It doesn't matter how long ago the assault happened

[EarlG]

It does matter that Kavanaugh is lying about it now.

His response to the accusations has been total denial -- "nope, never happened." But his accuser seems entirely credible. If they testify to the Senate, she's going to give her version of events, and he's going to accuse her of lying.

One of them is going to be lying, and let's face it, it's him. This makes him completely unsuitable for a seat on the Supreme Court.

And that is not happening 36 years ago, it is happening RIGHT NOW.

[flamin lib]

1. I may be mistaken but I don't think Maryland has a statute of limitations on sexual assault.

If so Kavanaugh just might be prosecuted . . .

[unblock]

2. no time limit according to my crack google search. however,

i really don't see how it could possibly be prosecuted successfully.

i can see ford winning a civil case (requiring only preponderance of evidence), but proof beyond a reasonable doubt is a high standard for something so long ago, lacking any physical evidence as far as we know.

but the main point (for now) shouldn't be prosecuting him, it should be just making sure he doesn't get a lifetime appointment!
if there's a criminal case to be made, that can come in due time.

[Ilsa]

15. Were they both minors? How would that affect it? nt

[djacq]

3. Just watched Turtle whined on the Senate floor.

It doesn’t matter how Dr. Ford’s accusation was withheld, presented, or a long time ago.

It’s hear NOW.

What are you going to do Mitch?

What are you doing to do?

[renate]

6. it's cute the way that this amandibular old man thinks that his whining will be effective

For one thing, it's an eleventh-hour thing because this whole process has been cow-prodded beyond the point of absurdity. Why the rush?

She didn't come out with it 35 years ago because this was just part of being female 35 years ago... reporting an attack would mean her own reputation and honesty would have been dragged through the mud. Women's silence was absolutely baked into any acquaintance rape and most rapes by strangers.

He's so clearly operating with that patriarchal 35-year-old mindset, thinking he's so right and so justified in telling her to shut up and go away, and it's just not going to work now.

[NewJeffCT]

10. I think it's rich

that the man who held no hearings on Merrick Garland for a year, and wasn't even man enough to meet him in person, is whining about Democrats being unfair.

FUCK YOU MITCH!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

16. Thank you, my dear NewJeffCT, and WORD. n/t

[Scurrilous]

4. K&R

[DesertRat]

5. Thank you k&r

[cp]

7. Thank you

[aggiesal]

8. Does anyone remember ...

Clarence Thomas & Anita Hill?

What's the difference?

The republicans will push Kavanaugh through and we'll have
2 SCJ's with sexual assault history sitting on the highest bench.

[NJCher]

9. it's a different time

The GOP has been warned by one of their political consultants that they'd better back off this one or take a bath in the upcoming elections.

On another point, Kavanaugh's buddy, oddly enough named "Judge," wrote a book about how they drank to the point of blacking out. If so, Kavanaugh's statement that he didn't do it should be seriously questioned. If he drank to the point of blacking out, then he doesn't remember that he didn't do it.

The only solution is for him to withdraw his nomination.

Here is a personal story about alcohol and blanking out.

I once I drank so much that I couldn't remember what I did. I went to a wedding. This was a wedding I'd looked forward to for a long time. I had signed up for Weight Watchers about 3 weeks prior so I could fit into my dress and have a great time. Which I did. However, I'd decided WW was a healthy way to eat and I was going to continue with it, regardless of the fact that I lost the weight I'd wanted.

But at the wedding the food looked so good that I understand I was enjoying it immensely. I do not recall a thing that I had, but there are pics of me lapping up those lobster canapes and anything else that looked good.

I truly do not recall a single moment of that wedding. It's the only time it ever happened, but in talking about this with various people, it does happen and there is no memory of what was done during the alcoholic blackout.

[aggiesal]

12. I agree with you about, this being a different time ...

but there is nothing the Democrats can do to stop it.

[Tardislass]

11. Oddly enough, it reminds me of the Catholic priest accusers

People waited 20-30 years to report yet no one is blaming them for coming out. What is the difference? If the judge is innocent, then he shouldn't mind a delay to clear his name-right?

[NJCher]

13. very good point

Hadn't thought of that.

"But why did you wait so long" is not a defense, in any event.

[Amaryllis]

14. Trauma freezes time. The effects exist in present time no matter how long ago it was.

[Cha]

17. KICK!