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Constitutional Law Professor: Here's How the Democratic Crusade Against Kavanaugh
Townhall.com ^ | October 1, 2018 | Matt Vespa

Posted on 10/01/2018 4:58:36 PM PDT by Kaslin

Outside of the partisan bubbles, legal observers concede that Democrats dropping the sexual misconduct allegations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh at the 11thhour should make Republicans furious. At the same time, they think the GOP should have given ample time to investigate these claims, not establishing an artificial deadline. 

George Washington Law Professor Jonathan Turley has an op-ed in The Hill, where he lays out his concerns about the probe, noting that we need an end to this drama, not a prolongation of it. Also, he notes the dangerous precedent that Democrats are setting by warning in not so uncertain terms that even if Kavanaugh is confirmed, they’re going to investigate and possibly impeach him should they have a successful 2018 midterm election. Turley warns that such a precedent would offer a green light for Congress to intimidate and retaliate against judges they don’t like. Judges, whose concerns were already addressed in confirmation hearings, could be hauled back before Congress for the same charges, heavily politicizing the process and this branch of government that was supposed to be isolated from such shenanigans. Sadly, ever since Joe Biden was Senate Judiciary Committee chair, the process has become political. 

Turley also warns that even liberal justices haven't been as truthful, referring to the half-baked theories from the liberal blogosphere that Kavanaugh committed perjury in these proceedings. He noted that Justice Elena Kagan wasn't as forthcoming concerning her role in the Affordable Care Act. Should we hold tribunals for her? 

Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) promised Kavanaugh that it does not matter if he is confirmed because “as soon as Democrats get gavels” the party will investigate and possibly impeach him. On the House side, Democratic representatives on the House Judiciary Committee, including Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), have declared that they will open up an investigation into Justice Kavanaugh as soon as they regain control over the House.

In other words, neither confirmation nor death will prevent a day of reckoning once power shifts hands. The implications are chilling for a system designed to insulate justices from political threats or retaliation.

[…]

The pledge to effectively have a do over is playing well with Democratic voters even though the odds of a successful impeachment are remote. Being tossed in the Potomac may be one of the few indignities not awaiting Kavanaugh if such post-confirmation hearings are ordered. It would create precedent for justices to be retroactively investigated on allegations raised but rejected in their confirmations.

[…]

Whitehouse was suggesting that a potential Democratic majority after midterms would call a Justice Kavanaugh to answer allegations that he was a serial rapist. The problem is that the Senate already has heard from the witnesses cited by Christine Blasey Ford and none corroborate her accounts, or even remember the party in question. This is not dispositive, since Ford said she told no one until many years later. However, she cannot remember the date or the specific location of the incident, or the identity of the person who drove her home after she fled the party.

[…]

It seems highly unlikely that Democrats would be as motivated in promising to pull back Justices Sonia Sotomayor or Elena Kagan before Congress on discrepancies in their records. Democratic nominees have faced allegations of untrue statements before Congress without the threat of post-confirmation investigation. Some advocates objected that Kagan denied being asked for or offering her opinion on the “the underlying legal or constitutional issues related to any proposed health care legislation” or “the underlying legal or constitutional issues related to potential litigation resulting from such legislation” while she was solicitor general of the Justice Department during the Obama administration.

Later, critics argued that newly disclosed documents showed that, after the Affordable Care Act was enacted, Kagan was consulted on the challenge to that law and may have forwarded some possible arguments to use in litigation.

So, while the Left demands that Democrats continue the delay tactic to slowly bleed this nomination to death, keep in mind that should they regain the majority, they probably won’t be there for long, especially since their far left agenda isn’t where middle America, or anyone with cognitive function, is on the issues. The GOP will be back, and you bet we’ll be waiting in the tall grass, ready to take a liberal judicial scalp of our own. Please Democrats, keep doing this because, after this Kavanaugh drama, I think I want several scalps.

Now, lowering the temperature, these Democratic actions on Kavanaugh expose the irony of the party that has prided itself in being normalizers in the current political situation, and as staunch defenders of institutional integrity. Creating a precedent where judges can be intimidated and be threatened with retaliation doesn’t sound like that’s honoring those principles. Then again, we’re talking about Democrats—the only principles they honor are those relating to abortion.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; US: California; US: Georgia; US: Illinois; US: New York; US: Rhode Island; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: california; confirmation; democrats; georgewashingtonu; georgia; hankjohnson; illinois; jerrynadler; jonathanturley; judiciary; kavanaugh; luisgutierrez; newyork; pramilajayapal; rhodeisland; sheldonwhitehouse; tedlieu; thehill; washington
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To: frog in a pot
JMO But the lack of "adequate time" is attributable to the DEMs failure to request vetting by the FBI in July. Then again, they allege Dr Fraud wanted to remain in the anonymous (shattered by leaks). So:
1. There was adequate time frittered away by the i(D)iots.
2. The Senators themselves could have initiated the investigation through:
(A) the FBI or (2) their own investigators.
Other than wreaking a travesty upon a (R) SCOTUS nominee (& family), and a (D) female with mental problems (IHMO) it is all political theater, in hopefully, a vain attempt to gain/keep power.
21 posted on 10/01/2018 7:35:22 PM PDT by Tuketu (The i(D)iot Platform is splinters bound by crazy glue. TRUMP is the solvent.)
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To: Kaslin

The real question is, what is the upside for Turley writing this article? How does this help him with his peers? Why is he bothering to stick up for Kavanaugh?


22 posted on 10/01/2018 8:10:15 PM PDT by nwrep
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To: Brown Deer
Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.)

On the House Judiciary Committee. Amazing.

23 posted on 10/01/2018 8:19:15 PM PDT by gogeo (The Repubs may not always deserve to win, but the RATs always deserve to lose.)
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To: Grimmy

/bingo


24 posted on 10/01/2018 8:38:10 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (www.tapatalk.com/groups/godsgravesglyphs/, forum.darwincentral.org, www.gopbriefingroom.com)
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To: Kaslin
The Murkowski fool, the Flake fool, the Manchin fool, the Collins fool, these fools are the exposed enablers of this evil. They sicken honest Americans even as honest Americans don't quite know why their foolishness sickens us.

The media, true enemy of the Republic, will call them 'principled' ... so, satan, the father of lies, has principles! You fools enabling his evil to rule the day and systematically destroy America are living by satan's principles and your souls are too dead to realize it.

25 posted on 10/01/2018 8:49:31 PM PDT by MHGinTN (A dispensational perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: Gen.Blather

“If Kavanaugh is not confirmed and the Democrats significantly lose the midterms, can the GOP bring Kavanaugh back and confirm him?”

Yes, he can re-nominate him to the Senate. If we are lucky we can pick up 3 or 4 Senate seats with Conservatives. That should be enough to do the trick.


26 posted on 10/01/2018 8:58:05 PM PDT by Parley Baer
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To: dfwright

not to mention that ‘artificial deadline’ is a misleading characterization. How much time do agents need to investigate case a) - boat boy - recanted publically; case b) creepy Ford - played stall games with Congress - names one girl and two boys at witnesses but no witnesses and in fact denials; case c) - even creepier Rameriz - also played stall games with Congress - names one girl two boys as witnesses - no witnesses and in fact denials; case d) CPL - self explanatory. Just issue the warrant on him.

What’s left? an ice fight at a beer joint? hardly a day’s work


27 posted on 10/01/2018 11:14:43 PM PDT by blueplum ( "...this moment is your moment: it belongs to you... " President Donald J. Trump, Jan 20, 2017)
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To: Tuketu
Good points.

You are also correct about it being a political theatre. Unfortunately, many of those that swept Clinton and Obama into their 2nd terms and voted for Hillary believe the fiction played out in that theatre.

28 posted on 10/02/2018 7:49:47 AM PDT by frog in a pot (Obama's "Remaking of America" continues apace in the absence of effective political opposition.)
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To: All
Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse promised that “as soon as Democrats get gavels” the party will investigate and possibly impeach Kavanaugh. Democratic House reps on Judiciary....including Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), have declared they will investigate Kavanaugh as soon as they regain control over the House.

This vengeful, hate-filled talk is very troubling.....something you'd hear said by tinpot dictators in cultural zero Third World countries.

Threatening political retaliation is not done in a republic.....unless you are power-starved Democrat.

Democrats plot to rid themselves of people standing in their way......."hello, Zimbabwe."

29 posted on 10/02/2018 8:04:07 AM PDT by Liz (Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use.)
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To: frog in a pot

UR Right, many i(d)iots, fellow travelers, do believe the theater and vote with their left hand. That is why the (D)generats attack with unsubstantiated innuendo, lies(lacking facts) etc. They are i(D)iots AND DegeneRATS. The perversion they espouse is unreal; sic theater. JMO


30 posted on 10/02/2018 12:11:42 PM PDT by Tuketu (The i(D)iot Platform is splinters bound by crazy glue. TRUMP is the solvent.)
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To: Kaslin
I posted this on another thread but may be more applicable here.

My senses tell me: today Dianosaur Frankenstein looks worse than usual. As a ranking member of the Senate Judicial Committee she is updated (?) on the FBI's investigation, as would be the WH. Also reported: the WH told the FBI to expand their investigation. Grassley is stead fast in his,"There will be a vote this week."

Frankenstein stated today, we must keep the FBI (next) report secret. She cited instances of her keeping secrets. She mentioned KAV's decision on “assault” weapons; diverting the subject away from “Dr.Fraud”. (The Lady doth protest too much.)

My conclusion: the leak is her staff; the contentions of the i(D)iots fallacies are falling apart based on reported witnesses' statements. IMHO, these opinions of mine bode well for the 7th KAV investigation!

31 posted on 10/02/2018 12:18:55 PM PDT by Tuketu (The i(D)iot Platform is splinters bound by crazy glue. TRUMP is the solvent.)
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