As new allegations of his sexual misconduct arose over the weekend, Republicans doubled down on their defence of Brett Kavanaugh. If you're searching for the motivation behind their behaviour, E.J. Dionne writes, take a good look at the Christian evangelicals who form the base of the party:
They want Kavanaugh on the court, no matter what. “If Republicans were to fail to defend and confirm such an obviously and eminently qualified and decent nominee,” Ralph Reed, the founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, told the New York Times, “then it will be very difficult to motivate and energize faith-based and conservative voters in November.”
Note that Reed warned against the failure to “defend” Kavanaugh. Republicans intend to prove their willingness to stand up for him, no matter how unseemly or offensive their campaign becomes.
And they're willing to break several commandments to achieve their objective:
The depths to which Kavanaugh’s defenders are willing to sink was underscored when Ed Whelan, the president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, sent out a tweet thread pushing a mistaken-identity alibi to explain away Ford’s allegations against Kavanaugh. Whelan, a friend of Kavanaugh who is in the thick of the strategizing on his behalf, actually named and posted photographs of one of Kavanaugh’s Georgetown Preparatory School classmates as the possible perpetrator.
Ford blew the theory away. Noting in a statement that “I knew them both,” she added: “There is zero chance that I would confuse them.”
So much for Ethics and Policy. The Republican Party was corrupt before Donald Trump barged in. The depth of its corruption made it easy for Trump to stage his hostile take over. The Kavanaugh circus underscores the fact that the party is rotten at its core. And, when the rot goes that deep, its host can't be redeemed.
Image: TeePublic
13 comments:
.. its quite possible the Trump attempt at the Kavanaugh 'ascension' to Supreme Court judge is the proverbial 'hill to die on'.. Is the final crescendo going to ensure the flip of both Congress and Senate?
Just some highlights on the GOP double down with full reverse mormon del Trumplo twist.. of the Kavanaugh fan club and marching loser band. Kavanaugh brings into the front row of the judicial hearings, an entire girls basketball team he coaches.. Fer gawds sake, I kid you not ! Just ponder that Potemkin propping job for a seccy.. What next for Kavanaugh ? Film footage from the Debutantes Ball ? Deary me I hope he has no daughter(s) - Meanwhile Stormy Mathews 'all business' lawyer, Avenatti has announced he has credible wintnesses that may blow Kavanaugh, his classmate Judge & numerous others who attended Yale drinking parties for 'train' sex with inebriated young women sky high.
All this needs to be 'read' or interpreted as an ominous groundswell.. but by all means, Donald.. pit your feeble and ignorant pep rally audience, plus Sean Hannity, Alex Jones, 'plow through' McConnell.. and the rest of the hystericals & deploables .. versus the female voters of America.. and male voters with a sentient brain. Being on the wrong side of history is nothing new to Trump, his family or the rest of the usual suspects. But this one seems seismic and I suspect its going to engulf or slam America from the blind side.. like female voters ?
In the past I have mentioned this book 'Missoula' by Jon Krakauer, a stunningly dark indictment of the lost American justice system in regsrd to assault upon women. http://www.jonkrakauer.com/missoula - WARNING - its a very tough read.. but it was perhaps just a bit ahead of its time.. yet now is its time.. and it is the exact context the Kavanaugh sainthood and Trump's insistent canonization of him, needs to be set into..
This has been going on for a long time, sal. And the Krakhauer book documents how it's been kept under raps. It's clear the Republicans want to keep it there. But I suspect that the United States is at a seismic moment.
Who knows what the landscape will look like after the earthquake?
That they consider it acceptable that they keep lying their heads off surely aware that most of their audience knows they're lying, just as long as they can provide it with a political rationalization for doing so, begs the question: Where do they teach them to keep a straight face?
Take as an example Ralph Reed's unashamed and unhesitating acknowledgement of the reality within which he operates. He's been doing it successfully for longer than most. Maybe it has something to do with faith and religiosity. In any case, I have to conclude that their supporters and admirers are either stupid beyond my understanding of stupidity or think that they're in on the deal. Ralph has said as much on that stupidity in the past, quite unambiguously during his involvement with Casino Jack, but they're still listening. I wonder if it would make any difference should the grin he's suppressing while spreading his bullshit were suddenly to explode onto his face. Probably not.
I had forgotten that Ralph was involved with Casino Jack, John. Perhaps that's the explanation. Both men appear to have firmly believed in the proposition that a sucker is born every minute.
as long as the evangelicals think there is a chance to put a compulsory pregnancy candidate on the Supreme Court they will go to any lengths to do the devils work. Yes, the devils work, because these people do not love the child, only the fetus. These people don't understand the bible, they just understand that they don't want women to have control over their own bodies and as part of that, they don't care if men rape, sexually assault them, etc. None of this surprises. Even if some one came up with a video of any of the alleged events, there are those in the Republican Party who would still vote for K. One of them certainly appears to be Lindsay Graham.
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This is also all about white male priviledge. How many actors and other politicians have been forced to resign because of actions they participated in 10, 20, 30 years go? this is all about asserting white male priviledge and part of ensuring it stays that way, they need K. on the Supreme Court. They can then start their real agenda, getting rid of affirmative action, Making American White Again, refusing women jobs, destroying the environment, etc It started the day Trump moved into the W.H. and fired the black female Usher. Have a look at their Foreign Affairs dept. and see how white that is becoming.....White is right and if its male and white, well that is as good as god in their eyes. How blind they are.
They are deaf, dumb and blind, e.a.f. When you put people with those limitations behind the wheel, there is inevitably going to be be a massive pile up with lots of carnage.
If Yurtle the Turtle had the votes, Special K would have already been rammed through,
Yurtle doesn't have the votes and won't get them now.
Remember 2 weeks ago when Special K was a "sure thing",
Now Special K is toast.
I suspect you're right, Jay. And Donald will take out his revenge on the Justice Department.
The Insane Clown POSus will probably take out his anger on Yurtle.
He's already walked back on Special K being his pick, to claiming Special K was forced on him by Yurtle. He's trying to gaslight his own Senators.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/10/01/how-russia-helped-to-swing-the-election-for-trump/amp?__twitter_impression=true
Nice long read
Thanks for the link, Jay. I believe Mayer's credeentials are excellent. And I would really like to read Kathleen Hall Jamieson's book.
As For McConnell, the reporting is that he wanted someone other than Kavanaugh. If Trump had listened to him, McConnell probably would have had his court.
Since the day's of Newt, the ReThug's have subcontracted out the Supreme Court nomination process to Billionare Sam Seder's Orgs, from the Federalist Society for selection and grooming, to CPC and others for the lobbying, bribery and PR.
Sam sent a 1 page list of 14 Cantidates. The Insane Clown POSus rejected them all on the basis of image.
Sam sent over another page of 14 and Special K was at the bottom.
Insane Clown POSus picked Special K because he could be blackmailed for being a serial gang rapist and illegally $1.9 million to pay off debts.
Special K agreed because his illegal work on the illegal Clinton Secret Shop, the Foster Files, the Torture and Rendition Policies of Bush, left him in position to blackmail the ReThugs back.
Quite the "Family Values" in the ReThug Party.
And with Kavanaugh on the court, Jay, Donald thought hed hava get out of jail free card. Trump really doesn't know how to vet anyone who works for him. That's why he runs a family company.
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