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Exactly. It's a tad tricky explaining how both 1) yes, it's true that your memory was severely impaired to the point of blackout, but 2) you are positive you do not have some raping inner monster who would appear here and there for an hour at a time or so between your snapshots of memory recalled the next day, some monster you'd never even hear rumor of until 30 years after the fact.

I don't think so. I had short term blackouts, and I am 100% confident I never sexually assaulted anyone.

I personally suspect he does recall having sex with her, and enough alcohol was involved on her end to where the questionable nature of her consent would be apparent, and he chose to just go with "I never even even blacked out, and I also never had sex with her" than be the guy who argues it was all completely consensual in spite of factors X, Y, and Z.


Wait. No one, including Christine Blasey Ford, ever said he had sex with her. It didn't happen and it isn't even something he's accused of.
 
Or spicy food? Who barfs after eating spicy food?

I barfed after a couple of beers, if I chugged them. I figured out that I couldn't chug beer. I could drink a lot of beers, but if I chugged a full one, even early in the night, it was likely to come up. No beer bongs for me.



I never threw up on spicy food.
 
My political take:

The country is incredibly divided, and most people's minds were made up before the allegations were even levelled. Nothing happened today that changed very many minds of voters. Even if they believe one or the other, they think there are more important issues. (I think they're right.)

So, if you are a Republican senator who is running for re-election, your biggest fear is low voter turnout. A no vote might depress your base, and leave you vulnerable. If you are a Republican senator who is not running for reelection this year, your biggest fear may very well be a primary challenge in two years. If you are the vote that sinks Kavanaugh, you will be the traitor and could lose in the primaries.

Therefore, confirmed. The only suspense will be how a few red state Democrats vote. I think that today they gained enough cover that they can afford a no vote, while touting the investigation demand. They'll be doing as much polling and whatever other forms of sticking their finger in the wind to decide which vote will cost them the most votes, and they'll go with the other side, but it won't matter because I don't think there will be any Republican defectors.

Jeff Flake, maybe? I doubt it. But he's just one. They would have to lose two, and I don't think they will.
 
Until I saw Kavanaugh in action, I would have bet a federal judge would know to remain calm, responsive, keep his conspiracy theories to himself, and simply deny any knowledge of the alleged misconduct.

But Kavanaugh's histrionic performance reminded me that this is Trump's pick. The guy even dangled the bait of presidential immunity from investigation before Trump to secure the nod, knowing full well (I presume) that the constitutional power to impeach implies, even requires the ability to investigate the president.

Kavanaugh was blatantly playing to the Republican base (evidenced by accusing the Clintons of orchestrating everything). Not much reason to expect that he'll be anything close to objective when dealing with political issues (e.g., congressional redistricting).
 
Kavanaugh was blatantly playing to the Republican base (evidenced by accusing the Clintons of orchestrating everything). Not much reason to expect that he'll be anything close to objective when dealing with political issues (e.g., congressional redistricting).

David Brock said Kavanaugh's always been a political operative. As for the Clintons, Brock said he saw the future Supreme Court justice watching Hillary on TV and then mouth the word "bitch."
 
A no vote might depress your base, and leave you vulnerable. If you are a Republican senator who is not running for reelection this year, your biggest fear may very well be a primary challenge in two years. If you are the vote that sinks Kavanaugh, you will be the traitor and could lose in the primaries.

If Lisa Murkowski votes yes, her base (which consists of a huge percentage of Native Alaskans) have made it clear they will chuck her out at the next opportunity.

Susan Collins could face the battle of her life in Maine, where activists have raised over $1M which they have pledged to give to her opponent if she votes yes. $1M towards a campaign in a small rural state like Maine is highly significant.
 
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I kinda zoned out when he talked about that wonderful trip to Fenway Park when the great Roger Clemens was pitching and apparently where he ended up - I'm fuzzy here - dropping in his tracks from exhaustion on the steps of his frat house, or something like that. He was going to talk about that ballgame all day, it seems. I can imagine him furiously Googling the game.

And, one can hope, someone watching today, saying, "Hey, I remember that guy! He puked on my lap!"

Seriously, I was trying hard not to listen. I don't want to follow things this closely.
 
He may not be in denial about it. But he certainly denied it while being asked questions about that by the lawyer who the GOP selected.

Categorically, emphatically denied it. Repeatedly. He even denied that there were ever any times when he didn't remember something which had been said or done while he was drinking. No memory issues at all, ever.

Anyone who could believe him after watching him (where he even looked like he was lying) make those claims is never going to doubt anything he says under any circumstances, or either just doesn't care that he is lying like a rug.

This is exactly why Judge should be forced to testify. Since he certainly saw Kavanaugh drink himself unconscious, he even named a puking drunk in his book after him. While he would be very reluctant to testify about his participation in an attempted rape, under oath he might be prodded into talking about drunkenness. If K's testimony about that is proven false, then the rest of his denial falls apart.
 
And quite the crybaby which I don't think is the best qualification for a SCOTUS judge.

Although I empathize with the affliction, I would think the alcoholism would be a major factor. Remember when being a judge was considered the epitome of self-control? (as in "Sober as a...")
 
A really damning piece on CNN tonight. Cuomo interviewed Debbie Ramirez' roommate. She said she knew Brett Kavanaugh and drank with him often at Yale. The interview had nothing to do with Ramirez' charges. It was all about how she thought it impossible that he never blacked out, and that in general his statements about being a goody two shoes (she didn't use that term) were a lot of BS. He drank a lot. Had to have blacked out. She objected to him trying to paint this phony picture that everyone who knew him at the time knew wasn't true. Then when Cuomo mentioned that another friend (who went on to play in the NBA, but whose name I forget) had vouched for Kavanaugh, she told a story about how when one of her friends snuck off with a guy at a party, and went to her room for some private recreation, Kavanaugh and his friend decided to throw open the door to embarrass them. The other guy was the one who actually entered the room, but Kavanaugh egged him on, and laughed at the young couple who were intruded upon.


I must admit, I still don't know what I want to happen. I really hate the idea of digging up dirt from high school to use against politicians or political appointees. I also think the evidence against him on the serious charges is insufficient to establish the truth of those charges, so he ought to get the benefit of the doubt. On the other hand, he didn't strike me as genuine, and on the subject of drinking just struck me as a liar. I don't trust him, even if I don't believe he's a rapist or would-be rapist. Regardless of what he might have done in high school, I think he was lying today. To be fair, he was lying about things that don't matter, like whether or not he blacked out, but it just gives me a really low opinion of him personally, and makes me question whether he can judge impartially, as he so piously claims he can.
 
Although I empathize with the affliction, I would think the alcoholism would be a major factor. Remember when being a judge was considered the epitome of self-control? (as in "Sober as a...")

The last time I heard that expression, a friend of mine's father was saying, "No, he's standing here sober as a judge." Story in spoiler, because it's not really on topic.

My friend was indeed sober, but on the other end of the phone was a girl's father, and the girl was not sober. Although she named my friend as the source of the alcohol, it had actually been another boy, who had in fact plied her with alcohol in the hopes of taking advantage of her condition. Ah, high school.


The other boy was not hoping to make her pass out and rape her. He just wanted to give her enough to lower inhibitions. It didn't work, but when they dropped her off, she threw up in her front lawn, and was met by her father.


The other boy had been my best friend, but we had grown estranged. Suddenly, a couple of months before this incident, he started being a real jerk to me. I didn't know why until our 35th high school reunion. There, he said it was because I was making out with his girlfriend at his party. I assured him I had done no such thing. I was sitting on the couch next to her, while she was making out with another guy. She hit on me, but I wasn't going for it. She was very drunk, and ended up making out with three guys that night, none of them being me, or my (then) best friend, but for some reason he thought I had.


When I hear about Brett Kavanaugh's high school days, I can definitely relate, although reading some of the stories, I suppose we must have been tame. No one (that I'm aware of) had sex at that party. Just making out. Even that boy's goal when trying to "take advantage of" the girl with the liquor would not have been actual intercourse. Just making out.
 
Very early, Kavanaugh could have gotten in front of all of this, admitting to being a party boy in Highschool and beyond.
And then apologize.
Not necessarily admit to attacking Ford, but agreeing that sometimes he was so drunk that he might have done things he would normally never do and not being able to remember them because of blacking out.
He could then point at decades of moderate drinking and proper behavior etc. etc. and agree to help any investigation into past mistakes.
That would have been something Republicans could sell their female voters.

But Kavanaugh ticked every box of being an entitled fratboy who thinks he can drink to excess and do what he wants, and lie about it afterwards with no consequence: he has not shown any sense of wrongdoing whatsoever.

I don't doubt that Republicans will confirm him, but it will cost them in the Midterms and 2020.
 
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Kavanaugh was blatantly playing to the Republican base (evidenced by accusing the Clintons of orchestrating everything). Not much reason to expect that he'll be anything close to objective when dealing with political issues (e.g., congressional redistricting).
I think you're right. The Clinton revenge accusation was completely out of place unless you'd been coached.
 
Until I saw Kavanaugh in action, I would have bet a federal judge would know to remain calm, responsive, keep his conspiracy theories to himself, and simply deny any knowledge of the alleged misconduct.

The thing that really gets me about this is that Kavanaugh is an experienced judge. He's seen plenty of dishonest, defensive, panicked testimony in his time. He knows precisely what it sounds like and how to avoid it. But here he is like a kid with his hand in the cookie jar. He is very obviously lying.
 
David Brock said Kavanaugh's always been a political operative. As for the Clintons, Brock said he saw the future Supreme Court justice watching Hillary on TV and then mouth the word "bitch."

That's right. I remember that report. Another misogynist.
 
If Lisa Murkowski votes yes, her base (which consists of a huge percentage of Native Alaskans) have made it clear they will chuck her out at the next opportunity.

Susan Collins could face the battle of her life in Maine, where activists have raised over $1M which they have pledged to give to her opponent if she votes yes. $1M towards a campaign in a small rural state like Maine is highly significant.
I love encouragement like that.

If a single one of those Democratic Senators caves I hope they are toast.
 
I really hate the idea of digging up dirt from high school to use against politicians or political appointees. I also think the evidence against him on the serious charges is insufficient to establish the truth of those charges, so he ought to get the benefit of the doubt.

Why was he so non-answering about letting the FBI do an investigation of those charges?

If I was 100% totally innocent, I'd be *wanting* my name cleared. His non-answering evasiveness on that point is bizarre to me.
 

I wasn't familiar, so I ran across this article:

https://www.nj.com/politics/index.s..._brett_kavanaughs_quarters_drinking_game.html

The funny quote from the article:

But it's also worth noting that the Twitter account Congressional Edits, a Twitter bot that monitors edits to Wikipedia made from Congressional I.P. addresses, discovered that the Wikipedia term "Devil's Triangle (disambiguation)" was edited anonymously from the US House of Representatives shortly to describe it in the same terms as Kavanaugh.
 
David Brock said Kavanaugh's always been a political operative. As for the Clintons, Brock said he saw the future Supreme Court justice watching Hillary on TV and then mouth the word "bitch."


"The laughter. The uproarious laughter."
-- Christine Ford (Sept 27, 2018)
 
I would be entirely happy to prohibit anyone who ever went to a private prep school or an ivy league college from holding any government position whatsoever. Especially if they went to Yale.
 
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