Toobin: "the stakes of her decision...there won't be an FBI investigation" no testifying / confirmed

[UTUSN]

***********QUOTE***********

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/cnns-jeffrey-toobin-brett-kavanaugh-will-be-confirmed-unless-christine-ford-testifies-on-monday/

Jeffrey Toobin: Brett Kavanaugh Will Be Confirmed Unless Christine Ford Testifies on Monday

.... “If she maintains that this investigation a sham and I’m not taking part, he is getting confirmed,” Toobin said. “If she does testify, I think all the cards are thrown up in the air…but everybody should be clear about the stakes of her decision to come forward or not before the committee.”

Ford has demanded an FBI investigation into her claims about Kavanaugh before she agrees to speak publicly about her encounter with Kavanaugh from decades ago. This being the case, Cooper asked Toobin if he thought she was “playing chicken here” with the conditions she’s trying to set for the Senate.

“I don’t know what the strategy is. I do know that there won’t be an FBI investigation,” Toobin said. “This is a take it or leave it offer to Ms. Ford. That’s just what it is. She has to decide whether she wants to testify or not…Everybody should be clear about what the stakes are. If she does not testify, he is getting confirmed.”

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[Thrill]

1. This is just like the thing with Lisa Bloom's client before the election

The Repubs are great at either paying these people off or scaring them. Another let down

[UTUSN]

8. They are *filthy* with their dirty tricks. "Sweet" Poppy BUSH was tops.

He's the one who started the trap of finding minority nominees/Clarence THOMAS. Putting Dems in a box by picking from Dem constituent group, making Dems oppose one of their supposed own. Back then Dems were really flummoxed, didn't know what to do. Later when the Repukes put up Miguel ESTRADA, Orrin HATCH put on his Shirley TEMPLE pout and said, "How can Democrats oppose mee-gwell while they claim to be supportive of minorities?!1" He was asking that the nominee be voted for BECAUSE of his minority identity, meaning a racist rationale.

The answer to that is to forget the identity, just opposed based on: Nominee is a WINGNUT, doesn't matter the race/ethnicity/whatever.

[tavernier]

2. And if she does testify, he's getting confirmed.

They just want to drag her through the mud and stomp her down and do a victory dance on her head. That’s all.

[honest.abe]

4. Not so sure about that.

I suspect this lady is formidable and can hold her own like Hillary during the 9 hour Bengazi interogation.

Also, it will be a media circus and many will be tuning in. It will make the GOPers look even more anti-women. I think its a net benefit regardless if he gets confirmed or not.

[bdamomma]

16. it is really Dr. Ford's decision

but I wish she confronts the bastards on that committee it will show millions of Americans what assholes these ole Senators are and even if he does get confirmed it will seal their fate in the mid terms.

Also the confirmation of this POS is there to support fucking trump from any charges he will face in the future. After all it's all about protecting the king isn't it?

[tavernier]

25. Oh, I agree

But I think that is their intention, and they’ll still put him through. But there will be disastrous repercussions once that happens, I do think.

[Cosmocat]

30. Mostly agree

If it ends with her testifying, and no other people come out with information about him, GOP will say he said, she said, I believe him, and he will get confirmed.

I do agree that given that he is getting confirmed (again, unless something else big pops up) that it will be better to have her testify - I suspect she will be very believable, Kavanaugh will look like the smarmy POS he is, and by and large the Rs will look like the buffoons they are, and the perception of them will be even worse.

[honest.abe]

3. I do totally understand why she wants the FBI investigation prior to her testimony but..

its becoming clear that is not going to happen. So I agree with Toobin either testify Monday or Kavanaugh is confirmed.

[Jarqui]

5. Without the FBI investigation, he's getting confirmed

because they force it into 'he said / she said' amongst a jury of biased GOP Senators

I would not waste my time with these dishonest Senators.

I would offer an interview to 60 Minutes or Rachel Maddow or a reputable media outlet like that before Monday. As part of that interview, I would insist that what a FBI investigation would mean be gone into.

To me, that is her only chance via this method.

The other chance is to file a criminal complaint with Maryland law enforcement. It would be pretty hard for them to confirm him while the police are evaluating if he committed a criminal act.

[UTUSN]

12. Yip, the 60 Minutes venue would be ideal - would eliminate the clown senators

[lagomorph777]

14. Partial workaround is that journalists could bring out a whole pile of material they dig up.

Ronan, I hope you're listening!

[NewJeffCT]

15. as great as Rachel Maddow is

I think 60 Minutes would be a better venue because of it's Sunday night time slot

[Jarqui]

18. And maybe have her answer questions posed by a panel and

have that panel speak with others who have come forward - look at the history of behavior by Mark Judge et al, etc

[OnDoutside]

6. It's almost a game of chicken at this stage.

[honest.abe]

7. Yep.. and unfortunately the GOPers have a Mack truck and we have a VW.

[OnDoutside]

19. In fairness to DiFi, she has played an incredibly weak hand in a most effective fashion. All the

media Repugs have been whinging like hell .... "How dare she hold this back until after the hearings etc"

1. Democrats don't have the numbers

2. Kavanaugh is a horrible human being

[Cosmocat]

31. I do agree with that

Dems are mostly feckless - she played this as well as possible.

NOW, they SHOULD have made SERIOUS hay on his role in the W admin stealing D congresspeoples e-mails.

[Submariner]

9. Maybe an NBC Special Friday night 1 hour interview with Rachel Maddow

could give the general public the weekend before the Monday hearing to digest her explanation of events that night, before the men will try to f** her over on Monday.???

[DeminPennswoods]

17. The problem with MSNBC is that it's not

a basic cable channel, at least it isn't with Comcast.

The audience that opponents of Kavanaugh want to reach with her story is people who don't watch cable news/programming regularly and the non-Fox News viewers. If she and her atty take this strategy, then going on one of the original 3 broadcast networks is the way to go. 60 Minutes would be great. Even though it's Sunday night, congressional phones could well be ringing off the hook first thing Monday morning. Lester Holt could easily interview her on Dateline, which he hosts. David Muir could do the same on ABC's 20/20. In addition to 60 Minutes, CBS also has 48 Hours as an interview vehicle.

Her lawyers really should reach out to Avenatti to be the TV lawyer and pitbull, but they don't want his help. Avenatti would be on every show exposing GOP hypocrisy in no uncertain terms and defending Dr Ford.

[OnDoutside]

20. +1 All great points.

[Submariner]

37. Give Rachel the broadcast network NBC special instead of republican Lester Holt

who has no creds in my book.

CBS has been Foxified with Rhodes and Garrett, and after they blew that Benghazi setup they tried to screw Obama with, they can't be trusted.

Dateline blows up pickup trucks for dramatic effect, so no creds there either.

Maybe Stephanopoulos on This Week on Sunday morning.

Muir doesn't have the experience and chops yet for such an interview imho.

[leftstreet]

10. Is a high-profile TV interviewer trying to book her before then?

I haven't seen any talk of it, but that's probably the best bet at this point

[PearliePoo2]

11. IMO, she might as well show up. Her life has already been trashed. There's no going back now.

There aren't words for how fucking despicable these republicans are.

VOTE!

If you are able, find candidates and support them with your time and/or money.

[UTUSN]

13. "there's no going back now" - exactly.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

22. Couldn't agree more... just do it! But, I certainly won't condemn her if she doesn't.

[Bayard]

29. At this point

Its obvious there's not going to be an investigation. If she testifies on Monday, it may do nothing, or it may put a speck of doubt in a few minds--the ones that can derail Kavenaugh. Its worth a shot, and everyone would see who the real patriot.

[bigtree]

21. things men say

...lol.

[BannonsLiver]

24. Other than the fact Toobin has a penis, what is inaccurate with what he said?

I think it's pretty clear this is the direction it's going and it doesn't make one a misogynist to point it out.

[bigtree]

26. such a kiss ass view

...all puffed up in typical male aggressiveness about what this woman needs to do.

Prof. Ford has the right to organize her testimony on her own schedule.

She shouldn't allow herself to be bullied into where she's unprepared or unfairly disadvantaged by the structure of the hearing.

The last thing she should pay attention to are jackasses pushing her past where she feels she is comfortable. She'll show up when and if she's damn well ready, and they'll either wait for her, or lose the chance to present their defense alongside her accusations.

Prof. Ford can easily take her accusations public without subjecting herself to this tribunal, and senators know this. She can command the attention of milllions without Kavanaugh or the republicans stepping on her. They'd better take heed.


Republicans don't need a hearing to 'determine the truth' behind Prof. Ford's accusations

[BannonsLiver]

27. I don't think Toobin is saying she is being treated fairly by the GOP.

He's pointing out the realities of the situation and how they are going to proceed.

[bigtree]

33. he has a pov

...a kiss ass one.

The cw that this gives the GOP some kind of momentum is flawed. They are the ones who lose if they don't get Kavanaugh in the same forum as Prof. Ford to respond to her charges. It's not really an advantage for opponents to have her at the hearing if all it's designed to do is rough her up and move to vote in favor of Kavanaugh anyway, which is what I believe they're orchestrating (this is the fourth day Kavanaugh's been huddling with Trump at the WH).

Prof. Ford will make the determination if and when she'll agree to appear, and republican senators will either wait for her or lose their chance to present their defense alongside of her testimony.

Lol, I'm imagining the hearing without her... a set of pasty men dismissing her accusations because she wouldn't agree to be bullied by them.

[BannonsLiver]

35. In their eyes they win because they get Kavanaugh confirmed.

I don;t think the GOP spends a lot of time thinking about what happens down the road, as evidenced by their economic policies. But honestly, I kind of like the last sentence you wrote from a political standpoint. That would be a really bad look for the GOP which could be exploited down the road in November.

As for Ford, my belief is that she should do what she is comfortable doing.

[qazplm135]

28. where did Toobin say anything

saying she doesn't have a right to testify or not as she chooses?

That's right, he didn't. He simply laid out the realities as he saw them, and I think correctly, whether she does or does not testify.

[leftynyc]

32. That's very noble

but the REALITY is that if she doesn't testify on Monday, he'll be a SC justice on Wednesday. You can stamp you feet and scream how unfair it is all you want - wont matter worth a damn.

[bigtree]

34. this 57 year old doesn't 'stamp feet'

..trying to belittle those who disagree with you is pathetic.

The REALITY is that you have a pov.

Mine is that republicans are going to vote the way they want, whether or not she shows up. They need her more than she needs them to get her story to the American people. It's a lame and false premise that her appearance at this republican ambush determines how republicans will vote.

[leftynyc]

36. Your entire post

was putting in conditions that will NEVER be met no matter what you or Dr. Ford does. NEVER. Her choices are not testifying (which is fine, I wouldn't blame her) or showing up on Monday and laying the pig out. He may still get confirmed but the story will be different and could help us in the midterms (more REALITY).

[Jarqui]

23. They have lost their way.

It is not their job to be law enforcement, investigator, lawyers for each side, judge and jury on this issue.

This woman with her therapist's notes in 2012 and 2013 and her passed lie detector test and the writings of Mark Judge and the yearbook (FFFFs for example) has enough for a legitimate criminal complaint that should receive due process.

That's where they messed up with Anita Hill. She got an FBI investigation Dr Ford is not but her witnesses were prevented from testifying, etc. And the old farts in the Senate decided to overlook it.

Law enforcement and due process should decide the matter - not a bunch of biased old farts unwilling to examine the facts.

[Guilded Lilly]

38. The Republicans are basically plotting the course to assault her again. These are patriarchal...

intimidation tactics and considering they are coming from characterless old white men of a highly entitled and enabled misogynistic generation I hope they are sealing a very painful demise of their Congressional power and careers.

They can’t be ruined soon enough for the repulsive pieces of crap humans they are.