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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsInside Democratic prep for the Kavanaugh-Ford hearing
Mike Allen 1 hour ago
Democratic senators are consulting experts in such fields as sexual assault victimization and college drinking ahead of Thursday's hearing with Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh, according to a source inside Democratic prep.
The big picture: The experts include service providers, legal scholars and scientists. "There's a very active network around the country of experts in this field who are helping people understand the gravity of this and the reality of this," the Democratic source said. Like Kavanaugh, Ford is undergoing testimony prep sessions to be sure that she does not "encounter any surprises," the source said.
Heading into the hearing, Democrats plan a variety of outside advocacy, both in person and online:
Brian Fallon of the progressive group Demand Justice told me: "Republicans want to try to put Dr. Ford on trial Thursday, but look for Kavanaugh opponents to make his character and integrity the central issue heading into the hearing," by invoking past character witnesses who have disowned him.
The New Yorker's Ronan Farrow and Jane Mayer: "Kavanaughs attitude toward women has come to play a central role in his confirmation process."
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https://www.axios.com/brett-kavanaugh-ford-hearing-democratic-preparation-09a5708f-b494-4bd5-beea-e39f18e4c8a6.html
tblue37
(65,409 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(33,356 posts)Replace his pitcher of water with vodka. Help his true character to come out.
watoos
(7,142 posts)Anyone who spiked drinks with grain alcohol was up to no good.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)And Kavanaugh would probably drink it like water.
watoos
(7,142 posts)Professor Ford only needs to tell her story, she only needs to come off as being sincere. She is a big part of exposing Kavanaugh but she is only one part. More women have come forward, Democrats should demand that they be given a voice. Michael Avenatti has the right approach, has the best tactics. Democrats need to push for an FBI investigation, they need to push to let the new accusers testify. Avenatti's client has agreed to take a lie detector test, Democrats should push for Kavanaugh to also take the test.
IMO, it's ok to prep Dr. Ford, but she only needs to tell her story, the truth. If she does that she will come off as being credible.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,356 posts)Repugs do not want truth. They want their stacked court.
Preparation is needed so that the public receives the truth in spite of the attempts by the ethically-dehydrated pale republicans on the judiciary committee to obfuscate the truth, deflect from the truth, and distract everyone from anything said by Democrats or, especially, women.
DeminPennswoods
(15,286 posts)how she will be questioned by the 11 angry white men or their female accomplice. They aren't interested in the truth, facts or being nice. They will be out to discredit her even if the questions are relatively simple. She needs to understand that she is a major roadblock to Kavanaugh getting on the supreme court and Rs are ready and willing to run over her.
Kavanaugh is actively practicing getting and answering questions. My bet is that Dr Ford is just being apprised of what she can expect and is doing prep and formulating responses in her own way.
DownriverDem
(6,229 posts)the questions. If the Dem Senators are prepared regarding victims and what they go through, their questions will give Dr. Ford a chance to give her side. You can bet the repubs will be asking questions that make her look like either it didn't happen or your response was not that of an affected victim. BTW The Dems can make demands all they want, but the repubs have all the power. The repubs won't give in to any Dems demands. They don't care about the truth.
FBaggins
(26,748 posts)Valid questions aren't just going to be about the night in question. She needs to be well prepared for the types of questions that could call her honesty in to question (even with otherwise truthful answers).
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)electorate could not maintain a democracy, though, and we are in dangerously concerning times. Most of the right makes a virtue of embracing lies.
As for those who are reachable, the need to stimulate people who prefer prurient entertainment to the Republicans' apparently boring blatant suppression of documentary evidence about Kavanaugh's perjury and theft and Kavanaugh's apparently boring real judicial ideology is not a good sign.
I don't try to double guess people who know far more about this situation and how to do their jobs than I can imagine, of course. I am glad, though, that they first took the high road of giving America crucially important information about Kavanaugh's judicial positions and pattern of ethical violations.
And now, whatever is most likely to get through to more people. Experts in trauma. Just hope they talk about the trauma to 14-year-olds who are forced to become mothers.
PurgedVoter
(2,218 posts)While Democratic Party Members look for informed and educated advice, the Republicans already know what their decision will be. Only a massive and clear indication of voter disgust will change even one Republican's mind. Interesting how that is.
"What kind of message does it send?" was a line used over and over by people who were against Bill Clinton. I think it is a message that can be used over and over against the Republican machine. The Republican's straight up vote for accepting the job application of a man with obvious and known issues is a pretty clear message. Republicans do not care about morality. Republicans do not care about democracy. The message is pretty clear. There is high justice and low justice in our country. The Republicans like it that way. That is the message I am getting from this.
watoos
(7,142 posts)Kavanaugh is a monster and Republicans are covering up for him. The FBI needs to follow up. All of the accusers need to testify. Kavanaugh's friend Judge, needs to testify under oath. Avenatti's client is willing to take a lie detector test and demands that Kavanaugh also take one.
How about, the FBI needs to investigate if Kavanaugh enabled gang rape? How is that message?
Every Republican Senator who is planning to vote for this monster needs to be held accountable in November.
You are right about Republicans, Kavanaugh isn't just anti-woman, he is anti-democracy and pro reich wing fascism.
NoMoreRepugs
(9,436 posts)LIED under oath seal the deal?
GeorgeGist
(25,321 posts)No thanks.