Where there's smoke?
As the count of allegations against Kavanaugh grows (and those who previously dismissed the Ford with "usually there's not just one accuser" as a defense get busy moving their personal goalposts), I marvel at how invested his defenders have become in his candidacy. I do understand why Trump wants him - Kavanaugh's record makes it clear that he would have Trump's back if/when Trumps deeds come before the Supreme Court.
But the rest of the right-wing world could have their pick of many equally ideologically acceptable candidates - at least, acceptable to them. Rather than abandoning a compromised jurist, they seem to be doubling down on the implausible and indefensible. And the most implausible charge of all is that these are fabricated, politically-motivated allegations.
Leave aside for the moment the fact that every woman who steps forward will have her life shredded in public. Yes, that alone should be enough to set aside any claim that they are fabricating the charges just to scuttle a nomination.
More conclusive, I think, is the fact that not long ago, the usurper of Merrick Garland's seat, Neil Gorsuch - also a Georgetown Prep alum, and just as ideologically repugnant to Democrats as Kavanaugh - endured no such storm of allegations. Why not? The only plausible explanation is the one that validates Kavanaugh's accusers - that Kavanaugh was an enthusiastic participant in the rape culture of his high school and college environments and Gorsuch was not.
