Kavenaugh

10/5/18

Moderate Susan Collins gave an unusually reasoned and reasonable speech today, in the midst of so much political & emotional cacophony, justifying her support of Judge Kavenaugh.  Worth hearing if you haven’t.  https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/kavanaugh-fight-susan-collins-stands-up-to-democratic-bullies-and-becomes-a-profile-in-courage

It now appears, together w. Democrat Joe Manchin’s support, that his confirmation is assured, finally hopefully putting at least this episode of Leftist rage, intimidation, character assassination & personal/career destruction (to achieve political ends) to bed.  Though they do talk of plan B to impeach him if confirmed.  And as has been said, there were 2 victims here – both Ford who had wished to remain anonymous, and the judge’s good name (& his family).  But the Dems care little about that or truth or presumption of innocence in pursuit of their objectives – just as Harry Reid who justified his knowingly false accusations against Romney by the ends achieved.  Collins called particularly despicable the person who leaked the accuser’s identity.  But liberals (e.g., Comey) have been shown particularly reckless in their leaks – the ends always seems to justify the means.  And they call on bipartisanship, but that only seems to go in one direction.  You didn’t see this kind of circus or monolithic GOP votes against Kagan & Sotomayor under Obama.

And Gallup tracking polls show that American support for Kavenaugh has hardly budged since the Democrat attack machine did their best to derail the confirmation.  In fact, indications are that their tactics appear to be backfiring, motivating conservatives more than liberals going into the midterm elections.  The American people are not as gullible or manipulatable as the Left thinks (“useful idiots”) – they can see through such bald-faced tactics, and have grown weary of their crying wolf.  (And I’m reminded of Malcolm X’s telling Blacks voting for Dems “you are a chump & traitor to your race.”)  This despite all the Soros-paid sit-ins, hall & elevator shouting, etc.  The loud-mouthed woman in the elevator who may have persuaded Flake to demand yet another FBI investigation (that has not come up with any corroboration of charges against Kavenaugh) was the head of a Leftist organization – not an every-day victim without political motives. 

They are every bit as much of a lynch mob – as Kavenaugh put it, turning “advice & consent into search & destroy” – as Graham’s parallel with the Salem witch trials.  The presumption of innocence until proven guilty so fundamental to our values has been turned on its head, and the standard according to the Left is to believe any accuser of a conservative, and remove them from their job – and livelihood.  Of course that doesn’t apply to liberals like Corey Booker (self-proclaimed “Spartacus” – they all think they’re heroes) who’ve admitted or been accused of “me too” crimes.  Why is the accuser of Keith Ellison (DNC assoc. chmn) not taken seriously?  And what about presidents like Clinton (whose rape accusers are not taken seriously), Kennedy, Johnson, etc.?  Or Sen. Blumenthal who lied about his Vietnam service?  What hypocrisy and double standards!  I’m sure we’d lose over 90% of Congress if we investigated back to high school.  But that doesn’t stop Dems from capitalizing on the “me too” movement to enlist and direct vocal outrage as a political bludgeon.

Yes, Ford had a very emotionally compelling and sympathetic testimony, and seemed genuinely traumatized by an event in her past.  Of course victims of sexual assault especially would be compelled to side with her, especially with Democrat leanings.  But despite her “100%” certainty Kavenaugh was the perpetrator, after 35 years about all else (dates, places, other people supposedly there) was not remembered (how convenient for avoiding possible perjury), and not corroborated by those she named.  She admitted drinking that evening.  She has been an activist Democrat with possible motives, despite her denial.  With her psychological expertise --and according to a former several-year love interest, she coached people on passing lie detector tests – she has the possible abilities to defeat such tests and come across convincingly (& sympathetically) in interrogations.  She was shown by the prosecutor to have lied about her fear of flying (initial excuse not to testify), and her former lover testified that she defrauded him.  Her lawyers are supposedly working pro bono, but she has received at least $530k in a GoFundMe account – for what?

Kavenaugh, on the other hand, has had an impeccable 30-year career, family & community life, etc., as testified by many reputable and highly respected colleagues (many of them women).  His vehement denial of the charges was also convincing.  He has clearly been extremely conscientious in establishing the highest ratings by the ABA and respect even from liberals.  Despite the Democrat accusations of his being political and unacceptably temperamental in his denial, I think it entirely reasonable of someone defending their honor, and especially in the face of such outlandish, clearly politically motivated attacks as he noted – having been called “evil,” that he would destroy the lives of millions of Americans, etc. And they accuse conservatives of using fear as a tool?  Even Woodward’s book is titled “Fear.”  The couple of other accusers coming forward after the first were so bizarre and unbelievable as to be laughable.  He admitted to drinking beer, but presumably the Dems have not suddenly become tea-totalers to criticize him for that. 

And so in the face of “he said, she said,” as Collins indicated, the threshold in the Senate is not beyond reasonable doubt or preponderance of evidence (as in criminal trials), but rather “more likely than not.”  Is it possible that he’s truthfully saying it didn’t happen because he blacked out in a drunken stupor?  And that alcohol (& teenage hormones) caused him to do something so otherwise uncharacteristic of him?  Possible.  But perhaps unlikely – someone with that propensity doesn’t typically do a sudden and complete 180 and remain impeccable for over 30 years without some other relapse or indications.  And without a conscious choice, that he would surely remember, motivated by regret over such a dreadful act.  It’s also very possible that his accuser’s memory and motives are not as perfect as she claims.  Such an expert in the mind would supposedly know that the mind is capable of being tricked. 

Of course, even in the worst case that he did it in a drunken stupor of youth, it is incredible how impeccable his life has turned out, and some argue that one’s moral bank account and good works should also be considered.  Which could also be said of Trump.  But the judge is right in imputing their rage after the election to hatred of Trump and anything he attempts – clearly any nominee would be unacceptable to them.  And more and more investigations would not change their vote.  They have more documents and record on Kavenaugh than any previous nominee, or the combination of the last 5 of them.  They’re simply stalling for time, and hoping to find something that will stick.

As Kavenaugh noted, this has been unusually vicious and partisan, with likely long-term scars on the process & institution (still reeling from the relatively milder Thomas & Bork hearings).  And they complain about Trump destroying civility in America?  As Prager says, “what the Left touches, it destroys.”  Sometimes intentionally – e.g., to “fundamentally transform” America – and not necessarily for the better.  They have made it much harder for good people to want to endure this to serve.  Kavenaugh should be admired for his strength to do exactly that.  The new standard is apparently to go back to high school to find some fault.  Of course we can’t bring up liberal justice Black’s (or Dem. Sen. Byrd’s) KKK affiliations.

Also noteworthy in all this is Lindsey Graham’s impassioned speech berating Dems (who acknowledge they’re delaying in hopes of winning midterms to reject him & fill a SCOTUS seat of their choosing in 2020).  He’s finally showing some strength, maybe taking some from his late friend McCain.  And Senator Grassley’s very patient, measured leadership of the hearing in the face of a circus-like coordinated pile-on begun seconds into the hearings by Harris & Booker (seeking limelight for presidential runs), etc.  And the coordinated protesters trying to disrupt the hearings.  70 arrests, 63 interruptions.  The audacity & projection of the Dems calling the hearings a charade!

Clearly we must stand up to such tactics for the sake of the country.  And when we do, and they show their colors, we win.

10/6/18

Don't you just love how gracious the Democrats are in defeat? Not content to forever besmirch Kavenaugh's impeccable reputation by championing uncorroborated accusations and calling him "evil", now after his confirmation, Schumer et al want to call his spirited self-defense of his excellent reputation a "... partisan screed [that] will go down ignominiously in history and made it clear it would be virtually impossible for him to rule impartially on the Supreme Court." (https://www.axios.com/authors/caitlin)

As if their own despicable, unprecedented partisan screed (that will go down ignominiously in history) didn't precipitate the whole thing, and as if any person who has and values their hard-won integrity wouldn't do likewise. Perhaps they can't relate, because they have no integrity to defend. No, he merely demonstrated his sense of good judgement and justice in calling a spade a spade, and they simply couldn't take it. But the polls show that the majority of Americans -- those with eyes to see -- don't buy their tantrums, and they will backfire in the midterms.

10/8/18

I’ve been reading Dennis Prager’s commentary on the book of Exodus (one in a series on the Torah called “The Rational Bible”), and the Kavenaugh hearings reminded me of his comments on 3 relevant commandments among the 10.

1. An obvious one is the prohibition on bearing false witness. Prager points out that “First, two eyewitnesses are required in order for the evidence to be regarded as valid (Deuteronomy 17:6)….Second, false witnesses were at risk of receiving the same punishment that would be meted out to the accused. (19:18-19)." Ford’s testimony is completely uncorroborated by anyone else. Perjury is a serious crime that should be prosecuted. And the Democrats’ relentless continuing defamation of Kavenaugh based on uncorroborated accusation is despicable and libelous, especially to a Supreme Court justice whose reputation & dignity are especially crucial. In case they couldn’t stop his confirmation, they would be sure to reduce his effectiveness by destroying his reputation, and possibly impeach him. Republicans have never done anything remotely comparable, though they had ample opportunity as mentioned in at least one justice who was a KKK member, and no doubt others who we could find dirt on if we went back to high school. Nor is this the first they've trashed -- there was also Bork, and Thomas.

2. Less obvious, but more significant here, is the idea that the prohibition on stealing applies not only to property (or people), but also a person’s reputation, dignity, etc. “Stealing a person’s good name – whether through libel, slander, or gossip – is a particularly destructive form of theft. Unlike money or property, once a person’s good name has been stolen, it can almost never be fully restored. As Shakespeare put it in Othello: ‘Who steals my purse steals trash; ‘tis something, nothing, ‘twas mine, ‘tis his… But he that filches from me my good name robs me of that which not enriches him and makes me poor indeed.’ In Othello, the theft of Desdemona’s good name leads to her murder. The act of stealing a person’s dignity is known as humiliation. And humiliating people, especially in public, can do permanent damage, given that dignity may be the most precious thing we own.”

3. In another commandment, we see how important God holds His own good name and reputation – a pattern for us, as well (“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” – Matthew 5:48). Both of the other commandments relate to the commandment to not take the name of the Lord in vain, which is translated also as swearing falsely in God’s name, but a literal Hebrew translation is to carry God’s name in vain. “And who carries god’s name in vain? Any person who claims to be acting in God’s name while doing the opposite of what God wants – evil. Obvious modern examples would include Islamist terrorists who shout, Allahu Akbar (“God is the Greatest”) when they murder innocent people; or a priest or any other clergy who, utilizing the respect engendered by his clerical status, molests a child…..When any person commits evil, it reflects badly on the person. But when a person commits evil in God’s name, it reflects badly on God as well. The result is the only solution to evil – God-based morality – is thoroughly undermined. When associated with evil, God and ethical monotheism are thoroughly discredited. And that is unforgivable, as it dramatically reduces the chances of creating a good world. The scripture says that they will not be held guiltless, but the Hebrew translation is “not cleansed.” And the scriptures say that no unclean thing can inherit the Kingdom of God.

For my fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, there are also a couple of interesting, repeated related points from our semi-annual general conference of this last weekend. One was a repeated message of the importance of personally properly taking upon us and representing the name of Christ through our words and deeds, and doing justice to that name. And the other, almost a corollary, was that when we refer to the Church, we do so by its proper full name, rather than a nickname or abbreviation like “Mormon” or “LDS,” that do not give proper recognition of whose Church it is, or the most central, fundamental reason and focus of it. Not observing either of these slights, demeans and misrepresents the Lord and His gospel.

Words have meaning, importance and impact. This all also reminds me of Isaiah 5:20: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness;…” I believe the Democrats even literally called Kavenaugh “evil.” But we see this elsewhere – the U.S. is called the “Great Satan,” our founding fathers called evil white men, people demeaned for "clinging to their guns and religion," Christians mocked and belittled, conservatives characterized as "white nationalists/supremacists," etc.  I think it not improper that we show a bit more indignation at such characterizations in defense of truth and principles, as we have seen Justice Kavenaugh, Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell do.  Maybe despite his shortcomings, Trump has at least gotten us winning, and maybe infused some courage in mild-mannered Republicans.  As has been said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”