demagogue on 7/10/2018 at 11:05
My opinion of this is that I'm sure if Kav hadn't been appointed, another justice with basically his same voting record would have taken his place. So as far as decisions on the court, it would be the same had it been him or the next guy. It's only a matter of time before abortion is illegal in a lot of states, protections against searches and seizures go out the window and the police state ramps up in a big way, environmental regs are gutted, etc, etc.
But aside from that, in terms of optics and legitimacy, the appointment process was bitterly partisan, and the Court is going to take a big hit in terms of perception of legitimacy. For one, the signed letter by 1700 some odd law professors and the American Bar Ass'n coming out against the guy isn't a great sign he's trusted by the legal community. If the legal community doesn't trust him, why have him on the highest court? If it's only random lay people that trust him, have him run for congress or something...
It would have been much better to have a justice that didn't break down and cry and go on a partisan rant during his confirmation hearing, which I think would have been any other candidate on the short list except for him, considering he's the only one we know of that had this much dirt dug up on him.
Anyway, I have no doubt the polarization only going to get worse and more bitter over the next few years. This is all still just prelude to the worst of it.
Starker on 7/10/2018 at 12:18
Tangentially related to Kavanaugh, Trevor Noah had some thoughts about the idea that it's a scary time for men right now:
[video=youtube;4LZ3P1sv9jE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LZ3P1sv9jE[/video]
icemann on 7/10/2018 at 13:05
Video not viewable by those outside of the US.
Quote Posted by raph
Exactly, IANAL, etc. but it's my understanding that presumption of innocence really only applies to criminal prosecution where you have to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Take O.J. Simpson for example: there's massive indications that he committed the murders, hell, he pretty much admitted it himself, but he walked out. The courts didn't say he was innocent,
they failed to prove he was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This doesn't prevent a shitload of people from thinking he did it.
The nomination was not a trial, it was a glorified job interview. I don't know that Kavanaugh did what he was accused of, but they didn't have to
prove anything. At this level, you must show excellent references and impeccable character. I think he very clearly failed to meet the expected standards and he also appeared shifty and willing to bend facts when it was politically convenient. Not to mention how rushed the whole process was, of course.
It's obvious Republicans don't even care about keeping appearances any longer, anything goes now. Trump is what he is, but McConnell will be remembered as the undertaker who enabled it all. He seems bent on demolishing the institutions for his and his friends' personal gain, US citizens be damned. The damage he and his cronies are doing will take decades to fix.
Correct this wasn't a criminal investigation. But then he's applying for a law making position. Problem attached to this, is that you have the MeToo movement stuff of people coming forward and saying that they too were sexually assaulted decades earlier, which if you attach it to this case, then that by default is saying that the allegations are true, as what happened to them was real (I'm not saying it wasn't), so therefore this one must automatically be true as well, even though the facts revealed so far don't lean that way. So anything other than him being denied the position = a gross miscarriage of justice / one sided political interference.
Which as I was saying earlier, by revealing news of this from the get go, people come out of the woodwork to reveal what they went through since they find themselves feeling connected to Ford since she came forward. MeToo momentum builds of all the people feeling they've been done badly against by the system Etc etc. So in the end, whether or not Kav really was innocent or not, through the momentum created by it all, there are many of those who feel it should only go 1 way. Him not getting the job, as whatever the facts say, he's guilty.
Thirith on 7/10/2018 at 13:10
It is here (Switzerland).
ffox on 7/10/2018 at 13:13
From The Times:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]2516[/ATTACH]
demagogue on 7/10/2018 at 13:56
For the record, the 1700 law professors and American Bar Ass'n were all against Kav's confirmation because of his blatantly partisan rant and demeanor unbefitting of a justice on the highest court, completely apart from whether or not he was guilty. Ironically, he probably won the vote because his rant gave the people voting for him cover by their rabid base. But that's like a devil's bargain, win the battle but setting up to lose the war (the legitimacy of SCOTUS). In past times, such a nominee would resign his nomination in the best interest of the country.
Vae on 9/10/2018 at 08:11
Justice Brett Kavanaugh Swearing-In At The White House!...
[video=youtube;KqnNN52whlw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqnNN52whlw[/video]
Nicker on 9/10/2018 at 11:57
Trump should be apologising to the USA for foisting a fellow pussy grabber on it.
catbarf on 9/10/2018 at 19:14
Quote Posted by demagogue
For the record, the 1700 law professors and American Bar Ass'n were all against Kav's confirmation because of his blatantly partisan rant and demeanor unbefitting of a justice on the highest court, completely apart from whether or not he was guilty.
I wouldn't be surprised if drumming up the controversy over
did he do it? was a calculated move by the GOP. By focusing on just the allegations, they can claim that since no concrete evidence has been provided he's good to go- ignoring that he was behaving in a way that he would never tolerate in his own court, let alone outright lying under oath about aspects of his college life, factors which showed that he is clearly unfit for the position.
icemann on 10/10/2018 at 09:01
Quote Posted by Nicker
Trump should be apologising to the USA for foisting a fellow pussy grabber on it.
Who has been found to be not guilty of that offence. Sounds like they should be chasing the right person who actually did it first.