Harassing the Harassee
The Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation process has stumbled forward like a 10-year-old pushing a marble pedestal twice his size up a four-story stairwell. You could say that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's allegations concerning Kavanaugh have sort of gummed up the proceedings. You could also say that blue meat best not be eaten raw.
The doctor claims that
36 years ago when she was a drunken 15-yearold at a high school party, the 17-year-old future judge threw her on a bed and covered her mouth to prevent her screaming. He denies everything: being there and/or knowing the girl. He even tried floating an evil twin theory. The only argument he hasn't trotted out is the Donald Trump defense, which characterizes the charges as being baseless because she wasn't pretty enough.
The president who nominated him doubts the accusation as well. Then again, he doesn't believe many women. Not any of the dozen women who accused him of sexual harassment. Not the women who claimed Judge Roy Moore attacked them. Not the other two women who have forward to accuse Kavanaugh. As far as the president is concerned, it's not a "he-said, shesaid," thing but more of a "he-said, she-lies" deal.
A major hitch in the Kavanaugh proceedings is the visual aspect of the Republican majority on the Senate Judiciary Committee. All 11 members are white males. Not just white, but bordering on translucent. Their possible answer to these unfortunate optics is to hire a substitute, probably a female, to ask questions if and when the good doctor testifies. Going straight to the Stunt Surrogate Senator Solution.
Overall, the conservative response has been fluid, morphing from "she's mixed up, it didn't happen," to "it might have happened, but it wasn't that bad," to "okay, maybe it happened and was bad but its way too late to do anything about it." The next position will inevitably be "don't worry, he'll be fine ruling on cases from his prison cell."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cautioned supporters not to worry about testimony or an investigation because "We will plow right through it" to confirm Kavanaugh as a Supreme. Giving the impression she's a human speed bump the GOP machine is willing to run right over to reach their conservative agenda. With studded snow tires.
Committee chairman Chuck Grassley seems to be in a bit of a rush to confirm Kavanaugh to his lifetime appointment to the highest court of the land. He needs to get this over by the first Monday of October when the new court convenes, and has arbitrarily imposed madeup deadlines to further harass the person who claims to have been harassed. Because, well, obviously, she's used to it.
Kavanaugh's polling has sunk so low, you'd need the newest high-tech spelunking gear to detect it... and then only through sonar. Six weeks before the midterm election and the GOP has taken dead aim at women. Smooth move.
Someone needs to remind this collection of clueless white guys that the 19th Amendment gave women the vote a couple of years ago. 98 to be exact. Perhaps the 2020 Centennial Party will kick-off early, maybe this November 6th by plowing right through a few Republican males.
Will Durst is an award-winning, nationally acclaimed columnist, comic and former sod farmer in New Berlin, Wisconsin. For a calendar of personal appearances, including his new one-man show, "Durst Case Scenario," please visit willdurst.com.