SCOTUS Watch

Sepiche · Post by **Sepiche** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 2:31 pm

Vanity Fair: Despite big talk publicly, GOP close to pulling the plug on Kavanaugh

The confusion surrounding Rosenstein’s tenure may not give Kavanaugh a reprieve. In public, Trump continues to voice support for his embattled Supreme Court nominee, telling reporters at the United Nations earlier this morning that he stands with Kavanaugh “all the way.” But in private, Trump is growing increasingly frustrated by being mired in a deteriorating political situation beyond his control. On Monday morning, a Republican briefed on Trump’s thinking said the president has been considering pulling Kavanaugh’s nomination.

According to the source, Trump allies are imploring him to cut Kavanaugh loose for the sake of saving Republicans’ electoral chances in the midterms. The argument these advisers are making is that if Kavanaugh’s nomination fails, demoralized Republicans will stay home in November, and Democrats will take the House and the Senate and initiate impeachment proceedings.

Article also discusses the recent Rosenstein headlines were indeed intended to get Kavanaugh out of the news cycle.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 2:31 pm

Kurth wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 2:25 pm Also, when did we get to 4? I count the original, Ramirez, and now this whatever it is in MD county being reported by rawstory.

Which one am I missing?

Avenatti is claiming to represent another, but he hasn't released details yet that I've seen.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 4:32 pm

Sepiche wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 2:31 pm Article also discusses the recent Rosenstein headlines were indeed intended to get Kavanaugh out of the news cycle.

If that's the case, Kavanaugh really shouldn't be doing a prime-time interview with his wife on Fox this evening...

Aside from the weird irregularity of this move, it strongly suggests that he's trying to appeal to the conservative base to stay on his side.

Also, possible Supreme Court Justice: biased partiality much?

Captain Caveman · Post by **Captain Caveman** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 5:14 pm

He's such a wet noodle that I'm not sure this PR stunt will help him.

He's trying to seem indignant, but instead he looks like he might cry. I can't see Fox's #1 viewer, our president, liking this very much.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 5:56 pm

Looks like Kavanaugh is their hill to die on.

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:04 pm

Captain Caveman wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 5:14 pm He's such a wet noodle that I'm not sure this PR stunt will help him.

He's trying to seem indignant, but instead he looks like he might cry. I can't see Fox's #1 viewer, our president, liking this very much.

Perhaps he whispered that in her ear as he groped her?

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:07 pm

Skinypupy wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 5:56 pm

Looks like Kavanaugh is their hill to die on.

Indeed. He wont withdraw, Trump will not pick someone else, and republican judiciary senators will be enough.
All that is left at this point is the political price.

I hate putting faith in the American voter. They suck.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:17 pm

Unagi wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:07 pmI hate putting faith in the American voter. They suck.

I guess we just wait and see what happens when Avenatti's client uncloaks over the next two days and shares what happened to her:

.@michaelavenatti tells us his client will go public with an on-camera interview and more details of accusations against Kavanaugh in the next 48 hours https://politi.co/2NDC72T via @politico

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:18 pm

.@tedbarrettcnn reports:

Q: Should Ramírez be summoned to testify?

@OrrinHatch: No, I think we can look into that accusation. You’re going to have these phony accusations come always. ...

Q: Why do you say it’s a phony allegation?

Hatch: Because I know it is, that’s why.

Orrin Hatch, everyone. Redefining deplorable with every disgusting statement.

Just leave already.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:20 pm

Hatch has been a senator for ~41 years; McConnell for ~34. You're seeing what happens when career criminals that have been operating in the shadows for decades are finally realizing nothing matters anymore.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:26 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:20 pm Hatch has been a senator for ~41 years; McConnell for ~34. You're seeing what happens when career criminals that have been operating in the shadows for decades are finally realizing nothing matters anymore.

Fun fact: Hatch won his first senate race by attacking an incumbent who had been in office for 18 years, claiming that he had been in Washington too long.

Gerald Ford was president at the time.

Scoop20906 · Post by **Scoop20906** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 9:52 pm

Oops. Couldn’t find the link I wanted.

Still, Avenatti is on the warpath again.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 10:10 pm

Unagi wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:07 pm
Skinypupy wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 5:56 pm

Looks like Kavanaugh is their hill to die on.
Indeed. He wont withdraw, Trump will not pick someone else, and republican judiciary senators will be enough.
All that is left at this point is the political price.

I hate putting faith in the American voter. They suck.

Note that "Republican judiciary senators" are not the final say. Technically all the judiciary committee would be voting on is a recommendation to the full Senate (so even if they voted no, McConnell can still bring Kavanaugh to the floor).

The question is whether any two Republican senators decide that they are unwilling to go along with this shitshow / pay the political price for doing so, after the additional stuff that's likely going to come out before a Senate floor vote. I'm cautiously optimistic that Kavanaugh will get zero democratic votes at this point.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 10:25 pm

Enough · Post by **Enough** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 10:28 pm

I don't see what the big deal is now that we know that Kav is still a virgin. LOL, these people.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 12:14 am

He later corrected it

It might be autocorrect, but I have to wonder if it's some sort of Freudian slip. Someone should probably check any acquisitions Trump's recently acquired.

Fretmute · Post by **Fretmute** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:23 am

I would just like to see a single thought, just one, without a superlative. A single thought.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:54 am

Its always 'the greatest' with him yet he is bottom of the barrel scum.

Papa Smurph · Post by **Papa Smurph** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 7:45 am

Unagi wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:04 pm
Captain Caveman wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 5:14 pm He's such a wet noodle that I'm not sure this PR stunt will help him.

He's trying to seem indignant, but instead he looks like he might cry. I can't see Fox's #1 viewer, our president, liking this very much.
Perhaps he whispered that in her ear as he groped her?

Sadly, I cannot tell if you mean:

Kavanaugh whispered that in her ear as Kavanaugh groped her
or
Kavanaugh whispered that in her ear as Trump groped her
or
Trump whispered that in her ear as Kavanaugh groped her
or
Trump whispered that in her ear as Trump groped her

Wow, these morally superior Republicans sure are doing a good job, huh!

em2nought · Post by **em2nought** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 8:00 am

Unagi wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:07 pm I hate putting faith in the American voter. They suck.

Your welcome!

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 8:05 am

Fretmute wrote:I would just like to see a single thought, just one, without a superlative. A single thought.

He tweets like an excitable child learning about the wonderful world of hyperbole and exaggeration for the first time in grade school.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 8:24 am

Wait - so is Kavanaugh using "I was a virgin" as a defense? Of what? That he never succeeded in raping anyone? You know who else are virgins? Those bitterly misogynistic guys who call themselves Incels. It doesn't make you a better person.

Also, for chuckles, it looks like Kavanaugh and pals joked about conquests that never happened in their yearbooks, according to one woman who signed the letter attesting to his morality before she discovered she was listed as the town bicycle by him and his friends.

Goddamn, I just want it all to stop. Each week that passes makes me think "Well, things can't get any worse in the US" and then the GOP one-ups themselves.

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 8:32 am

em2nought wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 8:00 am
Unagi wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:07 pm I hate putting faith in the American voter. They suck.
Your welcome!

mine?

Chaz · Post by **Chaz** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 9:03 am

Paingod wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 8:24 am Wait - so is Kavanaugh using "I was a virgin" as a defense? Of what? That he never succeeded in raping anyone? You know who else are virgins? Those bitterly misogynistic guys who call themselves Incels. It doesn't make you a better person.

It's the old "if there wasn't penis > vagina penetration, then it wasn't sex, and if there wasn't penetration, it also wasn't rape, and if it wasn't rape, then it wasn't real sexual assault, so what's the big deal?" We've seen this before, and it's a real bad look.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 9:19 am

Chaz wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 9:03 am
Paingod wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 8:24 am Wait - so is Kavanaugh using "I was a virgin" as a defense? Of what? That he never succeeded in raping anyone? You know who else are virgins? Those bitterly misogynistic guys who call themselves Incels. It doesn't make you a better person.

It's the old "if there wasn't penis > vagina penetration, then it wasn't sex, and if there wasn't penetration, it also wasn't rape, and if it wasn't rape, then it wasn't real sexual assault, so what's the big deal?" We've seen this before, and it's a real bad look.

Guys like that need to get not-raped in their face by a kindly fist.

Chaz · Post by **Chaz** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 9:26 am

LawBeefaroni wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 9:19 am
Chaz wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 9:03 am
Paingod wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 8:24 am Wait - so is Kavanaugh using "I was a virgin" as a defense? Of what? That he never succeeded in raping anyone? You know who else are virgins? Those bitterly misogynistic guys who call themselves Incels. It doesn't make you a better person.

It's the old "if there wasn't penis > vagina penetration, then it wasn't sex, and if there wasn't penetration, it also wasn't rape, and if it wasn't rape, then it wasn't real sexual assault, so what's the big deal?" We've seen this before, and it's a real bad look.
Guys like that need to get not-raped in their face by a kindly fist.

According to the GOP women "voters" CNN interviewed, that'd just be some touching, and nothing for them to get upset about.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 9:35 am

Daehawk wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:54 am Its always 'the greatest' with him yet he is bottom of the barrel scum.

Trump2k16 tha Greate$t.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 9:58 am

A nice in-depth with Maddow reviewing Kavanaugh's second accuser, accusations of gang rape against Mark Judge (Kavanaugh's friend) provided by one of Judge's ex's, and Avenatti's new client (one with multiple instances of US Security clearance) that claims Judge and Kavanaugh were involved in multiple gang rapes after drugging women.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:03 am

Paingod wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 9:58 am A nice in-depth with Maddow reviewing Kavanaugh's second accuser, accusations of gang rape against Mark Judge (Kavanaugh's friend) provided by one of Judge's ex's, and Avenatti's new client (one with multiple instances of US Security clearance) that claims Judge and Kavanaugh were involved in multiple gang rapes after drugging women.

I skeptical. Or maybe more accurately, I'm cynical. I have fears that it's a honeypot set up for Avenatti/Maddow. I'm not confident in their vetting process. If it proves to be false, any true accusations would be burned on the "fake news" bonfire.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:04 am

There are many times I feel like Maddow is the liberal version of Hannity.

This is most certainly one of them.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:25 am

pr0ner wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:04 amThere are many times I feel like Maddow is the liberal version of Hannity.

For comparison.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:26 am

Are you trying to say that Maddow is not the liberal version of Hannity?

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:31 am

I didn't say anything. I offered a direct comparison for anyone who wants to watch the two. Same topic. Roughly the same duration.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:35 am

I personally don't want to watch either one of them (that Maddow Trump tax release show can take a flying leap into the trash pits of TV hell, for instance), but that doesn't stop millions of other people from doing the same, unfortunately.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:40 am

To my ears, Maddow spends 20 minutes covering her sources and info. She wants to know why the GOP is so insistent on ram-rodding this instead of letting the FBI do its job. She questions the sanity in putting on blinders and running as fast as they can. She stays on topic and keeps the pieces fitting together. She does like to build up backstory so you understand where the story is coming from at its roots, which can get a little drawn out.

Hannity spends a few minutes covering his sources, with a lot of it being the accused denying repeatedly while Hannity starts spinning "whataboutisms" that have nothing to do with the supreme court hearings, and trying to prop up straw men that have nothing to do with the actual events. He tops it all off with a long rant about Liberals and character assassination.

Though, I admit my favorite quote from him in that clip - taken out of context is this:

Hannity wrote:...Republicans are racist, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic, xenophobic, islamophobic, oh, they want dirty air and water...

I agree with him. The current state of the Republican party is exactly this.

Kurth · Post by **Kurth** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:45 am

pr0ner wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:35 am I personally don't want to watch either one of them (that Maddow Trump tax release show can take a flying leap into the trash pits of TV hell, for instance), but that doesn't stop millions of other people from doing the same, unfortunately.

+1

Also, I wonder if Vegas is laying odds on Avenatti getting disbarred at some point. That guy is a self-serving hustler if ever I saw one. He keeps stepping right up to the line. At some point, he’s going to cross it, and I think there will be hell to pay if/when he does.

So, yeah, count me in as a skeptic/cynic as far as Avenatti’s super secret accuser with a security clearance.

Archinerd · Post by **Archinerd** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:45 am

em2nought wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 8:00 am
Unagi wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:07 pm I hate putting faith in the American voter. They suck.
Your welcome!

C-
Too focused on one specific forum member.
Try a broader approach next time.

Scoop20906 · Post by **Scoop20906** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:47 am

For those not trusting Avernatti and while I agree with trust but verify I have one simple question: when he makes a claim like this please refer me to when he was wrong.

He has a client and that client will show up with some kind of story and probably supporting testimony from others.

Now if any senators care is another story.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:49 am

Kurth wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:45 am
pr0ner wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:35 am I personally don't want to watch either one of them (that Maddow Trump tax release show can take a flying leap into the trash pits of TV hell, for instance), but that doesn't stop millions of other people from doing the same, unfortunately.
+1

Also, I wonder if Vegas is laying odds on Avenatti getting disbarred at some point. That guy is a self-serving hustler is ever I saw one. He keeps stepping right up to the line. At some point, he’s going to cross it, and I think there will be hell to pay if/when he does.

So, yeah, count me in as a skeptic/cynic as far as Avenatti’s super secret accuser with a security clearance.

Avenatti is the equivalent of an ambulance chasing huckster whose 15 minutes are about to be over.

Kurth · Post by **Kurth** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:50 am

Archinerd wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:45 am
em2nought wrote: Tue Sep 25, 2018 8:00 am
Unagi wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:07 pm I hate putting faith in the American voter. They suck.
Your welcome!
C-
Too focused on one specific forum member.
Try a broader approach next time.

Also, “you’re” not “your.” As I tell my kids, it doesn’t matter how brilliant your content is if your readers are distracted by silly grammar and spelling mistakes. Let’s clean that up!