Schumer on twitter re: new Kavanaugh documents

[ehrnst]

Link to tweet

The Senate was just given an additional 42,000 pages of Kavanaugh documents the NIGHT BEFORE his confirmation hearing. This underscores just how absurd this process is. Not a single senator will be able to review these records before tomorrow.

Republicans know this has been the least transparent SCOTUS process in history and the hearings should be delayed until we can fully review Judge Kavanaugh’s records.

[BSdetect]

1. Did you not see that the horse has bolted weeks if not months ago?

[ehrnst]

4. The documents were released yesterday.

[BSdetect]

5. And they had weeks to take the hint

[ehrnst]

6. There was a hint that these documents were coming out?

Not that I heard. Do you have a source?

I think that Schumer understood that a symbolic delay of the inevitable was less productive than letting Senators head home and work on something that we actually have a chance to win - the midterms.

I heard the same gnashing of teeth when Al Gore ended his fight for the Florida recount after SCOTUS handed down the ruling, because that was so "frustrating and disheartening."

People didn't want to see their leaders being realistic and putting their energy into dealing with what was coming down the pike.

I'm sure that the GOP is loving all this pointless rage at Schumer for following a strategy of putting Senate resources for the midterms instead of into a futile (but satisfying to many angry people) act of political theater.

[JHan]

11. "I'm sure that the GOP is loving this pointless anger at Schumer"- bingo!

[erlewyne]

18. The GOP reads twice as many documents every day

Isn't that obvious?

[ehrnst]

31. I'm not sure what you mean.

Are you saying that Democrats are deliberately reading slowly?

[erlewyne]

38. I like that reply.

I read slowly when it is important. I am sure the
Republicans can read these documents in a few hours.

Reminds me of the time I tried to cheat on an eye examination.
The lady testing me said, Sir, those are letters not
numbers. You will need to wear glasses while driving!

[ehrnst]

40. OK, so you're saying that the GOP is not really reading the documents.

Is that what you mean?

[erlewyne]

49. Yes

The wealthy are so corrupt that I am thinking they are all compromised.
The GOP is caught in a trap.

[brush]

52. Ahh...we can walk and chew gum at the same time. Having the docs weeks ago no way stops GOTV for Nov

[ehrnst]

53. I didn't say they couldn't...

The got the docs yesterday.

Are we talking about the same docs?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/09/03/hours-before-kavanaugh-nomination-hearings-bush-lawyer-releases-42000-pages-of-documents-to-judiciary-committee/?utm_term=.fe34cda4b673

[RandySF]

56. We always need a reason to bash the party

Even if we’re not at fault.

[George II]

9. What hint was that?

[BSdetect]

12. It ought to have been clear thAT THE REPUGS WERE NEVER GOING TO RELEASE THE DOCUMENTS

EXCUSE CAPS

and if they did it would be "redacted" or reduced.

[JHan]

15. So apparently the democrats are the only ones with agency in this shit show?

[George II]

17. So what would you have done "knowing" that in advance?

[ehrnst]

32. If they stopped demanding them,

You and many here would complain that they weren't angry enough... and needed to be yelling more every day to get them.

[Hortensis]

20. "Hint?" Talk about BS! Somewhere being hidden from

scrutiny is likely to be proof that Kavanaugh participated in planning torture and holding kidnapped foreign citizens to secret prisons. If so, he lied to congress before about it.

And what else are they hiding because they have to? He's a proven right-wing authoritarian extremist, and there has to be plenty.

This man was part of the profoundly dishonorable and unprincipled Ken Starr swiftboat "investigation." That ruined Starr's previously soaring career, and participation should in itself be proof of questionable character and unsuitability. Only today's intensely corrupt Republican Party would try to confirm such a person.

[Trust Buster]

2. Twitter won't cut it Chuck. This is the best you can do as a Democratic leader ?

[BSdetect]

3. Exactly.

[George II]

7. If you were watching the hearing, you'd see that he's done OTHER things in addition...

....to the tweet that he posted just minutes after the Committee received the 42,000 additional documents.

Why is the immediate reaction to criticize our Democratic leader based simply on a few sentences from last night? Do you really think he sent that tweet and then went to bed?

[SWBTATTReg]

57. I think we are talking about 42,000 pages, not 42,000 documents...nt

[ehrnst]

8. On DU, some people complain that Democratic leaders don't take to twitter 10 times

concerning this corrupt administration.

When they do, then they're dammed for being weak tea.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

10. That tweet is very strongly worded.

[shanny]

16. Sternly worded, even!

[ehrnst]

33. It's almost as though anything Schumer does

irritates you.... and gives you reason to complain.

[lagomorph777]

19. Chuck, try this: "Kavanaugh is hiding very dirty, very dark secrets."

How hard is that?

[ehrnst]

34. Ah yes, and if he did...

The mocking of him here on DU would be spectacular.

[lagomorph777]

63. ?? WHy would DU mock him? Unless you mean Russian trolls would mock him on DU.

And thereby out themselves.

[ehrnst]

64. You can see for yourself:

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/10142101815

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210832363

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/100210648720#post13

And on this very thread...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211090148#post10

[we can do it]

59. Well that would do it.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. Refuse to vote! Give Kavanaugh the same hearing Garland got - NONE!

And blame the GOP. You'd help the Democrats' Senate prospects in November

Let the GOP look ridiculous and crooked and unfair

Sometimes you just yield and move on

No sense fighting a crooked foregone conclusion designed to accomplish GOP goals while making GOP sound fair

It's crooked. A rigged game.

[bucolic_frolic]

14. Broaden the playing Field! It's Abuse of Power! Just like Garland!

In other words, blow it all up and blame the GOP!

[Agschmid]

22. They can refuse to vote all they want, they don't have control.

If we want to give them control we need to get more D’s elected.

[George II]

27. If they don't vote he'll be approved unanimously. It only takes one more than 50% for a quorum.

[ehrnst]

28. They can't stop the hearing - it's already in process. And the GOP doesn't need their votes

so not showing up or refusing to vote doesn't accomplish anything towards stopping the nomination.

Sometimes you just yield and move on.

And people here on DU, and on twitter would be freaking out with 'WHY DID THEY NOT AT LEAST ATTEMPT TO VOTE AGAINST HIM???!!" in about 10 minutes. See also all the posts freaking out about Schumer sending Senators back to their home states to work on the midterms - which are not a futile battle - "OMG - HE NEEDS TO BE FIGHTING EVERY FOR EVERY SECOND OF A DELAY WHY ARE THEY LEAVING DC???" Short of a GOP Senator deciding to end their career by voting against Kavanaugh is the only possible way he won't be confirmed - Collins and Murkowski aren't going to be any help:

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/08/collins-murkowski-seem-to-be-preparing-to-support-kavanaugh.html

We need to have Dems be on the record asking hard questions in the process. Remember, Sessions was always going to get approved, but Al Franken's direct questioning during the hearings was what got him to recuse - so it can be very useful when we participate.

No sense fighting a crooked foregone conclusion designed to accomplish GOP goals while making GOP sound fair

But giving the GOP ammunition to support their number one campaign talking point for the midterms accomplishes plenty of GOP midterm goals.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/08/why-gop-not-dems-wants-midterms-to-be-about-impeachment.html

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/06/democrats-options-to-block-scotus-nominee.html

[pangaia]

21. Well, Senator, where have you been, with all due respect.

As Maher says, put the covered dish down and pick up a katana... a really sharp one.

[ehrnst]

24. What does the "Katana" in your analogy represent? (nt)

[pangaia]

25. Japanese sword.

[ehrnst]

29. Let's try this again...

What does the katana "represent" in your analogy?

What is it that the Democrats should be doing, instead of "bringing a covered dish," which means what they are doing now, whatever you think that is.

I know what a katana is. Don't pretend you don't know what an analogy is.

[pangaia]

30. bring something a little more useful...

Repubs are using canons

[ehrnst]

36. What do you mean by "something a little more useful?"

I am suspect you don't have any idea what you want them to do, instead of what they are doing now.

Which is why you are avoiding the question, aren't you?

It's easy to just complain that someone "isn't doing the right thing" than to actually know what the alternatives actually are.

But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Tell us what Democratic leaders "should be bringing" instead of what they are bringing now.

Do you have some unknown strategy to stop Kavanaugh? Some secret hypnosis chant that Dems could bring that will convince GOP leaders to vote against him?

[pangaia]

37. jesus, get off my back.. No I have no idea...

I'm a drummer and I cook Sichuan for a hobby.

That's why we elect people to stand up for us.... like those dems are doing now in the hearing..

Everything the fascists are doing need to be exposed far and wide, loud and clear..... over and over and over until it sinks in to enough of the dumber than dumb american populace

no more nice pussyfooting around....

[ehrnst]

41. Got it. You have "no idea" what they could or should be doing...

But you're going to complain and bash Dem leaders for deliberately refusing to do "it."

And you get angry when someone points that out.

[pangaia]

42. HUH ?

[ehrnst]

43. Here it is again:

Got it. You have "no idea" what they could or should be doing...

But you're going to complain and bash Dem leaders for deliberately refusing to do "it."

And you get angry when someone points that out.

[onecent]

23. I don't understand why they can come up with 42,000 more documents.....Why doesn't a judge stop this

kind of crap?

[Hortensis]

26. Wishful thinking after the cow's out of the barn?

Sure, this is all wrong, no matter how good a job our senators do. We have a great system, but these renegade, corrupt Republican senators aren't even really pretending to work within it. Unprecedented.

Kavanaugh probably lied to congress in 2009 about involvement in planning torture, etc., after 9/11, but Alberto Gonzales, who should never have been an AG, under Bush, who should never have been elected president. Our senators asked for investigation, but the AG then decided there wasn't enough evidence to investigate. The torture AG, Alberto Gonzales.

It's very likely this involvement, plus much else, is among the 90% of vetting documents being hidden by the Republicans. They're banking on being able to keep Kavanaugh and others from being impeached and removed for cause should we need to. But if he lies in this hearing about anything in his dirty past, that alone will be cause for removal.

COUNTDOWN TO A DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED CONGRESS: Just 62 days.

OUR next chance to be smart power.

[pangaia]

35. Do you mean, one reason repubs will not release

those other docs is so kavanaugh can not be caught lying if he has to answer questions about info in them?

[ehrnst]

46. Yes. That's exactly why.

And it's related to why Justice Thomas likely chooses to say nothing during SCOTUS sessions.

The smaller the record of what you have said, the less evidence of conflict of interest there is.

[ehrnst]

44. What judge, and using what power? (nt)

[zentrum]

39. The Dems better...

...get a lot more aggresive in fighting this off.

[ehrnst]

45. How so?

What would they need to be doing to make them seem agressive enough for you?

[zentrum]

50. Think what the Repugs would

...do to stop it. Do that.

Have a huge press event on the steps pf congress during which each Dem holds up a poster that says in some pithy way what's at stake for the next 40 years. One issue per Dem. It's way beyond Roe. It's the environment. Worker's protection. Regulations on corporations. Affirmative Action. Protecting Mueller. Loss of transparency in the 3rd branch of government. Citizen's United. Unions. It goes on and on.

Have a sit-in on the floor of the hearing. REFUSE to go forward. It's called NO. Not being polite. Take the chance. Be perceived as brave for once.

If you're a minority you have to shout very, very loudly. If the media is captured by your narrative you get a big microphone.

Show conviction and courage. Rally the country.

[JHan]

54. The republicans do bad things when they have the power to do so.

Mitch McConnell is not a spectacular human being, he's thoroughly boring. Slugs are more popular than he is.

He has power because Republican voters gave it to him.

As Senate majority leader it is he who directs the chair of the judiciary committee to greenlight hearings for a nominee.

In the case of Garland, he directed the committee to refuse hearings, which broke a two-century's old tradition.

The GOP isn't special, they're given room to be craven and they get away with it.

Which is why the "butter knife to a gun fight" argument is ridiculous. The main power a congressional leader has is a majority.

[ehrnst]

60. Do tell us what the Repugs would do if the situation was reversed & Dems were the majority.

Really - please tell us what the Repugs would do, other than go on FoxNews and warn everyone that a Socialist takeover was underway, and Dems were coming to get their guns. See also - the battle for the ACA.

Have a huge press event on the steps pf congress during which each Dem holds up a poster that says in some pithy way what's at stake for the next 40 years.

OK, if they did that, people here on DU would mock them as wasting their time with "strongly worded signs." When they do hold a presser many on DU ignore it and keep complaining that they are not in front of cameras enough. Next -

Have a sit-in on the floor of the hearing. REFUSE to go forward. It's called NO. Not being polite. Take the chance. Be perceived as brave for once.

The Republicans continue the hearings wherever they sit. And they would be excoriated for "not doing their damn job" in exposing Kavanaugh by asking him hard questions when they had the chance to do it on live television. Perhaps you missed yesterday's hearing? Simply saying things with a louder voice in a more combative way increases one's credibility as much as TYPING EVERYTHING IN ALL CAPS AND PUTTING LOTS OF !!!!11111!!!!! DOES ONLINE!!!111111" Next -

If you're a minority you have to shout very, very loudly. If the media is captured by your narrative you get a big microphone.

How do you define "shouting very, very loudly?" Specifically that which doesn't get you escorted from the hearing. When Dems do go public with their outrage, the same people say, "Well that's weak. We want ACTION!!!!!" And since you're the media expert, why don't you tell us what narrative is bigger than what is going on right now in the hearings? What exactly, in specific terms, are Dems doing that makes their narrative less interesting than Trump's latest breakdown. Next -

how conviction and courage. Rally the country.

They are doing that right now. Anything they do seems to irritate you as "not being enough" or "the wrong thing," while the rest of us are actually on the phone to Collins and Murkowski, and my Senators, and find inspired the very coordinated efforts at resistance in the hearings rallying.

Why don't you tell us what are YOU doing? Other than posting on DU about your feels because Democratic leaders are not stamping their feet, holding their breath screaming and fixing ALL this RIGHT NOW THIS VERY MINUTE, like you seem to think that they can, and just aren't because they want to make your life awful. It's just gravy for the GOP to see Dems nitpick Dem leaders.

[Thrill]

47. None of them should show up. What is a tweet going to do ?

Get tough with these assholes

[ehrnst]

48. Oh, that'll show 'em.

Not showing up to the confirmation would just totally shame the GOP into stopping this immediately, and they wouldn't even THINK of questioning him for 10 minutes and vote him in unanimously, then brag to the press about how they intimidated the Democrats.

Yeah, sure, this tweet means that Schumer isn't going to do anything else instead, because we all know, it's not really possible to do anything else once you've tweeted about it.

And certainly no one here on DU or twitter would react with sheer frustration,"WHY DID THEY JUST ROLL OVER AND GIVE UP???? WHY DID THEY NOT EVEN QUESTION HIM ABOUT ALL THE SHIT WE KNOW HE'S PULLED???? WERE THEY OFF HAVING COFFEE??"

[JHan]

55. apparently a press conference after dems not showing up would have really shown them..

[Eliot Rosewater]

51. US Senate and American people are at WAR with Russia aka GOP and we better as FUCK

understand this and NOW!

[Doremus]

58. Where are the tweets about what you're doing to halt this farce of an appointment?

Your strategy for delaying/protesting/procedural hokus pokus??

Are we seriously just going to <grumble grumble grumble> vote yes <keep our powder dry> again?

Ugh, it's literally sickening to watch it again.

[ehrnst]

62. Perhaps you have a television or sound on your computer?

If you can't, then I suggest learning about google.

If you don't want to do that, I suggest that you simply click here:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/commentary-for-democrats-hopes-of-defeating-brett-kavanaughs-nomination-lie-with-public/

Yet Democrats can still win against Kavanaugh – if we make it clear that the public is with us.

It appears that you aren't with us, and simply want someone to read your <grumble grumble grumble> irritation with Democrats who, short of getting two GOP senators to decide to sacrifice their career and vote with Dems, will not be able to stop this "farce of an appointment." I'm sure if they knew just how reaaallllllyyyy mad people are, they would stop just trying to irritate Democrats, and wave that damn magic wand they all have in their offices that enables them able to bypass the Constitution or make GOP be nice.

I'm sure that you would be <grumble grumble grumble> if Schumer wasn't taking to twitter.

Carry on.

[Cha]

61. KR!