He Said They Said
America has got an emotional hangover after being tossed around on a Republican roller coaster which started out at the end of the world and ended up with an extra week and an FBI investigation.
Everybody woke up to the horrible news that Senator Jeff Flake, America’s only hope of killing Kavanaugh in committee, was voting yes. Then all hell broke loose. People were screaming in the halls of the capitol. They got arrested. The switchboard at the capitol blew up. Senator Susan Collins’ website crashed. 2 women followed Jeff Flake to an elevator and held the door open so they could confront him about what he was about to do. Both sexual assault survivors, they told him that by voting yes he was telling them, their children and all women that they don’t matter. One of them had never told anyone about her being attacked. Not even her own mother. Her mother found out about it by watching her daughter on live TV. The other said directly and loudly, “LOOK AT ME WHEN I TALK TO YOU!” This was democracy in action. You can do that in a democracy. You can demand that your elected officials look at you.
It got to him. He went to his good friend, Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat, and said that he had a change of heart and would like to see an FBI investigation. They trust and respect each other. They have different world views and political beliefs, but they’re friends and colleagues and they get things done. That’s how it’s supposed to work.
At the last minute, Jeff Flake said he would vote to advance the nomination out of committee on one condition — that the floor vote be delayed a week so there could be an FBI investigation. When questioned by reporters, both Flake and Coons said they did it to restore some dignity to the Senate. They’re both really concerned about the country being torn apart by all of this. The lack of curiosity in seeking the truth in the confirmation process goes against the ideals of democracy. We can only govern ourselves when we have the information to do so, regardless of partisan impact. Flake and Coons finally stepped up.
The integrity of the institution of the United States Senate has been restored a little bit. America exhaled for the first time in weeks and Jeff Flake finally got a good night’s sleep.
Republicans with a conscience want a way out of this shit show and Jeff Flake is giving it to them. He’s not running for re-election so he has nothing to lose. .
Republicans without a conscience are saying that Democrats have victimized Dr. Blasey Ford.
Trump called for an FBI investigation. Kavanaugh said he would cooperate.
Mark Judge has lawyered up and will be cooperating with the FBI. He wasn’t just a witness. He was an accomplice.
When a woman approached Lindsey Graham to say she had been raped, his response was, “Sorry to hear that. Call the police.” The raw testimony of Dr. Ford and Brett Kavanaugh haven’t just brought up ugly memories for women across the country, it’s brought up ugly memories about women for Lindsey Graham.
Brett Kavanaugh’s troubles are just beginning. He may be out of a job. The Dean of the Harvard Law School won’t say whether or not Kavanaugh will be coming back to teach but he has sent an email to the students reassuring them that he has heard their concerns and will take them seriously.
Brett Kavanaugh may be out of another job if the Democrats gain power in November. He could be impeached, wherever he sits.
Brett Kavanaugh’s performance on Thursday has every woman in America, who is not in denial, wondering what the hell Ashley Kavanaugh is doing married to that pig.
Dr. Christine Blasey Ford has changed our world. We’re experiencing a paradigm shift and she is the catalyst. Things are going to be much different from now on, thanks to her.
“This is not a ‘he said — she said’ moment. This is a ‘he said — they said’ moment.” — Senator Amy Klobuchar
Action item for today: Heroism is being scared shitless and doing what needs to be done anyway. It’s putting oneself last because the cost to others is too great. Send Christine a thank you card:
Dr Christine Ford
c/o Palo Alto University
1791 Arastradero Rd
Palo Alto CA 94304