Grassley calls bluff...and will win the hand

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Democrats are already laying the groundwork to justify Ford not appearing at the hearing on Monday.  Lots of stuff out there about them demanding an FBI investigation, not just a hearing.  But the real giveaway is the statement Feinstein made this morning:

The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday morning criticized the FBI and White House for “failing to take even the most basic steps” to investigate an allegation that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted a woman when they were both in high school.

Feinstein also drew comparisons between the current scenario and how allegations made by Anita Hill 27 years ago were handled. Hill came forward with sexual harassment allegations during the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.

"In 1991, five days after Anita Hill's allegations of sexual harassment became public against her wishes, the Judiciary Committee held three days of controversial hearings. Now, just one week after Christine Blasey Ford shared her story, Republicans want to repeat past mistakes, rushing the process to hold a hearing,” Feinstein said in a statement.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/su...icans-making-same-mistakes-anita-hill-n910546

If they're playing the Anita Hill card, there's no way Ford will appear on Monday.  The Dems will scream about how it was so unfair not to have a massive investigation before the hearing, but it's not a good look for them to bring up an accuser who refuses to testify under oath.

Only real question at this point is whether the Committee will have Kavanaugh testify anyway so he can clear his name under oath.  If the GOP goes ahead with that, I expect the Democrats to make a scene, pointedly march out of the hearing, and make some ridiculous statement on the Capitol steps.

[Cyber Liberty]

 

[RetBobbyMI]

There will never be any getting to the truth by the Dems. They just want to ruin his name enough for him the withdraw and force Trump to make another nomination where they will do the same thing.  Delay delay.  Time to force the issue.  VOTE!

[skeeter]

The GOP needs to just slam this nomination through and trust the common sense of the American people. If they cant be trusted to see through this farce then all is lost anyway.

[Free Vulcan]

The FBI has already refused to investigate it, so all their rhetoric is just empty obfuscation to try and get the vote delayed till after SCOTUS is in session October 1.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Grassley offering to do hearings on Monday was brilliant.

As everyone acknowledges, the real goal here was delay.  The Democrats hoped to use this allegation to force the FBI into a perhaps months long investigation into Kavanaugh.  But by setting the hearing for Monday, that's all off the table.  A Monday hearing would give the committee enough time to vote, and for the Senate to hold a full vote no later than Saturday.

Grassley is forcing the Dems and Ford to put up or shut up, and they're going to choose shutting up.  Her having to answer obvious questions like "if you really wanted to remain anonymous, why contact the Washington Post?  Why hire a lawyer?  You know Kavanaugh would have to be told the identify of his accuser so that he could respond, so wouldn't your name come out that way anyway" would be awkward as hell  And those would be just the easy questions that aren't personally embarassing.

Politically, the GOP offering to have them both testify in public, under oath, is about as good as it gets.  Certainly, they'd have looked worse if the response was to say "too late", and just sweep it under the rug.  And with the GOP offering public hearings under oath and the Dems/Ford refusing -- it looks more like they're the ones afraid of the truth coming out.   And as a bonus, Grassley offering the hearings likely will satisfy the squishier members of his caucus.

   

[IsailedawayfromFR]

As everyone acknowledges, the real goal here was delay. 

I believe the real goal is laying groundwork for the eventual replacement of Ginsburg when she goes into the ground.

All the theatrics are designed to first ensure there is a woman replacing her (Note: None of the women ever elevated there has been a conservative) and secondly, to get a more leftward-leaning justice.

There are zero squeaky-clean judges out there.  Even priests have been found to engage in unconscionable behavior.

[Jazzhead]

Grassley offering to do hearings on Monday was brilliant.

As everyone acknowledges, the real goal here was delay.  The Democrats hoped to use this allegation to force the FBI into a perhaps months long investigation into Kavanaugh.  But by setting the hearing for Monday, that's all off the table.  A Monday hearing would give the committee enough time to vote, and for the Senate to hold a full vote no later than Saturday.

Grassley is forcing the Dems and Ford to put up or shut up, and they're going to choose shutting up.  Her having to answer obvious questions like "if you really wanted to remain anonymous, why contact the Washington Post?  Why hire a lawyer?  You know Kavanaugh would have to be told the identify of his accuser so that he could respond, so wouldn't your name come out that way anyway" would be awkward as hell  And those would be just the easy questions that aren't personally embarassing.

Politically, the GOP offering to have them both testify in public, under oath, is about as good as it gets.  Certainly, they'd have looked worse if the response was to say "too late", and just sweep it under the rug.  And with the GOP offering public hearings under oath and the Dems/Ford refusing -- it looks more like they're the ones afraid of the truth coming out.   And as a bonus, Grassley offering the hearings likely will satisfy the squishier members of his caucus.

 

Excellent analysis, @Maj. Bill Martin .   Sometimes a tactical retreat is important to secure victory.   Delaying the vote until a hearing, in public and under oath,  with both Kavanaugh and Ford invited,  both allows the Judge to clear his name and Ford the ability to tell her story.  It's an ancient he-said, she-said, with no contemporaneous verifications.   Ford will likely refuse to testify, citing "death threats" and the like from folks on social media reacting to her calculated attempt to ruin an honorable man.   The Dems will then use that position to further denigrate the "dregs" and "deplorables" who voted in the current occupant of the White House and have the temerity to believe that the Constitution permits a President to have his Court nominees.   But if the GOP sticks to the Monday hearing, and allows Kavanaugh to make his statement under oath,  I think he'll get confirmed. 

[bilo]

Grassley offering to do hearings on Monday was brilliant.

As everyone acknowledges, the real goal here was delay.  The Democrats hoped to use this allegation to force the FBI into a perhaps months long investigation into Kavanaugh.  But by setting the hearing for Monday, that's all off the table.  A Monday hearing would give the committee enough time to vote, and for the Senate to hold a full vote no later than Saturday.

Grassley is forcing the Dems and Ford to put up or shut up, and they're going to choose shutting up.  Her having to answer obvious questions like "if you really wanted to remain anonymous, why contact the Washington Post?  Why hire a lawyer?  You know Kavanaugh would have to be told the identify of his accuser so that he could respond, so wouldn't your name come out that way anyway" would be awkward as hell  And those would be just the easy questions that aren't personally embarassing.

Politically, the GOP offering to have them both testify in public, under oath, is about as good as it gets.  Certainly, they'd have looked worse if the response was to say "too late", and just sweep it under the rug.  And with the GOP offering public hearings under oath and the Dems/Ford refusing -- it looks more like they're the ones afraid of the truth coming out.  And as a bonus, Grassley offering the hearings likely will satisfy the squishier members of his caucus.

 

All good points, especially satisfying the weaker members of his caucus.

It's pretty scary that people can't see how easily they are being manipulated. How in the world can any person prove their innocence to charges that supposedly occurred 36 years ago. Statues of limitations exist because memory fades over time. Letting the Rats get away with this is criminal. They should have gone ahead with the vote without this circus. The Rats could have brought this up in July.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Excellent analysis, @Maj. Bill Martin .   Sometimes a tactical retreat is important to secure victory.   Delaying the vote until a hearing, in public and under oath,  with both Kavanaugh and Ford invited,  both allows the Judge to clear his name and Ford the ability to tell her story.  It's an ancient he-said, she-said, with no contemporaneous verifications.   Ford will likely refuse to testify, citing "death threats" and the like from folks on social media reacting to her calculated attempt to ruin an honorable man.   The Dems will then use that position to further denigrate the "dregs" and "deplorables" who voted in the current occupant of the White House and have the temerity to believe that the Constitution permits a President to have his Court nominees.   But if the GOP sticks to the Monday hearing, and allows Kavanaugh to make his statement under oath,  I think he'll get confirmed.

The excuses for her not testifying will be accepted, even celebrated by the loony left and many in the media.  Though I repeat myself....

But an awful lot of ordinary people, not just Republicans/conservatives, are going to do some eye-rolling at her refusing to testify when given the chance. 

Feinstein playing the Anita Hill card is kind of funny because I watched those hearings, and Thomas said something that really surprised them.  He casually mentioned how he and Ms. Hill were sitting in his home one time talking for about 45 minutes about politics and such, and Biden interrupted with "wait a minute -- you mean she was actually in your home?"  And Thomas responded with "yes, and on more than one occasion".  Biden then asked (dumb question) if Thomas knew why Hill never mentioned that to the Committee, and of course Thomas said "You'll have to ask her."  Biden then actually invited Hill to come back the next day to address/rebut Thomas' testimony in general, and to address some of those kind of questions, but she refused.   Of course, the narrative the left has pushed since then was that she was railroaded, but she turned down the chance to have the last word.  People almost never do that.  I think that was part of the reason they never saw the opposition to Thomas for which they hoped.  He was a good witness, and she never rebutted him.

If Ford ends up declining the Committee's invitation to testify, I suspect that this whole incident may haunt them come November.  Makes it much easier for Republicans to run on "imagine what things would be like if they get the majority."

[Free Vulcan]

Grassley offering to do hearings on Monday was brilliant.

As everyone acknowledges, the real goal here was delay.  The Democrats hoped to use this allegation to force the FBI into a perhaps months long investigation into Kavanaugh.  But by setting the hearing for Monday, that's all off the table.  A Monday hearing would give the committee enough time to vote, and for the Senate to hold a full vote no later than Saturday.

Grassley is forcing the Dems and Ford to put up or shut up, and they're going to choose shutting up.  Her having to answer obvious questions like "if you really wanted to remain anonymous, why contact the Washington Post?  Why hire a lawyer?  You know Kavanaugh would have to be told the identify of his accuser so that he could respond, so wouldn't your name come out that way anyway" would be awkward as hell  And those would be just the easy questions that aren't personally embarassing.

Politically, the GOP offering to have them both testify in public, under oath, is about as good as it gets.  Certainly, they'd have looked worse if the response was to say "too late", and just sweep it under the rug.  And with the GOP offering public hearings under oath and the Dems/Ford refusing -- it looks more like they're the ones afraid of the truth coming out.   And as a bonus, Grassley offering the hearings likely will satisfy the squishier members of his caucus.

And, it will clear the table for a floor vote by the 1st when SCOTUS takes up a new session.

[Emjay]

Grassley offering to do hearings on Monday was brilliant.

As everyone acknowledges, the real goal here was delay.  The Democrats hoped to use this allegation to force the FBI into a perhaps months long investigation into Kavanaugh.  But by setting the hearing for Monday, that's all off the table.  A Monday hearing would give the committee enough time to vote, and for the Senate to hold a full vote no later than Saturday.

Grassley is forcing the Dems and Ford to put up or shut up, and they're going to choose shutting up.  Her having to answer obvious questions like "if you really wanted to remain anonymous, why contact the Washington Post?  Why hire a lawyer?  You know Kavanaugh would have to be told the identify of his accuser so that he could respond, so wouldn't your name come out that way anyway" would be awkward as hell  And those would be just the easy questions that aren't personally embarassing.

Politically, the GOP offering to have them both testify in public, under oath, is about as good as it gets.  Certainly, they'd have looked worse if the response was to say "too late", and just sweep it under the rug.  And with the GOP offering public hearings under oath and the Dems/Ford refusing -- it looks more like they're the ones afraid of the truth coming out.   And as a bonus, Grassley offering the hearings likely will satisfy the squishier members of his caucus.

 

All so true, @Maj. Bill Martin   And Grassley is becoming a star before my eyes in his handling of this.

He has chosen the perfect solution...have a small hearing to give this freak a chance to make her case but don't delay the vote.

[Chosen Daughter]

The GOP needs to just slam this nomination through and trust the common sense of the American people. If they cant be trusted to see through this farce then all is lost anyway.

Except Collins has already said she would vote no.

[Emjay]

Except Collins has already said she would vote no.

She is covering her azz with women.  She said 'if he lied' he shouldn't be appointed.  Which was a kinda strange thing to say.  Maybe she meant 'under oath.'

[Chosen Daughter]

Grassley offering to do hearings on Monday was brilliant.

As everyone acknowledges, the real goal here was delay.  The Democrats hoped to use this allegation to force the FBI into a perhaps months long investigation into Kavanaugh.  But by setting the hearing for Monday, that's all off the table.  A Monday hearing would give the committee enough time to vote, and for the Senate to hold a full vote no later than Saturday.

Grassley is forcing the Dems and Ford to put up or shut up, and they're going to choose shutting up.  Her having to answer obvious questions like "if you really wanted to remain anonymous, why contact the Washington Post?  Why hire a lawyer?  You know Kavanaugh would have to be told the identify of his accuser so that he could respond, so wouldn't your name come out that way anyway" would be awkward as hell  And those would be just the easy questions that aren't personally embarassing.

Politically, the GOP offering to have them both testify in public, under oath, is about as good as it gets.  Certainly, they'd have looked worse if the response was to say "too late", and just sweep it under the rug.  And with the GOP offering public hearings under oath and the Dems/Ford refusing -- it looks more like they're the ones afraid of the truth coming out.   And as a bonus, Grassley offering the hearings likely will satisfy the squishier members of his caucus.

 

And her brother and all her political activism will be exposed. 

[jpsb]

There will never be any getting to the truth by the Dems. They just want to ruin his name enough for him the withdraw and force Trump to make another nomination where they will do the same thing.  Delay delay.  Time to force the issue.  VOTE!

The next nominee will be Amy Barrett, it will be harder to stop her since she is a female. What the
rats are doing is a disgrace. Everyone that needs to vote GOP this nov to stop the Marxist rats from
taking control of the country. After this who would even want a job that requires Senate approval.
The rats are making a mockery of our form of gov.

[Restored]

I think Collins may have changed her mind.

[jpsb]

Grassley offering to do hearings on Monday was brilliant.

Susan Collins suggestion that Mrs Ford lawyer be allowed to question Kavanaugh and Kavanaugh's
lawyer be allowed to question Mrs Ford is also and very smart move.

[Bigun]

Susan Collins suggestion that Mrs Ford lawyer be allowed to question Kavanaugh and Kavanaugh's
lawyer be allowed to question Mrs Ford is also and very smart move.

Never happen!  Count on that!

[Cyber Liberty]

Except Collins has already said she would vote no.

No she din't.  She said if Kav is lying it's a "No." Maybe Collins is lying about that, we don't know.

[XenaLee]

Susan Collins suggestion that Mrs Ford lawyer be allowed to question Kavanaugh and Kavanaugh's
lawyer be allowed to question Mrs Ford is also and very smart move.

If it's not under oath, it would be worthless testimony, IMO.

[roamer_1]

The next nominee will be Amy Barrett, it will be harder to stop her since she is a female. What the
rats are doing is a disgrace. Everyone that needs to vote GOP this nov to stop the Marxist rats from
taking control of the country. After this who would even want a job that requires Senate approval.
The rats are making a mockery of our form of gov.

It is the marxist GOP that will stop the vote. Not the marxist Democrats.

Get more RINOS... yeah... that's the ticket.

[dfwgator]

I believe Kavanaugh will be confirmed.

This whole thing isn't about Kavanaugh, it's about the next nominee, and the Rats are trying to get a deal basically allowing Kavanaugh to be confirmed in exchange for the next nominee being more to their liking. 

[XenaLee]

I believe Kavanaugh will be confirmed.

This whole thing isn't about Kavanaugh, it's about the next nominee, and the Rats are trying to get a deal basically allowing Kavanaugh to be confirmed in exchange for the next nominee being more to their liking.

Only problem with that is..... you're making the Rats sound somewhat rational and reasonable.

They're not.

[Absalom]

"Better the ruler be feared rather than loved."
No one fears republicrats, such as chump Grassley,
which is why this charade will continue on and on.