Should Kavanaugh be confirmed for SCOTUS?

[Aimless]

So Bill Clinton is a rapist right?

Er, probably? So don't nominate him for SCOTUS?

The timing of the claim and the political stakes of the claim all point toward this being about politics and not about if he did it or not. Credible claim my ass. Democrats know the claim is bogus with no evidence to support it but they don't care.

*shrug* The claim is credible enough to be heard. That there is no clear physical evidence is usually the case with attempted sexual assault even a day after the attempt so in this respect these allegations are indistinguishable from the vast majority of similar cases.

This is literally one person's word who chose to speak up at the eve of confirmation hearing to the SCOTUS.

She mentioned it to therapists in 2012 and in 2013. She went to legislators with this information in July, when it became clear this person might attain a position she felt he was not worthy of because of what she says he did to her. She did not want to go public but was forced to nevertheless. If a man victimizes only one person, with no witnesses against him, only one person can be expected to speak against him. Of course, it's possible that this man victimized others as well, and it might even be possible some of them were conscious and remember what he did. Whether or not they'll choose to make themselves known is uncertain esp. given how the right-wing propaganda army have attempted to smear Ford, using false information about her parents and about her record as an educator.

[Enoch the Red]

She mentioned it to therapists in 2012 and in 2013. She went to legislators with this information in July, when it became clear this person might attain a position she felt he was not worthy of because of what she says he did to her. She did not want to go public but was forced to nevertheless. If a man victimizes only one person, with no witnesses against him, only one person can be expected to speak against him. Of course, it's possible that this man victimized others as well, and it might even be possible some of them were conscious and remember what he did. Whether or not they'll choose to make themselves known is uncertain esp. given how the right-wing propaganda army have attempted to smear Ford, using false information about her parents and about her record as an educator.

It's also possible this man victimized no one.

[Aimless]

It's also possible this man victimized no one.

That is certainly possible, but the point is that Lewk's observation does not help distinguish a false allegation from the vast majority of true allegations.

[Enoch the Red]

That is certainly possible, but the point is that Lewk's observation does not help distinguish a false allegation from the vast majority of true allegations.

Then perhaps we could look at his history and see if there have been other allegations made against him. As far as I know, there have not been. Certainly - based on the reporting I have seen, he does not appear to be a Roy Moore.

[Lewkowski]

Then perhaps we could look at his history and see if there have been other allegations made against him. As far as I know, there have not been. Certainly - based on the reporting I have seen, he does not appear to be a Roy Moore.

More than just that is that you have an accuser who is a Democrat and marched against Trump. The incentive to lie here... is massive.

[Aimless]

More than just that is that you have an accuser who is a Democrat and marched against Trump. The incentive to lie here... is massive.

You'd have to be a truly monumental pizzagate-level moron to believe a woman would be so eager to subject herself to a massive smear campaign and death threats and be forced to go into hiding just to be able to delay the confirmation of a specific SCOTUS justice by a few days, or have him replaced by another extremely conservative justice by a conservative senate. You would really have to be a massive idiot to believe something like that. Hundreds of thousands of women marched against Trump you eedjit.

[Lewkowski]

You'd have to be a truly monumental pizzagate-level moron to believe a woman would be so eager to subject herself to a massive smear campaign and death threats and be forced to go into hiding just to be able to delay the confirmation of a specific SCOTUS justice by a few days, or have him replaced by another extremely conservative justice by a conservative senate. You would really have to be a massive idiot to believe something like that. Hundreds of thousands of women marched against Trump you eedjit.

Seemed to have worked out well for Anita Hill.

[Loki]

Then perhaps we could look at his history and see if there have been other allegations made against him. As far as I know, there have not been. Certainly - based on the reporting I have seen, he does not appear to be a Roy Moore.

Right, someone can't be guilty of a sexual assault unless he did so at least twice. Of course if there were two allegations, the same people would demand three.

[GGT]

More than just that is that you have an accuser who is a Democrat and marched against Trump. The incentive to lie here... is massive.

Wouldn't we also look at his history of lying under oath too?

He was properly vetted.

ALL of his writings weren't made available, so he hasn't been thoroughly vetted. The (R) who refused to consider Garland didn't mind waiting a year, so what's the rush now?

[Enoch the Red]

Right, someone can't be guilty of a sexual assault unless he did so at least twice. Of course if there were two allegations, the same people would demand three.

Someone can't be found guilty of sexual assault without an investigation and prosecution. And if such investigations are impossible, relying on an individual's past patterns of behavior and character seems like a reasonable alternative. Certainly better than a world where any claim, regardless of the evidence is enough to derail a nomination

[GGT]

Someone can't be found guilty of sexual assault without an investigation and prosecution. And if such investigations are impossible, relying on an individual's past patterns of behavior and character seems like a reasonable alternative. Certainly better than a world where any claim, regardless of the evidence is enough to derail a nomination

I think you're missing the forest for the trees. Historically, it's been quite hard to prove sexual assault, because the rules were made by men who (quite frankly) cared more about protecting their own power than finding truth or enacting equal justice. Plenty of victims never came forward, or pressed charges, especially if the offense occurred when they were minors, because the legal system was designed to protect adult male power. That used to mean wives or prostitutes couldn't be raped, by definition, so why would they call the police? And why have a statute of limitations on child abuse, if those kids didn't know they've been abused until they became adults? Almost makes sexual harassment in the workplace look quaint by comparison, right?

The latest abuse scandals in sports (women's Olympic gymnastics, Penn State football), collegiate fraternity hazing deaths, and even the Catholic Church with its predatory priests prove the fault lines in our culture and legal/judicial system. It's a new and modern climate. Deal with it.

PS, rape and attempted rape is about power. Kavanaugh believes the presidency has absolute power. Think about that....