Senator Lindsey Graham left the room after viewing the single copy of the F.B.I. investigation into sexual assault allegations against Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh.
The Senate, after a highly disputed past three weeks, is set to vote Friday (October 5) morning to determine if Brett Kavanaugh will reach the Supreme Court. While most senators have already confirmed their adherence to their party’s stance, there are still a few who are undecided. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia is the only Democrat left who might vote for Kavanaugh. On the Republican side, though unofficial, Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Jeff Flake of Arizona have seemed to side with Kavanaugh after seeing the report from the FBI investigation on Kavanaugh’s past conduct, which they thought was sufficiently thorough. During this process, Democrats have criticized this investigation for being too short and therefore incomplete, while Republicans have accused Democrats of delaying a Supreme Court nomination.
While Kavanaugh certainly has the credentials and experience, even disregarding his past conduct, his emotional testimony in the most recent hearing (which involved attacks directed toward Democrats) raises questions about whether he has the impartiality and judicial temperament necessary to serve on the Supreme Court. I think this is something that needs to be considered, but definitely shouldn’t be an overriding factor. Another interesting point is that while Republicans’ accusation of the Democrats’ stalling contains validity, it has a bit of irony to it, as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had delayed the nomination of Obama’s nominee for Supreme Court, Merrick Garland, for almost a year.
Questions
- Do you think Kavanaugh is qualified / deserves to be on the Supreme Court? Why or why not?
- How would you assess both the Republican and Democratic senator’s handling of this issue as a whole?
- Do you think a longer FBI investigation would have been necessary? Do you think it could have led to any findings that would actually be significant / relevant to the case?
I think there are two things that must be considered in regards to Kavanaugh's Supreme Court Nomination; the FBI investigation and his qualifications. I agree that Kavanaugh has the experience, so I believe he passes that test. If the FBI investigation reveals that Ms. Ford has falsely accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct then I think Kavanaugh qualifies for the supreme court. However, if he is proven guilty then I think he does not deserve to be the Supreme Court judge; what message are we sending if we appoint a known sex-offender to one of the most prestigious positions in government?
ReplyDeleteI believe that anyone as high as a Supreme Court justice should a role model to the rest of the nation. These legitimate sexual assault claims should put Kavanaugh out of the running for the Supreme Court as he does not represent the justice. It is obvious that many Republicans do not care about these allegations if it means getting more conservative court sooner. The FBI investigation was very weak and did not fulfill the purpose it was set out for. If the GOP actually wanted to get to the bottom of this, they would have extended the vote out multiple weeks or a month.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe the FBI investigation was long enough. Giving the FBI only a week to investigate someone who will serve for a lifetime if he is elected is nowhere near enough time for a complete and thorough investigation. A longer and more complete look in Kavanaugh's past life and the actions he is being accused of is absolutely necessary, and I do believe it would have turned up information that would cause Kavanaugh's nomination to be put in jeopardy. Anything questionable/illegal that Kavanaugh did, no matter the point in his life, is relevant to the case because "boys will be boys" is nowhere near a significant justification for any actions that caused harm. We must hold people accountable for crimes they committed, if they are found guilty, in order to ensure we are not placing people on the supreme court that shouldn't rightfully be there.
ReplyDeleteI definitely believe that the FBI investigation on Kavanaugh's case was too short, and should have been extended. Sexual misconduct charges are incredibly serious, and I don't think that a week is a sufficient amount of time for them to find the information necessary to make a decision. While the Republicans think that this case is simply delaying the supreme court nomination, I believe that getting down to the truth of the case and not skipping over facts of the sexual misconduct charges is more important. Supreme court judges are role models on how the rest of the country ought to act in fairness and impartiality. However, if we allow someone who is unqualified or charged for sexual assault, we are creating the wrong impression on our country that these things are okay. There is no way that Kavanaugh can be completely fair in his votes if he has sexually harassed someone as that demonstrates a fatal error in his morals and values.
ReplyDeleteToday was a sad day for America to say the least. The FBI investigation was basically a joke and everyone knows it. They did not interview any important witnesses and have not given any new information that we didn't know before it started. This entire process of the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh is a sad example about how party politics control the proceedings of the government and people are blinded by the party that they are in. It was so evident from Kavanaugh's testimony to the supreme court that he does not have the temperament nor morals to be on the highest court in the United States. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford put her entire life and professional career on the line to tell the truth of Bret Kavanaugh, why would she have any motive to lie. Bret Kavanaugh sexually assaulted Dr. Ford and Republican don't care. They are more focused on having a conservative judge and protecting their image than electing a sexual assaulter to the supreme court. This is sad.
ReplyDeleteIt's very hard to find evidence for sexual abuse, other than the first hand account. Thus, I do not believe an FBI investigation would result in many findings... Since no one wants a judge who might be a sexual offender to serve this extremely important position, I believe that there should be another nominee. There are other candidates who are equally or more qualified than Kavanaugh to serve their lifetime as judge. If evidence were to be found against Kavanaugh after he were appointed, this would further damage the reputability of the reputability of the Republicans. I think this situation also clearly shows the strength of the partisan divide. If these trends continue, then I think Washington was correct in warning against a two party system...
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Beata that a longer FBI investigation would likely find no concrete evidence of what happened, because it has been decades since the incident. Despite the fact that I had hoped that the investigation might find that something did happen and the confirmation would not move forward, I also partly believed that Dr. Ford's accusations would have little effect on the confirmation vote, because Republicans have been turning a blind eye to the brash behavior of the president, and would likely do the same if it meant that they could establish a more conservative court. After knowing that Kavanaugh has been confirmed, I am worried because while he does have judicial experience, his provocable character, his extreme views, and the inconclusive FBI investigation into Kavanaugh all leave a bad taste in my mouth. This is a person who will be serving for life, and this whole process was very rushed.
ReplyDeleteI think the FBI investigation was entirely for show. Sexual assault is such a grey area that there was a very little chance that something concrete would actually turn up. Either way, Kavanaugh does not have the decorum needed for a Supreme Court justice. The way he behaved on the stand, being belligerent and angry was extremely disturbing behavior to watch. If he was truly innocent, he could have handled the allegations with grace, and maintained a respectful tone. However, he consistently avoided questioning and even asked a senator if she in fact "likes beer". Such a defensive and angry man should not be given a seat on the bench. Moreover, I am extremely disappointed with Senator Collins in particular, because she said she believed Dr. Ford AND Kavanaugh. You simply must chose one or the other, and her decision to chose him emphasized how partisan conflicts can cloud the judgment of those in power even on issues as terrible as sexual assault.
ReplyDeleteI don't Kavanaugh is qualified to be in the Supreme Court after his actions at the trial with the first victim, Christine Blasey. Everyone is taught in order to get an high end job, you must dress the part and treat the questioner with the utmost respect. During the trial, he was filled with anger and rage for the country going after him. As a member of the Supreme Court, he would have to make decisions for the country, and put himself in our shoes, the local people. It also a shame that both political parties were not being professional as well. This nomination was an important vote for the country and they should've acted like adults, working out their problems more civilized.
ReplyDeleteI don't expect anything fruitful to come out of the FBI investigation due to the extremely limited size and scope of the investigation. Unfortunately, it seems that the approval of an investigation is purely a theatrical one, and the Republicans already fully intend to approve Kavanaugh's nomination. What yet may be determined is the effect this will have on the balance of power after the midterms. The Kavanaugh confirmation might be seen as a massive victory for the Republicans or unprecedented partisanship at the cost of sacrificing the sanctity of our government institutions.
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