Brett Kavanaugh Confirmation Thread

[wildcat09 29385]

Just now, EMAWesome said:

This would have happened with Hardiman too.  This was going to be the Democrat's strategy no matter what white man Trump nominated.  With Barrett they would parade someone out to make accusations of racism or homophobia against her.  There is absolutely no one on planet Earth that Trump would nominate that the Democrats weren't going to go political smear on.

Gorsuch sailed through just last year without any smears. You republicans really are just so incredibly stupid. 

[EMAWesome 101]

8 hours ago, Chrispy said:

Wait, Kavanaugh was the leader of a sex ring now? You guys have gone full retard. 

They've been full retard before this.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

We don’t want an FBI investigation but the democrats are being so unfair.

[achooloco 1085]

9 hours ago, bolverk said:

You're showing your ass by throwing out that line. 

Careful, you know APH is a man of the highest honor and won’t abide by such insolence. Don’t forget he never insults anyone and demands to be respected when adddressed. Bow before speaking to him lest you be ignored.. 

[Chad Fuck 17773]

what if he's guilty, but is not as much of a sociopath as the president

What if he’s guilty and he IS as much of a sociopath as the Dotus? Look where it got him.

[Bullneck 19206]

8 hours ago, Chrispy said:

Texas Instruments? 

Quote

IMF Managing Director (2007–11)[edit]

On 10 July 2007, Strauss-Kahn became the consensus European nominee to be the head of the IMF, with the personal support of President Nicolas Sarkozy (member of the right UMP party). Former Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka withdrew his candidacy as it was opposed by the majority of European countries.^[24] Some critics alleged that Sarkozy proposed Strauss-Kahn as managing director of the IMF to deprive the Socialist Party of one of its more popular figures.^[25]

Strauss-Kahn became the front runner in the race to become Managing Director of the IMF, with the support of the 27-nation European Union, the United States, China and most of Africa. On 28 September 2007, the International Monetary Fund's 24 executive directors selected him as the new managing director. Strauss-Kahn replaced Spain's Rodrigo Rato.^[26] On 30 September 2007, Dominique Strauss-Kahn was formally named as the new head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The only other nominee was the Czech Josef Tošovský, a late candidate proposed by Russia. Strauss-Kahn said: "I am determined to pursue without delay the reforms needed for the IMF to make financial stability serve the international community, while fostering growth and employment".^[27] Under Strauss-Kahn the IMF's pursuit of financial stability has included calls for a possible replacement of the dollar as the world's reserve currency. An IMF report from January 2011^[28] called for a stronger role for special drawing rights (SDR) in order to stabilize the global financial system. According to the report, an expanded role for SDRs could help to stabilize the international monetary system. Furthermore, for most countries (except for those using the US dollar as their currency) there would be several advantages in switching the pricing of certain assets, such as oil and gold, from dollars to SDRs. For some commentators that amounts to a call for a "new world currency that would challenge the dominance of the dollar".^[29]

In 2008, the IMF Board appointed an independent investigator following allegations that Strauss-Kahn had had an affair with a subordinate, Piroska Nagy, who was married at the time to economist Mario Blejer. Nagy alleged that Strauss-Kahn had used his position to coerce her into the affair.^[30]She was later made redundant and Strauss-Kahn assisted her in getting a new job.^[31] The IMF board issued the findings of the investigation; while noting that the affair was "regrettable and reflected a serious error of judgment on the part of the managing director", the board cleared Strauss-Kahn of harassment, favoritism or abuse of power, and indicated that he would remain in his post.^[32][33] Strauss-Kahn issued a public apology for the affair. Le Journal du Dimanche dubbed him "le grand séducteur" (the Great Seducer).^[34]

Strauss-Kahn made comments that could be perceived as critical of global financial actors, in an interview for a documentary about the late-2000s financial crisis, Inside Job (2010). He said he had attended a dinner organised by former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson in which several CEOs of 'the biggest banks in the U.S.' had admitted they (or perhaps bankers in general) were 'too greedy' and bore part of the responsibility for the crisis. They said the government "'should regulate more, because we are too greedy, we can't avoid it.'" Strauss-Kahn said he warned the officials of a number of departments of the U.S. government of an impending crisis. He also said: "At the end of the day, the poorest – as always – pay the most."^[35]

Referring to his diplomatic efforts to secure IMF aid for Europe following the 2010 sovereign debt crisis, economist Simon Johnson described Strauss-Kahn as "Metternich with a BlackBerry".^[36][37] In May 2011, referring to the IMF's change of heart in favour of progressive rather than neoliberal values, Joseph Stiglitz wrote that Strauss-Kahn had proved himself to be a "sagacious leader" of the institution.^[38] Following Strauss-Kahn's arrest for sexual assault in New York, economist Eswar Prasad said that should he be forced to step down, the IMF "will find it hard to find as effective and skilful an advocate for keeping the institution central to the global monetary system".^[36]

John Lipsky, the IMF's second-in-command, was named acting Managing Director on 15 May 2011.^[39]

Strauss-Kahn resigned from the IMF on 18 May 2011, after being arrested by New York police on 15 May over allegations of sexual assault. He was on a plane about to take off, when airport police asked that the plane be stopped; he was escorted off the plane and interviewed by police. The case was later dismissed.^[40][41]

 

[Js1 85573]

Kavanaugh, Hardiman, ACB would all be treated so unfairly. Imagine if they got nominated and didn’t even get a hearing. That would be totally unfair! 

[Bullneck 19206]

12 minutes ago, Parliament said:

We're saving her for when Ginsberg needs replaced.

Obama will replace Ginsberg.

[EMAWesome 101]

12 hours ago, Patrick Bateman said:

This is the gist of the allegation..... She admits she was inebriated and has gaps in her recollection.

 

 

Guy Benson‏Verified account @guypbenson 8h8 hours ago

More

Read this paragraph from the New York Times, then re-read it. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/23/us/politics/brett-kavanaugh-christine-blasey-ford-testify.html …

[SimonBolivar 10959]

Just now, EMAWesome said:

 

Guy Benson‏Verified account @guypbenson 8h8 hours ago

More

Read this paragraph from the New York Times, then re-read it. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/23/us/politics/brett-kavanaugh-christine-blasey-ford-testify.html …

Yeah but it's the Times so this is all just made up anyway. 

[EMAWesome 101]

8 minutes ago, wildcat09 said:

Gorsuch sailed through just last year without any smears. You republicans really are just so incredibly stupid. 

Gorsuch was replacing Scalia, not a swing vote like Kennedy.  Plus Gorsuch was nominated and confirmed very, very, early in Trump's first year of office.  It was practically the first thing of any significance he did.  The Democrats had not yet adopted the all out "Resistance" strategy to Trump at that time.

[EMAWesome 101]

2 minutes ago, SimonBolivar said:

Yeah but it's the Times so this is all just made up anyway. 

Yes, one of, if not the least  Trump friendly newspaper in the United States and they still wouldn't run the story.

Edited September 24, 2018 by EMAWesome

[Bullneck 19206]

Quote

A century later, the term bunga bunga became popular again as part of a joke on the internet.^{[7][n 1]} This joke was then narrated by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at his dinner parties (in a version which featured, as prisoners, former ministers from the centre-left opposition party led by Romano Prodi).^[8]

This expression was then frequently quoted by the Italian and international press during the 2011 investigation surrounding Silvio Berlusconi's underage prostitution charges, acquiring a quite different meaning as "an orgy involving a powerful leader"; it was allegedly taught to Silvio Berlusconi by Muammar al-Gaddafi,^[9] who was also the unwitting originator of the phrase Zenga Zenga.

In Italy, the term "has become an instant, supposedly hilarious, household expression".^[10]

Recent explanations disagree on its meaning, or perhaps illustrate the range of its reference. It "is said to be a sort of underwater orgy where nude young women allegedly encircled the nude host and/or his friends in his swimming pool",^[11] "an African-style ritual" performed for male spectators by "20 naked young women",^[12] or erotic entertainment hosted by a rich host involving pole dancing and competitive striptease by skimpy-costumed "women in nurses' outfits and police uniforms"^[13] – but topless women, the prize being prostitution for the host.^[14]

An alternative explanation for its origins was proposed by actress Sabina Began, who claimed that it was a nickname based on her surname and that she had organized the parties.^[15]

The lexicographer Jonathon Green does not expect the term to make much headway, or to last, in English.^[16]

The bunga bunga culture sparked a social movement called "Se Non Ora Quando" in 2011, which included street protests.^[17]

 

[Horn Dog 9929]

24 minutes ago, EMAWesome said:

This would have happened with Hardiman too.  This was going to be the Democrat's strategy no matter what white man Trump nominated.  With Barrett they would parade someone out to make accusations of racism or homophobia against her.  There is absolutely no one on planet Earth that Trump would nominate that the Democrats weren't going to go political smear on.

Trump should nominate Garland just to test this theory.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13523]

9 hours ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

 

Grassley is shocked that the senate dems are using information to their advantage, and that they’re using politics to potentially stop a conservative appointment?  I guess he was shocked when McConnell previously said that his main job was to stop Obamacare from having legislation passed.  Politics in DC, who knew.

[Anastasis 23485]

13 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Grassley is shocked that the senate dems are using information to their advantage, and that they’re using politics to potentially stop a conservative appointment?  I guess he was shocked when McConnell previously said that his main job was to stop Obamacare from having legislation passed.  Politics in DC, who knew.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

 

[Ragnarok 103]

Carville's saying needs an update:   No telling what you'll find if you drag a hundred dollar bill through a trailer park, and spend a few weeks with the women at a therapist recovering memories.   There's some serious bullshit being flung about. It might actually work though when you just need so few Republicans to cave.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

Or maybe Kavanaugh is a fucking douchebag 

[David Dennison 18946]

2 minutes ago, Ragnarok said:

Carville's saying needs an update:   No telling what you'll find if you drag a hundred dollar bill through a trailer park, and spend a few weeks with the women at a therapist recovering memories.   There's some serious bullshit being flung about. It might actually work though when you just need so few Republicans to cave.

You reap what you sow.

[atomheartbevo 89792]

I’m going to laugh if the Republicans fuck up and don’t get somebody seated before January, and the Democrats take a page from the GOP playbook and pull a Merrick Garland. 

[horncyclist 1391]

Carville's saying needs an update:   No telling what you'll find if you drag a hundred dollar bill through a trailer park, and spend a few weeks with the women at a therapist recovering memories.   There's some serious bullshit being flung about. It might actually work though when you just need so few Republicans to cave.

Except these women are elites that don't give a shit about money or fame. Now it could be they're dragging themselves and their families through this shit lying out of a sense of duty to the Democratic party. I'll go with telling the truth, myself.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

The sinister political strategist in me wants them to confirm Kavanaugh.

The GOP would be pulling the pin out of their own suicide grenade.

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

3 minutes ago, David Dennison said:

You reap what you sow.

Holy fuck the irony of this post.  You claim Kavanaugh is a potential rapist, but make some quip about what Carville did to Paula Jones (A victim of sexual assault by one your favorite democrats)... You capture the Moron high ground better than anyone else here.  Wait for it..... kavanuaghs probably a racist too.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13523]

Kennedy has officially retired but could he have stayed on until a new Justice was confirmed?   While he was swing vote many times, he did consistently vote on the conservative side.  Now it’s 4-4.   

The right assumed they would have a new justice by October and now it doesn’t seem so.   In hindsight perhaps Kennedy should have hung around just in case.

[David Dennison 18946]

Just now, Onboard 2.0 said:

Holy fuck the irony of this post.  You claim Kavanaugh is a potential rapist, but make some quip about what Carville did to Paula Jones (A victim of sexual assault by one your favorite democrats)... You capture the Moron high ground better than anyone else here.  Wait for it..... kavanuaghs probably a racist too.

I have no doubt that he is, but that's beside the point.

This is about Merrick Garland.

[Bozo_Casanova 26553]

10 hours ago, bolverk said:

Big John's feeling feisty tonight. You would think that at least three corroborating witnesses would count for something.

 

If you read his twitter feed you can tell he's having a very tough time recently. His posts have become uncharacteristically bitter and shrill. It's almost as though he's been going along with something he knows is deeply wrong and immoral, sacrificing dignity in order to achieve a very transient tactical objective only for that objective to turn to ash in his mouth. 
 

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

 

[Guest]

7 hours ago, Serak The Preparer said:

For someone who argues about language and logic so much, you are displaying very little of it here. How certain are you? 90% 95% 99%? How certain do you think Hugo should be to take the bet? What is his expected utility of you not posting here anymore? (Hint: it's probably pretty low given your low frequency of posting)/ What is his expected utility of him continuing to post? 

Would you accept the same bet from me? If so I will offer that. Permaban for you if he doesn't testify (and in this case, I would hope you agree that if he withdraws, that is the same as refusing to testify), permaban for me if he does. Are you confident?

Some folks are chock full of bs but short on confidence.  HS was never going to take the bet.   So to answer your question, I have sufficient level of certainty to challenge someone who will not stand by anything they say.   To your point on his utility gain, he has called me a troll on multiple occasions and expressed desire to rid the forum of trolls, so he would be ridding the board of a troll from his perspective.  If he thought there was some utility imbalance, he could offer some other terms (e.g. permanent vs 1 year off).  As for you, I don't recall any of your posts and don't care if you keep posting or not.  You seem to have the good sense to not post if you don't have much to say, so already you are a step up from average.  

[jimmyjazz 46130]

10 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

If he tried to sell a dildo, he just lost Cruz’s vote. 

Cruz supports Trump, who called Ted a liar, insinuated that Ted's wife is ugly, and then tried to link Ted's father to the assassination of JFK.

I'm pretty sure Ted doesn't have a spine.  He is literally -- in the true sense of the word --  an invertebrate.  What you see is an exoskeleton.

Plus, however far Heidi Cruz falls below a 10, it's pretty clear Ted outkicked his coverage by a mile.

[jimmyjazz 46130]

10 hours ago, Fozzz said:

Avenatti is the worst. 

Avenatti is a fucking American hero.  

[Francisco 2.0 32428]

Just now, jimmyjazz said:

Avenatti is a fucking American hero.  

I wouldn't go that far.

 

Avenatti is an astute marketer and has huge cojones, however.

 

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

25 minutes ago, David Dennison said:

I have no doubt that he is, but that's beside the point.

This is about Merrick Garland.

"Of course , it's always about the other side, the example is always what they did not my team"

D. Dennison 

 

PS. raaacist

['stache 21865]

Damn, this dude’s kinky af

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

Yeah, Avenatti marketing himself as a presidential candidate indicates he’s not doing all this out of pure altruism. 

[happyfunball 481]

2 minutes ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

Yeah, Avenatti marketing himself as a presidential candidate indicates he’s not doing all this out of pure altruism. 

Beauty of capitalism. Free market of ideas.

[Gengs1 2583]

13 minutes ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

 

Ohhh boy this will come out,soon soon 

[Chrispy 132]

1 hour ago, Bullneck said:

 

Ah, never heard of him. 

[Bateshorn 9939]

6 minutes ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

Yeah, Avenatti marketing himself as a presidential candidate indicates he’s not doing all this out of pure altruism. 

True, but Trump has shattered all political mores. You can't really criticize anyone for being a naked opportunist. The answer to virtually everything these days is "yeah, but Trump."

Edited September 24, 2018 by Bateshorn

[horncyclist 1391]

This guy's done. I'll give it 2 days.

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

Just now, Bateshorn said:

True, but Trump has shattered all political mores. You can't really criticize anyone for being a naked opportunist. 

That's been true in American politics for decades and decades 

[jimmyjazz 46130]

5 minutes ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

Yeah, Avenatti marketing himself as a presidential candidate indicates he’s not doing all this out of pure altruism. 

Who said he was doing this out of pure altruism?  He's an aggressive attorney who routinely goes for the jugular.  He's clearly whip-smart and unafraid to get in the mud.  He's already done as much to damage Trump as most, and now he's going after Kavanaugh.

He'd never get my vote for POTUS, but neither would Trump.  At this point that bar is below sea level.  I don't care if that's his end game, right now he is doing all kinds of damage for the good guys, which (in my book) makes him . . . an American hero.

Try not to get so confused.

[Ragnarok 103]

34 minutes ago, David Dennison said:

I have no doubt that he is, but that's beside the point.

This is about Merrick Garland.

The transparency of this smear is it's greatest weakness.  If they pull Kavanaugh, the next confirmation will be a circus too, especially having proved that it works.

[jimmyjazz 46130]

1 minute ago, Ragnarok said:

The transparency of this smear is it's greatest weakness.  If they pull Kavanaugh, the next confirmation will be a circus too, especially having proved that it works.

You know what really works?  Never having a confirmation vote in the first place.

Shut up.

[Bateshorn 9939]

Just now, horncyclist said:

This guy's done. I'll give it 2 days.

If I'm McConnell, I tell Kavanaugh  to drop out this morning, I won't move your nomination.  Then tell Trump to nominate Barrett, you can start hearings in 3 weeks, which will force Dem Senators off the campaign trail, and then try to force a vote before the election.

[Anastasis 23485]

[atomheartbevo 89792]

15 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

Cruz supports Trump, who called Ted a liar, insinuated that Ted's wife is ugly, and then tried to link Ted's father to the assassination of JFK.

I'm pretty sure Ted doesn't have a spine.  He is literally -- in the true sense of the word --  an invertebrate.  What you see is an exoskeleton.

Plus, however far Heidi Cruz falls below a 10, it's pretty clear Ted outkicked his coverage by a mile.

“[The Supreme Court] has never suggested that the substantive-due-process doctrine ensures individuals’ ability to stimulate their genitals in ways that are neither connected to procreation nor associated with any particular lifestyle,” 

“[The ban] is protecting public morals — discouraging prurient interests in sexual gratification,”

Ted Cruz

[horncyclist 1391]

If I'm McConnell, I tell Kavanaugh  to drop out this morning, I won't move your nomination.  Then tell Trump to nominate Barrett, you can start hearings in 3 weeks, which will force Dem Senators off the campaign trail, and then try to force a vote before the election.

Yeah. Then you can keep blaming Dems for fucking up the process without the claim really being scrutinized. But, let's be honest, there's not really a good play for the GOP. They really screwed the pooch here.

[atomheartbevo 89792]

1 minute ago, horncyclist said:

4 minutes ago, Bateshorn said:

If I'm McConnell, I tell Kavanaugh  to drop out this morning, I won't move your nomination.  Then tell Trump to nominate Barrett, you can start hearings in 3 weeks, which will force Dem Senators off the campaign trail, and then try to force a vote before the election.

Yeah. Then you can keep blaming Dems for fucking up the process without the claim really being scrutinized. But, let's be honest, there's not really a good play for the GOP. They really screwed the pooch here.

Amy is the good play for the GOP. 

[Bateshorn 9939]

Just now, horncyclist said:

4 minutes ago, Bateshorn said:

If I'm McConnell, I tell Kavanaugh  to drop out this morning, I won't move your nomination.  Then tell Trump to nominate Barrett, you can start hearings in 3 weeks, which will force Dem Senators off the campaign trail, and then try to force a vote before the election.

Yeah. Then you can keep blaming Dems for fucking up the process without the claim really being scrutinized. But, let's be honest, there's not really a good play for the GOP. They really screwed the pooch here.

That's right.  You can use the Kavanuagh thing to gin up your base for the mid terms while also shutting the Dems up on the MeToo front with a conservative female nominee. You tell Collins she's just going to have to swallow this vote, just like Heller had to on Obamacare if she ever wants to get a cush job on K street.