Kavanaugh in the #MeToo Era

 

In the wake of the revelation of Christine Blasey Ford’s identity, some have suggested that her allegation against Brett Kavanaugh will be handled more sensitively than such accusations once were thanks to the #MeToo movement. That may turn out to be true, but only if at least one other woman comes forward with similar charges.

#MeToo gave courage to women, and some men, to speak up about sexual harassment and abuse. It helped to clarify that gross sexual misconduct is not a perk of power. It revived a sense of shame. Whereas for too long, many women felt powerless in the face of this abuse, the movement offered strength in numbers. Once one victim of a brutish man found her voice, others summoned the courage to come forward.

And there were always others. The high-profile men felled by #MeToo: Harvey Weinstein, John Conyers, Jr., Louis C.K., Charlie Rose, Mark Halperin, Bill O’Reilly, Kevin Spacey, Roger Ailes, and others faced accusations from multiple victims. That’s the way such men are. They’re predators. Few of the accused even denied the allegations.

In this sense, the #MeToo movement was different from the message “rape culture” activists have cultivated on college campuses. Often, their slogan is “believe all women.” Why would a woman lie about something like that, knowing that her character is likely to be sullied?

Well, most women don’t lie about rape, but some do. The student accuser in the Rolling Stone account of a rape at the University of Virginia fabricated the whole story. She may have been seeking attention or sympathy, or she may have had emotional problems. Emma Sulkowicz, who gained fame dragging a mattress around Columbia University, probably lied about her experience. The university apologized to the man she accused. A Hofstra University student claimed to have been gang raped, but a cell phone video showed otherwise. She was apparently attempting to deceive her boyfriend about her whereabouts. The Scottsboro boys became the most famous falsely accused men in American history because white girls on a train during the Depression didn’t want to admit being friendly with black boys.

So, yes, women are human and flawed and sometimes dishonest. That’s important to keep in mind in any dispute. Another woman in this tale, Sen. Diane Feinstein, reeks of bad faith. She has had this information since July but held it until one week before the vote. She says she didn’t reveal it earlier, not even in closed session, because Ford wasn’t willing to disclose her identity. Yet Feinstein released the existence of the accusation on Friday, two days before Ford went public.

The Kavanaugh accusation has other complications.

Memories fade with the passage of time. It has been 36 years. Christine Blasey Ford herself doesn’t recall key details about the encounter such as the year it happened or the house where it took place. She told no one at the time (which doesn’t mean she’s lying, only that corroboration is absent). She may have him confused with someone else. According to Ford’s account, Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge locked her in a room. Kavanaugh had pinned her on the bed using his body weight and was tearing at her clothes. When she tried to scream, he covered her mouth. Judge then allegedly jumped on top of both of them. In the jumble, she was able to free herself. She says she locked herself in a bathroom until the boys stumbled down the stairs. Judge may not have a perfect memory – he has acknowledged trouble with alcohol – but he told The Weekly Standard that “It’s just absolutely nuts. I never saw Brett act that way.”

There is also the question of responsibility. Is 17 too young to be held accountable for such behavior? It’s a close call, but in the end, it’s a question of character. It’s possible to imagine a 17-year-old behaving like a lout and then regretting it deeply and becoming a pillar of society. And it’s possible that a teenaged abuser was just getting started on a career of assault.

Kavanaugh issued a blanket denial: “This is a completely false accusation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describes – to her or anyone.” If he’s innocent, that’s obviously right and necessary. If he were guilty, and reformed, the awful act itself might be forgivable, if he acknowledged guilt. And if, God forbid, he’s lying, his entire reputation as a man of integrity totters.

This is why it’s crucial to see whether this accusation is a one-off or part of a pattern. Everything we know about Kavanaugh — from his friends, colleagues, students, and community — suggests that that he is not just a good guy, but an extraordinarily generous and upright person. He coaches girls’ basketball. He volunteers at homeless shelters. He’s a good husband. He tutors needy kids. He does minority outreach for law school students. He attends church.

Maybe it’s all a charade, but we should be loath to draw that conclusion without at least one more woman stepping up to recount a similar experience. Absent that, his whole adult life tips the scales far more than one uncorroborated accusation.

Published in Culture, Law
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  1. Jim McConnell Member
    Jim McConnell
    @JimMcConnell

    Thank you, Mona, for a balanced and thoughtful presentation of what is now known about this unfortunate situation. As you say, the timing of the public charge raises suspicions.

    • #1
  2. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Maybe it’s all a charade, but we should be loath to draw that conclusion without at least one more woman stepping up to recount a similar experience.

    There’s something rather simplistic about this formulation.  Let’s consider whether there’s a person out there right now who, as stated above, is fully aware that just one more allegation might tip the scales against Kavanaugh.  Assume that person, having remained silent to date, comes forward.  Does that relieve either accuser of having each allegation judged on its merits?

    • #2
  3. MichaelHenry Member
    MichaelHenry
    @MichaelHenry

    Ms Charen: Your “balanced and thoughtful” approach to character assassination sounds so nice and logical, but it doesn’t address the real damage that’s been done by Feinstein and Ford and their “useful idiots” in the media and Dem party.

    The real damage is this: Brett Kavanaugh’s name will forever be associated with this woman’s smear. Justice Clarence Thomas is rarely mentioned without a reference to the Anita Hill “high tech lynching.” There have been myriad books, documentaries, and tv movies (one very recent) about her allegations. She ruined Justice Thomas’s good name and character forever.

    And notice the similar strategy. Hill’s claims came at the very end of Thomas’s hearings and just before the vote. The claims boiled down to “he said, she said.” Same here.

    Ask anyone who has ever tried to prove a negative in court or in the court of public opinion. Judge Kavanaugh is asked to rebut something that Ford claims happened 36 years ago. It’s just not possible. Ford admits she’s not sure when or where it happened, and she didn’t report it.  The alleged eye-witness who said it didn’t happen, Mark Judge, is undergoing character assassination by the media as well, his credibility already being questioned because of an apparent history of alcohol abuse.

    Like the Duke lacrosse players, the UVA frat boys, and many others who have been smeared with claims of sexual abuse that never happened, the stain is indelible.

    The Dems and their media allies have succeeded in permanently smearing Justice Thomas and now Judge Kavanaugh.  Your calm, reasoned approach sounds swell, but no allegations of sexual misconduct should be trumpeted until they are investigated thoroughly. Like the media protecting the victim’s name, the media should protect the alleged assailant’s name until some reliable evidence is put forward.  It’s why we have a presumption of innocence and criminal procedures to verify allegations before an arrest is made.

    Ford’s claims prove that Dems and the media will say or do anything to win, regardless of truth or provability. Your “thoughtful” response is a typical Republican establishment answer. The Dems fight with guns; establishment Republicans fight with butter knives.

    Like Senator Welch asked Joe McCarthy, “At long last, have you no sense of decency?” We don’t have to ask the Dems and their fellow travelers in the media. We already know they have no shame.

    The widespread dissemination of Ford’s unprovable allegation is an outrage. All decent people, including you, should be angry and embarrassed.    

    • #3
  4. Locke On Member
    Locke On
    @LockeOn

    Kavanaugh and Judge should file a defamation lawsuit against Ford.  The accuser should have some skin in the game when the stakes are this high, dontcha think?

    • #4
  5. Charles Mark Member
    Charles Mark
    @CharlesMark

    As matters stand there are far too many problems with this allegation for it to be treated as a simple “he says/she says” issue. The onus should be on the accuser to produce hard corroborating evidence and to do it right now. If she does then the nominee deserves his inevitable fate. Otherwise the unfairness would be unbearable and the precedent foul. 

    • #5
  6. GFHandle Member
    GFHandle
    @GFHandle

    In any decent court of law this stuff would never be allowed. Presumption of innocence? Statute of limitations? Need to establish corroborating evidence before the trial can even start?

    BTW, there were multiple accusers in the Witch Trials.

    Given the political context, who can give this stuff credence? We have already seen to what lengths some will go to derail this nomination. In that context, the motive of the accuser(s) is on the face of it suspect.

    Ironic how some are terribly concerned about the rights of the accused when the accusation is drug dealing or mugging. But let there be a political gain to be had and those same folks forget the most elementary rules of fair play because they know the court of public opinion is a kangaroo.

    • #6
  7. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    Kavanaugh is now damaged goods and needs to resign for the good of the country and party.  How come the GOP can not stop electing, running and nominating rapist, racist, etc.  

    • #7
  8. Gumby Mark Coolidge
    Gumby Mark
    @GumbyMark

    We need to remind people that without the election of Donald Trump there would be no #MeToo.  If Hillary had won the allegations against Weinstein, which triggered the movement, would never have seen the light of day.  Weinstein was a longtime friend and funder of the Clintons, Bill would have been the First Hubby, and our new President a women who, for decades, took a flamethrower to the reputation of any woman who potentially threatened her husband’s political future.

    The only publication that might have printed Ronan Farrow’s piece on Weinstein is Breitbart and it would have then been ignored by mainstream media.

    • #8
  9. Ralphie Inactive
    Ralphie
    @Ralphie

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Kavanaugh is now damaged goods and needs to resign for the good of the country and party. How come the GOP can not stop electing, running and nominating rapist, racist, etc.

    I don’t believe they did. You may want to believe that. He deserves a defense. The idea that someone can make an accusation, initially anonymously, that turns you into “damaged goods” is poppycock. Or should be.

    The government can confiscate property without a trial and conviction; Civil Forfeiture. 

    This is like a forfeiture of a person’s reputation and that is worth more than money.  You can get money back, you cannot repair a reputation that has been foisted upon you by others. It is one thing to earn it, another to have it thrust upon you. 

    Republicans did not do that to Garland. They were up front and honest. “We are not going to hold confirmation hearings for you.” McConnel took a gamble, but I am sure he thought it was just a postponement. Everyone knew that Hillary would win.  Garland did not have to endure character assassination, and will be able to be nominated again one day without being “damaged goods”.

     

    • #9
  10. JosePluma Coolidge
    JosePluma
    @JosePluma

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Kavanaugh is now damaged goods and needs to resign for the good of the country and party. How come the GOP can not stop electing, running and nominating rapist, racist, etc.

    Total baloney.  If that’s the standard, no one would be acceptable.  All it takes is one liar to stop a nomination.  Oh, and you called him a rapist (not even an accusation in this case).  Prove it.

    • #10
  11. James Madison Member
    James Madison
    @JamesMadison

    Brett Kavanaugh and Louis C.K. in the same post.  Something is not right.  The accuser has so many facts missing.  And the situation is prime for a second accuser with political motive to step in and finish him off.  Partisans are now lining up and the fait accompli is coming over the next few days.

    This is a witch trial of innuendo and incomplete memories.  What is the threshold test of evidence for trashing someone’s reputation?  I think, .. no, I am certain something happened, I interpreted it this way, this person definitely did it, and I cannot remember anything else like who, how many, why, where, … not much else.  

    There comes a time where psychology can rationalize many things.  Even the unreal or near real.  

    I have fixed this impression in my mind, therefore he is guilty.  

    • #11
  12. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

    By all means let’s get the mob involved and take time to sort it all out, which of course is the reason it was put forward at the last minute in the first place.   A pusillanimous approach cedes power to the boldly dishonest and the deeply sleazy. 

    • #12
  13. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    Ralphie (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Kavanaugh is now damaged goods and needs to resign for the good of the country and party. How come the GOP can not stop electing, running and nominating rapist, racist, etc.

    I don’t believe they did. You may want to believe that. He deserves a defense. The idea that someone can make an accusation, initially anonymously, that turns you into “damaged goods” is poppycock. Or should be.

    The government can confiscate property without a trial and conviction; Civil Forfeiture.

    This is like a forfeiture of a person’s reputation and that is worth more than money. You can get money back, you cannot repair a reputation that has been foisted upon you by others. It is one thing to earn it, another to have it thrust upon you.

    Republicans did not do that to Garland. They were up front and honest. “We are not going to hold confirmation hearings for you.” McConnel took a gamble, but I am sure he thought it was just a postponement. Everyone knew that Hillary would win. Garland did not have to endure character assassination, and will be able to be nominated again one day without being “damaged goods”.

     

    He is now a rapist and “damaged goods”, if the GOP installs him in office they are too.  They should have nominated a minority canidate, at least they would have had something to fight back with.  But no, the GOP, Trump brain trust decides on Brett the drunken, p-word grabbing, frat boy from an ivy league school.  Wonderful optics that.  

    • #13
  14. JosePluma Coolidge
    JosePluma
    @JosePluma

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Ralphie (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Kavanaugh is now damaged goods and needs to resign for the good of the country and party. How come the GOP can not stop electing, running and nominating rapist, racist, etc.

    I don’t believe they did. You may want to believe that. He deserves a defense. The idea that someone can make an accusation, initially anonymously, that turns you into “damaged goods” is poppycock. Or should be.

    The government can confiscate property without a trial and conviction; Civil Forfeiture.

    This is like a forfeiture of a person’s reputation and that is worth more than money. You can get money back, you cannot repair a reputation that has been foisted upon you by others. It is one thing to earn it, another to have it thrust upon you.

    Republicans did not do that to Garland. They were up front and honest. “We are not going to hold confirmation hearings for you.” McConnel took a gamble, but I am sure he thought it was just a postponement. Everyone knew that Hillary would win. Garland did not have to endure character assassination, and will be able to be nominated again one day without being “damaged goods”.

     

    He is now a rapist and “damaged goods”, if the GOP installs him in office they are too. They should have nominated a minority canidate, at least they would have had something to fight back with. But no, the GOP, Trump brain trust decides on Brett the drunken, p-word grabbing, frat boy from an ivy league school. Wonderful optics that.

    Again, no proof that any of that happened.

    • #14
  15. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    JosePluma (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Ralphie (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Kavanaugh is now damaged goods and needs to resign for the good of the country and party. How come the GOP can not stop electing, running and nominating rapist, racist, etc.

    I don’t believe they did. You may want to believe that. He deserves a defense. The idea that someone can make an accusation, initially anonymously, that turns you into “damaged goods” is poppycock. Or should be.

    The government can confiscate property without a trial and conviction; Civil Forfeiture.

    This is like a forfeiture of a person’s reputation and that is worth more than money. You can get money back, you cannot repair a reputation that has been foisted upon you by others. It is one thing to earn it, another to have it thrust upon you.

    Republicans did not do that to Garland. They were up front and honest. “We are not going to hold confirmation hearings for you.” McConnel took a gamble, but I am sure he thought it was just a postponement. Everyone knew that Hillary would win. Garland did not have to endure character assassination, and will be able to be nominated again one day without being “damaged goods”.

     

    He is now a rapist and “damaged goods”, if the GOP installs him in office they are too. They should have nominated a minority canidate, at least they would have had something to fight back with. But no, the GOP, Trump brain trust decides on Brett the drunken, p-word grabbing, frat boy from an ivy league school. Wonderful optics that.

    Again, no proof that any of that happened.

    You have the word of the womyn he assaulted.  All you got against is the word of his drunken frat brother.  Now if you want to defend rape and rapist that is up to you.  

    • #15
  16. Black Prince Inactive
    Black Prince
    @BlackPrince

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    JosePluma (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Ralphie (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Kavanaugh is now damaged goods and needs to resign for the good of the country and party. How come the GOP can not stop electing, running and nominating rapist, racist, etc.

    I don’t believe they did. You may want to believe that. He deserves a defense. The idea that someone can make an accusation, initially anonymously, that turns you into “damaged goods” is poppycock. Or should be.

    The government can confiscate property without a trial and conviction; Civil Forfeiture.

    This is like a forfeiture of a person’s reputation and that is worth more than money. You can get money back, you cannot repair a reputation that has been foisted upon you by others. It is one thing to earn it, another to have it thrust upon you.

    Republicans did not do that to Garland. They were up front and honest. “We are not going to hold confirmation hearings for you.” McConnel took a gamble, but I am sure he thought it was just a postponement. Everyone knew that Hillary would win. Garland did not have to endure character assassination, and will be able to be nominated again one day without being “damaged goods”.

     

    He is now a rapist and “damaged goods”, if the GOP installs him in office they are too. They should have nominated a minority canidate, at least they would have had something to fight back with. But no, the GOP, Trump brain trust decides on Brett the drunken, p-word grabbing, frat boy from an ivy league school. Wonderful optics that.

    Again, no proof that any of that happened.

    You have the word of the womyn he assaulted. All you got against is the word of his drunken frat brother. Now if you want to defend rape and rapist that is up to you.

    Hehehehe =)

    • #16
  17. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    JosePluma (View Comment):
    Total baloney. If that’s the standard, no one would be acceptable. All it takes is one liar to stop a nomination. Oh, and you called him a rapist (not even an accusation in this case). Prove it.

    Fake John rarely uses the /sarc tag, but he should sometimes.

    • #17
  18. Ralphie Inactive
    Ralphie
    @Ralphie

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):
    He is now a rapist and “damaged goods”, if the GOP installs him in office they are too. They should have nominated a minority canidate, at least they would have had something to fight back with. But no, the GOP, Trump brain trust decides on Brett the drunken, p-word grabbing, frat boy from an ivy league school. Wonderful optics that.

    I’m not following your logic of convicting without trial. I find it unsettling that a single claim that is decades old, confirms your suspisions.  I’m sensing you are upset with Trump.  I didn’t vote for him, or Hillary. 

    They should have nominated a well qualified candidate, which they did.  Trump and Kavanaugh are not interchangible. When they nominated a minority candidate, the same thing happened. He is currently sitting on the Supreme Court. He still only has one accuser.  

    I guess you don’t understand that to the Democrats not one person Trump puts forward is acceptable. I wasn’t that excited about BK’s nomination, but there is not any information that says he is a serial rapist that grabs people’s genitals. 

    GW is also a drinking ivy league frat boy (with more evidence he had trouble with drinking when he was younger), and his group is different?

    • #18
  19. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    Ralphie (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):
    He is now a rapist and “damaged goods”, if the GOP installs him in office they are too. They should have nominated a minority canidate, at least they would have had something to fight back with. But no, the GOP, Trump brain trust decides on Brett the drunken, p-word grabbing, frat boy from an ivy league school. Wonderful optics that.

    I’m not following your logic of convicting without trial. I find it unsettling that a single claim that is decades old, confirms your suspisions. I’m sensing you are upset with Trump. I didn’t vote for him, or Hillary.

    They should have nominated a well qualified candidate, which they did. Trump and Kavanaugh are not interchangible. When they nominated a minority candidate, the same thing happened. He is currently sitting on the Supreme Court. He still only has one accuser.

    I guess you don’t understand that to the Democrats not one person Trump puts forward is acceptable. I wasn’t that excited about BK’s nomination, but there is not any information that says he is a serial rapist that grabs people’s genitals.

    GW is also a drinking ivy league frat boy (with more evidence he had trouble with drinking when he was younger), and his group is different?

    Nobody is being tried or convicted yet.  That is to come later if the lady presses charges.  All we are talking about is not giving a job to a known drunken, sexual assaulting former frat boy.   Does not his victim deserve the courtesy of our belief?  Do we just dismiss her out of hand because she is a womyn and not worthy of our concern?  

    • #19
  20. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Mona Charen: Christine Blasey Ford herself doesn’t recall key details about the encounter such as the year it happened or the house where it took place. She told no one at the time (which doesn’t mean she’s lying, only that corroboration is absent). She may have him confused with someone else.

    Mona,

    She was roughly 15 years old not 7 years old. If you were 15 you would remember exactly whose house it was. That she told no one is as strange as Anita Hill’s failure to tell anyone after her (wildly exaggerated) traumatic experience. Not only can memory play tricks but someone with a political ax to grind can allow themselves to “find” this kind of memory. Especially if they are now older and very savvy to the book deal and fame that may result. Both Hill and Ford were highly savvy motivated political creatures. The climate of the left looks for narratives and could care less about facts (or the real results of poorly conceived policies). This is ripe for someone with a corrupt self-interest to take advantage while posing as an injured party.

    The juxtaposition of Juanita Brodderick’s very real rape allegation made at the time of the event (and the lefts total lack of response) v this weird nonsense and its perfectly timed introduction for maximum media effect is just too much. I think its time to stop believing the left in general. The women can be evaluated one at a time.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #20
  21. Bob W Member
    Bob W
    @WBob

    Imagine if Kavanaugh or another candidate in his position had been convicted of armed robbery as a teenager. And he turned his life around and lived an exemplary life thereafter. Would this kind of blemish obliterate someone’s chances to become a judge, even a judge  on the SC? I don’t know whether there is some kind of ironclad legal prohibition that would prevent that, but if there is, that is probably all that would prevent it, if it were clear that the candidate was a new person.  People are generally forgiving of infractions, especially when committed at a young age, and armed robbery is more serious that what Kavanaugh is being accused of.   

    So the problem here isn’t that the infraction is of such extreme seriousness that it precludes appointment to the SC.  The problem is that this particular infraction, unlike  armed robbery, violates not only a law, but also a taboo. The “taboo of the day” or decade.  What distinguishes a taboo from a typical crime is that you can’t even imagine someone coming to the defense of the accused, to point out that he is sorry and a new person. Such an attempt would end one’s career, as all around would flee from the defender and leave him a pariah. If a black man was in Kavanaugh’s position and it was found he had committed armed robbery as a teenager and it was later expunged from his record, there would be all manner of defenders. Not so with a lesser crime of unwanted sexual advance, because that’s a taboo, not just a crime. Future anthropologists are going to have a field day with this episode.          

     

    • #21
  22. Ontheleftcoast Inactive
    Ontheleftcoast
    @Ontheleftcoast

    Bob W (View Comment):
    .If you were 15 you would remember exactly whose house it was.

    If you identify as a victim of a drunken groping but can’t remember details, that proves that you were incapacitated by drugs and/or alcohol which makes the attack even worse.

    • #22
  23. JosePluma Coolidge
    JosePluma
    @JosePluma

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    JosePluma (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Ralphie (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Kavanaugh is now damaged goods and needs to resign for the good of the country and party. How come the GOP can not stop electing, running and nominating rapist, racist, etc.

    I don’t believe they did. You may want to believe that. He deserves a defense. The idea that someone can make an accusation, initially anonymously, that turns you into “damaged goods” is poppycock. Or should be.

    The government can confiscate property without a trial and conviction; Civil Forfeiture.

    This is like a forfeiture of a person’s reputation and that is worth more than money. You can get money back, you cannot repair a reputation that has been foisted upon you by others. It is one thing to earn it, another to have it thrust upon you.

    Republicans did not do that to Garland. They were up front and honest. “We are not going to hold confirmation hearings for you.” McConnel took a gamble, but I am sure he thought it was just a postponement. Everyone knew that Hillary would win. Garland did not have to endure character assassination, and will be able to be nominated again one day without being “damaged goods”.

     

    He is now a rapist and “damaged goods”, if the GOP installs him in office they are too. They should have nominated a minority canidate, at least they would have had something to fight back with. But no, the GOP, Trump brain trust decides on Brett the drunken, p-word grabbing, frat boy from an ivy league school. Wonderful optics that.

    Again, no proof that any of that happened.

    You have the word of the womyn he assaulted. All you got against is the word of his drunken frat brother. Now if you want to defend rape and rapist that is up to you.

    Two unsubstantiated statements vs. one unsubstantiated statement.  2 >1.  I know you art majors are bad at math (And logic. And critical thinking.  And rational analysis.  And. . . [@susanquinn and @rightangles:  Together now–ARRGH!]), but that’s an equation you should understand.

    • #23
  24. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    JosePluma (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    JosePluma (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Ralphie (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Kavanaugh is now damaged goods and needs to resign for the good of the country and party. How come the GOP can not stop electing, running and nominating rapist, racist, etc.

    I don’t believe they did. You may want to believe that. He deserves a defense. The idea that someone can make an accusation, initially anonymously, that turns you into “damaged goods” is poppycock. Or should be.

    The government can confiscate property without a trial and conviction; Civil Forfeiture.

    This is like a forfeiture of a person’s reputation and that is worth more than money. You can get money back, you cannot repair a reputation that has been foisted upon you by others. It is one thing to earn it, another to have it thrust upon you.

    Republicans did not do that to Garland. They were up front and honest. “We are not going to hold confirmation hearings for you.” McConnel took a gamble, but I am sure he thought it was just a postponement. Everyone knew that Hillary would win. Garland did not have to endure character assassination, and will be able to be nominated again one day without being “damaged goods”.

     

    He is now a rapist and “damaged goods”, if the GOP installs him in office they are too. They should have nominated a minority canidate, at least they would have had something to fight back with. But no, the GOP, Trump brain trust decides on Brett the drunken, p-word grabbing, frat boy from an ivy league school. Wonderful optics that.

    Again, no proof that any of that happened.

    You have the word of the womyn he assaulted. All you got against is the word of his drunken frat brother. Now if you want to defend rape and rapist that is up to you.

    Two unsubstantiated statements vs. one unsubstantiated statement. 2 >1. I know you art majors are bad at math (And logic. And critical thinking. And rational analysis. And. . . [@susanquinn and @rightangles: Together now–ARRGH!]), but that’s an equation you should understand.

    I know I am defending the victim, a wronged, rape victim, PTSD survivor, that is strong enough to survive and face her tormentor and attempted killer.  She will have a score of friends and doctors she has told this story too over the years.  While you are defending an Ivy League, drunken, white, frat boy that did not even give her the time of day after trying to drunkenly grope her at a party he no longer remembers because he has done this stunt so much.  He even has a frat boy friend that has conveniently written books about their recovery from alcoholism.  Not sure what math you use but in the current world Kavanaugh is done, all that is left is to watch him burn.

     

    • #24
  25. JosePluma Coolidge
    JosePluma
    @JosePluma

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    JosePluma (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    JosePluma (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Ralphie (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Kavanaugh is now damaged goods and needs to resign for the good of the country and party. How come the GOP can not stop electing, running and nominating rapist, racist, etc.

    I don’t believe they did. You may want to believe that. He deserves a defense. The idea that someone can make an accusation, initially anonymously, that turns you into “damaged goods” is poppycock. Or should be.

    The government can confiscate property without a trial and conviction; Civil Forfeiture.

    This is like a forfeiture of a person’s reputation and that is worth more than money. You can get money back, you cannot repair a reputation that has been foisted upon you by others. It is one thing to earn it, another to have it thrust upon you.

    Republicans did not do that to Garland. They were up front and honest. “We are not going to hold confirmation hearings for you.” McConnel took a gamble, but I am sure he thought it was just a postponement. Everyone knew that Hillary would win. Garland did not have to endure character assassination, and will be able to be nominated again one day without being “damaged goods”.

     

    He is now a rapist and “damaged goods”, if the GOP installs him in office they are too. They should have nominated a minority canidate, at least they would have had something to fight back with. But no, the GOP, Trump brain trust decides on Brett the drunken, p-word grabbing, frat boy from an ivy league school. Wonderful optics that.

    Again, no proof that any of that happened.

    You have the word of the womyn he assaulted. All you got against is the word of his drunken frat brother. Now if you want to defend rape and rapist that is up to you.

    Two unsubstantiated statements vs. one unsubstantiated statement. 2 >1. I know you art majors are bad at math (And logic. And critical thinking. And rational analysis. And. . . [@susanquinn and @rightangles: Together now–ARRGH!]), but that’s an equation you should understand.

    I know I am defending the victim, a wronged, rape victim, PTSD survivor, that is strong enough to survive and face her tormentor and attempted killer. She will have a score of friends and doctors she has told this story too over the years. While you are defending an Ivy League, drunken, white, frat boy that did not even give her the time of day after trying to drunkenly grope her at a party he no longer remembers because he has done this stunt so much. He even has a frat boy friend that has conveniently written books about their recovery from alcoholism. Not sure what math you use but in the current world Kavanaugh is done, all that is left is to watch him burn.

     

    But apparently not strong enough to warn any other women excuse me, womyn (wemyn? womyns?) about this guy.  Hey, that gives me an idea . . . (ARRRRGH! . . .again)

    • #25
  26. JosePluma Coolidge
    JosePluma
    @JosePluma

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    JosePluma (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    JosePluma (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Ralphie (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Kavanaugh is now damaged goods and needs to resign for the good of the country and party. How come the GOP can not stop electing, running and nominating rapist, racist, etc.

    I don’t believe they did. You may want to believe that. He deserves a defense. The idea that someone can make an accusation, initially anonymously, that turns you into “damaged goods” is poppycock. Or should be.

    The government can confiscate property without a trial and conviction; Civil Forfeiture.

    This is like a forfeiture of a person’s reputation and that is worth more than money. You can get money back, you cannot repair a reputation that has been foisted upon you by others. It is one thing to earn it, another to have it thrust upon you.

    Republicans did not do that to Garland. They were up front and honest. “We are not going to hold confirmation hearings for you.” McConnel took a gamble, but I am sure he thought it was just a postponement. Everyone knew that Hillary would win. Garland did not have to endure character assassination, and will be able to be nominated again one day without being “damaged goods”.

     

    He is now a rapist and “damaged goods”, if the GOP installs him in office they are too. They should have nominated a minority canidate, at least they would have had something to fight back with. But no, the GOP, Trump brain trust decides on Brett the drunken, p-word grabbing, frat boy from an ivy league school. Wonderful optics that.

    Again, no proof that any of that happened.

    You have the word of the womyn he assaulted. All you got against is the word of his drunken frat brother. Now if you want to defend rape and rapist that is up to you.

    Two unsubstantiated statements vs. one unsubstantiated statement. 2 >1. I know you art majors are bad at math (And logic. And critical thinking. And rational analysis. And. . . [@susanquinn and @rightangles: Together now–ARRGH!]), but that’s an equation you should understand.

    I know I am defending the victim, a wronged, rape victim, PTSD survivor, that is strong enough to survive and face her tormentor and attempted killer. She will have a score of friends and doctors she has told this story too over the years. While you are defending an Ivy League, drunken, white, frat boy that did not even give her the time of day after trying to drunkenly grope her at a party he no longer remembers because he has done this stunt so much. He even has a frat boy friend that has conveniently written books about their recovery from alcoholism. Not sure what math you use but in the current world Kavanaugh is done, all that is left is to watch him burn.

     

    Thanks!  Sometimes all it takes to refine a good argument is a bad argument, and you are the fountainhead of bad arguments.

    • #26
  27. Black Prince Inactive
    Black Prince
    @BlackPrince

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    JosePluma (View Comment):
    Total baloney. If that’s the standard, no one would be acceptable. All it takes is one liar to stop a nomination. Oh, and you called him a rapist (not even an accusation in this case). Prove it.

    Fake John rarely uses the /sarc tag, but he should sometimes.

    Maybe he should, but I think that it would lessen the impact of his insights into the mindset on the left / media / government / deep-state. I personally find FJJG’s comments absolutely hilarious because they’re such accurate descriptions! Keep doing God’s work, FJJG! LOL!

    • #27
  28. Black Prince Inactive
    Black Prince
    @BlackPrince

    JosePluma (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    I know I am defending the victim, a wronged, rape victim, PTSD survivor, that is strong enough to survive and face her tormentor and attempted killer. She will have a score of friends and doctors she has told this story too over the years. While you are defending an Ivy League, drunken, white, frat boy that did not even give her the time of day after trying to drunkenly grope her at a party he no longer remembers because he has done this stunt so much. He even has a frat boy friend that has conveniently written books about their recovery from alcoholism. Not sure what math you use but in the current world Kavanaugh is done, all that is left is to watch him burn.

    Thanks! Sometimes all it takes to refine a good argument is a bad argument, and you are the fountainhead of bad arguments.

    …and there we have it! Mission accomplished! BTW, the “y” in womyn should have given it away. =)

    • #28
  29. Arizona Patriot Member
    Arizona Patriot
    @ArizonaPatriot

    What if there were a second accuser?

    There were multiple accusers in the Salem witch trials.  There were multiple accusers in some of the fantastical child abuse cases in the 1980s.  Hysteria can spread, and the motivation of people to speak up can be dubious.

    • #29
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