Kavanaugh’s strident defense at the kangaroo hearing rocked the Left back on its heels. They had never been counterattacked in that manner, and such tactics make it virtually impossible to get away with their smears.
Thus they are trying to establish a new rule. Defending yourself stridently shows that you lack judicial temperament, and are hence ineligible for the Court.
See how that works?
Kavanaugh took a page out of Clarence Thomas’ book and used it very effectively. Thomas went through the same crap orchestrated by the fat, drunk, Ted Kennedy.