: Georgetown Prep.
The newest (3rd) accuser claims to have witnesses of Kavanaugh & Mark Judge spiking drinks to get girls so disoriented they couldn't say "no", with the boys then pulling "trains" on the girls in a side bedroom.
Meanwhile, the 2nd accuser's attorney said no Republicans called in to a previous scheduled phone interview.
Mark Judge wants nothing to do with any of this, of course, and must certainly regret his writings of their partying ways, has been laying low, but not low enough for reporters to find him:
MJ2.jpg
(Avenatti definitely came through on this promise to produce more accusers.)
It is still impossible to know what really happened but there seems to be a "critical mass" that at the very least demands a delay on the proceedings and and further investigation into the many claims.
I would also expect now with the various claims and their surroundings circumstances that more people will corroborate the accusers stories.
If there were at least 10 parties where Kavanaugh behaved like he is accused of behaving certainly there has to be dozens of witnesses that will now come forward.
But there is no reason to proceed ahead until proper time is given to investigate in my mind.
And if this is all a political ploy then it makes the Garland stuff look like child's play.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This Twitter thread makes that claim look like a falsehood:
https://twitter.com/KimStrassel/status/1044790886494863360
It will be interesting to see if any of these folks are willing to testify under oath. Last I heard, Ford was not. Has that changed? Kavanaugh's interviews with committee investigators are transcribed and were given under oath.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
It seems that the Dems are keeping their distance from Avenatti. Smart. He's a sleazeball (and calling him that is probably an insult to sleazeballs everywhere).
Senate Judiciary Committee staff have contacted Michael Avenatti on six separate occasions asking that he produce evidence to substantiate the allegation of sexual assault levied against Brett Kavanaugh by his client, Julie Swetnick.
“Altogether, this is my 6th email to you since your Sunday night Tweet, to seek your cooperation in obtaining evidence about your allegations,” a Judiciary Committee staff member wrote to Avenatti in a Wednesday email obtained by National Review. “Please let me know immediately whether your client will agree to an interview by committee investigators today. We can do a telephone interview anytime this afternoon or evening.”
Committee staffers first reached out to Avenatti for evidence of his client’s claims ten minutes after he tweeted about the allegations Sunday night and, in a subsequent email, provided a link to a local FBI field office so that he might report his client’s allegations himself.
“Going back to last Sunday evening (9/23), you Tweeted anonymous accusations against Judge Kavanaugh. Within 10 minutes, I emailed you and requested that you provide to the Senate Judiciary Committee the specific allegations and any evidence,” a Committee staff member wrote in the Wednesday email summarizing their correspondence thus far. “The Chairman’s committee investigators immediately started inquiring about your anonymous allegations. On Tuesday (9/25), the committee investigators questioned Judge Kavanaugh, under penalty of felony, about all pending and specific allegations against him, including your then-anonymous allegations and questions. He unequivocally denied the allegations. He has called them a smear – and worse.”
When reached for comment, Avenatti explained that while he is not opposed to allowing Senate staff to interview his client, he would first like to receive an adequate answer to an email he sent to the staff on Monday that included a number of requests regarding the investigation into his client’s claims. In that email, Avenatti asked for a full FBI investigation of his client’s allegations, including a polygraph test, and also requested that Kavanaugh’s friend Mark Judge be called to testify regarding Kavanaugh’s behavior at parties in high school.
After first describing the allegations in a Sunday tweet, Avenatti released the name of his client, Julie Swetnick, Wednesday. Swetnick alleges that Kavanaugh routinely sexually assaulted girls at parties in high school and was “present” while she was gang raped at one such gathering. While she does not accuse Kavanaugh directly of participating in gang rape, she claims to have seen him waiting in line outside a bedroom where she believed a gang rape was taking place.
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/kavanaugh-nomination-michael-avenatti-senate-judiciary-committee/
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
You can definitely see the race car driver / adrenaline junkie in Avenatti coming out. No fear, very calculating... with ambition for Trump's job.
Trump: (paraphrase) "Avenatti is a low life lawyer" (Which is pretty funny, when you consider the source.)
Avenatti: "Let's go!" (Avenatti wants to debate Trump on TV, which could generate much more pay-per-view than Mayweather-Pacquiao.)
His take down of Tucker Carlson was pretty emphatic: "Why do you even have a show if you didn't know these two basic facts?"
Just tonight: "Even Don, Jr. got into the act today by calling me the 'porn star lawyer' while he evidently forgot that it was his own father who was having unprotected sex with my 'porn star' client while his wife was at home with a four month old baby". (Ouch. I don't think Don, Jr will be taking on Avenatti any time soon in a TV debate.)
If Avenatti's visibility keeps rising and the rest of the Democrats can't get their act together for 2020, we may see a symmetry rise on the left with the same basic "style" that allowed Trump's rise, which opened the door for the Republicans to make their Faustian Deal to get the SCOTUS stacked for a generation, ie, the Kavanaugh circus.
Avenatti is a much smarter version of Saul Goodman, with serious ambition. Of course he's a sleeze ball lawyer... yet the assertion has no traction, in our current context. If Avenatti takes down Trump, he would be the hero of 60% of Americans.
Summary: We live in an insane time. This is all nuts, and not good. But it's where we are.
Last edited by Ma'ake; 09-26-2018 at 09:38 PM.
I'm getting the sense the answer is an emphatic "no". It's got to be Kavanaugh, as he will be a loyal ace card in a possible Constitutional Crisis that requires the SCOTUS to try to resolve it. And it's got to happen ASAFP, even if that means Republicans take a beating in the election.
Now two men have purportedly come forward and claimed they were responsible for the assault on Ford? Weird twist:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...rd/1439569002/
Not much detail there to go on, and who knows what they said but if true that's pretty remarkable. Why would they admit that? Because the statute of limitations is long past? Their lives will be destroyed by partisans regardless.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
But Saul is the least kind of funny. Avenatti simply made his name by exploiting stormy Daniels. She is now a nobody, not making much money, and being heckled and so forth while she “performs.“ He is now a media star. He owes it all to her, and is standing right on top of her.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
I have some connections to Aventti through my firm. I've never met him, but there are lots of people here who have significant history with him. What is out there already is just the tip of the iceberg. He is an absolutely despicable human being (even by lawyer standards). He is morally bankrupt and completely dishonest. He will say or do whatever it takes to help himself He will screw (and has screwed) his partners or clients to advance his own interests. There are very few people out there who are worse human beings than Trump, but Avenatti is almost certainly one of them.
Don't believe a single thing this guy says about anything.
Presumably, there are plenty of candidates who can be loyal ace cards for conservatives. Why stick with Kavanaugh? Is it just the timing, or is it stubbornness?
I feel like, if Kavanaugh truly cared about the conservative cause, he'd take one for the team here. There's already talk of impeachment and investigation should the republicans confirm him. This will never go away for him unless he withdraws. Just back down. Continue to deny, but say you realize now that stepping down is what is best for the nation you love. Let the president and congress complain about how due process was trampled on simply because of political disagreements. All that should resonate with the republican base. Then, just appoint someone else (obviously, a woman).
Of course, Kavanaugh has probably dreamed about this appointment since Yale.
You guys are short changing Saul Goodman. He may have been a criminal lawyer, according to Jesse Pinkman, but he was great in court. He is a born salesman, made very creative (creative in a good effective way, not illegal) and very convincing arguments before a jury. His cross-examination of his brother in the disciplinary proceedings was a master class.
Also, you have to put Avenatti to one side. He is irrelevant. His client is either telling the truth or she isn't. That he is her lawyer doesn't affect that one way or the other, unless he put her up to it. If that happened, she (with two security clearances and an affidavit under oath) is the biggest idiot on the face of the earth. Her credibility matters, not his.
Last edited by concerned; 09-27-2018 at 10:18 AM.
Here’s one part of the matter that is compelling to a great many people, including me: Precedent. Should someone be able to come forward out of nowhere with a 36 year-old sensational but unprovable allegation of horrible behavior and change the course of history (not to mention destroy someone)? People can pooh-pooh that all they want but it is the precedent that will be set. That’s why Kavanaugh is fighting, at least in part, and that’s why lots of people, including me, think he needs to fight. I hope and believe is say the same thing if the political parties were reversed.
If anyone thinks the Dems here have any other goal than to derail the Kavanaugh nomination, or that there not a gleeful response to this among most partisan Democrats, they’re dreaming. I think what is being done here is beyond despicable.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
But you're gonna die on that hill. At best, you get a tainted judge. At worst, you get nothing. I'm not sure the principle, in this case, is worth it. I think, regardless of how this ends, the precedent has been set.
This is clearly the goal. It may be beyond despicable, but it's what the republicans would do. And, more importantly for republicans, it might work. They could lose this. I think they should take a step back and think strategically here.If anyone thinks the Dems here have any other goal than to derail the Kavanaugh nomination
There is no history in the last 50 years of the Repubs (which is all I remember) engaging in character assassination of any SCOTUS nominee. That has been a part of the Democrats' playbook at least since Clarence Thomas. I don't think either side did it before then. Also, if the Repubs tried that tactic how well do you think it would play in the news/entertainment media?
It's not really set until it works. That's the decision the Repubs have to make: Do we let this tactic work?I'm not sure the principle, in this case, is worth it. I think, regardless of how this ends, the precedent has been set.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
I guess I should have said that the republicans will do whatever they can get away with, just like the democrats. If they thought it would work, they would do this. You are right, though. Due to differences in things like the media, the republicans have to do different despicable things.
It's working, man. The real decision will be: when do we jump ship on this? I think they will jump too late. They could still gain politically. They could energize their base and get a conservative judge.It's not really set until it works. That's the decision the Repubs have to make: Do we let this tactic work?
I agree with you on this. This seems like a very strange hill for the GOP to fall on their swords for.
My initial inclination was to think that the GOP knew about Kavanaugh and knew he would fail, and they knew that the Democrats were desperately craving a win against Trump, so they put him up as a sacrificial lamb so that whomever they proposed after him would sail through unscathed.
But the GOP keeps pushing this obviously flawed candidate.
Maybe it is to energize their base going into the elections. Poll after poll has shown how despondent they are.
Oh, I think that will happen. Kavanaugh will become the bloody shirt they wave in the midterm elections. I think the Dems should be careful about how they play their taking Kavanaugh down in this disgusting manner. It won't hurt them with their base, but they need much more than their base to win. Trump has said he will have another nominee out 1 hour after Kavanaugh withdraws, if that happens. There's been talk that the Repubs may take that nominee straight to the floor, and bypass the committee hearings, but I don't think they have the GOP votes to pull that off.
In the event he withdraws, I hope my liberal buddies everywhere will enjoy their celebratory libations, at least a little.
Last edited by LA Ute; 09-27-2018 at 01:42 PM.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell