Month: September 2018

They’re just plowing through

by digby

If you wonder how the Republicans got themselves into this Kavanaugh mess, this gives you a good idea. In a nutshell, they don’t give a damn about women, the truth, or anything but their own power:

Imagine if Brett Kavanaugh had offered his emotional, tearful, you-ruined-my-life opening speech to the Judiciary Committee — and then called for a quick FBI probe to clear his name and perhaps find the true assailant. He would have looked confident, humble, even a tad heroic, given the president who nominated him opposed the FBI probe.

Well, he and Republicans had an epic failure of imagination: Instead, they were forced reluctantly and publicly into what should have been a fairly easy-to-anticipate moderate compromise: agree to a vote after a quick FBI probe.

Instead of looking hungry for truth, Kavanaugh heads into the week looking fearful of findings.

There’s a reason for this miscalculation:

Republicans, from the earliest days of the allegations, were overly confident they could just jam this through, several people involved the process tell us.

They thought he would be better defending himself — and that Dr. Ford would seem less credible.

Republicans treated this like a bare-knuckles political fight. They calculated a Fox News appearance, a Trump endorsement, a headstrong Mitch McConnell, a fired-up base, a fast vote would hold the party together.

They’re such serious statemen aren’t they? It’s so reassuring that such people are running the country.

But as this points out, they had good reason to assume that they would win a bare-knuckled fight. If you don’t care about the legitimacy of the court then that’s really all it comes down to. And since they have completely given up on the legitimacy of the presidency and even their own institution, it follows that the court would be no different. These are people who don’t even care that a corrupt buffoon is leading their party and that he was installed in the presidency with the help of a foreign adversary. Why would they care about this?

The Democrats don’t have the votes. Why would they have ever thought that Jeff Flake of all people would step up?

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The Difference Between Ford and Kavanaugh 

by tristero

This is an extraordinary chart, developed by Alvin Chang and others at Vox. Every line represents a question and answer from Thursday’s infamous hearings of Ford and Kavanaugh. If the witness answered directly, the line is coded blue. If the witness tried to dodge the question, the answer was coded red. If you go to the article, you can click on each line and read the actual response from the transcript.

What the chart illustrates is how forthright Ford and Kavanaugh were. From the article:

[T]here was a striking difference in the content of their words. Both Ford and Kavanaugh fielded questions from senators and the prosecutor hired by Republicans, Rachel Mitchell. 

But only Ford made an effort to answer every single question. 

Kavanaugh actively dodged questions. He often repeated the same non-answer over and over. Other times, he insisted on answering a question with “context” — which inevitably was a long story about his childhood — but never actually answered the question.

Kavanaugh is not the kind of person anyone should want on the Supreme Court. But re: Vox, Chang and company: this is precisely the kind of clever, clear, and beautiful representation of data the world needs more of.

There Really Are Two Sides Here

by tristero

Going forward, I sincerely believe there are two very different, very valid sides to the Kavanaugh affair. And good arguments can be made for both points of view:

On the one hand, should Kavanaugh simply be required to withdraw from Supreme Court consideration, give up his judgeship, and be disbarred?

On the other, in addition to all of the above, should Kavanaugh also (1) be required to pay restitution to Dr Blasey Ford and the other women he assaulted; and (2) reimburse this country’s government for the monumental expenditure of resources on his disgraceful hearings?

I really can see both points of view. Personally, I’d be willing to settle for just removing Kavanaugh permanently from the American justice system. But others may think that’s not enough, and I respect their point of view.

What is not reasonable is the phony “other side,” namely for Kavanaugh — who has lied many times now — to have the opportunity to spend even one more day, let alone a week, dragging this country’s political discourse through his and Trump’s mud. As for confirmation? After all his lies and his partisan threats? Please.

It is a testament to how broken our country has become that after yesterday’s hearings, a one-week investigation of his lies is the only politically acceptable alternative.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad that brakes were applied to this travesty. But as talented as some may think he is, a man with Kavanaugh’s obvious character flaws should never have been nominated. Once his extremism, his lies, and his political thuggishness had become known, he should have withdrawn. That he continues to be in our face even after credible evidence of sexual assault came out — and that it is still likely he will be confirmed — is utterly deplorable.

I yield my time
by Tom Sullivan

Maria Gallagher and Ana Maria Archila cornered Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake in an elevator (video) Friday morning. (Image via @mgallagher822 )

Brian Williams opened his show Friday night, saying, “It appears that in the last 24 hours, three women may have changed the course of history. They are Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, Ana Maria Archila and Maria Gallagher.” (Video at link.)

I yield my time.

If I got to ask Brett Kavanaugh a question I’d start with “Before we get into it, I’d like to yield 30 seconds of my time so everyone here – both Democrats and Republicans – can join me in giving Brett Kavanaugh a round of applause for going to Yale.”— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) September 29, 2018

The Devil’s Triangle is a sex act between two men and one woman. It is well documented and widely known. There is no drinking game called “Devil’s Triangle.”
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Renate Alumni is bragging about having been inside Renate.
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Perjury is a crime.— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) September 29, 2018

And nobody in the history of flatulence has ever, in any civilization, referred to it as “Boofing.”— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) September 29, 2018

Google it for the actual definition. It has to do with rectal insertions and is an outdated slang term used by frat boys I knew. This guy yelled and whined and lied about everything. Now you know.— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) September 29, 2018

In 1982, when Kavanaugh was 17, the drinking age in Maryland was not 18. It was 21. I did not go to Yale Law School.— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) September 29, 2018

These are some of the dumbest mistruths and lies Brett Kavanaugh said under oath yesterday. Another one was that he and Mark Judge didn’t get wasted and pin down a young Christine Blasey at a party and sloppily attack her in a way she will remember for the rest of her life.— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) September 29, 2018

Days after November 8, 2016, the answering machine at the local Democratic Party office was overflowing with calls from distraught women. This week was a replay.

I yield time to my colleagues and the women who contacted them this week. First, a Facebook post Friday from the chair of our local Democratic committee:

Our headquarters is being overloaded with calls and drop-in visits from women who have never been involved in politics, and in the past two days have decided they want to do something for this election.

We’re scheduling an open house on Sunday where people can come in and find a way to be involved – or just come and talk to other people who are being impacted by the news.

Our experience was not unique. In a followup note about the open house from another officer:

Today, at Headquarters, we have had multiple women show up, some in tears, wanting to mobilize due to the events of yesterday. We are all so devastated by the immediate result of the hearings but we cannot give up.

We will listen, help them get resources, present opportunities for action. BE THERE FOR THEM.

Someone noted in my Twitter feed Friday that during the January 2017 Women’s March, even with millions in the streets, there were no cops in riot gear. Lavanya Ramanathan saw it as a sign of white privilege, and in large part it was. Perhaps also, the tweet countered, it was because authorities simply don’t take women seriously.

If Senate Republicans vote Brett Kavanaugh onto the U.S. Supreme Court, authorities might need the riot gear.

We’re making an announcement soon!

One thing’s for sure: we’re going to march. https://t.co/BDm2M9PHHj— Women's March (@womensmarch) September 28, 2018

Today and tomorrow, we are joining @BlackWomensBP for the #MarchForBlackWomen. We hope you are too!

On January 19, 2019, we all march again.

Save the date: The #WomensWave is coming. https://t.co/Di6LqQQJfL pic.twitter.com/2vbs06ZRqR— Women's March (@womensmarch) September 29, 2018

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For The Win 2018 is ready for download. Request a copy of my county-level election mechanics primer at tom.bluecentury at gmail.

Friday Night Soother

by digby

Kittens. We need some kittens. God do we ever need kittens.

These viral photos of a grandpa napping with shelter cats has brought in enough funds to run the sanctuary for a year pic.twitter.com/CVXLTGNOvN

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) September 23, 2018

I have a local shelter called the Abbott Kitty Lounge that rescues pregnant mothers and kittens. They are saints, well worth contributing to.

From the live feed of a current litter

9 Ways You Can Help Stop Kavanaugh’s Appointment

By Spocko

One of the things I know about fighting people and organizations with real power is the need to have multiple strategies and tactics working at the same time.

The reason is that you can’t count on just a single angle to work. The other side isn’t stupid. They know how to fight back. What looked like a sure thing can be destroyed in ways you don’t expect.

We must keep using multiple tactics. I tell people to look at their own skill sets and think, “How can I help in a way that is unique to me?”  

Here are some groups of people with areas they can help:

1) Lawyers: What kind of lawsuits can be filed? Were there laws broken people should know about?
2) Journalists: What investigation angle can you do?
3) Politicians: What does it take to start impeachment hearings?
4) Accountants: Is there a financial angle to expose that people should know about?
5) Activists: Is there something new for the media to see?
6) Researchers: What hard evidence can you bring to investigators?
7) Law enforcement: Do you have records of arrests that others don’t know about?

Good strategies allow your tactical moves to build on each other. It’s true that some tactics help, and others hurt. But we have to use multiple tactics because it’s hard to know which will work.

“But I’m not anyone special Spocko, I’m just a regular Jane or Joe.” So ask yourself:
8) Do I have access to information that others don’t?
9) Do I have a skill or position that will allow others to be more effective?

Here are two examples for regular folks like you and me:

Let’s say, for example you work in HR, payroll or IT for a retail store. What can you do? Remember when Dr. Ford wanted to know when Mark Judge worked at Safeway? Maybe your retail store is Safeway! This weekend you can be ready to provide the FBI with Mark Judge’s official employment records AND do it in a way that follows all the corporate HR guidelines to the letter so it is official hard copy evidence.

Did you live in the area in question and had a camera in 1982? Maybe you took photos of a group of boys and girls posing together in 1982 who say now they didn’t know each other. Check your files!

From the FBI new employee’s page. Note the core values poster.

I was a photographer for my yearbook. I have hundreds of photos that I developed but never published. Maybe the people who worked on the yearbooks in and around the area have photos for the FBI. (Here is a link to contact them.) Or get them to the media. Check your files!

A quick word of caution.There will be evidence that looks like it will help Dr. Ford, and it will turn out to be faked. 

One of the techniques of propaganda and “fake news” is to put out something that LOOKS like the perfect thing you want to see. People will forward it everywhere, then it will be shown as fake.  Remember the “kerning” of the letter about George W Bush from the Texas Air National Guard?

During the Bush-era people knew that real evidence existed, so they put out the evidence in a way that would discredit where it came from and the person who brought it forth. They sometimes use a sophisticated technique that combines fake evidence with real evidence to discredit everything. “If this part is fake, how can I trust all the other parts?”

Don’t get suckered. ALWAYS ask for a full and complete investigation before you trust something. 

• Think like a good journalist. “Are there multiple sources?”
• Think like a good prosecutor. “What is the credibility of the witness?”
• Think like a good cop. “Is there a chain of custody of the evidence?”

Keep working on this. You never know which one of the snowflakes will be the one that breaks the tree branch, but if the snow stops the bough might never break.

Go snowflakes!

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And the Carnage Continues in the Shadows 

by tristero

Histrionic political theater hides monstrous behavior. Here’s just one thing that happened that would be — and should be — a major scandal:

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to dissolve its Office of the Science Advisor, a senior post that was created to counsel the E.P.A. administrator on the scientific research underpinning health and environmental regulations, according to a person familiar with the agency’s plans. The person spoke anonymously because the decision had not yet been made public.

The science adviser works across the agency to ensure that the highest quality science is integrated into the agency’s policies and decisions, according to the E.P.A.’s website. The move is the latest among several steps taken by the Trump administration that appear to have diminished the role of scientific research in policymaking while the administration pursues an agenda of rolling back regulations.

You read that right. Trump’s EPA is eliminating the office that advises the head of the EPA on scientific facts. They just get in the way.

Like I said, monstrous behavior hides in the shadows of histrionics. And don’t get me started on those poor children who are still separated from their parents. And it’s being reported that “fewer than” 200 children remain separated — like that’s some kind of good thing. Clearly, none of the reporters or judges had their children ripped from them and placed in cages.

Gag Me With A Spoon 

by tristero

Trump today:

Trump and the White House have been steadfast in their support of Kavanaugh, who has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct. Trump said he has not thought of a replacement for Kavanaugh “even a little bit.” 

But he also said Ford “looked like a very fine woman” during her testimony. 

“It was an incredible moment, I think, in the history of our country,” He said. “But certainly she was a very credible witness. She was very good in many respects.”

These obscenely cynical comments from Trump should fool no one by now. But they’re being reported without context, which is equally obscene. Let’s provide some now. This is the actual way Donald Trump talks about women:

Trump slammed [Fox News host Megyn] Kelly, saying her questions were “ridiculous” and “off-base.” 

“You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes,” Trump told CNN’s Don Lemon on Friday night. “Blood coming out of her wherever.”

And I can easily find more sick, twisted things he’s said about women.  So why is Trump pretending to be magnanimous to Blasey Ford? Two possibilities:

Either the fix is in for Kavanaugh to get confirmed or he’s cutting Kavanaugh loose so he can nominate another right wing lunatic… just one who can hold his liquor better. If there’s a third possibility, I can’t think of one.

UnPresidented!

by digby

I did this fun podcast today with John Aravosis and Cliff Schecter. All about Kav and the crazy angry wingnuts….

Check it out … it was tons of fun.

And subscribe.

They get really good people (not saying I’m one of them, but anyway.)

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“She has a temper. She has an attitude. She could come across as hubristic in the hearings, as arrogant. And so she could Bork herself”

by digby

Those spittle flecked tirades reminded me of this from a few years back:

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

 
That Crazy Beeyotch

by digby

Just in case anyone’s still wondering if that TNR article had in any influence:

At the Heritage Foundation, Manny Miranda floated the theory that Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor could sink her own nomination by being overly firey and combative, like President Ronald Reagan’s defeated nominee Robert Bork.

Sam Alito — soft-spoken. John Roberts — affable and soft-spoken. Sanda Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, David Souter, all of them, soft-spoken. This nominee’s more like Judge Bork. She has a temper. She has an attitude. She could come across as hubristic in the hearings, as arrogant. And so she could Bork herself. It’s very possible.

I asked Miranda about the basis of this theory after the luncheon. “I’ve read Jeff Rosen’s piece [“The Case Against Sotomayor”],” he said, “and that’s what I’m going on. I haven’t met the lady.” He added this to “what I’ve heard from practitioners on the second circuit, and they don’t like her” and wondered if the coming American Bar Association survey of lawyers’ opinions of Sotomayor could reflect all of this negative feedback.

“When that survey comes out, if it reflects Jeff Rosen’s article, it could be pretty explosive. I think she might want to take the committee on, to engage, in a Bork-like fashion.

Yeah, that didn’t happen:

Oh look:

The American Bar Association is calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to halt the consideration of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh until an FBI investigation is completed into the sexual assault allegations that have roiled his nomination.

In a strongly worded letter obtained by CNN Thursday, the organization said it is making the extraordinary request “because of the ABA’s respect for the rule of law and due process under law,” siding with concerns voiced by Senate Democrats since Christine Blasey Ford’s decades-old allegations became public.

“The basic principles that underscore the Senate’s constitutional duty of advice and consent on federal judicial nominees require nothing less than a careful examination of the accusations and facts by the FBI,” said Robert Carlson, president of the organization, in a Thursday night letter addressed to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley and ranking Democrat Dianne Feinstein.

“Each appointment to our nation’s Highest Court (as with all others) is simply too important to rush to a vote,” Carlson wrote. “Deciding to proceed without conducting additional investigation would not only have a lasting impact on the Senate’s reputation, but it will also negatively affect the great trust necessary for the American people to have in the Supreme Court.”

The comments are striking because the organization gave Kavanaugh its highest rating of unanimous, “well-qualified” for the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh himself touted that rating at Thursday’s emotionally-charged hearing where he denied Ford’s sworn testimony that he attempted to rape her when they were teenagers.
Kavanaugh noted he was “thoroughly vetted” by the ABA.

“For 12 years, everyone who has appeared before me on the D.C. Circuit has praised my judicial temperament,” Kavanaugh said Thursday. “That’s why I have the unanimous, well qualified rating from the American Bar Association.

“