I’m not committed to Kavanaugh.
He’d be an excellent Supreme Court justice. He is impeccably prepared. These charges against him are horse crap.
But he’s not the point.
And if he becomes an obstacle to the point, then cut him loose. Even if he becomes an obstacle because of the wrangling and conniving of the Democrats and their progressive oberfuhrers.
What matters is that a Trump-appointed, Constitution-respecting justice get nominated, confirmed and seated as soon as possible. What matters is that at the sinister obstruction of the Democrats come to naught.
The Constitution and the country require the protection that this Supreme Court seat promise.
And the president and the majority leader cannot let that this moment of duty pass. The seat must be filled.
Even if it’s by somebody other than Brett Kavanaugh.
And the moment it becomes obvious that he is an obstacle instead of an answer, he needs to be cut loose and the process needs to go forward with another nominee.
That may seem messy or disloyal, or even a victory for the Democrats, but it’s not. It’s simply practical.
And when you move on an objective you need to keep a military mindset – namely that you must accomplish your mission, even in the face of individual sacrifice.
It doesn’t matter which soldier conquers the objective, it just matters that the objective gets conquered. And if the path to it is littered with soldiers who didn’t make it, their sacrifice is considered worthwhile in the attainment of the ultimate goal.
And filling that empty Supreme Court seat is the ultimate goal.
Whether it’s by Kavanaugh, or somebody else.
And, truth be told, as brilliant as some aspects of Brett Kavanaugh’s appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee was, he wasn’t perfect, and sometimes he was weak.
The churlish asking of a senator if she had a drinking problem was juvenile and disrespectful. The sometimes antagonistic sparring with Democrats was understandable, but showed that he’d let them drag him into the mud with them.
Also, his response to Democrat badgering about an FBI investigation was good, but not great, and was ultimately not satisfactory to the public. He also demonstrated, in the face of the constant harping, no inclination to rethink or reposition his response.
He also missed the obvious response that, the decision being fundamentally political, and he being a sitting federal judge, he was forbidden by judicial ethics from taking a position on a political issue.
He also showed that he’s not good at thinking on his feet.
When Lindsey Graham was launching the best tirade of the hearings and his career, Kavanaugh didn’t quite seem to grasp the moment, and clumsily got in the way by misreading and misresponding to Graham’s rhetorical questions to him.
Further, when John Kennedy asked him if he believed in God, it was disappointing that a man who wants to sit on the Supreme Court didn’t know that, in that context, that question could neither be appropriately asked nor appropriately answered. In an advise-and-consent proceeding for a federal officer, a question about faith can only be considered a religious test, something specifically forbidden by the Constitution.
It was also disappointing that the chairman of the committee didn’t recognize the impropriety and rule the question out of order.
Finally – by way of nitpicking – Brett Kavanaugh looked awfully pale and fleshy for a man who’s only 53. If we conservatives are putting a lifetime vote on the court, you sort of wish it’d be someone who didn’t look – and sweat – like a guy headed for a heart attack.
Don’t get me wrong.
Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court would be a great thing for America and for those who know and love the Constitution. The opposition to him is dishonest and orchestrated, it is a giant political head screw. Kavanaugh has led a life of preparation and service, and is a good example of his class and culture.
And he is in jeopardy because of the craven cowardice of Jeff Flake. Coming out of Thursday’s hearings, Kavanaugh had won and the confirmation was likely. But Jeff Flake got spanked on an elevator, and he saw one more chance to screw Trump, so he sold out.
He – Flake – gave the Democrats exactly what they wanted.
Which is time.
The Democrats are running out the clock by character assassination. It’s simple and straightforward. There will always be complaint, and it will always be wrapped in indignation and victimhood.
And Flake put Kavanaugh back in their crosshairs. And before this week is done, they will have more arguments for delay and disqualification.
We need to recognize that.
And have the next nominee ready. Just in case.
By Friday, Kavanaugh needs a thumbs up or a thumbs down. If it’s up, great. If it’s down, then we begin hearings on the next nominee next Monday and we have the floor vote the Friday after that.
Period.
We’re not fighting for Kavanaugh, we’re fighting for America.
And maybe Kavanaugh storms the hill and wins the fight. But if he can’t, we can’t be sentimental about him.
We need a justice in a week or two.
No matter what that justice’s name may be.