DRW50

It seems to have become some kind of idea. I saw people saying they were "flirting" at McCain's funeral, which I highly doubt. It gave me deja vu because people used to say that about Rice as well.

He was saying it even during the election, but most people don't care. I've always been a bit put off by the way that so many use W's friendship with the Obamas as some kind of a great noble act on his part. I'm sure that it is a genuine friendship, but when I hear people go on and on about W and Michelle I'm reminded of when they did the same about him with Condi Rice, which always has the undertone of applauding him for not keeping a black woman at arm's length. I saw that about the ABA. It was amusing to see the far right immediately claim the ABA was just a liberal lie machine (even though extremists like Kavanaugh and Lindsey Graham were happy enough to brag about ABA support yesterday) and also lie about things like the ABA not supporting Robert Bork. This will just make them put even more importance on the Federalist Society and that ilk, even though they are to blame for getting the disastrous Kavanaugh where he is now, rather than someone who actually knows how to behave.

A CBS reporter who covered the Thomas hearings talks about today. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anita-hill-hearings-rita-braver-compares-to-christine-blasey-ford-brett-kavanaugh-hearing-2018-09-27/

I agree. I think that the writing for Kim was pretty layered throughout her run. Even in her last year, Steve Marchant was the one who did the really bad things, like leaving Kathy for dead and trying to kill her in hospital. Kim herself was always more complex than just being a "bitch." I don't think Claire King sees her that way, sadly, so I'm not sure that it will carry over this time around. I sure hope it will. Given the amount of times they tried to make Lachlan seem sympathetic after he murdered his own mother and his best friend, Kim doesn't deserve to just be a hellbitch.

The above article from Vee about W and his people fighting so hard for Kavanaugh's confirmation just reinforces why it is so important to make sure the public remembers that the GOP was not "stolen" by Trump, that they were what they are now before Trump, and they will be again after him. Many on the left have been happy to give W a pat on the head because he mostly smirks in isolation, only showing up in public to support one of his failed family members or to glom onto the Obamas. The media, which dearly loved that era (because unlike Obama he made them feel special and he helped them go out in tanks and play soldiers, which made them feel like big men), will work hard and has worked hard to make those years seem like an oasis compared to Trump, to help make sure people will support whatever Republican runs after Trump is out. So may have a vested interest to make that happens and to normalize an era that led to everything we have now, whether it be how much the world hates us and wants us to fail, the blood our country coated the Middle East in, the Supreme Court that wants to take us back to 1818, or our devastated economy that is about to crash once again at any day or any moment. It can't happen. W is no better than Trump. None of the other Republicans of that era, or of his father's era, are any better. They are all the same. They have all put us where we are, and they will do the same again. Kavanaugh is their man. He's what they always were and always will be. And that bloated, rage-filled face needs to be a permanent memory for anyone who ever thinks that the Republican Party is anything outside of Trump and his dumb kids.

The last few years have made it clear - not that it wasn't already 99% of the way there - how much the GOP hates women, and that only women who hate other women have any chance with them. This whole day has been a victory lap for misogyny and abuse of women. And when Kavanaugh is confirmed it will be because of men like Lindsey Graham and Trump who hate women and are active in punishing them for existing.

If nothing else at least we can say that the Senate Republicans are out and proud about what they are. The media oohed and aahed over Lindsey Graham, especially his great trio with McCain (RIP) and overhyped Kelly Ayotte, yet he's now a frothing at the mouth lunatic (he always was but he sometimes tried to hide it). They oohed and aahed over Ben Sasse for his empty posturing about Trump, but he has huddled up to Kavanaugh when it matters most. They cooed over Susan Collins, who has made herself a professional victim and made it clear she's supporting Kavanaugh in the end. They just have one paper tiger (Jeff Flake, who will also talk about how hard all of this is for him before doing as he's told) left, and he's leaving soon. They will have to find some other "sensible" and "moderate" conservative to make into their imaginary friend. Good luck with that.

And he is obsessed with Bill Cosby. I think he believes that's a clever line to use. It's not.

Of course. He knows his audience. CNN in his corner too. Same old 'liberal' media.

I read that some woman on CBS went on about being so in awe of his emotions she had to look away. It's amazing how many in the Beltway eat these [!@#$%^&*] sandwiches with pride. Talking points talking points talking points. They got their scripts and they are sticking to them. Meanwhile he gets a break to, presumably, go get a tranquilizer dart to be more of the loveable, cuddly soccer dad and less of the raging alcoholic dad you hide in your room from as much as you can.

I guess it is the epitome of rich white privilege. Kavanaugh has never been in this position before. That means no one ever knew the true him. Now we do. He's lucky that he has so much room to just do whatever he wants. He's probably the luckiest man to ever be in this position. True. And today I also wonder if the GOP would pick any black judge, even an arch-conservative judge beloved in Federalist Society circles.

This isn't for us. It's for Trump and the press at large who will buy into the idea of the righteous husband and father fighting a smear campaign. Notice the headlines are things like "Kavanaugh chokes up while defending his name," and along those lines. People who have bought and paid for him do. The catch is that he seems truly unhinged and desperate in a way that Clarence Thomas never was in the same position. He also tries to switch personalities a lot. He's very unstable and will likely be dangerous to all on the Supreme Court, even those who are selling their souls for him. But they don't care, they won't admit their mistake, just as they won't with Trump. They're all in.

It's a shame SNL is so terrible now (and many at SNL likely 100% support Kavanaugh). They would have lit him up.

Oh I'm just talking out of my ass, probably...but it's what I think. This man, and vile Mary Matalin's "questions" for Ford a few days ago in an interview, reinforce just how unhinged so many of the Bush-era Republicans were. They were protected and were able to publicly hide their rage, but they were awful people. They have, by and large, gotten too much of hindsight praise in the last few years because W was mostly smart enough to go away with his paintbrush.

This is a performance for Trump and the GOP/their money men. If he postures and gets ragey while also playing the victim, he will have their support, which is all he needs. It means he's promising his backers that he will make Democrats pay if he is confirmed. This is what they want to hear and need to hear.

Nothing against Ford - she's done everything she can. For all the talk from some about her nefarious schemes, she is clearly a very brave woman who has had to act mostly on her own, with not even the support of her parents. It's just so many others up high, with the real power, who are setting the stage. And those are the most craven people, yet unfortunately, the ones who tend to get the final say in narrative and results. This is how the media are going to get Trump and Kavanaugh through this. Todd made sure at other points to set the narrative that Democrats are to blame for Ford being put in this position, and that Democrats don't really care about the process and just want to be a support group. And the end result is the "both sidesing" that gets Republicans what they want like clockwork - oh boo hoo boo hoo both sides are broken broken broken...it is so very sad and did I mention I'm above it all, because I need you to know just how impartial and intelligent I am, unlike everyone out there who can't stop seeing red and blue.

The bar is so low for Kavanaugh. You can see already that the GOP has their puppets in place on NBC and the other media outlets always know the score too, likely ready to push the "both sides are broken...America makes me want to boo hoo," lines Jeff Flake trotted out. All Kavanaugh has to do is make a sad face and put in eyedrops and blink, and everyone will swoon about how he is the real victim. The GOP are such morons and so drunk with power that they went into a hearing they never should have gone into, not realizing how badly their senators come across or that not everyone would see Ford as some kind of insane liar. The worst part is they are so drunk with power because they have a long history of doing whatever they want and getting away with it. That's why I just don't think anything is going to change now.

I see that Chuck Todd has picked up the talking points I've seen on Twitter about how the Democrats are just supporting Ford instead of questioning her. (never mind that if they did question her, he and the other hacks would say that even the Democrats doubted her story) It's not hard to know why he keeps his job in spite of being a failure on every level. He would do anything and has always done anything to get a Republican a win. Wow. No shame. (Jordan is so dead in the eyes and face he makes Mike Pence seem like Cary Grant) https://twitter.com/bobcesca_go/status/1045375288723599360

Jennifer Rubin knows exactly why they are obsessing over polygraphs. This is about clinging to any conspiracy they can to have a little cover for what they are going to make happen regardless of today's result.

I'm not surprised at how many people keep saying "She's afraid of flying but she flies anyway!" as "proof" of her being a liar. It just reinforces how out of touch with reality so many in the GOP and the media have become. And it doesn't even matter. Ugh.

I saw that she was also saying that Ford was getting doubts cast onto her little by little. And apparently Chuck Todd was supporting her views (Kelly's). They are the two most chained to the Beltway so they have to fight the hardest for shilling, as they likely know Kavanaugh is golden no matter what.

Thanks for giving these updates. I know a few days ago someone was giving a very opposite version of WH reactions from Sherman but he may be more reliable, I don't know. I'm glad Blumenthal made Lindsey Graham stew. He is a nasty little toad. (I am tempted to say something worse but Rosie O already did that for me)

Maggie Haberman must be getting excited over the next big "let's bail out the GOP" story to run.