Posted on 09/28/2018 5:32:41 PM PDT by Kaslin
Today was supposed to be simple. The Senate Judiciary Committee was set to vote on advancing the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Senate floor. It was going to be a party-line vote. It was going to be dotted with Democrats once again whining about the process. They also want an FBI investigation to look into the sexual misconduct allegations lobbed against Kavanaugh. One of the women, Christine Blasey Ford, testified before Congress yesterday in an intense day of testimony. Judge Kavanaugh addressed the committee in the afternoon, in a fiery speech defending his name, reputation, and career. He stringently denies the allegations; Ford alleges Kavanaugh tried to rape her at a high school party.
Yes, the committee voted to advance the nomination, but not before Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) decided to take the role of Benedict Arnold, suggesting a delay in the final vote in order to have the FBI investigate these claims. It’s on a weeklong timetable. Sens. Murkowski (R-AK), Collins (R-ME), and Manchin (R-WV) all jumped onboard. The White House, now forced into a corner, has ordered the FBI to conduct an investigation. It’s the wrong move. Flake decided to give this left wing smear campaign another week of oxygen, allowing more time for last minute shenanigans to possibly occur. We know when the FBI submits their preliminary report, the Democrats will demand more time. There is nothing that will ever make them change their minds about this man. It’s delay, delay, and delay. That’s the derail Kavanaugh playbooks the Democrats are deploying. And to no one’s surprise, Ford’s legal team rejects the “artificial limits” (via Fox News):
A note on what the FBI can and can't do: This isn't a criminal investigation, no grand jury, so they can't subpoena records or force anyone to testify.— Shannon Pettypiece (@spettypi) September 28, 2018
So basically, they can do less than Senate investigators who have already done much investigating https://t.co/6MgYoQLA4S— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) September 28, 2018
Gosh, nobody could see that coming. https://t.co/gGrEmHrV1R— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) September 28, 201
President Trump on Friday ordered the FBI to conduct a limited "supplemental" background investigation into the allegations of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delayed plans for votes but said Republicans are still moving "forward."
“I’ve ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh’s file," Trump said in a statement. "As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week.”
Trump's order came after after several undecided senators whose votes are needed to confirm Kavanaugh called for a weeklong FBI probe before a floor vote.
[…]
An attorney for Kavanaugh accuser Christine Ford, Debra S. Katz, said in a statement Friday that Ford “welcomes this step in the process.” But Katz took issue with the one-week limit, saying no “artificial limits as to time or scope should be imposed on this investigation."
When asked if they could get the investigation done in a week, a senior FBI official told Fox News, "That depends on the schedules of everyone we'd have to interview, including the accuser, accused and witnesses.”
Ford has named three other people she said attended the 1982 party where she claims she was assaulted. All three named people have said they have no memory of the event, though two said Friday they’re willing to cooperate with the FBI.
“I will cooperate with any law enforcement agency that is assigned to confidentially investigate these allegations,” Kavanaugh friend Mark Judge said.
“My client, Patrick J. Smyth, is happy to cooperate fully with this FBI investigation,” said attorney Eric B. Bruce.
Brett Kavanaugh is one of the most qualified and most impressive Supreme Court nominees in memory. This is a nomination that deserves to move forward -- and that is precisely what is happening.— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) September 28, 2018
In the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the nomination is moving forward—and all 51 Republicans have agreed to that end. Also, this FBI investigation is not a criminal one, meaning they can’t force people to testify or subpoena records. In other words, it’s all part of the delay tactic deployed against this Supreme Court nomination. It’s now a street fight. It’s open warfare—and it seems clear that the GOP was not ready to get this deep into the muck when it came to fighting Democrats. It’s going to be another intense and nasty seven-to-ten days. Brace yourselves.
.@senatemajldr McConnell makes remarks about the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh. https://t.co/zmDxBlM8BQ https://t.co/s4wLcQZ8uv— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 28, 2018
.@senatemajldr on Kavanaugh nomination: "I'm pleased to announce that all 51 Republican members of the Senate support the motion to proceed to the nomination." https://t.co/uq3iT4EgsV pic.twitter.com/K9sU6wrcex— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 28, 2018
.@senatemajldr on Kavanaugh hearing: "The picture that diverged from all of this is clear: Judge Kavanaugh is one of the most qualified and most impressive Supreme Court nominees in the history of our country." https://t.co/uq3iT4EgsV pic.twitter.com/MZ3KdjouAD— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 28, 2018
Here are Leader McConnell's remarks [emphasis mine]:
“For the information of all our colleagues, there were two very significant developments today. This morning, the Judiciary Committee reported out Judge Kavanaugh favorably. All eleven Republican members of the Judiciary Committee voted in favor of reporting him out with a favorable recommendation. Number two, we will shortly move to proceed to the Kavanaugh nomination. And I’m pleased to announce that all 51 republican members of the Senate support the motion to proceed to the nomination. One hundred percent of the Republican conference supports proceeding to the Kavanaugh nomination.
“Now in Committee, they reviewed the most pages of documents ever produced pertaining to any Supreme Court nomination. Literally hundreds of judicial opinions from his tenure on the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. And five days of hearings, during which Judge Kavanaugh testified for nearly 40 hours. Judge Kavanaugh testified on every topic from complicated legal subjects to sensitive personal matters. And there were testimony and statements from countless personal friends, classmates, coworkers, former clerks, and other associates.
“So the picture that emerged from all this is clear: Judge Kavanaugh is one of the most qualified and most impressive Supreme Court nominees in the history of our country. He has excelled at the highest levels of legal scholarship. He holds two degrees from Yale, and for years has lectured at Harvard Law School. He has issued more than 300 legal opinions from what is widely considered the second highest court in the nation. Several have subsequently been cited in the Supreme Court’s own majority opinions. Along the way, he has built an outstanding reputation within the legal community for his clear, thoughtful writing and his exemplary, fair-minded judicial temperament.
“Judge Kavanaugh’s qualifications have been affirmed by his peers and by renowned legal scholars from across the ideological spectrum. One self-described liberal Democrat who advised him at Yale said that Judge Kavanaugh, quote, ‘commands wide and deep respect among scholars, lawyers, and jurists.’ And this praise has been echoed by hundreds of character witnesses who have testified before the Senate or written us letters to praise Judge Kavanaugh’s personal character and his integrity in the strongest terms.
“The Committee has also thoroughly investigated the last-minute allegations that have been brought forward. The evidence that has been produced either fails -- fails -- to corroborate these accusations, or in fact supports Judge Kavanaugh’s unequivocal denial. And in some cases, the accusers have even recanted their baseless allegations. All in all, this is a nominee who has received what many consider the ‘gold standard’ of judicial qualification -- a rating of ‘unanimously well qualified’ from the American Bar Association.
“So, this is a nomination that deserves to move forward -- and that is precisely what is happening. I commend our colleagues on the Committee for sending this impressive nominee here to the floor with a favorable recommendation. Now we will keep the process moving: The full Senate will begin considering Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination today.”
Trump is finished if he pulls the nomination.
why does mmcconnell and ryan both suck because both of them are turn coat never trumpers and they are both deep staters only interested in lining their own pockets...see!!!!
You need to leave the Compound on occasion, talk to some normal people and see how this show is playing among those who are not rabid leftists.
The Demons are losing this battle in popular opinion.
Trump has nominated and McConnell gotten approved more federal judges than any president in our history. It is extraordinary.
I think I saw that Trump’s appointees make up 20% of the federal judiciary. McConnell should be praised for that.
I swear the democRATs are playing 3D chess, while the idiot GOPe are playing checkers!
The democRATs are in this for the long game, which - it appears - they will win. The GOPe constantly act befuddled. As if they didn’t see this coming!
It’s not at all what Flake wanted, he’s just the agreeable ‘runner’ for what the Dems wanted....and got! Delay delay delay...that tune isn’t going to change...just the means of.
There has been no vote in the Senate on the nomination.
Senate rules are established which give great power to the Minority and the Demons are using them to obstruct.
Judges, judges and more judges - go Mitch!!!
It is definitely not Trump pulling the nomination.
It probably more along the lines that the FBI investigation will uncover criminality/perjury with Dr. Ford’s handlers. Since, they asked for a more open ended investigation!
Wow. Although I'm a die-hard Rush fan, I admit I haven't listened to him much over the past two days because of all the live news that was breaking/going on. This sounds dire.
As I've already said on this thread... democRATS are in this for the long game. They are playing 3D chess while the befuddled GOPe are playing checkers.
It pains me to think of this good man -- Judge Kavanaugh, and his lovely family -- being absolutely destroyed by these marxists. :-(
I watched Christine Blasey Ford's entire 'performance'... Unlike just about everybody, I don't think she was credible at all. It was an Academy Award-winning performance, IMO. I'm a woman, btw, if it makes any difference.
Really?
You think immediate votes are taken as soon as the nominee is referred? It is likely that each Senator will be given a certain amount of time to yammer prior to a vote.
There are probably some procedures in the Senate Rules that can be used to slow things down. Then vote a day after the Report is delivered.
Haven’t you learned yet?
I think I saw that Trump’s appointees make up 20% of the federal judiciary. McConnell should be praised for that.
I agree that is definitely worth celebrating!
However... I'm very pessimistic about this latest drama going on with the Kavanaugh nomination. Do you think he will be ultimately be confirmed?? I need to be talked off of the ledge at this point... ;-)
And if the above is true, the government has no subpoena power in this little mini-investigation.
She needs this to drag out a couple weeks longer to earn the other half of her pay, which will be gofundme’d to her.
Yes, I do think Kavenaugh will be confirmed in about a week.
The process is just getting started in the Senate after the Referral. And it will take time.
We have to learn from our President and never slack off or get depressed.
When have they beat him?
Excellent writing Matt. Keep it up.
The words of the Demonrats condemn them as neo-fascists/Marxists re the destruction of our congressional system, our court system, the presidency and our republican political system.
In other words, they are America’s “Domestic Enemies”.
I’ve been writing and saying this for 50 year or more, so I’m glad that many other Americans have now seen “with their own not-lying eyes”, who the Democrats really are.
Three questions for liberals/leftists/progressives, given the sexual misconduct of key Democrats including JFK, LBJ, Clinton, John Conyers Jr., NY AGs Spitzer and Schneiderman, Anthony Weiner, etc.
1. WOULD YOU TRUST YOUR DAUGHTER TO WORK FOR A DEMOCRAT POLITICIAN?
2. Would you let a Democrat politician be your babysitter?
3. Would you put your trust and political faith in psychopathic Democrat liars like Sen. Blumenthal, Harkin and Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, Corey Booker, Princess Summer Fall Winter Spring Warren, that crazy Coons senator from Delaware, Wacko Whitehouse, Harry “I trust the guy who told me about Mitt Romney’s back taxes problem” Reid, Comrade Obama and Sen. Dickless “Your soldier sons and husbands act like Nazis in Iraq” Durbin, as well as Nancy “Stretch” Pelosi, the Murrays/Murphys, Gillibrand the Clinton-lover, etc.?
Read ‘em and weep, America, for they are the backstabbing “Cassius” of Democrat politics and the Grim Reapers for the Death of America.
These rules have been established over two centuries and not changed willy-nilly or at will.
Who seriously believes the dames and Flake would vote to change the rules?
Even using the Nuclear Option can be frustrated by them.
Many things can and will happen
more victims
witnesses get sick or need time to prepare for FBI interviews.
Mitch refers new information back to the committee for their review and re-vote
Feminist get two more balls republicans trapped in the elevator
Media reporting on anonymous witness and victims which have to be tracked down
More anonymous rape charges over the phone to congress members
Time for more republicans to bail
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