One didn’t need to watch a minute of the Senate Circus (formerly known as the Judiciary Committee) to know that Brett Kavanaugh is probably the worst Supreme Court pick in the modern era. Republicans, hearing the blue wave approaching, are frantic to get as many deplorables on the federal bench as possible before they fade into the minority; the problem is that Trump picked the wrong guy. Kavanaugh was nominated for one reason and one reason only – he’s a hack. Almost all of his legal career has been as a political operative, giving cover for GWB and his invade-then-torture tactics and later assisting in packing the courts with other radical partisans. He’s being jammed down Americans’ throats right now because he’ll do the bidding of his masters, overturning decades of legal precedent, further eroding our fragile democracy. I vehemently disagree with judges like Roberts, Alito, and Gorsuch, but their legal qualifications and knowledge are considerable. Kavanaugh, though, like Clarence Thomas, is singularly unqualified for a seat on the highest court in the land. That’s why the Repubs had concealed over 90% of his record and were racing to a confirmation vote when Dr. Blasey Ford showed up and tossed a broom handle into their spokes.
There’s an old lawyer adage of, “When the facts are on your side, pound the facts. When the law is on your side, pound the law. When neither is on you side, pound the table.” What you saw Thursday after Dr. Blasey Ford’s almost impeccable appearance before the committee was just that – table pounding. Kavanaugh came completely unglued. Blasey Ford made him look like the towel-snapping frat boy that he is, and he knew he’d been had. His only hope was to get through to a quick vote, but as that crumbled before his eyes, his true nature came out in full fury. In declarations I don’t believe I’ve ever heard from any judicial nominee, he actually attacked Democrats on the committee and even remarkably dragged the Clintons into it. To me, if there ever was the fatal mistake, that was it. Judges, even though we know it’s not true, are supposed to be above politics. They’re supposed to be impartial. In his desperation to defend the indefensible, Kavanaugh allowed his radical partisanship to show – and he did it on national television. Combine his horrible performance with the line of accusers forming behind Blasey Ford, the chances for a quick confirmation faded, especially after wavering Jeff Flake was cornered in a Senate elevator by a sobbing survivor of sexual assault.
That’s about the time that Republicans started pounding the table. Every single one of them, all white and all male, shouted and gnashed their teeth. Their voices trembled with rage as their smash and grab theft of another Supreme Court seat was stymied.
Who knows what’s going to come of this catastrophe. Republicans have shown themselves to simply be stooges for the worst president in US history, possessing neither shame or backbone. They are willing to sacrifice our republic to perpetuate their own power and their own twisted world view. Worse, their nominee for the highest court in the land is the same. He’s a spoiled little rich kid who started life on third base who’s goal is to keep normal people from getting to first base. If he gets to the court, you can kiss the principles of fair play, equality, privacy, and voting rights goodbye.
