honorentheos wrote:There are very few, if any, aspects of this that warrant jumping to a firm conclusion beyond there seems to be enough behind Ford's claim to deserve hearing it out. I don't think the claim itself is an example of character assassination though the media has turned it into that. Ford herself had not intended to pursue the matter after her initial letter given she did not see it as likely to impact the nomination process, and would only result in what we're seeing now. That the story was initially leaked despite Feinstein having no intention of doing so based on Ford's request was unfortunate for all involved, and it has become the sort of public crucifixion nightmare scenario for both Ford and Kavanaugh that should give any of us some reason to reflect on how out of hand public hunger to form a mob and lynch someone is so consuming and destructive to the slow process of justice.
Yup. Calmly does it.
Zadok: I did not have a faith crisis. I discovered that the Church was having a truth crisis. Maksutov: That's the problem with this supernatural stuff, it doesn't really solve anything. It's a placeholder for ignorance.
The blog above does a pretty thorough job on describing Kavanaugh's record. The writer's conclusion follows:
Although Kavanaugh cannot overall be described as a criminal-law “liberal,” one might call him a “Kennedy-esque” moderate. In sum, Kavanaugh’s writings in traditional criminal-law cases seem unlikely to draw critical fire from any political direction.
And something that raised my eyebrows a bit:
Many of Kavanaugh’s rulings can be labeled “pro-defense”: Although some court-observers fear that Kavanaugh’s confirmation could drive the Supreme Court further to “the right,” I found at least eight D.C. Circuit decisions — in addition to the Nwoye “battered women syndrome” case mentioned above — in which Kavanaugh wrote to join a “pro-defendant” ruling.
I think that's a positive for an individual's rights when facing down the court.
- Doc
In the face of madness, rationality has no power - Xiao Wang, US historiographer, 2287 AD.
Every record...falsified, every book rewritten...every statue...has been renamed or torn down, every date...altered...the process is continuing...minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Ideology is always right.
Dear Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Feinstein:
We are women who have known Brett Kavanaugh for more than 35 years and knew him while he attended high school between 1979 and 1983. For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect. We strongly believe it is important to convey this information to the Committee at this time.
Brett attended Georgetown preparation, an all-boys high school in Rockville, Maryland. He was an outstanding student and athlete with a wide circle of friends. Almost all of us attended all girls high schools in the area. We knew Brett well through social events, sports, church, and various other activities. Many of us have remained close friends with him and his family over the years. Through the more than 35 years we have known him, Brett has stood out for his friendship, character, and integrity. In particular, he has always treated women with decency and respect. That was true when he was in high school, and it has remained true to this day.
The signers of this letter hold a broad range of political views. Many of us are not lawyers, but we know Brett Kavanaugh as a person. And he has always been a good person.
Gotta love politics...
- Doc
In the face of madness, rationality has no power - Xiao Wang, US historiographer, 2287 AD.
Every record...falsified, every book rewritten...every statue...has been renamed or torn down, every date...altered...the process is continuing...minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Ideology is always right.
Yeah, that came out almost immediately after the detailed accusation did. It was out in under 24 hours. Of note, it's not of much value that there were women he didn't try to date rape because that's true of most rapists. That 65 women knew him when he went to an all boys school well enough to testify that he wasn't the sort of person who would try to rape someone when super drunk is dubious to the point it is hilarious. No one knows a person that well, but the sheer size of the list expanded it to passing acquaintances. To cite that and go, "See, he's innocent!" just reeks of desperation. It's also kind of amusing that someone who is described by even the friendliest accounts as a drunken frat-bro is a person whom it would be unthinkable to force himself on a woman. It's an illustration of how people think about stereotypes of character from different timeperiods.
And after that list of 65 women was organized, all of two of them have been willing to stand by the letter after journalists have contacted them.
Speaking of Ms. Ford, I wonder why her yearbook was scrubbed off the Internet... :/
- Doc
In the face of madness, rationality has no power - Xiao Wang, US historiographer, 2287 AD.
Every record...falsified, every book rewritten...every statue...has been renamed or torn down, every date...altered...the process is continuing...minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Ideology is always right.
EAllusion wrote:Yeah, that came out almost immediately after the accusation did. Of note, it's not of much value that there were women he didn't try to date rape because that's true of most rapists.That 65 women knew him when he went to an all boys school well enough to testify that he wasn't the sort of person who would try to rape someone when super drunk is dubious to the point it is hilarious. And after that list of 65 women was organized, all of two of them have been willing to stand by the letter after journalists have contacted them.
For what it's worth. I am willing to state that he didn't try to rape me either. I am ready to write a letter to that effect, as (I am sure) would almost every currently living member of the human race if they were asked nicely enough, and were literate.
But ... in cases like this it's the tiny number of exceptions that count. isn't it? And more than that, it's all bout the exceptional exceptions who are actually willing to talk about what they claim happened to them, despite the highly unpleasant consequences that almost inevitably follow for any person who speaks out, whether male or female.
Zadok: I did not have a faith crisis. I discovered that the Church was having a truth crisis. Maksutov: That's the problem with this supernatural stuff, it doesn't really solve anything. It's a placeholder for ignorance.
About That Letter From Women in Support of Brett Kavanaugh
by Virginia Hume
I signed it. Here's how it went down.
On Thursday afternoon, Dianne Feinstein released a cryptic statement saying she had submitted to federal investigators a letter about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Although the FBI quickly announced it would not pursue an investigation, speculation surfaced that the claims related to an incident of sexual misconduct dating to Kavanaugh’s high school years.
On Friday, a group of women who knew Brett in high school sent a letter in support of him to Senators Grassley and Feinstein. I am one of those 65 women. Having seen some of the reaction to the letter, I’d like to clear up a few things:
The letter was conceived and drafted by friends of Brett’s, and it was drafted after allegations came out on Thursday. I learned about the letter from a friend and fellow signatory. Others learned about it the same way. Those surprised at the speed with which it came together should see it as yet another testament to Brett’s excellent reputation.
To those who responded to my tweet saying “I knew Brett in high school” by asking if I had gender reassignment surgery: I went to an all-girls school in Bethesda. He went to an all-boys school in Bethesda. We were permitted upon occasion to speak to people of the opposite sex.
To those hearing the thwap thwap thwap of black helicopters because my father is a journalist or because I worked in politics: In a group of 65 graduates of D.C. area schools, it would be odd not to find someone related to or working as a journalist or politician. It is entirely unremarkable. This is a company town. (That said, it might explain why people happened to see my tweets on the subject).
Finally, to the one person who said I’m too young to know Brett Kavanaugh: Truly, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
#ibelieveher
- Doc
In the face of madness, rationality has no power - Xiao Wang, US historiographer, 2287 AD.
Every record...falsified, every book rewritten...every statue...has been renamed or torn down, every date...altered...the process is continuing...minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Ideology is always right.
That letter is responding to two ideas that happened in response to the original letter. One, it came out so quickly that there was a lot of speculation that the allegation was known about and buried by Republicans with the letter ready just in case it came out. This is a person, Fox New's Brit Hume's daughter, saying that no, it was started it at the 11th hour and just got a lot of response quickly. Two, there were lots of people pointing out that Kavanaugh went to an all boys school, so how in the hell did he know 65 women? This is her saying that all-girls schools fraternized with them. Both points address those specific arguments.
What she is saying does nothing to make the letter stronger though, nor does it address my criticisms. Do you believe that 65 women knew you well enough in high school to write a letter 35 years later stating you definitely did not try to rape someone at a party? If you do, you are delusional.
People who are like how Kavanaugh was described as younger are so frequently thought of as rapey that it's a lazy cliché' in comedy. I'm not saying this should weigh against him, but pointing out there are women whom he didn't treat like dirt as proof that he never tried to rape someone is going to read to virtually any young woman who isn't blinded by partisanship as humorously ridiculous to the point of infuriating. In fact, this is true of a lot of the defenses of Kavanaugh floating out there. People just weren't content to argue there isn't enough proof of his guilt to sink his job interview. They had to become near full-fledged rape apologists too. Because reasons.
That group isn't politically powerful enough yet to do anything about it, but I suspect events like this are galvanizing. I'm a big believer in the demographic fluidity of partisan affiliation, but at a certain point, Republicans are making themselves so despised by demographics that aren't old that I wonder if they're going to be able to recover in 10-20 years.