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Hekate

(90,202 posts)
Wed Sep 26, 2018, 11:52 PM Sep 2018

A. B. Stoddard just laid out the GOP calculus on going all the way with Kav & blew my mind

She was on Brian Williams 11th Hour.
In her observation/opinion Kav is one of the "most beloved" nominees ever, absolutely sterling credentials in the eyes of the GOP, etc etc, gag choke.

Beyond that, and this is absolutely key, it is of paramount importance to the GOP that Brett Kavanaugh get on the Supreme Court -- it is more important to them than losing the House, more important than losing the Senate.

Is it even about Trump's survival per se ? I couldn't tell from what she said. Election cycles come and go. This is about the next 40 years on the Supreme Court.

That's how much the Far Right wants control of the Judiciary.

33 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A. B. Stoddard just laid out the GOP calculus on going all the way with Kav & blew my mind (Original Post) Hekate Sep 2018 OP
A Conservative leaning court can kill progressive legislation. JHan Sep 2018 #1
A *Libertarian* court moreso than a Conservative Court. no_hypocrisy Sep 2018 #7
Indeed. JHan Sep 2018 #9
They have been grooming him for 20 years. CincyDem Sep 2018 #2
And it can be undone in 2021. roamer65 Sep 2018 #3
They've already nuked the filibuster for nominations. hedda_foil Sep 2018 #6
Yep. shanny Sep 2018 #12
That's partly right euphorb Sep 2018 #21
Welcome to DU, euphorb! calimary Sep 2018 #22
Yeah, I know. shanny Sep 2018 #28
Can't imagine trump or a number of endangered Congresspeople going with that. Hoyt Sep 2018 #4
It's not like they couldn't find a non-rapist ideologue to put on the court fishwax Sep 2018 #5
That's what I thought. Heritage Foundation has a long list. Why cling to this one? Hekate Sep 2018 #16
I've been wondering that myself Separation Sep 2018 #32
easy to control through blackmail ProfessorPlum Sep 2018 #31
They know they can take back control of Congress at some point. Garrett78 Sep 2018 #8
I think customerserviceguy Sep 2018 #25
Kind of silly then. Any one of justices could become ill or have some other reason to resign. Freethinker65 Sep 2018 #10
Memories and attention spans are short. I think the "GOP is doomed" talk is overstated. Garrett78 Sep 2018 #11
Yep not fooled Sep 2018 #26
I think they need Kavanaugh now for Gamble V USA Jarqui Sep 2018 #13
She is thinking too small marylandblue Sep 2018 #14
there are many other conservatives they could nominate and get on the court. gorsuch was one JI7 Sep 2018 #17
Yup. quakerboy Sep 2018 #15
Midnight Judges. Xolodno Sep 2018 #18
She's not the first one saying that. Grasswire2 Sep 2018 #19
Frum's not the first either. They haven't exactly hid this strategy... JHB Sep 2018 #29
Frum's analysis came with his book, discussed at the link in January 2018 Grasswire2 Sep 2018 #30
And that is the proper way for them to look at it Awsi Dooger Sep 2018 #20
She has a point customerserviceguy Sep 2018 #23
Yep. That's what I've expected. Kablooie Sep 2018 #24
James O'Queef is beloved by those people too. It is sickening. n/t brewens Sep 2018 #27
Need some of Repubs to have the guts to stand up Thrill Sep 2018 #33

no_hypocrisy

(45,774 posts)
7. A *Libertarian* court moreso than a Conservative Court.
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 12:03 AM
Sep 2018

No more Social Security. No more Medicare. No more Medicaid. No more ACA.

CincyDem

(6,283 posts)
2. They have been grooming him for 20 years.
Wed Sep 26, 2018, 11:57 PM
Sep 2018

He’s not a wolf in sheeps clothing. He’s a white walker dragon disguised as a dove with his choirboy aw shucks style.

As was said about Neo...he is The One.

roamer65

(36,739 posts)
3. And it can be undone in 2021.
Wed Sep 26, 2018, 11:58 PM
Sep 2018

Take back both houses, elect a Dem president and nuke that damn filibuster.

We can then pack the court with 2 or 4 new justices with simple majority votes and a signature from the president.

hedda_foil

(16,368 posts)
6. They've already nuked the filibuster for nominations.
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 12:03 AM
Sep 2018

And if it was in place Kavanaugh would never get 60 votes. How he just needs 50 +1 and the +1 can be Pence.

 

shanny

(6,709 posts)
12. Yep.
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 12:07 AM
Sep 2018

Pack the court. There is nothing constitutional about 9 members: reform the Court, do away with lifetime appointments and add more people to tip the balance toward where the people are, not where selected and minority presidents want it to be. #basta

euphorb

(279 posts)
21. That's partly right
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 01:45 AM
Sep 2018

Congress can change the number of justices on the Supreme Court by legislation (though it may be politically iffy), but doing away with lifetime appointments would require a constitutional amendment.

calimary

(80,700 posts)
22. Welcome to DU, euphorb!
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 02:02 AM
Sep 2018

Last edited Thu Sep 27, 2018, 10:36 AM - Edit history (1)

I think we should realistically look at a Plan B. If worse comes to worst, are we ready with a Plan B?

Impeachment of a Supreme Court justice. If we get either house back in November, let the investigations begin! If we get either house back, WE get subpoena power. Then we can drag Mark Judge's ass in to testify, whether he wants to or not. Same thing with Kavanaugh. What are the penalties for defying a Congressional subpoena? Hmmmm... let's explore...

We need an army of Michael Avenattis. I know it's superficial as hell but we need people with a fast turn of phrase in the verbal combat department - which unfortunately is the way the bad guys have decided the game is played now. We need some mean, nasty, swaggering, snarling, hit-below-the-belt street fighters. Attack dogs. We need our own Newt Gingriches and other "back-bench bomb-throwers" who figuratively speaking take no prisoners. Regretfully, I think WE need some weasels. We need our own versions of Trey Gowdy and even, I almost hate to say it but, Devin Nunes. Shrewd, manipulative, calculating, even vindictive. Being nice is yesterday. I wish that weren't true. I wish TO DEAREST GOD this weren't true. I wish this weren't how it is. But in politics, that's EXACTLY what AND how it is. The other side will NOT play fair or follow rules or stop sneaking around behind, over, and under to get their way and their agenda through. The other side will not stop trying to screw, savage, and sabotage. We're dealing with a crowd of latter-day bomb-throwing Machiavellis. The gunfight-and-napalm crowd - whom we're so accustomed to "fighting" with powder puffs, butter knives, and feather dusters. And as long as we keep playing fair and they don't, and as long as we don't play mean and nasty and they do, we're gonna get rolled every time. EVERY. DAMN. TIME.

A friend of mine, who sank down into the Dark Side years ago, recently commented in shock and bewilderment, with dander up, and a whiff of condescension, "you're SO ANGRY!" Yeah? What's it to ya, pal? You bet your damn bippy I'm angry! How can you see what's going on now and NOT be angry - angry as ALL HOLY HELL????????



 

shanny

(6,709 posts)
28. Yeah, I know.
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 07:29 AM
Sep 2018

Packing the court would just be a shirt-term fix and we need a long-term fix as well. On that issue and others.

fishwax

(29,146 posts)
5. It's not like they couldn't find a non-rapist ideologue to put on the court
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 12:01 AM
Sep 2018

Yeah, sure they want the supreme court for the next 40 years. But right-wing hacks are a dime a dozen. Why this one?

Hekate

(90,202 posts)
16. That's what I thought. Heritage Foundation has a long list. Why cling to this one?
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 12:32 AM
Sep 2018

AB Stoddard's take on it is the first thing that makes any sense, in a twisted sort of way. I thought the Repubs would be all torn over the dilemma of maybe losing this election cycle, but not according to her.

Have I mentioned lately how much I hate the GOP?

Separation

(1,975 posts)
32. I've been wondering that myself
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 02:15 PM
Sep 2018

Why such the damn hurry to get Kavanaugh confirmed? I mean, there are already other allegations against him from people who havent even come out yet i.e. the report about the incident in Colorado. They also know about his drinking issues.

So they knew he was dirty the whole time. It's just that he is their guy, and they got caught with the oh shit deer in the headlight look and immediately had to confirm this guy.

I've heard of the whole ask for forgiveness is easier than asking for permission, but this is taking it to a whole new level. You would have to go back to 1805 and Samuel Chase, who by the way was later acquitted.

ProfessorPlum

(11,252 posts)
31. easy to control through blackmail
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 11:09 AM
Sep 2018

and bribery. They are holding back all of those documents about him for a reason.

Garrett78

(10,721 posts)
8. They know they can take back control of Congress at some point.
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 12:03 AM
Sep 2018

They also know that it's still unlikely that they'll lose the Senate.

So, yeah, getting Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court is a priority. Why Kavanaugh and not Barrett or some other right winger? I'm not entirely sure. Maybe because of his views on executive privilege. Maybe because he's easily blackmailed. Maybe just to stick it to feminists.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
25. I think
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 02:16 AM
Sep 2018

they took a look at what happened to Bork and said, never again. The Court does indeed matter in the long run, plus, look how what Thomas went through cemented him to GOP policies completely. They know that at this point, Kavanaugh is solidly on their side now and forevermore.

Freethinker65

(9,934 posts)
10. Kind of silly then. Any one of justices could become ill or have some other reason to resign.
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 12:04 AM
Sep 2018

They could also die unexpectedly.

The courts are extremely important and the GOP is in a position to really curb individual rights, but losing control of legislature and the executive branches for a generation because the GOP becomes forever identified as the party of racist misogynistic anti-science anti-education alternative fact assholes hardly seems worth it.

They could get a qualified baggage free Federalist society approved nominee approved without a problem. Trump picked a really atrocious nominee.

not fooled

(5,791 posts)
26. Yep
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 02:33 AM
Sep 2018

chimpy's disastrous presiduncy should have meant no more GOPee control of anything, ever, and yet look where we are a mere 8 years later--another idiot puke in the white house, plus control of every branch of government (for not much longer, we hope).

Jarqui

(10,110 posts)
13. I think they need Kavanaugh now for Gamble V USA
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 12:13 AM
Sep 2018

to get a number of them off the hook with Presidential pardons

marylandblue

(12,344 posts)
14. She is thinking too small
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 12:14 AM
Sep 2018

They want a permanent Republican majority based on a compliant SCOTUS. Gerrymander, disenfranchise, trample on blue states to your heart's content because the courts will approve it all.

quakerboy

(13,901 posts)
15. Yup.
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 12:28 AM
Sep 2018

Control for decades. Insta-veto on all legislation and presidential actions

And dont forget, with firm SCOTUS controll, they can OK any voter suppression measures they like, or veto those they dont.

And protect the president from any consequences of his actions

And thereby protect the rest of their elected officials from consequences of knowingly colaborating with him.


Doing the right thing, or even the thing that gets them reelected becomes less important by the day. The march to Authoritarianism and fascism is not just rhetoric. Its a real thing.

Xolodno

(6,341 posts)
18. Midnight Judges.
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 01:18 AM
Sep 2018

When John Adams lost the Presidency, he appointed judges practically at the last hour on the Supreme Court. This kept Federalist politics on the court for a considerable amount of time....long after the party was dead.

I have to think, the GOP thinks there is a real chance they may be out of power for awhile. The TEA Party shenanigans was their last hurrah for awhile and they know the base in shrinking and dying off. And rather than start, reforming the party...decided to pass the buck. In otherwords, they would rather keep the status quo and die with it rather than do the hard work to fix their party.

Grasswire2

(13,564 posts)
19. She's not the first one saying that.
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 01:38 AM
Sep 2018

It has been explained by a handful of commenters on MSNBC in the last month or so. I believe that David Frum was the first to say that GOP leadership would let democracy go in order to maintain the majority. But it's even more complicated.

JHB

(37,132 posts)
29. Frum's not the first either. They haven't exactly hid this strategy...
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 07:58 AM
Sep 2018

It was clear when GHW Bush nominated Thomas: why this guy with an undistinguished record? Because he was a black guy who could be relied upon to decide cases in a conservatively correct fashion, and was young enough that he's be on the court for three, four, maybe even five decades.

There were more distinguished and qualified people. There were more distinguished and qualified conservatives. There were more distinguished and qualified black conservatives. But those other people either had areas where they balked at the conservatively correct line, or were older and would retire in only 10-15 years.

 

Awsi Dooger

(14,565 posts)
20. And that is the proper way for them to look at it
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 01:44 AM
Sep 2018

I use the term "big picture" here all the time for a reason.

Republicans may be scum but they have a vastly superior grasp of big picture than we do.

I'm forever astonished at the daily overreactions on this site, and on the MSNBC programming and occasionally CNN. Day to day developments should be properly understood as not much of anything, merely something to wade through. Republicans fully understand that aspect while Democrats seem to think you have to change your mind and change your plan based on the most recent item on the table.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
23. She has a point
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 02:11 AM
Sep 2018

Congress and the White House flip from blue to red and back again, lately a couple of times within a decade. After the GOP can shake loose of Trump, they can go back to politics as usual. The only thing is, while that concept is easy to sell to the party, it is a tough pill for an individual officeholder to swallow.

Kablooie

(18,572 posts)
24. Yep. That's what I've expected.
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 02:13 AM
Sep 2018

They know they are likely to have a terrible election anyway so pushing Kavanaugh into a lifetime appointment would be the best thing for their ideology in the long term.

Kavanaugh will probably be appointed.

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