Trump court pick tearfully denies woman's sexual assault allegation

[helpisgood]

6 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Agreed, the requested FBI investigation should have been done.

 

Agreed.

 

Maybe the Republicans are wary of what may be revealed about Kavanaugh's school life.

[utalkin2me]

20 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

"Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sat down in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday and declared war on the Democratic Party. His statement marked a total departure from what he submitted to the committee on Wednesday, veering into an openly political attack on his opponents. It was thoroughly partisan and utterly disgraceful, a Trumpian Hail Mary that exuded desperation, entitlement, and rage."

 

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/09/brett-kavanaugh-opening-statement-christine-blasey-ford.html?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=traffic&utm_content=TheAngle&utm_source=newsletter&sid=5821dfff1e56036d7f8b45ce

That is the picture right there. How could a supposedly top mind give his opponents ammunition like that. He is being accused of violence, and that is the face he puts on to convince people otherwise. I am voting he is a worthless hack even if he is innocent. 

[Tug]

All this could have been easy to settle with the requested fbi investigation why dident the republicans say ok?eather he is dirty or they want to sow anger and division not good not good at all

[Credo]

1 hour ago, DoctorG said:

I believe that she was attacked and I believe she honestly believes it was Bret. What I have a problem with is repressed/recovered memories. These have been shown to be open to suggestion and false memory. I cannot see a way out of this as she has not provided enough detail of the when/where to prove, or Bret to disprove, the venue and timing.

No winners in this.

Her memories are neither repressed or recovered.   She remembered it when it happened and afterwards.   She simply did not report it and she explained why.   So no repressed, no recovered memories.   

 

[Spidey]

5 hours ago, alfalfa19 said:

Very impressive performance, indeed. 

 

Excellent crocodile tears. Give that man an Oscar!

[neeray]

14 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

If that's the case, Democrats can take some consolation from the fact that this is one more bad piece of news for Republican candidates.

 

It's a win/win for the Dems. If the Repuglicans ram through his nomination, many voters will show their distaste at the mid terms.

If he doesn't get approved, they were successful in stopping a bad SC judge choice.

[DoctorG]

8 minutes ago, Credo said:

Her memories are neither repressed or recovered.   She remembered it when it happened and afterwards.   She simply did not report it and she explained why.   So no repressed, no recovered memories.   

 

I based my comment on the report that said that the Councillor's notes said that she was not at first  able to say who her attacker was, and only remembered later. (and no, I will not search out that report).

[DoctorG]

1 hour ago, Kieran00001 said:

 

There are three accusations to be heard.  .How about Ford's evidence?  She has taken the polygraph test and the result was that she was not lying about being sexually assaulted by Bret at just 15 years of age. 

Even the Senate Dems do not really want to investigate the latter two accusations because they are patently ridiculous. At least Dr Ford was credible. Doesn't make it true, but credible, even if she lied about not being able to fly to an earlier meeting with the Senate.

As to the polygraph. She was asked 2 questions only. No series of baseline questions to establish a pattern. No question on whether she had taken any medication. A beta-blocker can calm down any adverse reaction.

[zaphod reborn]

2 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

This Kangaroo Court that poor Kav and his family are going through shouldn't happen to your worst enemy. 

What a travesty! 

 

White privilege rage EXPOSED!!!  This guy thought he was entitled to promotion to SCOTUS.  He's a political hack, which was previously revealed in his confirmation hearing for DC Circuit, and he showed why he lacks judicial temperament to be promoted.  So much like Trump and the other white supremacists. 

[chippendale]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"I swear today, under oath, before the Senate and the nation, before my family and God, I am innocent of this charge,"

 

He swore to the God Almighty! So he's telling the Truth !!!

 

[Becker]

 

Fox News reaction

[Trouble]

Lots of support here for Ford's testimony. Not surprising based on the political leanings of many on TV. Would you be putting him in jail based on what you heard today?  Probably not. I too watched Ford and honestly she was disappointing.  This woman is a PhD psychologist. To me she came off as a troubled woman. Her inability to recall so much was troubling.  She was even unsure who paid for the polygraph she took. Seems to me she is being played by the Democrats and her lawyers and she certainly is not in control of the situation.  She seems lost quite frankly. She had lots of emotion and so forth but it does not necessarily mean she is correct about the incident and who was involved. We will never know for sure if Kavanaugh did or did not do what she claimed or whether she is mistaken as to the person she claims molested her, or whether her memory is even accurate about the incident.  The additional accusations made are looking to be troubled as well in their veracity.  Frankly the hearing was a disgrace as are most congressional hearing these days.  The senator from Hawaii can't say anything without reading it. Feinstein is obviously getting too old for the job. It was all a spectacle and proved nothing. It probably changed no one's mind. As in the end the politicians will vote along party lines for the most part anyway.

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, Tug said:

All this could have been easy to settle with the requested fbi investigation why dident the republicans say ok?eather he is dirty or they want to sow anger and division not good not good at all

 

But the Republicans aren't really happy with the FBI, past and present, are they?

 

Let's say that they sanction an FBI investigation that doesn't resolve the he-said, she-said of this particular debate but does come up with more proof that college frat-boy Kavanaugh was a binge drinker who, despite stating categorically that he "did not drink to the point of blacking out and I never sexually assaulted anyone" probably did suffer from alcohol-induced blackouts. Depending on what line of medical research you follow (and there's really not a whole lot), this may affect over 50% of the male population.

 

It is very telling that beyond sending a letter to the committee saying he has 'no memory' of the incident, his 'wing man' Mark Judge has suddenly become a recluse, no?

 

Kavanaugh's probably being totally honest when he says, "This did not happen" because he cannot remember it happening. The difference is his accuser(s) never forgot it happening.

 

For all his tearful representations of being a pious family man who likes an occasional beer, his chosen profession should have already prepared him for the concept of 'beyond reasonable doubt.'

 

He's tainted goods.

[BobBKK]

I am dismayed at the Dems (many of whose policies I support). This poor, and obviously disturbed woman, is used as a pawn at the last moment.

 

Afraid of flying, yet flies constantly, can't remember dates, names, places, times, how she got there, how she left there.

 

It's a witch hunt and i'd like, with all respect, to see Ford's medical records as she has huge issues. Something nasty happened to her but there is NO evidence it was Kavanaugh and it is a disgrace he has been treated this way.

 

Lindsay Graham, who I didn't like, has shot up in my opinion. He told it for what it was.

[BobBKK]

56 minutes ago, Tug said:

All this could have been easy to settle with the requested fbi investigation why dident the republicans say ok?eather he is dirty or they want to sow anger and division not good not good at all

 

He had 6 and could have had a 7th IF the dems had not hidden this to use as a grenade at the last moment. Obviously they leaked it to the press and have no ethics whatsoever.

[attrayant]

2 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

This poor, and obviously disturbed woman

 

You'd probably be disturbed too, had you been sexually assaulted by Bret Kavanaugh.

 

2 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

is used as a pawn at the last moment.

 

She testified of her own volition.

 

2 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

Afraid of flying, yet flies constantly, can't remember dates, names, places, times, how she got there, how she left there.

 

How is that relevant?  The prosecutor hired by the republicans used this angle and was shortly dismissed by the same republicans because she wasn't making any sense or headway.

 

2 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

It's a witch hunt and i'd like, with all respect, to see Ford's medical records as she has huge issues.

 

A page from the republican playbook: blame the victim.  

 

2 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

Lindsay Graham, who I didn't like, has shot up in my opinion. He told it for what it was.

 

He also did little more than victim shaming, so I can see why you admire him.

[attrayant]

4 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

He had 6 and could have had a 7th IF the dems had not hidden this to use as a grenade at the last moment.

 

You say "could have had a seventh..." like it's no longer possible.  Why can't he still have a seventh investigation now that new accusations have come to light?

[Morch]

4 hours ago, dcutman said:

Watching this entire circus was painful. This country is screwed in so many ways for now on. Not only will there be very few quality people be available to even consider accepting a nomination for anything. For those that are brave enough, they and their families will be attacked mercilessly for any unfounded allegation any nut job puts forward.

Disgusting!

 

3 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

This Kangaroo Court that poor Kav and his family are going through shouldn't happen to your worst enemy. 

What a travesty! 

 

Feigned outrage and concern trolling are dully noted. Don't recall either member expressing similar attitudes when these sort of allegations (or others) were raised against people belonging to the "other side". On the contrary, both were quite at the fore-front of the hang-em'-high-posse.

[mikebike]

17 minutes ago, Trouble said:

Would you be putting him in jail based on what you heard today?

Nope, I would not.

 

But I wouldn't be putting him on the Supreme Court either.

[BobBKK]

Just now, attrayant said:

 

You'd probably be disturbed too, had you been sexually assaulted by Bret Kavanaugh.

 

On the scale of sexual assault this is very low key and she doesn't remember when, how, where ,year, time or who was there

 

Just now, attrayant said:

 

 

She testified of her own volition.

 

She was 'outed' after asking to remain anonymous 

 

Just now, attrayant said:

 

 

How is that relevant?  The prosecutor hired by the republicans used this angle and was shortly dismissed by the same republicans because she wasn't making any sense or headway.

 

The prosecutor was weak i agree

 

Just now, attrayant said:

 

 

A page from the republican playbook: blame the victim.  

 

Not at all. She's had 36 years to file charges. No corroboration at all. 

 

 

Just now, attrayant said:

 

 

He also did little more than victim shaming, so I can see why you admire him.

 

I don't agree with his positions but, unlike you, I have an open mind and can see the witch hunt.

[Slip]

8 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

 

He had 6 and could have had a 7th IF the dems had not hidden this to use as a grenade at the last moment. Obviously they leaked it to the press and have no ethics whatsoever.

 Do you have any evidence whatsoever to support your claims?  Thought not. 

[BobBKK]

2 minutes ago, attrayant said:

 

You say "could have had a seventh..." like it's no longer possible.  Why can't he still have a seventh investigation now that new accusations have come to light?

 

Because it's a delaying tactic and not in 'good faith'.  They could have brought it to the front 45 days earlier but they played politics.  Now we have lost 45 days.  This is disingenuous and you know it. 

[BobBKK]

Just now, Slip said:

 Do you have any evidence whatsoever to support your claims?  Thought not. 

 

Of course I do dear Slip it's called FACTS.  They had it for 45 days now want to delay until the midterms.  It's obvious.

[attrayant]

Just now, BobBKK said:

They could have brought it to the front 45 days earlier

 

Then they'd have been vilified for not respecting Ford's request for confidentiality, so no - they couldn't have.

[mikebike]

2 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

 

On the scale of sexual assault this is very low key and she doesn't remember when, how, where ,year, time or who was there

 

 

She was 'outed' after asking to remain anonymous 

 

 

The prosecutor was weak i agree

 

 

Not at all. She's had 36 years to file charges. No corroboration at all. 

 

 

 

I don't agree with his positions but, unlike you, I have an open mind and can see the witch hunt.

You really have no concept of sexual assault... like there is "minor" sexual assault.

[Morch]

2 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

 

Because it's a delaying tactic and not in 'good faith'.  They could have brought it to the front 45 days earlier but they played politics.  Now we have lost 45 days.  This is disingenuous and you know it. 

 

Who are "we"?

Considering it's a life-time appointment, and that the SC won't collapse if the process is delayed, vetting the candidate would seem to bear more gravity than some imagined hurried schedule.

[Kieran00001]

4 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

Even the Senate Dems do not really want to investigate the latter two accusations because they are patently ridiculous. At least Dr Ford was credible. Doesn't make it true, but credible, even if she lied about not being able to fly to an earlier meeting with the Senate.

As to the polygraph. She was asked 2 questions only. No series of baseline questions to establish a pattern. No question on whether she had taken any medication. A beta-blocker can calm down any adverse reaction.

 

What she was given is called the Federal You Phase Zone Comparison Test, which is one of the primary testing formats by the federal government and one listed in the Meta-Analytic Survey of Criterion Accuracy of Validated Polygraph Techniques Report Published by the American Polygraph Association.

 

And no, beta-blockers do not block adverse reaction, they reduce all response outcome equally and so have no bearing on the result as has been evidenced by peer reviewed studies.

[Spidey]

Just now, BobBKK said:

 

Of course I do dear Slip it's called FACTS.  They had it for 45 days now want to delay until the midterms.  It's obvious.

 

It's clear that the agenda for both sides is political in the extreme. The President for nominating his stooge in the first place and the Democrats for trumping up (no pun intended) reasons for turning the nomination down.

 

However, if the nomination is eventually refused, it can only be good for the American Justice System, which should NEVER be politicised.

[Gecko123]

42 minutes ago, Trouble said:

[edited for brevity] The senator from Hawaii can't say anything without reading it. Feinstein is obviously getting too old for the job. It was all a spectacle and proved nothing. It probably changed no one's mind. As in the end the politicians will vote along party lines for the most part anyway.

Hawaii's Senator Mazie Hirono has been heroically vocal in speaking out about the unfairness of this proceeding. She is the one who articulated that Kavanaugh is an "outcome driven" judge. Forget about the "strict constitutionalist" vs "judges who use the law to legislate" ways to categorize judges.

 

Kavanaugh is an extremely politically connected (Starr investigation, worked in the Bush White House, Federalist Society darling.) This guy has a fine legal mind, but views the law as something which can be used in order to get it to do what you want it to do. He has become skilled in using the law to accommodate the interests of the powers that be, and thus endeared and ingratiated himself to those whose interests are served.  In other words, once he knows the outcome he wants, he is clever about promulgating legal arguments which support that outcome.

 

I don't sense this guy has the ability to empathize with average Americans. His strong suit seems to be the ability to make adroit legal reasonings which have endeared and ingratiated himself into the graces of the Republican elite who have in turn groomed him for career advancement. But whether you're talking about abortion rights, civil rights, immigration, prisoner rights, corporate interests vs individual interests, campaign finance reform, gun rights, or environmental protection, how an 'average Joe' TVF member thinks putting this guy on the Supreme Court is in their best interests boggles my mind. You think this guy is going to look out for your interests? Unless you're in the top 10%, I think this guy is going to be looking after interests far far above your pay grade. But while it lasts, enjoy the illusion that your interests are being served by putting him on the court.

[NanLaew]

11 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

I am dismayed at the Dems (many of whose policies I support). This poor, and obviously disturbed woman, is used as a pawn at the last moment.

 

Afraid of flying, yet flies constantly, can't remember dates, names, places, times, how she got there, how she left there.

 

It's a witch hunt and i'd like, with all respect, to see Ford's medical records as she has huge issues. Something nasty happened to her but there is NO evidence it was Kavanaugh and it is a disgrace he has been treated this way.

 

Lindsay Graham, who I didn't like, has shot up in my opinion. He told it for what it was.

So how come Neil Gorsuch's confirmation didn't need any of this dripping, white-male entitlement to succeed? He's from exactly the same time-frame, era, no?