Wednesday, September 05, 2018
Protesters at confirmation
As the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh began yesterday, the proceedings were repeatedly interrupted by protesters. It was hard to tell, from the radio reports I heard, what they were yelling, but they were effective in distracting the Senators involved in the hearing.
I certainly see that there are differing views on Judge Kavanaugh. But is this kind of protest going to result in any kind of a positive good for the side of the protesters? Or is that not the point?
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Honestly, I listened to a big chunk of the opening statement/session yesterday when I was in the car. You are right, the protesters are just annoying. However I don't know if I could sit and listen and keep my mouth shut. I found Senator Grassley to be a doddering old man which was sad to say the very least. The first hour was essentially a scrum. I didn't care for how Grassley would interject at the conclusion of each Democrats allotted time and try to make them look bad and "clarify". It was very one sided. The people watching in listening are not stupid.
Let's face it, both sides strategize over how the hearing should run. They are trying to execute their game plans. The Democrat Senators obviously don't care for this choice and want to stop or prolong the process. What the committee did to Merritt Garland will not be forgotten. They have many good points. The Republican Senators are all for shoving this down the throats of the American people. I think when you are placing someone onto a court for potentially the next 30 years the process should not be rushed. The Senate is suppose to be a deliberative body; thoughtful and careful. That is no longer the case.
Brett Kavanaugh for his part seemed to age 2 or 3 years throughout the day. Probably wondering if it is all worth it. The incident with the Parkland father was just icing on the cake. I suspect he was told not to speak with anyone, although it visually came across as quite rude.
I have no doubt that Judge Kavanaugh is a good father and family man but that is not what this is about. It is about the big picture, the people of our nation, our rules and laws and how they will be interpreted and who will or will not benefit. I wish there was a way to gauge how he feels about the death penalty and drug sentencing and even pardons and commutations. Things that impact the little guy and show what his real humanity is. He also needs to check his catholic beliefs at the door. I want a judge who can represent all people not just those who believe as he does (that goes for all judges at all levels).
So now the fun begins, with our"friends across the aisle" and all the "starre decisis" nonsense. We will learn very little as each side steps onto the floor and begins fencing this morning.
Let's face it, both sides strategize over how the hearing should run. They are trying to execute their game plans. The Democrat Senators obviously don't care for this choice and want to stop or prolong the process. What the committee did to Merritt Garland will not be forgotten. They have many good points. The Republican Senators are all for shoving this down the throats of the American people. I think when you are placing someone onto a court for potentially the next 30 years the process should not be rushed. The Senate is suppose to be a deliberative body; thoughtful and careful. That is no longer the case.
Brett Kavanaugh for his part seemed to age 2 or 3 years throughout the day. Probably wondering if it is all worth it. The incident with the Parkland father was just icing on the cake. I suspect he was told not to speak with anyone, although it visually came across as quite rude.
I have no doubt that Judge Kavanaugh is a good father and family man but that is not what this is about. It is about the big picture, the people of our nation, our rules and laws and how they will be interpreted and who will or will not benefit. I wish there was a way to gauge how he feels about the death penalty and drug sentencing and even pardons and commutations. Things that impact the little guy and show what his real humanity is. He also needs to check his catholic beliefs at the door. I want a judge who can represent all people not just those who believe as he does (that goes for all judges at all levels).
So now the fun begins, with our"friends across the aisle" and all the "starre decisis" nonsense. We will learn very little as each side steps onto the floor and begins fencing this morning.
Christine is right: The protests won't have any effect on the proceedings. What I see are 2 sides who know the cameras are on, playing to their support bases. In 2 months, voters go to the polls. Both sides need to show their core constituencies how they stood up to the other side. The video footage of both will easily edit down to play well in electioneering spots on social media, websites and TV.
Of course, the Repubs are reprehensible for how they've handled this. But they've been totally upfront in stating their agenda. If anyone disagrees with that agenda, the ballot box is the only recourse, really. Vote in November.
Of course, the Repubs are reprehensible for how they've handled this. But they've been totally upfront in stating their agenda. If anyone disagrees with that agenda, the ballot box is the only recourse, really. Vote in November.
Yeah . . . the protesters were annoying after the first few. It's interesting: they were mostly women, from what I saw, shouting things about Roe v. Wade and health care and "what are you hiding from us" and "release the documents." Each one of them presumably got arrested once they yelled and were escorted out, and being willing to get arrested is no small thing. I've signed up for some demonstrations before; the organizers send around a form to fill out with your personal info, in case you get arrested, and let you know what to do if you get arrested. These protesters knew in advance that it would happen, and were willing to maybe take off work and be subject to physical handling and get an arrest on their records--maybe the first time thing they've ever had on a criminal record.
It was to energize the Dems' base, for sure, and I think it had that effect. Seeing an endless stream of mostly women--many middle-aged, like me--pop up and yell and get taken away showed me, at the very least, that this nomination is something worth paying attention to. Maybe it'll make a few more people call their senators. It made me go read as much as I could about Kavanaugh's record, read a couple of his opinions, and it made me more concerned than I already was.
It was to energize the Dems' base, for sure, and I think it had that effect. Seeing an endless stream of mostly women--many middle-aged, like me--pop up and yell and get taken away showed me, at the very least, that this nomination is something worth paying attention to. Maybe it'll make a few more people call their senators. It made me go read as much as I could about Kavanaugh's record, read a couple of his opinions, and it made me more concerned than I already was.
The protests have nothing to do with Brett Kavanaugh. They have everything to do with Donald Trump. The #Resistance is out in full force, and the folks flailing around in the back of the room--not to mention the folks feigning outrage behind the microphones--are not taking a principled stand against Kavanaugh's capacity as a jurist or his view of the law.
The protesters were distracting. Much more disconcerting and disheartening was the organized protest executed by the Dem senators on the committee. Disingenuous. #Sad
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