Displaying items by tag: Brett Kavanaugh

Despite the confirmation of two Supreme Court Justices during the Trump administration, there is still not a truly conservative majority. While both of the Trump nominees are solid conservatives, they did not tip the ideological balance of the court. Justice Neil Gorsuch replaced the most conservative justice in a generation, the late Antonin Scalia and Justice Brett Kavanaugh replaced now retired Anthony Kennedy, who was a swing vote on some issues, but reliably conservative on others. Obviously, the new swing vote on the Supreme Court is Chief Justice John Roberts, who saved Obamacare by voting with his liberal colleagues. He ruled that it was somehow a tax even though it was never advertised in that manner.  

The biggest whodunit in Washington returns to the Mueller probe after a respite consisting of recriminations over Supreme Court nominee, Brett M. Kavanaugh. Senators Susan Collins, Jeff Flake, and Joe Manchin will be remembered, in particular, for their roles in placing Kavanaugh on a court that’s predicted to cost lives by rolling back environmental protection, workplace safety, and reproductive health.

At the time of this writing, we less than one hour away from US Senator Susan Collins of Maine telling us that she has decided to back Judge Kavanaugh which will tilt the Supreme Court to the right, most likely for the balance of my life time.

There is a sense of desperation in the halls of the Capitol for many Democrats. A thick blue cloud has fallen upon their hopes, choking them, possibly for decades to come.  The time for praying is over. It's time to pack up the rights for which they have fought and pack them up, for now. The bright days ahead for them will need to see another moment.

I have been silent on the issue as to whether I believe he should be disqualified on the basis of his politics. Despite what he claims in the Wall Street Journal last night when he said he will be independent, his behavior of the past few weeks and shown anything but. Susan Collins might cite his claims as a reason for her support, but, if she does, not many will believe her.

After several weeks of seeing President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee abused by Democrats, grassroots Republicans are furious. Judge Brett Kavanaugh has been accused of gang rape, exposure, groping, sexual harassment, drunkenness, rowdiness and uncontrollable anger.

The nation’s eyes were on US Senator John Kennedy, Republican from Louisiana.  In his high-pitched, southern drawl, now institutionalized on cable news interviews, Kennedy asked Judge Brett Kavanaugh, if he believed in God. The other questions were carefully positioned so that Judge Kavanaugh  would realize the solemity of the moment and tell the Senator and the world that everything he said, he meant, under the risk of perjury. 

Demery’s is the bar where SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh got into a fight in 1985. The fracas required police intervention and  a member of his party was arrested. The altercation started when Kavanaugh tossed a drink at another patron after a verbal engagement. In close proximity to Yale, the bar no longer exists but was widely known as a wild joint known for its Friday night brawls and underage drinking.

It had been a long day at the U.S. Senate as the Judiciary Committee heard from both Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Millions of Americans witnessed an incredible spectacle as both people claimed 100% confidence in their recollection of events.

During the questioning of Dr. Ford, Republicans turned over the duties to an Arizona prosecutor who seemed to miss many opportunities to highlight discrepancies in the statements of the accuser. Of course, the Senate Democrats spent almost all their time praising Dr. Ford for her courage.

The losers in the Sept. 27, 2018 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Donald Trump’s SCOTUS nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, were the Supreme Court and women. The court took a hit because of the nominee’s erratic showing and women lost, predictably, when they mattered less to Republicans than Kavanaugh’s reputation. The majority’s patronization became clearer over time, culminating in a leading senator’s rant.

Whatever the final result over the confirmation battle of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, one thing is becoming more urgent.  The court itself has a crisis of legitimacy. And one way to restore its genuineness is to require term limits for all future judges. 

The Supreme Court of old was more majestic with few periods of confrontation.  Just a decade ago, 2/3rds of Americans had great confidence in the Court.  No more. There’s trouble brewing in those marble temple walls. Confidence in the workings of the court and the Justices themselves have dropped to a mere 50% approval rating. 

As the hours close in upon the historic Judge Brett Kavanaugh hearing set for Thursday, with the Supreme Court hopeful faces eager US Senators, with eyes upon his accuser Christine Blasey Ford and with President Donald Trump continues to slam his opponents, other witnesses, other accusers and other attorneys, the quesion arises--in the political scheme of things, who's winning and who's losing?

Politico and the Morning Consult has released its new survey and it might be called a mixed bag. Taking a hit is Kavanaugh and Trump. But staying in the game is the US Senate. Even if somehow Kavanaugh were not to be confirmed or should resign, if the Republicans retain the US Senate, as expected, Donald Trump will get a second bite at the apple.