The Grand Illusion
It just could be that Brett Kavanaugh is the Supreme Court Justice the American people deserve. He’s lied twice under oath, then declared that yes, he did receive hacked emails, but that it was no big deal because everyone was doing it. Isn’t that just like all the finance industry CEOs who gave us the 2008 crash – they all had to invest in sub-prime mortgages because they were high return, and they had to get high returns because everyone else was doing it? And then, in the end, they all got away with it, because we, through our political system, not only let them get away with it, but paid with our taxes for the bail-out.
Kananaugh’s employed anger and near-hysterics in declaring he didn’t assault a fifteen year old girl, and refutes the fact that he drank too much as a teenager, when one of his acquaintances has declared that he was a belligerent and aggressive drunk… and he’s made no secret of the fact that he certainly likes his beer.
He seems to feel that, regardless of what he did as a teenager, his later accomplishments qualify him to one of the highest appointments in the land – yet he refused an abortion to a pregnant immigrant teenager and told her she had to live with her teenage mistakes. But no one seems to be holding Kavanaugh or the man who impregnated the teenager accountable.
He’s big on prayer, too, apparently, but the idea of praying for Dr. Ford was nothing but a condescending gesture designed to minimize her. In addition, I’ve noted that an extraordinarily high percentage of people who publicly tout prayer tend to be hypocritical and self-serving, while those who truly believe tend to pray quietly and with less public fanfare, and they do their good works without ostentation. But far too many Americans swallow the words of good entertainers, rather than look at acts, facts, and character over time.
I can certainly understand why the good old boys back Kavanaugh. He’s just more of the same, and that’s the way they’ve always liked it. But it befuddles me why so many women support the politicians who back Kavanaugh.
But until people decide that ethics are more important than politics, that lying, hypocrisy, and minimizing women aren’t desirable characteristics for a Supreme Court Justice, and stop voting their political tribe over facts and ethics, appointments such as Kavanaugh’s are what we’ll get… and what Americans as a whole unfortunately will deserve.
I don’t really feel much one way or the other about Kavanaugh himself, but what happened to the famous innocent before proven guilty? Does the timing of the accusation not appear even slightly suspicious to you?
The accusation has been around for a long time. Until now nobody cared.
If this were a trial, sure. But no, this is a job interview. I wouldn’t hire someone who has clearly lied about his drinking behavior, drinking behavior that is a key factor in all 3 of the accusations against him.
He’s still a free man. He’s not entitled to the position anymore than you or me.
The innocent before proven guilty phrase has little relevance in this discussion. That is the bar that needs to be cleared in a criminal prosecution but this is no such thing, it is a job interview for a prestigious position.
I am involved in hiring personally and I would not offer a job to anyone who had lied to me during the interview process even when we are discussing a minimum wage part time position.
The bigger question now seems to be why are the Republicans so determined to appoint this judge and not another? There are many qualified conservatives and yet they refuse to even contemplate a change and that raises the suspicion that back room promises have already been made by Kavanaugh regarding how he will rule if appointed.
i agree with Newman – i fear that Kavanaugh will be the first S.Ct justice that makes no bones that he’s a party hack first, and a judge second.
as L.E. says, perhaps this is the S.Ct the US deserves, the body politic has chosen party/tribe over ethics and civil discourse and compromise. this is the path that will destroy our nation and freedoms.
Why would the US “deserve this”? Because “ethics” do not produce power in the form of money?
History shows that when one set of humans have it all they still do not see the benefit of bringing the have-nots up to their living standard. This is not because there is a need to fight to retain their wealth.
It seems to me that H. sapiens is bent on suicide. It is not just the US that “deserves” what has elected; look at the rest of the world crying out for dictatorship because it is unwilling to put the work into democracy (and follow the rules needed for a workable society).
No, California, legislating forced “diversity” is not the answer. But this sort of answer to all our societal problems will become more prevalent as the controllers gender changes. I wonder if we will avoid the hardware destruction as we watch the software destruction?
Odd bone to pick with California. That aside, we probably do deserve this. Like it or not, we have the power to change things through our vote. We don’t. The majority of us, myself included, have not been willing to volunteer, sacrifice, or campaign for the things that keep a society together.
And the fact is, those of us who are involved aren’t able to agree nor compromise on what actually leads to a stable society.
So yes, we deserve it. We are collectively responsible for this.
I was thinking of the legislation that will force businesses in California to have certain numbers of women on their boards.
I have tried politicking. I found that I could not sell a lollipop to a three year old! So I just send money.
I’m an atheist, but can’t resist noting with respect to your observation on praying, Matthew 6.6 : “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
By the By.
If Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein were “The Imager” what would he do? In fact what could he do?! Killing Trump would not achieve anything. The High Holders (Senators) and Factors (Representatives) have within them groups that seem bent on destroying the US with or without the President.
I do not have my Asimov books anymore and I can’t recall what the Neuropsychohistorian’s solution was. What insignificant event would change our nation’s course?
I think the Factors would more accurately reflect the various mega-corps we have, but interesting thoughts.
If I recall from the Foundation series, most of the issues in the historian’s plan for saving civilization involved basically waiting for the inevitable societal collapse of opposing groups. At least the first few books, that was the case.
Yes, Hari Seldon was basically a survivalist, but instead of hiding up a mountain, he had a whole world to stock with enough tech and knowledge to rebuild civilisation from, not just a store of food and weapons.
The current US may deserve this, but the future US does not deserve this. Our children and their children do not deserve the end results that seem likely at this point. If there is any learning to be done from this part of US history, it should be in the “Do not do this” file.
I agree with you, but the Republicans aren’t listening.
It doesn’t seem that the Democrats are listening either. From my point of view both major parties are equally to blame for the current situation. The actions of both parties are mirrors with the hypocritical belief that it’s alright for them to do it but not their opponents.
Neither of the two major parties is doing a thing to help this country but promoting their own interests. The worst part of the whole situation, baring any sort of conspiracy theories some one might subscribe to, is that the American people are the ones who voted them into office and keep them there. So the people are ultimately as much to blame as the representatives.
“A plague on both your houses….”
The Bard knew his stuff.