EAllusion wrote:Doc - A big problem I have with your line of argument from a strategic standpoint is that the Democrats were doing all the things you argue they should be doing prior to the sexual assault allegation coming out and Kavanaugh was going to sail to confirmation anyway. This was so ineffective, in fact, that you speak as though you aren't even aware that it already occurred. Kavanaugh already had a history of serious temperament questions, lying, and dubiously concealed political behavior that the Democrats were trying to highlight. All this most recent series of stories did was magnify and confirm much of what was already established on that front. This isn't to criticize Democrats, because they are playing with a nothing hand. Republicans can do whatever they want. All Democrats can do is put public pressure on them ahead of an election.
Post-Ford, Kavanaugh's numbers have sunk a bit, Democratic fundraising from individual donors skyrocketed, and for the first time there was some possibility that this partisan operative wasn't going to get his seat which might be construed as a positive even if he's replaced by someone with similar ideological views. General polling seems unmoved, but it's still early and it's really hard to tease out small effects from the noise. If you looking at this from an electioneering point of view, which I don't recommend, it's hard not to see this as a positive for Democrats. Republicans who sincerely believe this is somehow a win are way into their own BS.
Water Dog is correct that never Trumpers really do like Kavanaugh, though that's because he's a standard elite Republican and never Trumper's are a tiny group of overwhelmingly elite conservatives with an outsized voice in the media. Collectively, Kavanaugh was their guy well before this story broke. Water Dog wants to imply that this is winning them over to MAGA or whatever, which misunderstands what they're about.
I mean, it's hard to argue against the point you're making. I mentioned waaaay back when the Republicans were playing their games with Garland that if I were the Democrats I'd make damn sure to do what the R's did with Obama. Of course, I didn't think about the R's getting control of the Legislative branch and changing the rules.
Whatever the case may be, we'll see if this strategy works for them, accusing them of being pro-rape, pro-deviancy, anti-woman, etc... You see a LOT of that meme'ing running through the national dialogue and I guess if the Democrats can't actually articulate why they're better governors, legislators, executives, and judges then demonizing the other side as pedophiles, rapists, and whatever else is what you do.
I don't like it. I think the Democrats have a much better long-term vision and pragmatism for all sorts of issues that they could actually present to the public, in an effective manner, to win hearts and minds, but we're at where we're at.
- Doc
