Let's throw Kavanaugh's angry, ugly words back at the GOP

A week ago Brett Kavanaugh said, in his off-the-rails bizarre tirade against his made-up Democratic conspiracy to deny him a Supreme Court seat, "What goes around, comes around." 

Nobody really knows what this threat meant, not even Politifact. 

Doesn't matter. Those of us who are opposed to Kavanaugh, which includes everyone who cares about women's rights, can appropriate those words for our own purposes.

If Kavanaugh is confirmed this weekend, as seems highly possible, we need to channel our entirely justified outrage at how the White House manipulated the FBI background check for its own political purpose into making the Republican Party pay dearly for their support of a man who almost certainly is a serial sexual abuser, and absolutely certainly is a habitual liar. 

Voting for Democrats in the November midterms is Job #1. And not just those running for a federal office -- state and local races are just as important. 

Here's a list of progressives running for office in the Salem area who need our support:

Marion County Commissioner #1: Shelaswau Crier
Marion County Commissioner #2: Bill Burgess
Senate District 10: Deb Patterson
Senate District 11: Peter Courtney
Senate District 13: Sarah Grider
House District 17: Renee Windsor-White
House District 18: Barry Shapiro
House District 19: Mike Ellison
House District 20: Paul Evans
House District 21: Brian Clem
House District 22: Teresa Alonso Leon
House District 23: Danny Jaffer
House District 25: Dave McCall

And naturally it is super-important to re-elect Governor Kate Brown, because while Republican Knute Buehler tries to look moderate, you can bet that if he were to beat Brown, he'd become a heck of a lot more right-wing in a heartbeat.

So yeah, as much as I dislike quoting anything Brett "I love beer!" Kavanaugh says, he's right that in politics, what goes around does come around. 

Actions produce reactions.

And the despicable way Republicans have treated Christine Blasey Ford and the other women who have accused Kavanaugh of sexual attacks deserves some really strong pushback. It'd be great if Democrats beat the odds and retook both the House and Senate this November. 

Failing that, at least the House of Representatives.

This would give Democrats a platform to hold hearings on the farce of the FBI background check that started last Friday and ended yesterday -- without any interviews of Ford or Kavanaugh, nor of the many people eager to testify that Kavanaugh was lying about his drinking habits and partying lifestyle in high school and college.

Looking ahead to 2020, more and more I'm liking Michael Avenatti's call that serious consideration be given to expanding the Supreme Court to eleven seats should the Democrats win back the presidency and both houses of Congress. 

Such would be a perfect "what goes around, comes around," given that one Supreme Court seat (now held by Gorsuch) should have been filled by President Obama, and the other Supreme Court seat (which may be held by Kavanaugh) involved a severely truncated FBI investigation into the accusations against Kavanaugh, following an election that Trump likely won only because of Russian meddling. 

Of course, it isn't certain that Kavanaugh is going to be approved by the Senate. Politics always is full of surprises. The next few days may reveal that a few Senate Republicans actually are willing to do the right thing, rather than the expedient thing. We can only hope.

Comments

[tucson]

Brian, this comment of yours is so extremely illogical I can't respect it. I know you are sincere but I don't understand how so many people get to thinking like you do and come to these conclusions. I hate to say it, but it's stupid and defies what used to be common sense. What is dismaying is that this impasse is reflective of a pervasive and widening chasm of perception in our society. One side doesn't 'get' the other. People speak but are not understood. It's like there are two different languages. A horse is not a horse anymore. It's something else. And people are offended by each other. They even hate each other. I am concerned for the well-being of our country. I hope this polarity reverses itself and pulls closer together. Either that or things are going to snap and the amoeba will divide in two. Doesn't look good.

I'm done here. Adios.

[LB]

Dr. Ford logic:

I don’t know whose house it happened at or even what year it happened. I don’t know if I got there before everyone else or after. I don’t know how I got there or how I got home over 8 miles away (at the age of 15).

My life time friend doesn’t remember any of this ( and the other 3 people I said were there testified under oath they don’t know anything about this).

I have a fear of flying , but have no problem jet-setting all over the world while on vacation. I’ve been on airplanes more in the past two months than most people in a year, but my fear is completely legit.

I don’t know who paid for my hotel and polygraph test( the afternoon of my grandmothers funeral, or maybe it was the next day, who knows). And guess what? I flew there. Oh and that polygraph, it was only two questions, neither of which were about Kavanaugh. But hey, I passed so that’s all that matters. And my PhD in psychology definitely, in no way, helped me with it or my testimony today.

My friends on the beach encouraged me to continue contacting the media with my story (because we were running out of time). I can’t name them, so we’ll just call them beach friends. Yet while giving such great advice, none were willing to be character witnesses. Meanwhile, Judge Kavanaugh had hundreds of character witnesses step up in a matter of days.

My lawyers, out of the kindness of their hearts, are helping me for FREE yet I have a “needed” gofundme page that currently is sitting at $473,622. I’m so desperately in need of help there’s even a second gofundme with $209,987. I promise though I’m not getting anything out of my testimony, that money is just going to cover my expenses.

I’m super smart. I have a PhD and I teach graduate students. I know lots of big words, but it should be totally believable that I don’t understand basic questions.

I was the only person in the United States that didn’t know Congress agreed to come to me instead of me going to DC. They really do care about my flying phobia after all.

Get the picture yet, America?

Grrrrrrr

[logan]

So Brian,

Out of curiosity, awhile back you tried to assure me about people in this country actually are supportive of women, and that I should have faith. Can I ask, are you feeling as assured about that today? I mean, yes I do know there are many men being supportive in regards to this hearing. But in general...

This is one event. And poof every conservative talking point, suddenly you either believe men, and accept that *boys will be boys* or your just stupid lying woman seeking attention. I'm honestly just so tired of it. LB here, is a perfect example. Every point he makes you could say about Kavanugh! He claimed there were lots of things he didn't remember from then EITHER - But she's a liar for not remember things like a street address of a party? I went to school in the 80's. We never know half the addresses, we followed people to the party. Half the time we didn't even know who's house it was. 100% Normal, not remotely a lie. Then the belittling of a flying phobia. Seriously are you 4? Would you tease Joe Madden for that same problem? No? Oh let me guess -- chromosomes. Got it.

Want to know what the picture looks like here in America? That white men have such epic entitlement that it literally blinds them. It's like cape they are wrapped in, one that barely covers up their amazingly fragile egos.

This hearing had the opportunity to change the conversation for the better. From not setting your sons up to do potentially awful things with the free pass/encouragement that *Boys Will Be Boys* has always been. But raise them to understand their urges in relations to their responsibility to the other humans they are attracted to. Continuing to pretend you believe that Boys can disrespect Girls and then turn 18 and suddenly they will be perfect gentlemen. Lord. Stop. It. Boys that treat girls like objects grow up to disrespect women and often resent them. They LEARN that.

Had Kavauagh had any integrity, (that befitting a judge perhaps). It could have. He didn't have to even change his steadfast position of his innocence. All he had to do was (calmly) acknowledge something happened to Dr. Ford way back when, but that it wasn't him. That he was sorry to hear all the pain it has caused her. That he respects the seriousness of the accusations and as a judge understands her desire to be heard. That he welcomes an investigation to both allow her some closure, resolution and to CLEAR HIS NAME.

He screamed, he pouted, he whined. He behaved like a child that was told he was not going to get his pony after all. And he LIED. It was appalling. But no, it's a dog whistle to all the men that believe Women need to accept their place in the world -- or they are the enemy and will treated as such. Well I guess the good news is, we're already so used to it.

One thing is for sure, men could never survive being women.

[Kurt]

Well, tucson and JB. I hope you are happy. See what they done did?
We can all now look forward to a much bleaker future now that the last branch of government left with any credibility and public respect is down the crapper.

Illegal abortions and the concomitant deaths
Increase in unwanted children and the associated costs of such
Decrease in efforts to reduce the effects of climate change
Loss of civil rights
No hope of real actions to stem the tide of monopolization
Lowered chance of protections for net neutrality, and
Others that I would rather not think about, except
Trump will be able to pardon himself once his crimes are carefully catalogued and exposed.

Oh, well. To the victors go the spoils (groan)

[LB]

logan wrote in quotes--" you either believe men, and accept that *boys will be boys* or your just stupid lying woman seeking attention."

*In this country it is about due process and evidence. It's not a white male dominance thing you crazy leftists try to promote. It's not about 'boys will be boys'. It's about factual corroborated evidence. Innocent until proven guilty and due process. But you have him lynched on no evidence. If it is really there, then prosecute. Funny, no lawyer will take it. You protest racism but hate whites. You hate Kavanaugh because you perceive him as a white male elitist. What you hate besides his race and sex is that he is center-right. A threat to your left wing agenda. It is you who is prejudiced. It is you who is racist. It is you who hates men, not Kavanaugh hating women. He has no validated history of abuse. Cadres of women support him and his character.

"I'm honestly just so tired of it. LB here, is a perfect example. Every point he makes you could say about Kavanugh! He claimed there were lots of things he didn't remember from then EITHER - But she's a liar for not remember things like a street address of a party?"

* Why should he remember something he says didn't happen? The onus is on the accuser. Just try to imagine for a second... What if Kavanaugh really didn't do it? Think for a minute and imagine what if he actually didn't do it and knows nothing about it?

" I went to school in the 80's. We never know half the addresses, we followed people to the party. Half the time we didn't even know who's house it was. 100% Normal, not remotely a lie."

*But if you want to prove a crime you had better know things like that.

"Then the belittling of a flying phobia. Seriously are you 4?"

*There was no belittling of a flying phobia per se, just the belittling of a claim you have one when you fly all over the place all the time.

"Would you tease Joe Madden for that same problem? No? Oh let me guess -- chromosomes. Got it"... "it's a dog whistle to all the men that believe Women need to accept their place in the world -- or they are the enemy and will treated as such. Well I guess the good news is, we're already so used to it.

* You've really got it in for men don't you? You're poisoned with prejudice and hate. Get a grip and get help, or your unhappiness and self-loathing will persist.

[logan]

Thank you for proving my point for me so beautifully LB!

A woman points out what some men do and man turns it around and blames it on women. It's You - You - You -- No way it's us!
(Seriously, like you didn't know I was talking about men like Brett Kavanugh? Really? Hummmm).

These days one can set their watch by the predictability.

Not that you'll bother but...
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/first-person/as-women-protest-for-equality-not-all-men-is-not-thepoint/article37820803/

[LB]

logan,

I took a glance.

Women should not be treated as objects. They should be heard and respected. Wrongdoings should be punished. They are equal to men. Period. Of course. But it can't be denied some women use sex accusations as a tool for revenge or to advance an agenda or gain power.

Story: An attractive waitress was serving some customers at a bar/restaurant. A guy walked by and casually grabbed her butt as he went by. She turned around, took him by the neck and put him on the ground hard, and he wasn't a small guy either. Leverage works wonders. He was stunned. She pointed her finger in his face and told him to lay off and never try that again. The guy got up and limped out. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

When I went by her later and grabbed her butt (it was too cute to pass up) I was very careful to step away quickly and put a table between me and her ;-)

[Skyline]

Kate Brown will not win the election.
She does not represent me, our neighbors or anyone I know with her WAY OFF THE CHARTS left wing, radical ideology.
But sadly, that is her #2 downfall. Her main problem is "likeability".
It's not there.
It's time for her to go, and go she will.
I am and have been a registered democrat all of my life.
I'm voting for Knute Buhler .
Everyone that I know (except Brian) is voting for Knute.

[Janelle]

DO you also have suggestions for the measures on the ballot?

[Brian Hines]

Janelle, I'm planning to vote Yes on Measure 102, and NO on the other measures, 103, 104, 105, 106. See graphic on this web page:

https://pcun.org/2018/09/2018-general-election/