A circus on Capitol Hill
Re: Crafting a circus and a sham, Christie Blatchford, Sept. 28, and other coverage of the Brett Kavanaugh hearing Ms. Blatchford speaks of due process as we know it in criminal proceedings and somehow assumes that it is also mandatory in job interviews and assessments of marriage proposals. Prospective employers, employees, and spouses, if they get wind of even a hint of unsavoury behaviour in the past of someone with whom they are contemplating a lifelong relationship, routinely, though perhaps not often enough, skip on past without more than a howdydo and wait for the next bus. Or, if they want to pursue a relationship despite what they have heard, they may investigate the matter without following due process.
Mr. Kavanaugh has applied for a job working for 360 million fellow Americans and if he does not like the lack of due process, he has been free to withdraw his application at any time. Due process is appropriate in situations where the accused is not free to withdraw his “application.”
Let us assume for a minute that the Democrats and Dr. Blasey Ford have perpetrated a smear job on Mr. Kavanaugh. First, her risk is enormous, for he can sue her for slander. Second, why did the Democrats not indulge in the same sleazy behaviour when Neil Gorsuch was under review? The likely explanation is that a thousand Democrats searched through Mr. Gorsuch’s past and found that he is beyond reproach. Rest assured, there are many more judges out there for whom the same is true and the Senate should ask their president to send them one. Patrick Cowan, North York (Toronto) Who would dare want to be a conservative-leaning jurist hoping for the top job in the U.S. with this despicable band of Democrats acting like an angry mob? Judge Brett Kavanaugh is a man of impeccable character and his professional record is completely unblemished. Having nothing to pin on him during the hearings, the far left — which incidentally has taken over the party of the donkey — decided to use smear tactics. The whole process has been an embarrassing sham that has permanently stained the reputation of a good and decent man and his family. Republicans should do the right thing and use their majority to confirm Mr. Kavanaugh as soon as possible; they will never get another chance. Stephen Flanagan, Ottawa Sen. Jeff Flake deserves our deepest respect and admiration for his opposition to his own Republican party, including President Donald Trump. He was able to cause a delay on the Senate vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court by forcing an FBI investigation. Regardless of what happens, his emotional rants blaming the Democratic party and the Clintons for his situation prove him totally unfit for the job. Meanwhile, Sen. Flake will always remain a shining example of “profiles in courage.” Tim Carsley, Montreal