and apparent delays >>> negotiations and strategy.

Asked and answered multiple times

It makes sense. She needs more time to prepare and wrap her mind around everything that's happened.

This isn't that sort of case.

duel for ratings?

"Her life has been turned upside down"

No kidding. I mentioned that in another thread. Republicans are prepared for this type of thing. That's why it is never sensible to overreact to any news that seemingly dooms Trump or anything from that side. Lying cheating scheming liars have perfected their craft for decades.

I’ve enjoyed the calamity but a part of me wonders what they’re waiting for.

They don’t spend a lot of time and energy running worst case scenarios.

And I’m sure you have noticed they haven’t stopped trying to undermine it ever since.

"In that case McTurtle will probably just ram him through"

McConnell tried to ram through the repeal of ACA but failed miserably. McConnell can't ram through anything if a couple of Repubs jump ship as what happened in the attempt to repeal ACA.

It won't make a bit of difference. He'll be a justice for life (at least several decades), and be busy casting the decisive vote on every item of the right-wing wishlist. The only way to remove him would be via impeachment and conviction, requiring at least some Republican votes...and, if you think that any of them will voluntarily remove their ideological advantage for ANY reason, I've got a bridge to sell you.

They can't go forward with confirming Kavanaugh now until the investigation is complete.

They have the votes, and can do whatever they want unfortunately. We might not agree, but they don't give 2 shits about what we care about.

It's the Hee Haw argument.

Let's quit before we start -- the perfect winning strategy.

Never pretend that Republicans care about details or appearances. They have the votes to stack the court and will do so

Flake insisted that she have an opportunity to be heard or he would vote against letting the nominee out of committee.

Today he said that Monday is that opportunity.

They are kinda stuck now.

The point of my post was that the ones who delayed from Thursday... have said that if she doesn’t show up on Monday, they will move forward with the vote.

There are 11 Repubs and 10 Dems.

The ones that insisted on the first delay so she could be heard are saying she needs to speak now. I can’t imagine a scenario where someone who opposed the first delay now insists on the second, can you?

Another woman can possibly come forward with similar accusations.

Unfortunately.

They are in power and have no scruples.

But there are stories out there of another woman who may come forward.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Now that won't happen and they'll go through with the two votes, carrying each one narrowly.

Other versions don't make sense, given the low class of our opponents

But if they do they run a high risk of alienating even more voters which would increase the odds that Democrats will not only take control of the House, but may also could take control of the Senate, and that scares the crap out of them. They are in a very tight spot and it will get worse if trump puts his loud mouth, or tweets, into the mix.

So far trump has "controlled" himself, but we all know that could end soon and then the republicans will have to decide how to go on. Ramming Kavanaugh thru without hearing all the facts might please trump, but would only infuriate the majority of Americans that actually want to know the truth about the person who could sit on the bench of the highest court in the land.

and he'll get confirmed. He has no reason to withdrawal since he knows every Republican will back him.

Now that she said she won't come on Monday, Repubs are saying oh well, time to move forward. They're not going to wait on her.

was saying if she doesn't testify Monday, they need to move forward with the confirmation.

If she doesn’t show on Monday, they’ll just announce the allegations turned out to be unfounded ("she knew they were false, and wouldn’t repeat them under oath&quot and proceed to the vote.

It's horribly unfair but, if she doesn’t show up on Monday under THEIR terms, Kavanaugh gets confirmed easily.

Blasey Ford should file assault charges against him. Apparently there are no statute of limitations on sexual assault in the state it happened.

That might slow down a vote and get a proper investigation.

There isn’t a statute limitations on felony sexual assault. Even accepting her entire story as true (which of course a prosecutor would have trouble proving)... it doesn’t add up to felony assault.

But those sleazy republicans would still confirm him. Just like that scumbag Duncan Hunter in California - charged with campaign fraud but is expected to still win his election in Nov. These deplorables are just unbelievable.

"Felony assault or battery (also referred to in some states as aggravated assault or battery) involves circumstances that make the crime more serious, as when the victim is threatened with or experiences significant violence amounting to substantially more than a minor slap across the face or a punch in the jaw.

Examples of felony assault or battery include:
striking or threatening to strike a person with a weapon or dangerous object
shooting a person with a gun or threatening to kill someone while pointing a gun at the victim
assault or battery with the intent to commit another felony crime such as robbery or rape"

[link:https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/crime-penalties/federal/felony-assault-battery.htm|

It was assault or battery with the intent to commit the felony crime of rape. Two guys piled on you with the door shut and your mouth held shut is significant violence.

It's up to the courts to determine the charges but this one does meet these standards.

I’ll just say that I can’t see even the smallest chance of a prosecutor making such a charge (let alone successfully)...

Nor can her belief that he was going to rape her translate into intent to commit rape. Obviously we would never wish that he was more successful just so the charge would stick... but we can’t prove what would come next if it ended with groping over clothing even if we all believed that was most likely

The republicans are not fair minded or decent. They don't care about right and wrong. They only care about winning and power.

Kavanaugh, though should think long and hard about whether he wants to be seated on the SC with a cloud over his head. He himself should want an investigation.

They were polite, offered her a chance to tell her story in an open hearing or a closed hearing. Her atty should have sensed something coming when Trump was so restrained the past few days.

The background investigation should be re-opened and her lawyer's letter is appropriate, but unfortunately the story will become that Dr Ford was given a chance to speak, found an excuse not to and therefore she is not credible. This is the underlying assumption of Flake's statement.

Now the 11 republican men don't have to worry about questioning her and looking like the insensative clods they are.

It's too bad Dr Ford now will face all the consequences of coming out publically with her story and reap exactly 0 benefits.

Threre's no rush for this vote. The investigation It can be done quickly than go
To the hearing.

The Rs don't want an investigation, they want a vote and they want Kavanaugh on the court by the start of their new term Oct 1st.

I do think they'll pay a political price for it in Nov, but they'll have achieved their objective of getting a replublican politcal hack on the supreme court. Even if the Dems take back both the House and Senate, all efforts at reform will just result in lawsuits from the rw'ers and predictable 5-4 outcomes against the govt.

Even Collins has just said that she doesn't understand why Dr Ford wouldn't take advantage of the chance to testify. Does that sound like someone who's going to vote against Kavanaugh? No, it sounds like someone who now has a ready made reason to vote "aye" on his confirmation.

knows what else now. Shitler...try to stop that!

Your conclusion is premature as to zero consequences...I do not write off the wrath of women voters observing this so easily.

bothered to tell her first...opposite of polite, to me. And now the "drive by shooting" dribble of Graham...that is not gentlemanly at all.

To the vast majority of Americans, what the Rs did looks fair. They postponed the vote and gave her a week's notice of a public hearing at which she could tell her story. They even offered to hear her testimony in closed session. Her lawyer is on record as saying Dr Ford is willing to testify under oath. Now she's putting pre-conditions on her testimony. Again, most people are going to see that as somewhat disingenuous and think she has the chance to testify, why isn't she taking advantage of the opportunity?
It's a reasonable and easy conclusion to make.

This is why the GOP is going to vote to send Kavanaugh's nomination to the floor and this is why he will be confirmed. If there's any criticism about why the hurry, the Rs will say, and are saying, she had a chance and didn't take it, what could we do?. Just read what Corker, Flake and Collins have said, it's this exact sentiment.

Do I think ramming Kavanaugh through will backfire with women? Sure, but women are already highly engaged and motivated to vote. Maybe this will add a few more women to the D column, but that's a small price to pay for years or decades of a political hack like Kavanaugh on the supreme court.