Just to make it clear...

[johnpalmer]

Just to make it clear, the statements "I believe Christine Blasey Ford" and "this is ... (well, anything other than "a vital part of evaluating Brett Kavanaugh's fitness for the SCOTUS, but especially "a smear" or "an attempt to derail the nomination" or, especially, *ANYTHING* suggesting that it was late in the game, since Ms. Ford sent the information in with *PLENTY* of time for the Senate to perform its due diligence) are completely incompatible.

So, for example, Lindsey Graham? He's calling Ms. Ford a despicable liar.

(ob-Beetlejuice: "th-these are *not* MY rules!")

Look: if she's telling the truth (whether you believe the doppelganger theory, or something else), she was right to come forward, she did so in a timely manner, and chose to go public as quickly as we can reasonably expect someone to do so, given the (proven!) suspicion that doing so would lead to vile verbal and written attacks, and death threats.

The only way this can be a "smear" or an "attack" or "an (unjustified) attempt to derail the nomination" is if the accusation is not only false, but without merit. Even if you think "well, she thinks that, but she's probably some crazy (female dog) who doesn't realize she's making it all up" then you still have to admit that, given her perceptions, she was still doing the right thing to come forward, and not attempting to "smear", "besmirch", "attack" etc., Kavanaugh.

You see what I'm saying? Even if you think she's *DELUSIONAL*, once you accept that *she* believes, you have to accept she did the right thing.

The only way this is a "smear" is if she's *lying*.

So: everyone you hear saying "smear", "derail," etc., remember what you're *really* hearing.

Comments

[dubhain]

I find it utterly impossible to express my feelings upon this matter. I've spent time arguing with relatives, including DubhFosterMom, who don't give a Tinker's damn about anything but the fact that Kavanaugh belongs to their 'team,' and that therefore anything opposing him is simply lies, smears, and 'Dirty Politics™'

My partner is taking sedatives, at night, to be able to sleep because of her abuse and sexual assault history. Having been sexually assaulted myself, in the past, I'm having difficulty with all this, as well.

And I find the GOPs approach to and handling of this issue renders me even more incapable of expressing my anger and disgust at the proceedings.

Based upon his actions in the hearings today, this man, Kavanaugh, is entirely unsuited for a place upon the SCOTUS bench, whether he's guilty of the allegations lodged against him or not.

[siliconshaman]

By all rights, given his disregard for the rule of law, not to mention what it says about his character, Kavanaugh should not be in charge of a hot-dog stand, much less in one of the highest offices there is.

That said... there are people on the Red team who would rather have a proven paedophile in charge, than someone from the Blue team.

But then again, the way Trump behaves towards his daughter is deeply suspicious too... and no-one on that side of the House seems to have a problem with it either. So perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise.