A Late Night Observation
I just saw the clip of Lindsey Graham from earlier today, where he’s talking to reporters after the agreement to have the FBI do a further investigation of Kavanaugh.
He looked as though he’d just had the weight of the world taken off his shoulders. He was smiling from ear-to-ear – he was absolutely beaming, and was very collegial with the reporters. He acted as though the further investigation was a big win for him and his side of the aisle.
This is mere speculation on my part, but I’ve suspected for the past few days that despite their show of a united front, the PTB in the Republican party are finally realizing that Kavanaugh’s confirmation comes with too high a political price. They’re seeing the protests, they’re seeing a veritable ocean of angry women – voting women. They’ve heard the talk about complaints being filed against Kavanaugh, whether he’s confirmed or not.
They’ve heard the rumours that other accusers might come forward (aside from the three we know about) – and, if refused a voice in a formal setting, will take their stories directly to the media. And we all know how much 24/7 media attention they would get. They now know how many people were riveted to their TVs to watch the hearings yesterday and - despite the usual pundits claiming the opposite - they know how badly Kavanaugh's performance was.
And the timing of confirming Kavanaugh, in the wake of all of this, couldn’t be worse. Were the midterms a year away, many people who are pissed-off now would have cooled down, and might vote Republican based on other issues. But no one who is seething mad right now is going to cool off by the time they go to the polls in November.
I honestly think the GOP has been trying – especially after Kavanaugh’s and Ford’s testimony – to find an “out” with respect to Kavanaugh’s confirmation. And today that “out” presented itself. If the FBI investigation exposes anything untoward about Kavanaugh’s past, they can kick him to the curb and move on with another nominee whose confirmation won’t trigger the negativity towards their party they are dealing with now.
Elected Republican reps are being bombarded with phone calls, emails, letters, and protestors. They know which side of their bread is the buttered side, and it isn’t the side that ignores the voices of women voters – a demographic they’re already in trouble with.
Like I said, pure speculation on my part. But Graham’s reaction to the news that a re-opening of the FBI’s investigation into Kavanaugh was going ahead tells me that it was news that was not only welcome, but embraced the way a drowning man embraces a life preserver.
If Kavanaugh goes down, Graham has already done his screen test for the AG role, so he’s accomplished what he set out to do for his own career. What happens to Kavanaugh from here on in is in the hands of the FBI, which means the GOP could possibly be rid of the albatross around their party’s neck - and be rid of him at someone else's hands.
= new reply since forum marked as read
...everything Trump touches dies.
Men now in deeeep conversation with Mueller or in prison initially thought they could ride Trump's coattails to greater riches and power, having spent decades of their lives corruptly making money, associating with international gangsters, and in general flying just under the legal radar.
Jeff Sessions -- I have no idea what his personal corruption level was or is, but his life as AG has been an exercise in Hell and Humiliation.
Good luck Lindsay. 
tonite on Lindsey 'having the vapors.' Lol.
Was that brilliantly funny or what?
late night thoughts down for us, Nance.
