The charade that is occurring in the Senate in Washington over the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh is no surprise. Many hoped that Jeff Flake was genuine in his concern about the country being split apart by the appointment of a partisan. In the end, Flake was just a helpful tool to give skittish Republicans, and Blue Dog Red State Democrats cover. One cannot objectively view it as nothing but a calculated move.
The script is playing out just like many Progressives who did not buy into the Jeff Flake stunt knew it would. We are one day away from Justice Kavanaugh. The procedural vote passed 51/49. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) voted against Kavanaugh. But they gained a Democrat as Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) voted yes. It is a sham.
Immediately after the Flake stunt, I wrote the piece titled “FBI Brett Kavanaugh investigation a fraud. Jeff Flake stunt just that!” stating the following.
Jeff Flake looked like a hero to Progressives and moral Republicans on Friday when he stopped the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation train for one week. We should remember that ultimately Flake still voted Kavanaugh out of the Judiciary Committee for an FBI investigation he had no control over nor one where he demanded a minimum scope.
Jeff Flake is foolhardy to believe that an FBI investigation whose parameters are controlled solely by a corrupt President, will find any wrongdoing. Let me first be objectively clear. I am relatively confident Christine Blasey Ford story is true with an over 90% confidence when inferring from many ancillary stories. …
It was telling that after Senator Jeff Flake made his appeal in the Judiciary Committee, the ranking member, Senator Dianne Feinstein, was not sure what Democrats were happy about as she seemed confused. She wanted a more specific vote on Jeff Flake’s proffer. She would not get it as the Judiciary Committee Chair, Chuck Grassley, abruptly called a party-line vote that moved the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation forward to the full Senate unconditionally, with the ‘yes’ vote from Flake. Grassley abruptly adjourned the Judiciary Committee under some two-hour pretext. When Feinstein balked, Grassley said it was just a gentleman, gentlewoman agreement. …
Jeff Flake’s stunt may impress many. But it should not. Flake is a man who voted with Trump way north of 90% including for the Tax Cut Scam, Affordable Care Repeal, and much more damaging bills to the poor & middle-class. Attempting to soften the blow to his reputation for a flawed Supreme Court Justice he will likely support in the end should earn him no brownie points. He will probably vote for a potential rapist and woman abuser to ensure at the end of his Senate job his lobbying career is guaranteed.
Sadly, it is playing out exactly as many of us thought it would. Senator Flake gave MSNBC every indication that he will vote yes again when the final vote comes up. Senator Susan Collins said she would make her decision later.
The New York Times reported statements by some Democrats as they came out against the procedure call to move the Brett Kavanaugh nomination forward.
Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said Judge Kavanaugh had disqualified himself many times over because of his views on presidential power, gun rights and abortion rights. She chastised Republicans for an incomplete investigation of the sexual misconduct claims against him and said Judge Kavanaugh’s emotional defense at a public hearing last week demonstrated a temperament unfit for the office. “Based on all the factors we have before us, I do not believe Judge Kavanaugh has earned this seat,” she said. …
“When future Americans look back at these proceedings, let them draw no lessons from the Senate’s conduct here,” said Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader.
Senator Schumer also reminded Republicans that they stole a Supreme Court Justice from President Obama.