She's a liar. Fear of flying kept her from wanting to testify and yet she flies to Tahiti and Hawaii regularly on vacation.
She wanted anonymity and yet leaked her letter, evidently.
Or a fantasist:
Her girlfriend testifies under oath that she wasn't with Ford-Blasey on the night of the "incident" and F-B states, when asked about it, that her girlfriend has medical issues and implies that she has apologized to F-B for lying under oath (or she's just a liar).
5
Sadness abounds. The rule of law and respect for the Constitution is gone. Dr. Ford had everything to lose. she told the truth. to make matters worse the Republicans who hired the female atty. totally dissed her. She was fair to both parties but it back fired. Kavanaugh may be a great attorney and some ok jurist but he does not have the character to sit on the highest court of the land. the supreme course should not be about politics. it's about a blind eye and fullfilling it's obligations to seek justice. Kavanaugh by his comments yesterday at the hearing does not know what that even means. sitting on the court is a priveledge not a right. This might seem provincial but I urge Senators to reconsider. what are they afraid of Trump? or his new attack dog Lindsay Graham.
20
"She was afraid. She was strong. She was human"
Unfortunately, when given 35 years to prepare, and the opportunity to present several hours of live television testimony, she could not provide any evidence outside of her assertion that this occurred. Most damning was the fact that her testimony was carefully limited to events that could never actually be proven. She could've provided details such as how she got to and from the party. Who drove her? That person could corroborate the story. How about somebody, anybody that will actually attest to being there? Three sworn affidavits from people alleged to be there say otherwise. Coordinating with Democrats from the start was the nail in the coffin.
Sadly, had she not allowed herself to be used as a political pawn, she would be on much more solid ground. Judge Kavanaugh will be confirmed due to this Democrat overreach.
3
It's hard to imagine anything less devastating or credible than an accuser who remembers no details accusing someone of a crime that someone else has already confessed to. If that's credible, then anything is credible.
Of course, this is a Paint-by-Numbers "Heads I Win, Tails You Lose" article in any case. If Kavanaugh is angry about being lied at, he looks guilty. Conversely if he's not angry, then he's smug and condescending, and therefore equally guilty.
What's clear is that nobody telling the truth would bring their story out on a nakedly political occasion that would be sure to automatically discredit them with half the country. Also that trying to derail the Democratic process with 11th hour accusations is inherently unethical.
2
When she was asked about her extreme fear of flying she admitted she lied, sort of. She said she was afraid, actually, but it didn't prevent her from flying all the time around the world. Oh, well. She said she was unaware that the committee had offered to meet her anywhere, anytime to accommodate her, despite it being national news for more than a week. Oh, well. She said a friend had introduced her to Kavanaugh so she certainly knew who he was but didn't want to reveal who the friend was to protect his privacy. Oh, well. She said she was traumatized for years but can remember not details of before or after. Oh, well. She said her best friend who was at the gathering remembers never meeting Kavanaugh and not knowing who he is but she must be left alone because she is dealing with health issues. Oh, well. She said, or her lawyers said, that although she put forth as evidence of her credibility mentioning the incident in therapy, attorney/client privilege prevents her from sharing her therapist's notes that she shared with a Washington Post reporter. Oh, well. I could go on, but a witness/accuser like this would be dismissed as lacking any credibility whatsoever in either a civic or criminal case. Something at sometime and somewhere may have happened to her, and her psyche could have been so vulnerable that the incident she described harmed her for life--though not enough to keep her from earning an undergraduate degree, two masters degrees and a Ph.D.
5
I think Brett was using his football, basketball and other sports experience.
The best defense is a good offence!
Trump does the same thing.
4
Thank you Dr. Ford for putting yourself and your family through so much to exercise your civic duty and for speaking for all the women who have been sexually abused and no one believed them. You were fantastic, you belong on the Supreme Court.
16
I felt Judge Kavanaugh's pain around 5 pm, the traditional start of Happy Hour. There's a time when a few cold beers with fellow travelers seem soothing, helping to make it through another day. His edginess, bombast, shrill denial and weeping should not make him the object of scorn and ridicule.
For all those who can make it through their best years even with a monkey on their back, good for you. But don't expect all others similarly situated to measure up.
The intense coaching by the White House staff paid huge dividends. Without that, the good judge, who near the end of his appearance was getting angrier and more defiant, would have crumbled.
5
Kavanaugh's rude treatment of Senator Amy Klobuchar shows his true stripes. He lacks the temperament to be a judge.
39
All you need to consider is how Kavanaugh deceptively impugned Dr. Ford’s testimony by suggesting that the Democrats put her up to it.
If Kavanaugh really believes that, then he needs to call Ford a liar. Attacking the Democrats is a political ploy that will win him the votes of the 3 stooges, Jeff, Susan and Lisa. Kavanaugh will be appointed. But avoiding the accuser makes me believe there is more truth to her allegation than his denial.
20
at this very moment, i remembered being laughed at by the two older boys that molested me 50 years ago .... while i tried to put on my clothes and run out of the apartment where they had lured me.
17
She was amazing--in a setting with so much negativity. I began writing about this tonight:
She was right:
(1) The July 1st notation on Kavanaugh's calendar was about an evening drinking with the 2 men--Judge and P.J.-- whom Dr. Blasey Ford recalls were at the party.
(Interviewer Rachel Mitchell did not follow up.)
(2) Mark Judge did work as a bag boy at the Safeway the summer before his senior year--he wrote it on page 98 of his book. Dr. Ford said that was in 1982. She saw him there.
He graduated in 1983.
(3) Interesting meme going around the internet as to Republican hearings:
--Hillary Clinton, deposed for 11 straight hours without even flinching.
--Kavanaugh, deposed for 29 minutes---crying, screaming, and obsessing on beer.
34
Dr. Blasey Ford was credible and Judge Kavanaugh was not. His over wrought display of outrage was the first clue. Often my accused children would use the same tactic when caught in a lie. He also hedged his answers and tried to deflect attention to tangential issues. This is a “he said” “she said” case wherein all the Judge had to do was convincing say “I didn’t do it.” Unfortunately he did a very poor job. Let’s just stick him in the same room with Donald Trump, Bill Cosby, Bill Clinton and every guy who took advantage of a woman and then lied about it.
24
I’m old enough to be Christine Blasey Ford’s father. She was magnificent.
I’m old enough to be one of the cowardly grey-faced Republican senators trying to poke holes in her tearful story by using a female surrogate. They were disgusting hypocrites.
Professor Ford was treated like a criminal in the dock by old men who offered phony excuses for not having the F.B.I. investigate what happened to her.
Frank Bruni wisely wrote a good column about Dr. Ford to get it done and published without waiting until Judge Brett Kavanaugh testified. Mr. Bruni probably will share his thoughts with us shortly on the spectacle of Judge Kavanaugh.
The nation watched in the afternoon a jarring contrast to the honest decency of Dr. Ford. We watched the theatric arrogance and exaggerated victimhood of Judge Brett Kavanaugh.
Christine Blasey Ford showed respect for men who did not deserve it, because they had no intention of doing justice for her or for any other abused woman.
Brett Kavanaugh showed absolutely no respect for men and women who dared question his relationship with alcohol and young women. He was outraged that they did not accept his professional resume in lieu of the truth.
In the morning we had heard from a terrified woman who summoned strength during the proceedings.
In the afternoon we heard a bully who self-destructed before our eyes into a sobbing example of someone totally unfit to serve on the Supreme Court.
83
Whether the incident happened as Ford claims has become irrelevant. Kavanaugh's response to the charges, and particularly his performance at the hearing, should be disqualifying.
He first paints himself as an innocent choir boy, an image that was immediately disputed first with publicly available information and then with claims of others who knew him in the past. His honesty is in doubt.
And now with his testimony he lashes out at Democrats and "left" groups whom he claims orchestrated all of these charges against him. Since he's now declared them his enemies, if confirmed will he recuse himself of any cases involving the Democratic party or the "left" groups he clearly despises? Cases will surely come up.
Come on GOP! There are plenty of other potential conservative Supreme Court nominees who can be just as hostile to women's reproductive rights, LBGT rights, labor rights, voting rights, gun control, government regulation and campaign finance reform. Pick one!
24
@Michael Lueke - "There are plenty of other potential conservative Supreme Court nominees who can be just as hostile to women's reproductive rights,"
Yes. But none with the one prerequisite required now: the willingness to say that no special council or prosecutor has the right to indict or even question trump, and that he has the right to pardon himself if so.
Republics rise, Republics fall. Lucky us, to be living through the latter.
17
Compare Kavanaugh’s self pitying, whining and unjudicial behavior to the composure exhibited by Hillary during the venomous 11 hour grilling.
21
I'm a man. I was raised in a small town in "fly over country" in the 50's and 60's. When I was 7 I was groped by the small town newspaper owner/editor.A very popular person in our community. This memory laid buried until the Anita Hill testimony and it came back to me like it was yesterday as I was now in my mid 40's. The second time he did it I hit him in the face with a baseball I was returning to him. He announced the local baseball games and foul balls were returned to him as he announced the games in a small both and you received a dime. My blow knocked off his glasses and I remember being worried I had broken them. He never did it again and I totally forgot about it, I had no idea what sex was at that age other then he was in my personal space. But I can see quite vividly that announcer's both and how he kept announcing has he was groping me, the microphone, etc.. I was not traumatized I believe because I was young and I hit him very hard with that baseball and it stopped. I told my parents when I was 40 as the memory came back to me and they were 60, this guy was an unmarried friend of theirs at the time. My parents were stunned but never said a word to me, looked the other way and changed the subject.
19
And if added to that were a few little things like hard evidence or some sort of proof it might be worth acting on.
Absent that, however, it is just another tale. Yawn.
If we adopt this sort of standard to disqualify people we don't like I am going to open a new business in DC called "Accusations R Us" or "J'accuse" (I haven't decided yet). And anytime you need someone disqualified, just call us and for a very reasonable fee we will find a good candidate to be the vehicle for the accusation, and *poof* the candidate is history.
1
@Brian
As was said in the hearing, this will come back to haunt Democrats. They were warned of consequences in eliminating the filibuster for judicial and cabinet appointments. Warned again about Obama's use of executive orders. Their lust for power and control allowed them to ignore Mitch McConnell's warning that they would "rue the day." The truly frightening thing is that when liberals again do gain significant power they will be tempted to crush all opposition once and for all, using all the power of government. At least for now we can be heartened by knowing that until that day comes the Second Amendment will afford us some protection.
I write this post Kavanaugh's appearance and had three major takeaways from the entire process. Christine Blasey Ford maintained her composure, answered questions asked and didn't grandstand. Kavanaugh was playing partisan politics was hot headed, evasive and obviously use to courtroom theatrics. The Senate Committee was embarrassing and gave us good cause to re-examine the legislative wing of our government.
19
Frank the truth is easy to believe. She told the truth.
15
There is something so utterly cultural with the face-off between these two virgins from the same world and time revealing parts of themselves at this present time. The tremendous irony of Kavanaugh's nomination by the utterly scandalous Trump is one. The attempted rape, or sexual assault of a grown woman so tremulous after how many years after a fearful experience, while painful, does not rise to the tremendous moral outrage the nation and many women feel. Kavanaugh did himself no favors by turning into an aggressive and aggreived choir boy who no doubt enjoyed far too many brewskies while pushing forward to the legal heights he now enjoys. He is more bruised from the encounter than Ford who can now enjoy the role of martyr of civic duty. Meanwhile, kids are blown apart in Syria, others in camps in all parts of the world, including this country's border with Mexico. I'm sorry. I cannot feel this should have ever reached this stage. Yes, both parties from Feinstein who may be too timid as a result of age or are-election campaign, to the absolutely crazed Graham who as one commentator said was auditioning for the attorney general role, soon we presume to be vacated. Theater. I've through the times these two acted out their roles and know several of my classmates who went to Mexico for abortions, either in high school or college. Indeed, brutish behavior. Too late now for that much needed FBI investigation and the miracle appearance of Mr. Judge and his part in the drama.
4
I only wish that more attention had been given to Kavenaugh's appearance...the meat of it, not the political fireworks.
I believe it was Amy Klobuchar who asked about his July 1 entry which included all the people who Ford had said were at the gathering. It would have in all probability reasonable for Kavanaugh to have had a "bit too much to drink" as he was up on adrenaline from his workout at Tobin's, and was headed to the beach the next day for the weekend.
If the GOP wasn't in such a rush (5 minutes for questions with Kavenaugh bifurcating and interrupting), an FBI investigation into Ford's allegations could have very easily verified the "date and time" that Lindsay Graham grasped upon. The FBI would have spoken to more of his classmates as well.
Obviously, the GOP was NOT interested in a hearing to determine a responsible servant of the SCOTUS, but rather a political appointment that would be rubber-stamped and keep a headline-grabbing president in office so that they could be all powerful.
20
@Mountain Dragonfly
Not only his classmates, but friends from other schools who knew him, played with him, partied with him, vacationed with him, went to sporting events with him, spent days and weeks and months and years with him, kept in touch with him. . .all said they support him, don't recognize the person Dr. Ford described and never saw Dr. Ford in their circle of friends or acquaintances.
4
Dr Ford was all that I hope to be in the eyes of my daughters. Real, intelligent, brave and feminine. She rode the top of a wave yesterday. Beautiful in blue.
19
Well, since you're going there, I for one found her giggles and stammers and modest request for caffeine and yes the 'curtain of hair' part-and-parcel of a person in delicious thrall of mega attention, thrilled at finding herself in a half-forum of mass approval which something tells me she desperately craves. Wouldn't we love to see those therapist's notes. And how about that inability to fly. Doesn't know who paid for the polygraph, and can't remember is she was being video-taped in the process. Really.
2
@Ken
All true, yes. I saw her, however, as someone who was probably always an awkward, neurotic, quirky individual not entirely sure of herself or everything going on around her or in the world. Hard to tell, though, because she blatantly lied about her fear of flying so we don't know what else she is capable of lying about.
3
Call it what you want! Don't call it the seat of Democracy. Don't call it the Guardian of our freedoms and our Constitution. Don't call it the third part of the founder's three part protection against authoritarian government. Call it for what it is - a training ground for becoming rich and powerful, but without scruples.
You can still call it a " old boys club" but at least make sure you are specific and add the word white between the words "old and boys."
We are slowly becoming critically aware that the majority of Americans, whether you are Republican or Democrat, white, black or brown, old or young, educated or not, are unfortunately limited by what we can do to preserve our freedom and individualism except to vote. And because only a little more than half of adults vote, we will continue to abdecate our freedoms to the more powerful rather than ourselves. What fools we watched in the Senate yesterday! What fools are we!
10
I am so sick and tired of people pointing to the lack of corroborating evidence in a matter of sexual assault. Had there been people called to testify, under oath, who had sworn that Judge Kavanaugh had not been there, perhaps those statements would have some basis. (Although I wonder how we would expect people to remember decades later who was at a given party absent some reason to recall the night.). No one was called on to speak to that night other than the two individuals who could only set up a “he said/ she said” scenario.
Sexual assaults generally take place without external witnesses — and most perpetrators certainly do not admit willingly to their participation absent compelling threats or a late-blooming conscience.
We can choose whom we believe in this circus, but no one should not try to claim the high road by pretending that absent eye witnesses or other irrefutable proof we are somehow compelled to come down on the side of Judge Kavanaugh.
8
If we stick to the issue--is Kavanaugh, by competence, character, and deportment, qualified for the Supreme Court?--his testimony must give pause.
Kavanaugh's 10-year-old daughter thought to sympathize with Dr. Ford, but Kavanaugh himself neither thought nor felt sympathy for her. If the man touts himself as a Catholic, what is it in the inner man which reflects his religion? Love your enemy is no part of his religious or moral repertoire. We would do better with his daughter on the Supreme Court.
Kavanaugh continued his job interview by savaging some of his would-be employers on partisan grounds. He displayed no respect for those who opposed his nomination, no decorum, no emotional or moral restraint--nothing, in a word, suggesting a judicial temperament.
If confirmed, Kavanaugh's decisions will create a record based on resentment and retribution. Kavanaugh will use his decisions, not as instruments of conservatism, but as cudgels of punishment for those whom he perceives to allied with his critics
The man has revealed himself a monster of judicial mayhem.
22
After seeing Kavanaugh screech at the Democratic senators, blaming the left, the Clinton’s and everything except climate change, he is no longer fit to be an impartial member of SCOTUS. I believe Dr. Ford. She had no axe to grind, and testified at great personal cost. She is the face of America, not the privileged prep school boy who has never been accountable for his actions.
28
The Senate is broken; the white house is adrift; now the court will welcome Bart O'Cavanaugh, a belligerent hyper-partisan. Not good for the 99%. He will use his power to "get" his accusers. We'll be worse off.
18
When we are at a safe remove from the hearing we can hope an industrious, skeptical, journalist will take the time to read Mitchell's questioning of both Ford and Kavanaugh. Mitchell did much better than she is being given credit for and the bread crumbs are there if anyone wants to objectively follow them. I would welcome an FBI investigation which centered on their statements and responses. I think the fire eaters on both sides won't like what the investigators find. We all owe Mitchell a debt of thanks. She did what she should have done and gave both Ford and Kavanaugh the chance to tell the truth or expose their inconsistencies. And there are inconsistencies.
4
@DTB: The special prosecutor should never have been brought in. The GOP Senators didn't do their own hard work by bringing questions to the petitioner. They were mindful of 1991 and all the old white wealthy dudes with their attacks against Anita Hill. Again, failing to ask the questions themselves was a calculated move that leaves most of us feeling cynical that truth isn't the truth any longer, it's all about political optics.
7
@DTB Funny how Grassley, after saying Kavanaugh would be questioned the same way as Ford, ended Mitchell's involvement when she started to actually probe Kavanaugh's lies.
15
Totally agree with everything you say Mr. Bruni, my husband and I had all the same reactions to Dr. Ford. She was totally believable.
17
Frank Brunni is a wonderful, insightful, and beautiful writer.
No matter the subject, I find his observations eloquent and revealing.
Thank you Frank.
18
Dr. Ford received understanding and heartfelt sympathy from the Democrats and the Republicans questioner, Ms. Mitchell. The Republican Senators never got to express their feelings of empathy for Dr. Ford, because they never spoke to her. Ms. Mitchell seemed to be acting as the professional she is on questioning Judge Kavanaugh. Apparently Sen. Graham (doing his bit to secure the Attorney General position) did not like the way Ms. Mitchell was asking her questions. Interrupting her, he went on a tirade, using the blame game tactic. Ms. Mitchell, we do not need you anymore. After that, the floodgates of Republican indignation and sympathy were released for Judge Kavanaugh. Right out of the Trump playbook. Its the Democrats fault. When you look bad, blame someone or something.
28
Frank should have waited to write until after Kavanaugh’s performance and, far more impactful, the senatorial back-and-forth that often ignored Kavanaugh entirely.
But good for Christine Blasey Ford: she was everything that Frank claimed. And she fully provided the moiety of needed Peyton Place that so many Americans seem to need. I certainly believed that a 15-year-old girl was assaulted 36 years ago, and that the experience left indelible footprints on her psyche. Whether it was a wildly drunken 17-year-old Brett Kavanaugh who committed the assault, despite her unquestioned conviction that it was, is a different matter.
But vying with the pathos of her testimony in its compelling attraction was the excoriating of Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s machinations to compel this public spectacle, and the revelations of normal committee process that she so intentionally ignored in her desire to torpedo a U.S. Supreme Court confirmation that she so opposed on ideological grounds, and badly miscalculated gambits that she took at the last moment when she’d already lost on the numbers.
So … Bret Kavanaugh, regardless of what happens, will be branded with the mark of Clarence Thomas for the remainder of his days … on evidence that likely would have been thrown out 36 years ago as not remotely dispositive; he’ll probably be confirmed to the Supreme Court within one week; and Dianne Feinstein sits revealed as an incompetent schemer.
4
@Richard Luettgen
Richard, the problem isn't Dianne Feinstein. Whatever she did or didn't do, or when, is a moot point.
The problem is that whatever your politics, it's clear that Brett Kavanaugh has no business being a judge. He has personality "issues" and flexes the truth to fit his personal desires.
We can't let him or others like him do that to the law.
24
Whatever Kavanaugh’s role in Dr Ford’s past pales in comparison to the revelation of his true temperament and character that was shockingly revealed through his own testimony. He, regardless of how many of his beloved beers he chugs every day or doesn’t, he is far from sober. He displays the anger, the whining, the inappropriateness of an alcoholic or at best a dry drunk. He also behaves as someone who is not completely sure of his innocence, probably because he is aware that his drinking caused serious lapses of judgement and memory. Why else would he not ask Matt Judge, the witness in the room, to testify?
The disrespect shown to senators on the committee, blatant partisanship (blaming the left, theDems, the Clinton’s???) and his uncomfortable display of high emotion revealed a man who is not fit to serve on the highest court of the land. For life, no less. As my husband said yesterday, “What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘judge?” Sober, by any definition, is not an adjective Kavanaugh can claim.
13
While many women of my generation (80-something) are more sympathetic to the negative effect of this on the judge and his family, I recall the numerous inappropriate sexual advances I suffered through in high school, college, work, and even later. And, while I was never fearful, I was uncomfortable each time. Never was I moved to report these teachers, bosses, social companions. Me too was far in my future. I'm sure all these men, like Judge Kavanaugh, were friendly and kind--most of the time. But his evasive answers and uncontrolled vitriol yesterday probably tell the true story.
61
I was not riveted. I might have been had she come forward months ago allowing this to be reviewed in an orderly manner, consistent with other background checks. But she did not come forward for 5, for 10, for 20, for 30+ years. And she came forward with a story that was not provable. If she was as bright and as articulate as many say she was, and holding an advanced degree in psychology and a university academic, she was not a little naïve one in the woods. And she could not figure out that the Democrats associated with the committee or related henchmen would not reveal and identify her? She offered only a statement. She offered no proof. We have stories in my family, that have been told for since I was a boy, but I would not vouch for their authenticity. Her very comprehensive understanding of human memory was used to explain how she remembered certain details but not other important ones that would have been critical to any fair investigation. Isn't it too bad that just those details necessary to refute her case were those lost to that memory and time. What about all those other women and men who strongly said they knew those at the party but had never seen Ford and that the attack could not have taken place. No credence given to them. But Bruni and Never Trumps will believe anything that comports with their political objectives. What I want to see is the Left start to eat their own, starting with Joe Biden-traitor for telling the truth about FBI investigation reports?
8
@edward smith
Mr Smith makes clear with the statement "What I want to see is the Left start to eat their own" that any statement from Dr Ford or corroboration from other parties is secondary to his partisan objectives. If Dr Ford had walked in carrying a bag of torn clothing and photographs of the happening, Mr Smith's response would have remained much the same.
Unfortunately, most of the residents in DC, on both sides of the room, think in similar terms. One can't help wonder about the future of democracy.
15
/@edward smith "What about all those other women and men who strongly said they knew those at the party but had never seen Ford and that the attack could not have taken place. No credence given to them."
Yep, what about ALL OF THOSE OTHERS that the Republicans (Kavanaugh included) who absolutely rejected every attempt to allow the FBI to investigate the case, as precedent would dictate (as they had been ordered to do in the Clarence Thomas hearings). If there were truly "all those others" willing to swear that Kavanaugh was innocent, then why did EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN SENATOR (and Kavanaugh) fight to the death to avoid allowing the FBI to do its job? You know EXACTLY why.
14
@edward smith
I believe Dr. Ford. I do not question why she did not come forward earlier. I do question why Kavanaugh carried on like a spoiled child yesterday. Both families are suffering through this ordeal. But republicans are handling it as if only Kavanaugh has any rights. Shame on the republicans and thanks to the democrats for attempting to keep Kavanaugh off the Court. His behavior yesterday indicates he does not deserve that honor.
19
I turned on the TV but was reading my phone as I heard Dr Blasey speak. Within 15 seconds I noticed she sounded decades younger than her age. Indeed, she sounded like a 15 year old girl. I looked up and observed her face, her eyes. She looked vulnerable. Her head leaned down slightly, allowing the hair over her left ear to fall over part of her face. She appeared submissive, wanting to please her questioner. I had heard that younger voice in more than a few victims with whom I’d worked when I was a prosecutor. One such victim was Lisa, who was five when her father began sexually abusing her. I met Lisa when she was thirteen. She spoke like a five year old, as though the trauma had frozen her in time to when the abuse first began. Over the years prosecuting sex offenders, I had met adult women whose voices sounded like teens or even younger girls. As I listened to and observed Dr. Blasey this morning, she exuded innocence and honesty. Her words were clear and thoughtful. I found her absolutely credible. For survivors of sexual abuse, the trauma is woven into their being forever. For some, it’s woven into their voices. And so it seemed with Dr. Blasey. I pray that speaking out before the committee was empowering for her, as I had seen it be with the brave girls and women who had testified in our jury trials. Dr. Blasey is, as Senator Kamala Harris noted, a real profile in courage. Thank you for your courage, Dr. Blasey.
78
Thank you Mrs. Ford for telling the truth in such a dignified way. America will be forever grateful for you having the fortitude to come forward and stand so eloquently in what I can imagine was more like an inquisition than a hearing. And, while Kavanaugh may yet win confirmation, this will forever be a stain on our nation. This is part of a trend that started about forty years ago to chip away at our confidence in the supreme court. Mayberry must be turning in his grave.
14
@javierg
Is it the truth? Is it the truth as she remembers. Since there is no irrefutable proof or we only have her memories. Not sure how that would work in a court of law. A bit too many inconstancies in her testimony. Doesn't remember how she got to this house, whose house it was or how she got home. As someone who has been sexually harassed I remember every detail, when, where and who.
If Kavanaugh had taken a lie detector test and passed, his supporters would have shouted it from the rooftops. He didn’t so they didn’t.
15
Christine Blasey Ford is making American Great Again with her intelligence and courage to do the right thing.
28
Kavanaugh will get his seat on the Supreme Court.
And Lindsey Graham will get his AG appointment when Jefferson Beauregard Sessions is fired.
4
In our state, we elect our Supreme Court judges. And my fellow citizens have outbursts some real doozies in the bench. But we know that every four years, we’ll have the chance to put their record before the voters and question whether they deserve another term.
With Kavanaugh, we’re clearly getting a man who simply does not have the temperament to be in a position of this kind of power. Yes, the right wingers won. Let him stay on the DC Circuit. Give us another cookie cutter servant of Mammon (another Gorsuch), and let’s move on.
24
I didn’t think it was possible for me to be more depressed than I was on November 9, 2016. I am now. I was absolutely shocked at how unlikeable and uncredible Kavanaugh was. But finding out that he wasn’t absolute toast as a result of his angry, entitled temper tantrum, but it was a tour de force to rally the Republican senators with Graham getting a standing O after his meltdown has rendered me utterly hopeless. There are any number of conservative judges to choose from; yet the fossils in the GOP went to the mat for a raging alcoholic and sexual predator.
We are doomed.
58
@JMM
Thank you for writing for so many of us who are shocked that there will be a vote to confirm Kavanaugh. His performance yesterday should have sealed his removal from nomination.
Dr. Ford is believable, he is not.
24
Judge Kavanaugh wants to be perceived as a Boy Scout. He probably had a significant problem with alcohol in his younger days and perhaps he and his enigmatic friend go to AA and have given up alcohol. Judge K. is stressed and that tends to bring out the real alcoholic even though they may have given up drinking.
I don't know how many stories I have heard about the 'blackouts' of people who have no memory of what happened. He was so edgy, and emotional, and those silly screwy faces he made were suspect.
His comments about his calendar and his being out of town every weekend in question do not prove anything. He could have forgotten to strike through the one he came back home unexpectedly during a blackout.
His wife looked profoundly sad. She knew he could not handle the pressure. She has the demeanor of a Judge, but he doesn't.
Do not put this man on the Supreme Court.
50
There is a total lack of corroboration of her allegations about what happened at the alleged house-party. Even some of her own friends say the incident didn’t happen. Numerous friends of the accused attest that he never behaved in the way she described. There is her complete inability to explain how she got to the alleged party. She does not remember how she got home from the alleged party. She does not remember when the party occurred or who else was there. His calendar indicates that he did not attend a party which would correlate with her recollections. In other words there is no evidence that the events she described ever took place. He was accused on the flimsiest evidence possible.
At this hearing, the accuser was handled gently and with respect. She was accused of nothing. Her reputation will remain unblemished. Her testimony was delivered in a girlish and tearful manner. Yet she was described by pundits as being chrystal clear and strong. There was not a hint of criticism about her tears.
He was accused of the most heinous of crimes. His reputation is in tatters regardless of the vote by the Senate. He and his family have been shamed with allegations which will follow him for the rest of his life. He is understandably angry. His voice reflected his anger. It also broke as he related the support of his friends. He shed tears which reflected his extreme hurt. For that he was both criticized and ridiculed.
But the mediasphere says she is the saint. He is the villain.
4
@Margaret Jay "Even some of her own friends say the incident didn’t happen."
Not true. They say they don't recall it and at least one of the friends who said that, also said she believed Dr. Ford's account.
4
@Lynn
Why then haven't' any of her friend corroborated her story before congress?
@Margaret Jay
Kavanaugh was disgraceful yesterday.
Both families are suffering.
Dr. Ford was believable, Kavanaugh was not.
Lindsey Graham is now the poster child for the disgraceful republicans.
This confirmation process should at least be on hold. A further investigation of Kavanaugh is warranted.
7
Dr Blasey-Ford's opening statement was riveting. Historical. Kavanaugh was the opposite. He seemed like an arrogant hot head particularly with Senator Leahy. How many times did Kavanaugh dodge or misunderstand a very simple question about bringing the FBI back into the process to investigate Ford's allegations. His listening and comprehension skills seem poor at best. Is that what we want on our highest court?
30
Breath taking hypocrisy
Should the Democrats acted sooner in ignoring the confidentiality that Dr. Blasey wanted?
According to the GOP, yes. Why should that have been done? So that a thorough investigation should be carried out and then have an informed vote.
Therefore, on September 13, when the GOP learned Blasey's name because her wishes for confidentiality were ignored, Chairman Grassley immediately called for the FBI to investigate and began the process to summon Mark Judge before the committee? Right? They wanted the process to move forward quickly and fairly? Right?
Of course not, they decided to (a) intimidate Blasey so she wouldn't appear, (b) not investigate anything and (c) then blame the Democrats when Blasey appeared.
The political hypocrisy is breath taking. And millions of Americans will be taken in.
53
It is likely, I think probable, that Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh both believe they are telling the truth as they each remember it. Dr. Ford is aware of the limits of her memory. The Judge, to my view, demonstrates the ability of heavy drinkers to forget their actions under the influence of alcohol, particularly those behaviors of which they are either appropriately ashamed or which have unpleasant consequences for themselves. His belligerence, self-pity and evasiveness reflect on the fragility of this impaired remembering
30
Oh Frank, you are a beacon in this mad world. Thank you for your clarity of thought and the epistles to match.
12
Some advice for Kavanaugh: Try not to act mean, aggressive and out-of-control when you are trying to convince people that you are not mean, aggressive and out-of-control.
101
Notable was the expression worn by Kavanaugh's wife, sitting behind him. She knows the truth, and is clearly aware of the anger that would ensue were she to cross her husband. One could see that she has long experience with that rage.
15
@Not Amused Really? That seems like a big stretch and innuendo....just what we don't need at this point...
This was telling: When a senator asked Kavanaugh, "Why not wait a week for an FBI investigation? It'll take a week, then vote," Kavanaugh answered, "Do you know how hard the last 10 days have been?" To him, his family's difficulty outweighs the search for the truth. Without realizing it, he revealed his entitlement.
91
@AdamHN
She's been living with this for the last 36 years, and he's unwilling to wait one more week.
That says it all.
10
Attacks over Blasey Ford's not remembering minor details seem like just another charade. I'm a woman about her age and like most of us, I've unfortunately experienced a few assaults and threatened assaults -- sexual and otherwise. In those days, we were conditioned to expect such things and to avoid situations where they could occur. Since we perceived them to be routine, and it didn't dawn us that we'd be still traumatized by them years later, nobody took note of the date or other inconsequential details. But of course we remember the person who did it and what happened!
If you haven't experienced a similar trauma, try thinking of some other memorable unexpected event in your life that happened at least 20 years ago: Did you ever randomly encounter a celebrity out in public? You probably recall who the celebrity was and roughly where you saw them, if it was a familiar place. Now: what was the date and how did you get home?
You remember the important stuff!
23
Republican senators and the President have decided not to open an objective investigation into these charges that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted Dr. Ford. Today's testimony proves even more that such an investigation, whether by the FBI or other law enforcement entity, is required to fully assess these charges.
Without such objective investigation, today's testimony, although important and vital, is still missing significant substantive information, including the existence or lack of collaborative witnesses.
Without such objective investigation, Republican senators and the President will make their preordained selection of Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court a mockery of our system of checks and balances, and of justice.
Dr. Ford is totally credible - every passing minute of her excruciatingly difficult testimony and responses drilled that home.
The most telling exchange today was Kavanaugh's response to Democratic senator Amy Klobuchar's question on whether he ever blacked out. His sneering “Have you?” response, which he asked twice in order to clearly emphasize what he was saying, will forever be seared into my memory of who the true Brett Kavanaugh is.
Based on the circumstances leading up to today and what happened today, neither Kavanaugh, nor Senators Grassley, Cornyn nor Graham, should be in any position of public power. They are not objective servants of of the public, nor of justice.
Based on today's testimony, Kavanaugh should not be a Supreme Court justice.
31
Dr. Ford is a new American hero. Kavanaugh proved himself to lack the temperament to be on our nation's highest court; I wonder if he has the temperament to sit on any court. More important, his positions and vindictiveness should disqualify him. Dr. Ford would make a thousand times better Supreme Court justice than Frat Boy Brett.
27
Behind closed doors his wife asked him, "What really happened Brett? Why is this happening to our family?" You know she did. And in her heart, she knows the truth too.
12
I also found her testimony persuasive. As for Kavanaugh, the problem I have is that given his history of drinking heavily, which does not seem to be in dispute, isn't it quite likely that he doesn't remember the event? Perhaps that possibility came up during questioning -- I could only take so much of it. In other words to those who think he was also credible, I would ask them to consider that it is far more likely that his memory was faulty, not hers. Brett Kavanaugh, you may claim it never happened, but weren't there times you blacked out from drinking? How can you be so sure it didn't happen?
What's more, I know from experience that the victim remembers, but the perpetrators really may very well forget, because for them it was merely fun, another night of hijinx, a whatever moment -- because for them there was no trauma involved.
22
i think Brett's testimony was "credible" too. and the evidence certainly supports his testimony
2
@bobbyd I found them both credible. Whether it happened or not, I believe that Dr. Ford believes it happened that way.
1
Well, my thoughts will not be welcome here, but I found Dr. Ford's testimony to be sorrowful but not compelling. I believe a terrible thing happened to her. But this appears likely to be a case of recovered memories. Such memories have time and again be shown to be suspect. Neurologically we humans have the capacity to confabulate, to pencil in details that are missing to make a coherent memory. Fragmentary trauma memories are rife with such risk. Further, consider that fact that there were numerous changes in her story and the discovery of her story. It is down to one person's word against another. And with none of her identified witnesses backing her, the assertion is far less credible. I have attended hundreds of victims of sexual abuse, and while I believe something very bad happened to her, I strongly doubt the details that she asserts, then changes. The stakes could not be higher. Also, I find it unacceptable that she would make such assertions while claiming privilege over her records that reveal the issue. Is there a diagnosis that would perhaps explain cognitive difficulties? Memory problems? Past false memories? Considering she has a fear of flying that does not preclude her travel around the world, and cannot remember that she gave her records to the Washington Post while asserting she will not release them, I find her testimony flawed and far, far from any legal standard for truth finding. But such is the descent of our culture and legal processes. God help us!
6
This is misleading. Dr Blasey never lost her memory of the attack, and neither she nor anybody else says she has “recovered” them. She has had the misfortune of remembering her attack from the moment after it happened to the present day. To dismiss her testimony by associating it with a discredited form of therapy she never underwent is disgraceful.
28
@Idahodoc Oh God, indeed. How about this....FBI help us, Mark Judge help us. Comments are easy, and why not even welcomed as a reasonable response to an opinion piece in the NYT, but apparently, in congress and the white house, checking and verifying Brett Kavanagh’s statements are not.
@Idahodoc
the memory problem could easily be kavanaugh:
blackout drunk
17
To Dr. Blasey Ford,
Please excuse the familiarity, but, Christine, thank you for your testimony today. You faced the demons that have plagued you over these many years; for all the difficulty you endured, I hope today helped exercise those demons and bring you some peace.
We believe you. We love you. Your strength, gentleness, and humanity is an inspiration for all Americans. Thank you again.
60
As a survivor of several years of childhood sexual abuse from the early 70s I found Dr Blasey Fords testimony compelling and truthful - and consistent with my own experience of the weird machinations of trauma memory.
I'd also add that the process of revealing such events is to relive them and be re-traumatised by them (and often victimised, again).
There's no personal upside to reliving such traumas, and there is a lot to loose.
I would like to commend Dr Blasey Ford for her bravery and integrity.
51
Of the two of them, it was Dr. Ford who made clear her motivations derived from a sense of civic duty. The judge, on the other hand - and just like the president - was squarely focused on the person who mattered most: himself. So much for public service.
85
Frank Bruni,
There's is a tenet of Constitutional Law (yes, I'm a lawyer) that is a bedrock of Supreme Court jurisprudence, which "The Supreme Court does not command an Army." No, the effectiveness of Supreme Court rulings derive from something called "moral suasion". Once that is lost, it will be hard to get it back.
Assume it is impossible to know which party is telling the truth. What that leaves you with is doubt. There should be no doubts trailing a Supreme Court nominee to the bench. If there is everyone of his votes will be cloaked in that doubt. The end result will be lessening of the moral high ground of the Court. The nominee who ascends to the Court should be a person about whom there is NO doubt. Hence, we need not call either person a liar, we need only look to our own inability to reach a conclusion about whom to believe.
66
@Bill C
Right wing Republicans are so happy now. Their guy was angry, belligerent, and entitled. He played the victim card in a different manner than Dr. Ford. There is doubt about what happened between 2 teenagers when both testified. There is doubt about Kavanaugh's temperament which was on display yesterday afternoon. Angry, belligerent, and a little smart alec tone revealed a lot about his character or lack thereof.
The Supreme Court will now be even more of a joke than it already is, which is a completely developed branch of the Republican party. Faith in our institutions of government is something that I doubt like never before in my 75 years.
7
Either Dr. Ford or Brett Kavanaugh is lying. Both can't be telling the truth.
I found one entirely believable. The other not at all.
The pertinent question here: Who had the most to win by lying? Who had the most to lose by being truthful?
82
@WTK I think both can be telling the truth. Dr. Ford was credible, and whether it happened the way she said it did is almost moot at this point. She believes that it happened the way she said it did. As for Judge Kavanaugh, he was credible to me too. He remembers the events differently or disagrees that he was there or committed this act. Both can be credible and both can be telling the truth.
Ms Blasey Ford seems to have the temperament of a judge. She was earnest, controlled, and listened carefully to questions. Mr. Kavanaugh has seemed to have the temperament of a judge … until today. Under extreme pressure, she was judicial; he was not. I'm very sorry for him, but I believe her.
73
ManhattanWilliam
New York, NY | Pending Approval
For the first time in MY life, I feel compelled to justify my decision on a serious political issue that causes me serious anguish. First, Republicans broke all precedent in failing to even meet with Obama's pick for the Court, Merrick Garland. Second, they changed the entire process by eliminating the protective filibuster which required 60 votes to confirm a Justice. Third, they rushed this nomination through without allowing proper venting of Kavanaugh's background. Forth, the legal record of this jurist disqualifies him in my view and the risk to MY future in allowing the Court to tilt for years to the EXTREME right, is unbearable to contemplate. THEREFORE, I have fallen victim to the "at any cost" movement. I don't believe in character assassination and ANY claim directed at someone of ANY SEX that can't be proven is UNTHINKABLE to my sense of justice. An unsubstantiated claim is unacceptable as a reason to deny a job or assume wrongdoing. I believe in the principle of "innocent till proven guilty" not only for criminal procedures but as a cornerstone to OUR liberty and freedom. So it is with regret that I succumb to the unthinkable, thanks to our present government, that I would use tactics that I disagree with if it will deny this nominee or one of similar ilk being confirmed to the Court. Confirming this man is simply unacceptable but I despise the reasons being used for rejecting him.
11
@ManhattanWilliam William. There is another way to look at this: assume you don't know who to believe. Therefore, you have honest doubts. Shouldn't the person who is appointed to the Supreme Court be a person about whom there is no doubt? I think America deserves that much.
13
Dr. Blasey Ford was a profile in courage.
Compare her appearance with the histrionics of Lindsey Graham and the disgraceful conduct of the perpetrator who tried so hard to deflect from the truth and his attempt to rape, yes rape, a young girl by blaming the left.
I assume as a young and innocent girl she went to this house to hang out and perhaps flirt with these older boys, hoping she would be liked, to face these drunken predators that wanted to rape her. Not only he should not be considered for the Supreme Court, he should be kicked out of the Court of Appeals.
He is a disgrace.
106
Why did Kavanaugh refuse to ask for an FBI investigation? How simple a step would that have been? He definitely obfuscated.
His righteous indignation was compelling until I heard other people speak about it. Other points of view were beneficial.
It was difficult for me not to believe both of them and I am very sorry to see the damage done to both families. All that said however, I would feel a lot better if Kavanaugh withdrew.
53
@Cone
kavanaugh repeatedly made a point of "passing" six FBI clearances but discounted it for purposes of looking into the allegations at hand.
2
Kavanaugh refused to answer if he’d ever been too drunk to remember what he’d done.
That was very telling to me.
If he is confirmed, I will not rest until this republican sham of a government is overthrown.
55
While I feel sympathy for Christine, she has no facts and is being sadly used by Feinstein, Schumer, Gillibrand, and the other tribunes of the left.
It is time to put the hammer down on the 16 wheeler and confirm Brett Kavanaugh.
7
@Alfred Francis
After over 30 years one cannot be expected to remember exact dates, however a sexual assault is never forgotten by the victim.
Brett Kavanaugh behaved disgustingly at his hearing. He cried, he interrupted senators when they tried to question him.The man is unfit to be a judge on the Supreme Court.
15
She was the one who suffered a traumatic experience. He was the zonked out drunk. Of course she will remember it even after 35 years, and he'd probably forgotten it the next morning. But clearly he was no choir boy then, as he would like us to believe.
The serial prevaricator in the White House has nominated to the highest court of the land someone cut from the same cloth. He has to be rejected!
68
Wow! The mind reels. Dr. Ford was exceptional, considering the circumstances. Kavanaugh? Graham? Well ,just bizarre. Graham reminded me of the Nevada senator in "The Godfather", after being framed for murder, gives that flattering ,fawning speech at Michael Corleone's senate hearing. What dies trump have on Graham?
And the good judge? He is an emotional basket case; so much for being "sober as a judge". His sniveling,sniffing,wimpering,weeping,pouting posturing was almost laughable; never has a supreme court justice evoked Homer Simpson before, but Kavanaugh managed to when he proclaimed his fondness of beer. His face scrunching conjured up images of Dana Carvey's Church Lady. (Remember,he had no Sundays filled on his calendar because he always went to church.) Of course,he precluded all this comical histrionics with the tired old paranoic "left wing conspiracy" drivel. And ,yes, like his patron, trump,he even managed to blame the Clintons for his "persecution "! This guy should have been blood tested because he acted like he was under the influence.
85
I think this was child abuse. The people responsible were the parents. What were these kids doing at drinking parties, especially a 15 year old girl? Her parents should be prosecuted.
6
Really? In your teen years, you never did anything your parents didn’t know about?
How in the world can a man who rages against Democrats remain impartial once on the Supreme Court?
145
Following Dr. Blasey's hours of credible, authentic, courageous and wrenching testimony, Kavanaugh took a seat and memorably displayed the belligerence, aggression and entitlement his long-ago peers had seen in him, laced with whining evasions, false equivalencies and pious bromides.
He shredded his own credibility. Time for him to move along, and for the White House to scrounge up another SCOTUS nominee.
Don McGahn to Trump: "We're gonna need a better liar."
70
"How her hair sometimes obscured her face"?
I randomly saw that line and thought you were Blanch Dubois.
Do you recall what you were doing when you wrote that line?
Between just us, were you depending on the kindness of strangers, or just "waxing" eloquent?
4
I am horrified that we have a candidate up for being placed on the Supreme Court still does not have a clue that sexual abuse doesn't require sexual intercourse. His anger and inability to control himself in today's hearing sits on top of his multiple lies to the Senate Judiciary Committee alone should make him unfit to sit on the Supreme Court. Why is it that the Republicans also fall back on the tired "It's all a huge left wing conspiracy" theory, even when that is an obviously ridiculous idea. Because it sells to their core base.
This was one woman telling her story (And others waiting to do the same about Brett Kavanaugh).
Dr. Ford thank you for your courage to stand up and tell your story. I believe you, tens of millions of us in the USA believe you. As a result millions will be inspired to come forward over the coming decades and to talk about how they were abused.
I am the father of a child who has been raped. It took her a long time to tell me. I made sure she knows that she is loved and that she did not deserve that. She is now taking a self-defense course to avoid being a victim again. I dearly hope she is pursuing the counseling and or support groups I recommended to her. I know the pain will never entirely go away and as her dad I feel powerless to protect her.
If you are a victim of rape or sexual abuse, please tell someone you can trust. Immediately. Get help, get support.
59
@Paul Roberts
>I am horrified that we have a candidate up for being placed on the Supreme Court still does not have a clue that sexual abuse doesn't require sexual intercourse.
Someone should tell Bill Clinton and all those that defended him.
I believe you Dr. Ford. I suspect most do. Now we find out where our country goes from here. It frightens me.
57
Dr. Blasey Ford took a lie detector test; neither Kavanaugh nor his buddy Judge will take one. The entire arrangement, w/o FBI investigation or other testimony by women who claim to have been assaulted or classmates who know well of Kavanaugh's drinking problem at that time, was a set-up to insure that it would be simply "his word against her's". Even then, her words and authenticity were much more compelling than his anger and sense of entitlement. The truth here is actually pretty self-evident.
48
For me, Dr. Ford was likable....and so, I wanted to believe her. Judge Kavanaugh--to me, was grating and at times obnoxious.
And yet, I have no idea how I'd vote re confirmation. I'm sorry for both of them.
4
Dear Judge Kavanaugh, have you considered changing lawyers? Who gave you this advice to be a belligerent and angry witness? Or is this the way you normally are? You violated several cardinal rules of a credible witness, including: (1) responding to a "yes"/"no" question with a two-minute self-serving rant of your own expression of false umbrage at the questionnaire; (2) offering self-serving pats on your own back about how great you were, how horrific your own pain is, and how confused Dr. Ford is or was; and (3) time after time responding with an evasive, non-responsive answer to a straightforward question.
The bullying, condescending tone that pervaded your testimony, were "tells," and negative "tells" at that, that undermined the credibility of your testimony and reflected negatively on your temperament as a witness, to say nothing about the lack of temperament as a judge. Your giveaway body language and facial expressions, undermined whatever good deeds you professed to have done in your later life. Either change your behavior, or change your lawyers. Better yet, do both and get some anger management counseling.
59
I watched some of the testimony. Dr. Blasey Ford was completely believable, and appeared to attempt to answer the questions put to her as best she could. I watched a few minutes of Judge Kavanaugh's testimony. I've never seen a federal judge act so unprofessional. He came across as a whiny, entitled political operative. Yikes.
73
@Hools
He basically is an entitled political operative. Has been for most of his years of public service. His first reward was appointment to the federal bench. Now, the big prize - a seat on the Supreme Court.
What a joke.
8
It is indeed very difficult to watch and listen to Dr. Food and not believe her. She appears totally sincere and has no discenable motive to lie. It is impossible to place her in some dark left-wing conspiracy, as Judge Kavanaugh does, given her statements to her husband and therapist years ago.
Judge Kavanaugh has every reason to lie. His rage, frequent interruptions, shouting down of the senators, and evasion of questions are very ominous.
I doubt that there are more than a very few senators who actually think that Dr. Ford is lying; they just do not care. Yet Kavanaugh will in all likelihood be confirmed. Tough luck, women. Tough luck, environment. Tough luck, justice. Tough luck, America.
58
Side by side, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford provided testimony above reproach. ANY disfavor or question of her words is provided by individuals who clearly do not understand the whole consequences of sexual assault. Asserting "no corroboration" as a simple explanation for disbelief, unveils gross ignorance.
Kavanaugh on the other hand, exhibited strong manifestation of character defects: clear evidence of addictive disease (active vs in remission); entitlement; skilled evasiveness; narcissism, etc. His tears and his temper tantrum did not move me, rather the behavior was an explicit endorsement for my assessment.
The Republicans who brutally called out any opposition to the judge followed suit...of course.
27
While Kavanaugh did acknowledge that Dr. Ford may have been sexually attacked as a teenager, he has never expressed, as far as I can tell, any sensitivity to the trauma and lasting wounds such experiences cause. For someone who claims to be such a champion of girls and women, that's rather revealing. In its place, all we heard today was a lot of self-pity, paranoid conspiracy claims, and evasiveness whenever the subject of his excessive drinking came up -- not to mention signs of a temperament and ultra partisanship that have zero place on the Supreme Court.
38
When Kavanaugh was asked if when drinking there was ever any time that afterwards he could not remember what happened, he categorically denied that he did not remember something. But if one does not remember something then of course it would be impossible to claim the possibility of knowing that of which you have no rememberence. I.e., he made a false statement.
I know what it is like to not have memories of certain events. After a concussion at age 13 my close relatives recall significant events that I would certainly have memories of unless I suffered memory loss. I simply accept that my lack of memory does not discount the very real possibility that the events had happened. I realize that falling over drunk is not equivalent to having a concussion but perhaps the same parts of the brain have been affected in similar ways.
8
Kavanaugh is in. Republicans are in control and that's politics and the way the system works. Too bad, but that's it. All this energy and theatrics expended for no reason. Unfortunately we are living in a 51-49 world. Divided and separated as can be. Hopefully we will collectively evolve into something better, but not at this time.
4
@Curt her emotional, physical and psychological honesty were no mere 'theatrics'. For shame.
2
Watching Judge Kavanaugh on Thursday, I felt genuine empathy for him. And yet at the same time, I could not reconcile his emotional, hyper-dramatic, teary, angry, defensive, accusatory behavior. Certainly had Dr. Ford - or the female Senators - behaved in that way, they would be instantly stereotyped to their gender.
I was left wondering were he a more emotionally mature, empathetic man, would he have chosen instead to present himself in a way that expressed sincere empathy for Dr. Ford’s experience? Would he have then went on to claim his innocence in a calm, collected, concerned manner; concern for Dr. Ford, for gender relations, for the very serious issue of sexual harassment and assault in this nation?
And then I recognized what I was seeing…desperation. The desperation of a man who had “done everything right,” played by all the rules society - especially wealthy, privileged society - had laid out for him; a man who followed in both his father’s and - extraordinarily – his mother’s footsteps.
A man who worked hard, but somewhere along the way had lost his moral compass, had become so ensconced in the work, the wealth and the privilege…that he truly believed that the past could be erased. I saw a man who was witnessing the reality of our world…perhaps for the very first time.
We are in this together. We must cultivate patience and empathy for one another…across gender and political lines.
29
@Kelly Grace Smith
Unfortunately patience and empathy now aren't going to keep a man who lacks them from a life-time appointment to the Supreme Court. We have a SCOTUS candidate who doesn't want to wait a week for the FBI to collect witness statements, and who thinks that a letter signed by Mr. Judge's attorney is "evidence" of his innocence. You're right, he is desperate. But "the reality of our world," as you put it, isn't that he's waking up to a lack of entitlement; the reality is that he and Senator Graham railed like bullies today, and many people approved. I don't feel sorry for Judge Kavanaugh. I've never been afraid before just because I'm a woman. Now I am.
21
@Kelly Grace Smith Interesting analysis. I would go further. Kavanaugh is not wealthy. He is nearly broke. Federal judges are not highly paid, and he lives in a very expensive part of the country. He must be especially resentful that he not only worked incredibly hard but sacrificed the opportunity to earn millions — and now it is all being snatched away, just as it was within his grasp.
5
One of the many strange ironies of the confirmation process for Brett Kavanaugh in the context of President Trump's "Drain the swamp" rhetoric and Trump's repeatedly expressed scorn for the Washington elite was Kavanaugh's defense of his high school and college excesses based on his elite status as a privileged student at an elite Washington D.C. prep school seeking admission to an elite university. Studying, sporting, praying, doing superficial works of charity and binge drinking. All part of the life style of the Washington elite.The abusive treatment of female young women of lesser status was not worth remembering.
Until one very brave and strong women stood up to challenge him.
29
She says he did it, and I believe her. He says he didn't, and I think he believes it. Only one of them is correct, and for now we have no way to determine the truth.
8
@SCH. Corroborating evidence. Kavanaugh’s calendar shows the party on July 1,1982, and Ford recounted the incident years ago. The corroborating evidence points only one way.
3
@Doug K regarding the calendar - I did not hear any reference to the multiple "Grounded" notations in several Friday blocks, in May - I only know "grounded" to be a disciplinary term.
@mrg2 i thought several times about 'grounded' too - what was he always being grounded for, if he was such a churchgoing, weightlifting innocent.
My wife and I watched it all. Dr. Blasey Ford was very impressive. I liked her. She's smart, polite. humble, exacting. I can't believe a reporter pretended to be a student to question her in her classroom. Very unethical.
16
I am afraid that the reality in today's America, Mr. Bruni, is that Dr. Ford's testimony, however heartrending and credible, will not change a single mind for those who support Donald Trump and hence Judge Kavanaugh, nor for that matter, those of us who oppose them. We are in the most dangerous times for our country since 1860, and I foresee it getting worse before it gets better.
51
There are already over four hundred posts but maybe this will interest someone. I'm a guy. On two occasions I've had knives pulled on me. And, less physically threatening, I've had some wrenching breakups including a true flame-out of a divorce. As I review those experiences in light of this testimony, I find some curious similarities: I remember, if you will, the apex moments. I don't remember where I went after the knives were pulled. I remember the sensation of peril and fear. I remember that my soon to be ex and I went to a restaurant within walking distance of our apartment. This is where the final word was given. It was the only time we went there--and I remember the meal and snatches of conversation, but I don't remember all of it. The ship of the marriage was sinking faster than the Lusitania, is what I remember. I remember her facial expressions more than her words. I could go back today and find our old apartment. But I wouldn't have a clue how to walk from there to the restaurant (which is likely long gone, but even if it were there, finding it would be a real chore). So I find my memories of these apex moments--that were decades ago--to be very similar to Ms. Ford's. If I were grilled by a committee of supporters and antagonists there would be holes. But they certainly were events that left deep marks in my life experience.
155
@gnowell
Thank you. Beautifully and bravely written without a trace of gender specific self pity. A bright light at the end of a grueling day. Just thank you.
22
I was mugged at gunpoint 30 years ago, and I remember the event, as well as what happened immediately before and after, like it was yesterday. Yet, I probably couldn’t tell you had for lunch on Monday.
I have no trouble whatsoever believing that Dr. Ford has a crystal clear memory of her attack, even though she can’t remember exactly how loud the music was playing when she walked into the house where it happened.
7
Dr. Ford's utter lack of guile compelled me to be sympathetic. It seems painfully clear that she has experienced a horrific trauma that burdens her to this day. However, regardless of what she believes, her claims and testimony have no legal support. Even her female friend who allegedly was at the house where Dr. Ford claims she was attacked has told the FBI she has no recollection of that gathering.
I look forward to Judge Kavanaugh being confirmed to the Supreme Court.
4
@Donald Champagne
And the Senate committee made sure there was no investigation to even look at these allegations or to talk to Mark Judge. Kavanaugh may be confirmed but half the population will never believe his story because he played it as a partisan hack today, not a judge. But that is why he is getting the job too.
26
@Donald Champagne You give lip service to Dr. Ford. But you ignore her testimony, and misstate that she has "no legal support".
Her telling her husband and her therapist, years before Kavanaugh's nomination, is admissible evidence (i.e., "legal support"). Her telling friends, again prior to Kavanaugh's nomination is admissible evidence, IF this were a court of law.
I ask you: where is the "legal support" for Judge Kavanaugh's denials? A letter from Mark Judge's attorney is NOT legal support for his position, much less admissible evidence.
Imagine this: at a trial (which this is not, but bear with me), the defense attorney tells the Court that they have evidence supporting their position. Do you really think that the judge wouldn't say "Then put your witness on the stand"? Do you really think that the defense attorney would say, "Sorry, your Honor, but the witness isn't here, but . . . I've got a letter from his attorney"?
12
@Donald Champagne
And I look forward to the court being expanded to 13 under a democratic president in 2021
12
Having watched both testimonies, I have to say I actually think that Kavanaugh does believe in his own innocence. (But doesn't someone else we know?) I'm also pretty sure she didn't mistake her attacker. Who would forget that? I think likely he was drunk, didn't remember and, maybe stuffed the memory. His behavior, which was erratic, indicates some lack of congruity. I think he's a bit unglued, an emotional train wreck, not exactly what you want to be sitting as a judge on the Supreme Court. Aren't judges supposed to show restraint and patience and good sense? When he kept repeating the phrase, "My family has been destroyed." I thought to myself. "Wow. Really? The opinion of others can destroy your family?" It couldn't destroy mine. A bit of a drama king.
198
Robert Kennedy. Martin Luther King. Bobby Kennedy. Malcom C.
Republicans know how to take care of business.
14
She was very believable and a deeply wounded person. However, as Judge Kavanaugh argued in his presentation, she has no corroborative evidence at all that this happened. No date, time, or place and no witnesses willing to confirm that the event took place or in the case of her girlfriend, that she ever met Kavanaugh. She can't tell us how she got to the party even though it was not in easy walking distance of where she lived, or how she got home. She was not part of Kavanaugh's social circle because she went to a school that he and his friends didn't socialize with. Further, Kavanaugh produced a detailed calendar which would appear to show that the chances he attended a party with her were small or nonexistent. None of the people at the supposed party lived near where she said it took place or if they ever frequented that location. It sounds fairly impossible that the FBI would be able to dig up details on this party if there was one.
I suspect adamant Republican stonewalling on the FBI relates to what probably can be confirmed, that Kavanaugh had a serious drinking problem probably up until he married his wife.
11
The very fact that she was not "part of his social circle" makes her a potential victim of the kind of attack she described. These elite, entitled males would not attack a girl who knew them well, with parents who knew their parents. A man can have 65 female friends to whom he has always behaved respectfully, and yet be a sexual predator when he is drunk with a girl who is to him a "nobody".
28
@Yankelnevich
"In a statement to The Washington Post via her lawyer, Keyser confirmed that she and Ford are longtime friends. Furthermore, she stipulated that she believed Ford’s allegation even though she didn’t personally remember the party in question.
Debra Katz, one of Ford’s lawyers, said of Keyser’s statement, “It’s not surprising that Ms Keyser has no recollection of the evening as they did not discuss it,” Katz said in a statement. “It’s also unremarkable that Ms. Keyser does not remember attending a specific gathering 30 years ago at which nothing of consequence happened to her. Dr. Ford of course will never forget this gathering because of what happened to her there.”
5
@Yankelnevich
You seem blind to the possibilities. The FBI can interview all the people identified by Dr. Ford. They in turn might be able to identify others. Judge might be put under oath and questioned closely. There are many possibilities, but if you never try, you will never know. The republican senators don't really want to know. That is why they politicized the hearing and attacked the democrats instead of actually trying to interview and get answers from BK. As long as it's a "he said, she said" situation, they can claim he is more credible and thus merits their vote. If a witness, and possibly an accomplice, viz., Mark Judge, is questioned closely under oath, a better sense of the truth will become apparent.
1
I watched the hearings today not sure which side would convince me of their story. I watched Dr. Ford carefully. I watched her eyes; did they match her facial expressions and her body language. Her voice wavered at times under pain and stress. Everything fit. She answered every question freely except when her lawyer paused to make what seemed to be clarifications. She went ahead with her answers discounting her lawyers comments. I felt she did not hold back. She never seemed to dodge a question or give an evasive answer. She convinced me. I believe her.
I heard Judge Kavanaugh attack those asking questions and often refraining from answering questions, instead offering a misdirecting statement. I heard his anger, but I did not hear his reasoning. That was surprising to me, because for some reason, I thought an experienced judge would be more methodical and precise. Maybe this is an unfair expectation, but given his demeanor during his TV interview, today seemed to be a significant departure. It is a lot easier to call up anger than pain. He was certainly pained when talking about the effects of the inquiry on his young daughter. But was the daughter's feelings due to Ford or Kavanaugh? It is a tough call, but the newly found anger and the evasive answers left me questioning his story.
The Republicans, led by Sen. Graham, blasted the Democrats and the process. They really did not give me any reasons to believe Kavanaugh. The GOP nominated the wrong guy.
174
@Fred Florence
He is not a judge. He is a partisan in a robe.
6
I believe her 100% and I expect that he will not be confirmed. It would be great if we could also go back, reanalize the Justice Thomas debacle and have him impeached.
I don't think there's anything unusual here. I believe that many judges have a very poor, dominating character, and that is one of the problems in our criminal justice system. There are good judges, and when they come to are attention, we tend to celebrate them so much that we ingore the other creeps in the field.
This position attracts a lot of domineering, demeaning, scolding and judgemental characters. Judgement is supposed to be hard and there shoudn't be a lot of enjoyment in the job. It should be a temporary duty rather than a life-time appointment.
This is just one more example of the total downfall of the United States. Some of our most basic ideas have turned out to be wrong, and the judicial system is probably the worst of the worst, even worse than congress.
21
@DudeNumber42
"I believe her 100% and I expect that he will not be confirmed. "
Dude, you've revealed yourself to be naive when it comes to the Republican Senators and the Republican party in general. Of course Kavanaugh will garner 100% of the Republican Senators and he will be installed on the Supreme Court. I made this prediction prior to yesterday's testimonies and nothing has changed my mind. I know Republicans and the way they operate. Regard for truth and justice is secondary to their aim of one party government.
1
Unfortunately, in this white, male-dominated society, appeasing women is par for the course. In the end - after his confirmation - she will be able to say, "At least I was heard". Women of future generations will feel his vindictive wrath because of this. He appears to be a person filled with a sense of entitlement and because #45 is behind him, will not relent. Had he simply apologized for not remembering what happened at age seventeen, this probably could have been avoided. An FBI investigation will no doubt reveal more assault incidents.
40
This is how men get what they want when they are in the wrong and caught in a lie: they rage and bellow and stomp their feet, shake their fist at the gross injustice of standing accused, avoid addressing the accusation other than to deny it completely, and then burst into tears.
When false contrition doesn't work, get angry and deny deny deny. And blame.
Kavanaugh is every bit the sociopath he was in High School and college and beyond. And the temperament he displayed today is enough to deny him a seat on the Court.
He was never entitled to that seat. This is not a question of whether it is being taken away from him. It is a question of whether he deserves having it granted to him.
Nothing throughout this saga has shown that he does deserve it. Quite the opposite.
And the approval he won from the sociopath in the White House just confirms who he is. trump says Kavanaugh is just the kind of guy he wants on the Court. Given the people he has already surrounded himself with, that by itself should tell you plenty.
I believe and stand by Dr. Ford, especially and additionally because Kav has done nothing to prove her wrong other than to have a teary temper tantrum and be complicit in making sure that none of the witnesses -- especially his blackout buddy 'Judge' --were brought forth to speak.
My respect to Dr. Ford. That was courage, honesty and sacrifice. Three words entirely foreign to Kavanaugh.
169
Christine Ford's testimony today moved me far more than I expected to happen. Not only was she believable, but in her I saw the vulnerability, the tragedy, the courageous face, and the resignation and the suffering, of so many women, in many places and times, who've experienced similar things, and not been believed, been shamed, been forced to keep quiet.
Thank God for Christine Ford and her courage. Thank God for people who have courage to speak up even when it carries a cost.
I found Kavanaugh pathetic in his anger and his whining about the last 10 days. By God those 10 days are long overdue to him and he deserves far more punishment than 10 days.
I do not understand how Kavanaugh could argue that "four people" could say that what Christine spoke about did not happen, since according to her story, apart from he and Christine, there was only one other person in that room, Mr. Judge, and Mr Judge would be similarly harmed by the truth coming out and so would understandably be as likely as Kavanaugh to deny the truth.
Though I would prefer that a person who's committed sexual assault not be confirmed in such a high position, that may come to pass, and I am less attached to the outcome in this case, than I am grateful for Christine Ford having spoken out. Dr. Ford has shown the face of courage and shown powerfully what honor there can be in simply speaking the truth. Let us long remember this day and the poignancy of her testimony.
41
>
Sorry to say, but he is going on the SCOTUS.
The GOP MAY pay a price at the polls with women ( time will tell), but they'll get back in power in 2022.
Even Senator Manchin may vote for him. McConnell knows he has the votes.
The GOP will roll the Dems again.
3
@Prometheus I think you have an accurate sense of our ever-lovin' Democratic party, which if it had true strength would not be in this wretched position (no House, no Senate, no presidency, no state houses, Koch machine running rampant all through the land).
2
@Prometheus
Trump's lies and Kavanaugh actually lying under oath will indeed get a hack on the court.
2
I think Judge Kavanaugh may be an alcoholic. There are alcoholics who have blackouts and have been known to fly plans across the country while in a blackout! They have absolutely no recall of the event! Maybe he should have an assessment by a qualified addictionologist? I believe Dr. Blasey Ford's testimony and I think Brett Kavanaugh has no recall of this event.Perhaps he is a blackout drinker. Blackouts are not the same as passing out from drinking.
15
Dr. Ford has courage for sure and Kavanaugh followed Trump's motto of how to oppose assault accusations by women. Republicans most likely are going to ram Kavanaugh through but Kavanaugh will be forever tainted as Clarence Thomas! However, after Bush-Gore and Citizens United, have little regard for the Supreme Court.
31
It took a while for the conservative troglodytes to get their talking points and show up here, but they're be outdone themselves for ignorance, hypocrisy, lack of empathy, chauvinism and sheer worthlessness. It is their ilk which empowered Trump and drags our once-proud nation through through the mud. My hatred for lying conservative Republicans knows no bounds.
32
If anyone still doesn't understand why victims don't speak out sooner, they need look no further than the way Republicans have behaved throughout this entire process.
46
The truth is that Christine Blasey Ford was believable, but in the end, the men are in charge, and the foundation of her contact with Dianne Feinstein ended her privacy, and didn't serve her well, as she is devastated, and still suffers from her bad experience of assault that was over 35 years ago.
11
In every possible way, I concur. She was amazing, brave, candid, authentic, courageous... unforgettable.
49
The most plausible explanation here is that Kavanaugh was prone to blackouts; maybe still is, because it never goes away. If he were confident an FBI investigation would clear him he would ask the Orange One to grant it. But he refuses to, and that seals the deal for me.
It's worth mentioning that before Dr. Blasey came along, he had lied repeatedly and his backers refused to release all his old papers.
65
@kgeographer
he bragged about having been cleared by the FBI six times yet totally discounted their ability to look into his assault charges. the attack could have easily been during a blackout.
1
Dr. Ford lived up to the legacy of Anita Hill which multiplies their eventual power with their courageous, heroic actions on our country as we try to form a more perfect union and protect one of our most important and precious assets The American Woman!
19
Even if every single one of these allegations is false, Kavanaugh does not have the temperament to be a Judge on the highest court of the land. Interviewing for a job where the most important character trait needed is an ability to remain calm, detached, and factual, he showed himself to be angry, vindictive, defensive, and prone to conspiracy theories. I only half wondered if Sean Hannity wrote his opening statement.
There's no crying in baseball, is there crying on the Supreme Court? Would he allow the lawyers pleading before him to obfuscate and dodge questions in the manner he did? Would he tolerate belligerent interruptions? Will he accuse those making a counter argument of working for "the Clintons?"
He may well be 100% unjustly accused. He may well have reason to be angry and aggrieved. If so, his behavior was an understandably human, emotional reaction. But in choosing to allow his emotions to control his demeanor, words, and answers, he proved he is unqualified to be Justice of the Supreme Court.
136
Thank you for this column.
Today, Dr. Blasey-Ford was...a woman. Strong, clear...and yet also emotional, and at times vulnerable.
That's who we are. That's how we are.
We don't need to be more like men; men don't need to be more like us. And this simmering gender war will not support either of us wisely, nor well.
We are in this together.
Ironically, Judge Kavanaugh's testimony was emotional. hyper-dramatic, teary, angry, defensive, accusatory.
Had Dr. Blasey-Ford, ranking member Senator Diane Feinstein, or any of the female Senators present today behaved in the manner that Judge Kavanaugh - and several Republican - Senators behaved...imagine how we would be talking about all this tonight.
Just goes to show us all...what's not good for the goose, is not any better for the gander. We'll soon see if the Senate recognizes this.
54
Dr. Blasey Ford was terrific. She spoke, she made statements against Kavanaugh, she made her case. She was irrefutable!
32
I was completely unconvinced by her testimony and find it utterly preposterous that a poorly-remembered event from 35 (? - who knows? She clearly doesn't) years ago was dignified with a full hearing of Congress. A hideous, embarrassing spectacle in a horrific witch hunt.
5
Merrick Garland - that was the real embarrassment.
17
@RE Ellis Not to be sexist RE, but is that speaking as a man?
10
Now I understand the allegations about HIM being a mean drunk. He had a full bore Tantrum. How dare these people question him ??? He’s the victim, here. A lifetime of entitlement and privilege, and that special Republican spice of male hubris and misogyny. In other words, the perfect choice for Trump. Please proceed, GOP. See you in November. Seriously.
114
Brett Kavanaugh needs to take a lie detector test just like Ms. Ford did. He won't because he can't pass.
37
So very true. It’s what made her so authentic.
As for Kavanaugh, my thoughts are:
“So, it’s all Democrats fault? You got nothing to do with it? That’s the best you got? Rage and Denial.
Very typical Republican response. Entirely Inappropriate for this venue. You had a chance to show some thoughtfulness and gravitas. You blew it big time!”
Basically, a woman showed grace under pressure, while a man with his lifetime job on the line came across as combative and petulant as heck - with a temper to match. I could entirely see him as an attacker of women,angry when he didn’t get his way.
58
She was paid, she was wrong.
1
Dr. Ford is absolutely believable. Confirming Kavanaugh because it is a facing saving tactic for the GOP & Trump, is a travesty of justice! I hope the American people remember this!
16
What would everyone think if Dr Ford came out with guns blazing like judge Kavanaugh?
People had to like her to believe her!
It is 2018 and women can't be aggressive and or loud.
Judge Kavanaugh showed us that a man can still put his hands over a woman's mouth today!!
63
"Like" a thousand times!
"It was impossible not to like her. It’s difficult not to believe her."
Unless you are a mindless Trump supporter or sycophantic Republican Senator.
34
@Gary Bernier
I am not a Trump supporter. I am not a Kavanaugh supporter. I have never voted for a Republican for president. I did not dislike Ford but I have a hard time believing her. I have experienced some trauma in life - I always remembered where I was more than anything else. I have a hard time believing that all those FBI investigations of Kavanaugh for his previous jobs did not come up with this type of behavior but these accounts suddenly materialized on the eve of his confirmation. I am not looking forward to Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court. I think Merrick Garland should be there. I disagree with Kavanaugh's positions, but I do not think much of Kavanaugh's confirmation being undone in this way. I think Ford believes her story, but she did not convince me it really happened. I realize that almost everyone on this chain of posts disagrees with me.
4
@Joan
if kavanaugh passed all of those previous investigations, why does he discount using them to investigate ford's allegations?
What Blasey-Ford did today will be talked about for generations no matter what snivelling pipsqueaks like Kavanagh and Graham say. I think that she should be honoured. Her courage is like Malala Yousafzai’s and I do hoe the Nobel Peace Prize selectors take heed.
29
I believe her. Where would we be if Kavanuagh apologized and asked for her forgiveness. Truth goes a long way. President Trump has denied molesting women, several dozen. Why doesn’t someone ask the nominee how he views Trump’s denials. No investigation? He is the President! If 45 can get a pass why can’t Kavanaugh? I hate these men. Some of us who’ve been crying all day, our minds brimming over with too many memories of every assault, threat and humiliation. His entitled “how dare you,sir!” attitude and what appears to be his victim hood act is more than disturbing.
34
She did very well in telling her experience with assault and attempted rape on the part of Kavanaugh, but her testimony should not have been rushed. The FBI should have been asked to do a full investigation before any testimony was required, however, the GOP and their dog and pony show/manipulation fully intend to confirm BK no matter what. Undoubtedly the GOP will confirm Kavanaugh without a full FBI investigation but with this joke of a proforma session with its attendant fake gender sensitivity, particularly galling given the GOP frequent and clear demonstration of misogyny. But they will be cutting their own throats because this will compel women to vote in record numbers in the midterms. I can hardly wait for them to receive their comeuppance.
19
No wonder President Trump wants him. Brett Kavanaugh is an angry, deeply partisan, misogynistic, bully. He certainly does not have the self-control necessary to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court for the next forty years.
92
Some of the senators and some of the readers have suggested that the delay in years should be reason to discount Dr. Blasey. May I respectfully suggest that any doubters ask an AA member who is a family member or friend if they have ever heard someone’s 5th Step.
Anyone who has heard a 5th Step knows that recollections of sexual abuse is something that is often hidden for a lifetime because of fear and shame. Fear and shame are emotions that transcend political parties. Thus, any suggestion that a delayed outcry is reason to discount Dr. Blasey is simply unfounded.
17
She came across as creditable. He came off as he never did a thing wrong. The GOP comes across as ridiculously hysterically vitriolic in regards to this "Saint" being accused of this crime. And their interview ways heavily on condemning the democrats in a very partisan bent. Not seeking the truth whatever it is.
20
You can watch Professor Ford’s riveting testimony, or you can read Frank Bruni’s brilliant synopsis of a credible, brutally honest woman recounting a life-changing event at the hands of a sexual predator. Kudos to Mr. Bruni, and a bow of respect to Professor Ford for her courage and forthrightness.
27
Poor Rachel. She flew all the way across the country and only got a half a days’ work. Sad.
@Mary c. Schuhl, the hallmark meanness of the right wing is never muted, from the mean mouth of Trump to the dupes who have not yet learned his scorn for them, or his plans for them. When you will look and see what he is, what these men he is setting up for wealth unlimited are, you won't be as busy making mean-mouthed remarks. You'll be trying to figure out how to survive the days to come.
11
This is not about Garland, it is not about women who are hurt by men, it is about Brett Kavanaugh. Brett categorically denies the reality that Dr. Ford is trying to sell, and she has no corroboration from the 4 people she claims can do so - she is simply not believable.
1
Truth is its own defense. That is what came across in Dr. Blasey's testimony. She was telling the painful truth, one that was deeply personal. She had nothing to gain. No show of anger like the Republicans and Kavanaugh just engaged in.
Why was there no FBI investigation? This never had to be he said, she said. Why no other witnesses? While there are many documents such as Kavanaugh's yearbook and others who have come out about his heavy drinking and aggressive behaviors, including more accusations of assaults (also believable, by the way), there should have been faces and voices to connect with them for fairness.
Mark Judge was a participant in her assault. Ironically he's off a beach retreat not taking the stand.
Kavanaugh's anger, lies, and claims of some vast left wing conspiracy as long delayed revenge for his anti-Clinton help with the Starr investigation show that he has indeed a sexist tilt.
The depths of one of the oldest disparities in equality are being revealed. Women are shamed and blamed when they are the objects of sexual attacks. Men pretend they are the victims. The woman made me do it, echoes from Adam to Kavanaugh and Senate Republicans.
When will American men value their daughters as much as their sons? When will American politicians care as much as their female constituents as the elite white males? Equal rights for all is ringing hollow right now.
Dr. Blasey is a hero. I hope she isn't another martyr.
37
Ford is my hero yet I fear her testimony today will all be much ado about nothing. McConnell will see to it that the Republicans have their vote, Flake, Collins and Murkowski will fall in line and Kavanaugh, who just showed the world he lacks the temperament for a lifetime appointment, will be confirmed.
I want so much to be wrong.
25
She was credible and real. Kavanaugh pulled out the Republican playbook of indignation, complete denial and bullying. No self reflection or empathy. He disqualified himself.
Trump wants this division and anger. It fuels his base. He chose Kavanaugh because of the controversy potential. McConnell warned him it would be difficult.
These people are so simple.
30
@CJNYC
Lacking in empathy, yes. But absolutely dripping with himpathy!
Yes, Christine Blasey was a riveting, persuasive, and strong witness. Brett Kavanaugh has been the opposite: sniveling, quibbling, and angry. His main concern is that he may not be confirmed, not for the full truth. If he wanted that, he would want Mark Judge to testify and for the FBI to investigate. I didn’t realize until Lindsey Graham’s outrageous blustering, how far the GOP Senators have sullied themselves to Trump’s level. Shame on them all.
46
I heard and saw nothing in Dr. Ford's testimony that rang false. She did not over-sell or dramatize her points and was quick to acknowledge where she could not fill in blanks of information.
What Dr. Ford did remember rang true. I am afraid that Kavenaugh's raging response was not equally convincing. What I heard from him was uncontrolled self-pity, and he did not conduct himself with an emotional poise and intellectual clarity becoming of a supreme court justice.
34
We're gripped everywhere by her bravery and obvious sincerity and I'm writing this from the UK. Thank God the real America is still decent and defiant.
It'll patently obvious to any woman that she is telling the truth. Why put herself through this if only to avoid the calamity of having the position go to a man such as this.
I'll wager one thing. If the Republicans are so arrogant to vote the man in after this women everywhere of all political hues will simply walk away from them. How could the party of Lincoln sink to this?
22
The Republicans are clearly proceeding on the assumption that approving Kavanaugh’s nomination will have only temporary blowback at best, and then they will get their majority on the court for another 20 years. It worked with Clarence Thomas, who is widely regarded as one of the most useless (at best) justices in the modern era. Unless some Republicans have the spine to put country before party, it will work again.
19
Doctor Ford's credibility came through during her appearance. It was only further enhanced when considered in comparison to Judge Kavanaugh's petulant arrogance.
26
"She was afraid. She was strong. She was human" She was also soft-spoken, almost shy. Imagine her at age 15, a timid target, surprised and pushed into a room, door locked, music turned up, no other witnesses because the other three persons in the house are downstairs. Why would they remember? Nothing happened to them. The pre-party broke up and they went on to another forgettable party.
He was angry. He was aggressive, and stronger. (We saw both those things on display at the hearing [What's your drink of choice, Senator?]). He and his buddy were drunk. (He acknowledged getting drunk, though others have said its effects on him were far greater than he would admit.) What would happen?
23
This could do it. Watching some of the Republicans, considering the totality of the man who nominated Kavanaugh and the Republican handling of female sexual assault claims, I’m out of faith in this country.
20
What I witnessed was a complete lack of judicial temperament. This is not how judges behave let alone nominees to the Supreme Court. They don’t say the types of things he said today at the Senate hearing or appear on Fox News to shill their nomination. If he is confirmed, he will be completely ineffectual and irretrievably damage the reputation and stature of the Court.
39
“She was afraid. She was strong. She was human.”
And she still has no corroboration for her allegation.
3
@JB
She might if witnesses were called to give testimony, but neither Kavanaugh nor the Republican Senators want that.
4
One of the most tragic spectacles I’ve ever seen, the personal cost to those involved is immeasurable. No matter liberal or conservative, it’s a terrible affront to human dignity, due process and fairness. We are no closer to the truth, yet the cost to Ford, Kavanaugh, and their families, friends, and their world is immeasurable. And for what? A crusade for one groups ideology on the SC? The importance of #metoo? No, that is not who we should be.
5
Merrick Garland is the real embarrassment.
4
@Penn
Actually its about a rapist being held accountable for their actions.
2
@Penn
For what? To try to make sure that the next person appointed to the Supreme Court has the temperament and character the position requires.
I am not surprised that Kavanaugh has come out with behavior and denials that exhibit "searing" anger. Of course he has. Noise must be made, emotions roused, excitement stirred, headlines created--to drown out, to efface, the simple voice of the testimony of this woman's truth. The truth she has told consistently and without gain to herself. He is not suddenly enraged. He's not blindsided. He's splashing around to cover our impressions and focus on a brave woman telling a clear story at great cost to herself. And to give all the cover he can to the men who intend to foist him on us against our wills. They probably will. But we will not forget this forcing. We will not be governed in this and more without our assent. For real anger, purposeful white-hot anger, try us, gentlemen. Try us. We'll be getting in touch.
30
I think I would enjoy taking a class from this woman. There seems to be something human about here. I wish I felt the same about Kavanaugh and the Republican party for that matter.
13
No surprise...this sort of thing has been going on for decades on every campus in the country. Perp School and Yale? No surprise. Whitehouse was correct to be outraged by violent crimes that occur every weekend even in the upper class realm.
8
Even without considering the credibility of Kavanaugh versus Dr. Ford, one thing was abundantly clear today: he is a bully. For that reason alone, he is unfit for the Supreme Court. In the end, that's all this hearing was about.
117
I know you mean well with this, but the way women like her, Anita Hill et al are expected to be completely composed -- not "too" angry -- is another way of putting a hand over our mouths while we are under attack (literally or figuratively). We should be able to feel, act and say what we want, how we want to, and anger is more than justifiable in this and so many of the cases we're hearing about.
17
"I'll do what the committee wants." He knows what the committee wants and so do we, which is to put him on the court before November. That right there is really all we need to know. He does not want this investigated.
45
Sadly, through this whole process, Judge Kavanaugh has not demonstrated what I would expect from a person set to take a seat on our highest judicial level: contrition, empathy, or self-reflection.
I expected him to state that at one time in his life he binged drank to the point of blacking out or, worse, taking actions that he can't remember, and that he is ashamed to have been reckless, and deeply sorry for his abuses; and that as a result of his actions he felt he was a better judge because he could recall his own failings and refer to that time in order to enhance his empathy for those whose cases he would hear and judge. I would then view him as a human that had gained wisdom from past indiscretions, learned from his weaknesses, and had attempted to improve as a person. That humbleness would communicate that he understand the role of a Supreme Court justice and that he had a respect for that position's power.
But he hasn't done so, which tells me that he feels he is owed the position; while the GOP thinks that power at any cost is far more critical than ideals and national interests.
85
Boy, you nailed it John. This guy, based on what I saw, is not judicial material.
20
@John
Your hope that Judge Kavanaugh would have been humble and contrite speaks well of you. Having seen how he behaved at the earlier hearing and on Fox news, I wasn't at all surprised by his rudeness, arrogance, and bullying behavior today. If for no other reason than temperament, he doesn't belong on the Supreme Court.
3
At one point Kavanaugh said "What goes around comes around." He is right - The republicans' absolute refusal to even talk with Merrick Garland in early 2016 has come around. So all of the Republicans' griping about how unfair the Democrats are being has no validity whatsoever. They said "Let the people decide" (meaning the 2016 election). Well, I would say the same thing - let the people decide this November who they want in the Senate, and then we can have Trump try again for a nominee.
61
@Marc Benton
I think our SCOTUS candidate just literally threatened a vendetta on his political enemies.
11
"Me thinks he doth protest too much." He's more interested in his reputation than credibility & integrity. He's more concerned about how the last 10 days have dragged on for him! What about 30 years for her? That dragged on. I actually have a calendar like his from junior high & high school. I was a calendar carrying virgin. But when were the entries made? Before the events happened or after? Did he go back and record, say plans fell through ... ? I did. Just F.B.I, dude.
31
Real Clear Investigations reported Thursday that Senate Judiciary Committee staffers had obtained a copy of Christine Blasey Ford’s high school yearbooks, which had been tactically deleted from online at the beginning of this whole politically-inspired smear campaign. Republican lawmakers MIGHT use them to question Ford about her binge drinking and sexual exploits during her Thursday testimony. They should be careful. Truth has a way of backfiring during a witch-hunt on the truth-sayer’s head. Ford’s Holton-Arms Catholic school yearbooks reportedly feature at least one photograph of Ford drinking at a party with boys, accompanied by a caption about girls passing out due to excessive consumption. There are also numerous references to sexually pursuing students who attended Georgetown Prep, Kavanaugh’s alma mater. In one of the yearbooks, girls wrote about hiring male strippers for sweet sixteen parties and ruining “heirloom Persian rugs” with vomit. The references to nice Catholic girls “sexually pursuing students who attended the (prestigious) Georgetown Prep” cast some light on the supposed “bastion of white male privilege” that is Western society. What typically passes for misogyny begins to sound in many cases more like simple Realpolitik. In any case I’m keeping my vomit bag handy. Before these confirmation hearings are over I still might need it.
7
This is such a cliched exercise in besmirching victims of sexual assault. “Bad girl” “she asked for it”. This comment illustrates that there is still such a long way to go to educate chauvinists.
12
@Stephen Hoffman Okay, let's see this yearbook.
2
I believed her as of day one. Dr. Ford is credible. And I dare say Kavenaugh is a liar, and an awfully vile person.
71
Hmm.. tremulous victim who's also an expert witness or an entitled shoutey white guy who used to be an obnoxious drunken brewski bro?
I believe her. There's still need for some form of proper investigation, otherwise the democrats may drum up cause to impeach him when it's their turn. That might sound extreme but the Republicans took the gloves off with Garland. It would probably be best to just withdraw the nomination altogether and pick someone else from Trump's federalist society approved list.
Republicans can complain all they want, but they snookered themselves by rushing the process.
94
Persuasive? No evidence, no corroboration, not even a credible adolescent story--vaporware reshaped till she needed two front doors 2012. Pshaw.
This entire event is right out of Trotsky's notebook--read his biography. Feinstein's cultural Marxists, the #MeToo mob, and their Sovietized mass-media need something to hate--nothing left, so to speak.
Trump, it seems, wasn't enough.
6
@Alice's Restaurant: Still no FBI investigation...
6
@Anna
FBI would need a time machine and most of what Ford remembers is vapor--can't even remember the house. Time to vote--Feinstein played the committee and Ford for fools and lost. So sad.
@Alice's Restaurant: Nope. The FBI needs to find and interview witnesses under oath. That's one of the things they specialize in, even after decades the event happened. Murders, no matter how long ago, do not expire and "cold cases" do get resolved. And sexual assault doesn't expire in Maryland... Feinstein honored Dr. Blasey's request for privacy. If the Republicans had nominated Amy Coney Barrett, if possible even more conservative than Kavanaugh, she'd have been confirmed by now, but they rolled over for Trump who wanted Kavanaugh for the sole reason that the latter is against indicting a sitting president for crimes.
Don't count your chickens yet Frank.
3
Mr Brun i was not counting chickens. He was sympathizing and chronicling a singular brave moment in US history. Counting chickens, or rats, is apparently the province of hypocritical conservative Republicans, for whom winning at all costs is the sole yardstick. No matter how badly the country loses. Thanks for demonstrating it so vividly.
14
She was completely believable. kavanaugh looked like he was attempting to be tough. He was pitiful. lyndsey is a pitiful little person.
83
@libdemtex
He was beyond pitiful. H was belligerent. Mean, Choking on his own anger. Repetitive and at one point, I wondered if he was sober.
18
I watched a lot of todays hearing. I have seen some but not all of Kavanaugh's. He was angry, belligerent, bragged about how wonderful he is and should have blown his nose before he started. He filibustered when he could, I fast forwarded through the softball questions from his base as they were worthless. I just hope they do have the FBI finally get involved because it will end up to be HE said, she said and as we all know HE wins those arguments. But she was sincere, believable and real. He is a phony rich kid who seems to have had a great life where he always did what he wanted and got what he wanted. I just hope the 3 republicans on the fence vote honestly - do we really need somebody like that on the Supreme Court?
61
- Would you support and FBI investigation?
Errrr... no.
- Can you say if you never drank to the point of not remember things you did the day before? Yes or No?
Errrr. Have you?
- Do you mind bringing a key witness to corroborate the story?
Errrr no.
I think it is clear who is lying.
48
This is about Roe Vs. Wade. Nothing more. Another chapter in a 50 year civil war that has squandered our influence, wealth and our collective moral compass. A patriarchal hissy-fit thrown exactly when the nation and the world needed us to lead. I doubt Dr. Ford's believable and authentic testimony will do anything to lower the squealing of these rats, who see their meal spilling out of the trash can they just knocked over. God help my daughters.
40
He's going to be confirmed. They will willingly ignore this courageous woman, for the sake of their own agenda with the United States of America as little more than a pawn. This is a time when the republicans are in the midst of raping America of it's sense of fairness, democracy, and decency.
36
Possibly it's difficult not to like Ms. Ford. But it is entirely possible to disbelieve her. This very foolish column equates perceived sincerity and "detail" (but none that can be verified) with truth-telling. And that is just plain nuts. Ask anyone who ever interviewed Ted Bundy or dealt with an addict, or treated a patient with, say, a personality disorder. Ms. Ford may be perfectly convinced of her story, but today she offered absolutely nothing to substantiate her claims.
9
@HMI: That's why we need an FBI investigation, but Kavanaugh kept fudging repeatedly when asked if he wanted such an investigation, to the point that even when forcelfully asked to say "yes" or "no" to the question, he still fudged and Kamala Harris concluded it was "no". Kavanaugh didn't object to Harris' interpretation, so he indeed does not want an FBI investigation. Why?
22
@HMI There is nothing to substantiate the suggestion she may be a psychopath, addict or have a personality disorder.
Her career has provided endless opportunity for personal defects to be revealed in public and we can trust that highly skilled people have diligently searched for anything that would discredit her.
2
Agree. A completely human believable woman. But for Republicans, she does not even exist. It's Democrats they are concerned about. They are too afraid to challenge an abused woman, to the point they hire a outside female prosecutor to question her, so they ignore her and attack the Democrats. Nice play!
18
She was lying and you know it. Even if she is telling the truth, what are the collaborations? It looks like a sham or a con-job as Trump described. Why do you lie barefaced?
6
@Hobbes
How do you know she was lying?
5
Yes, why DOES Judge Kavanaugh lie so easily? Merrick Garland.
7
@Hobbes They're not being allowed, you forgot that.
1
I believe her over Kavanaugh. No woman would put herself in this place to lie. He is doing his rebuttal which is less credible in that he is not answering clearly. He is diverting in what appears to be an attempt to get the republicans to come to his rescue. Graham sure did with a temper tantrum.
Unfortunately he will probably get the job. He did assault her, he got away with being a drunk, terrible kid because his mommy and daddy covered for him. He is a despicable power hungry punk. Trump needs him to be available when he needs the supreme court to bail him out.
Looking forward to the democrats to take over the congress.
37
Russian hackers are filing for unemployment right now. Ms. Feinstein et al are doing their work for Putin.
2
I've always thought sex ed, especially at all girls/all boys schools, needs a drastic overhaul. It's at the root of all this. In my own date rape experience my first week in college after an all girls school, with high academic goals, the stress of achievement & intellectualism is handled, but the social interactions are far lacking. My only interactions w/boys were manufactured, not natural – dances, community service, speech & debate, theater at the boys school (they would never come to our school to do theater). We were taught marriage & sex ed by nuns! Love nuns, but not equipped for this vocation, sorry. The boys were coddled by priests. Then in college, the genpop was boys & girls from same sex schools feeding into a culture of "fresh meat," (that's what freshman women were referred to as), binge drinking & lack of skill to communicate with one another. Of course, that leads to assaults & misunderstandings. Saying "yes," all consent, must come at multiple times throughout interactions & hookups. Consent at the beginning is not a carte blanche go ahead, nor do women exist to be a pressure release for men. I was genuinely moved by his statement. I believe he doesn't remember, so used to his perfect resume he's compartmentalized his brain.
10
I believe Kavanaugh was a reserved & a different person when not wasted. But he would obliterate himself to relieve himself of his academic pressures, & then corner women at parties. Of course, he doesn't remember, which is as scary than if he had. Did he did this all the time? Victims have distinct, even if broken, memories. It's all shameful & despicable. We are watching a Bonfire of the Vanities. We need more early on communication, theater, writings -- sex ed with a purpose, not isolated as some intellectual class. SOCIAL Sex Ed, role playing, at parties, when asked to go upstairs what do you do? etc. BOYS AND GIRLS! Boys don't want to be in this position, just as much as girls don't. Facing all this will help both boys & girls to check in, listen to each other, children.
12
I could not bring myself to look at Dr. Blasey Ford's testimony because the mere thought of that gang of self-important, privileged, duplicitous, cowardly, corrupt, ravening old men baying for her blood makes me nauseous and more angry than I thought possible. Reading this helps. Thank you.
40
Blasey Ford is transcendent, she is now for the ages, regardless of these tawdry proceedings.
26
While watching today's hearings, my seventy two year old wife commented that Brett Kavanaugh should not be on the bench---he should be in front of the bench accounting for his actions as a sexual predator. I have now reached the same conclusion. It is really unfortunate that key legislative committees are headed by seventy and eight year old men who have no concept of the real world. Sad...very, very sad.
96
Kavanaugh's conspiracy theory about why he's being quesitoned makes it clear he's a partisan incapable of making even-handed decisions regarding anyone who is a "liberal."
32
Irrespective of Kavanaugh's denials, do Americans really want a vindictive choleric rewriting their Constitution for the next 50 years?
71
We cannot regard Kavanaugh with an "open mind."
He refused a lie detector test. He and the GOP refused to allow other witnesses. They refused to approve an FBI investigation that might have cleared him.
Those are the actions of an evader. A deflector. A liar.
A guilty person.
57
Ford was calmer and better than expected and Kavanaugh was the angry child of privilege, hubris and expectations. She was believable and he was not. It was nauseating to watch the old boy’s club reaching for their spotlights and attention rather than just following through on their responsibilities.
The top of our food chain is dishonest and crooked. The biggest piece of rot is the President. Fortunately he wasn’t there to completely twist the proceedings. He was, of course, being the laughingstock of World Leadership in NY.
57
A lot of Kavanaugh haters have characterized Ford’s demeanor as human. I think they know and everybody else knows that the correct word is loopy. She came off as a fragile and damaged soul. So fragile and so damaged that her memories cannot be trusted.
6
Yes, and if I were him I would welcome a thorough impartial FBI investigation and also have his friend testify for him so that he is fully exonerated and she can be called out for the liar she is, right? I just can’t figure out why he didn’t want that.
10
No she didn’t. She came off believable.
10
Go Sen Graham. he's told the dem senators what lives they are.
1
Memory is fallible. We all know that. Nothing much occurred, certainly not a rape. It was a long time ago. Let’s move on.
2
Ms. Ford has not been making things up and Mr. Kavanaugh is being dishonest.
If he still gets the job there is an upside. Most women will be voting against the Republicans in 2018 and 2020. Trump, the most incompetent president in American history, will get thrown out the window.
19
I could not listen to much of this. The pain and sorrow in her voice was just too much for me. It rattled all my bones, and made me want to throw up.
15
A lot of Kavanaugh haters have characterized Ford’s demeanor as human. I think they know and everybody else knows that the correct word is wacky. She came off as a fragile and damaged soul. So fragile and so damaged that her memories cannot be trusted.
3
There was already enough doubt about Judge Kavanaugh's suitability for the Supreme Court, and Dr. Ford's amazing, admirable testimony left no room for his alibis. As I write this, he is giving his testimony, snarling and lashing out, demonstrating his anger for being accused, and partisanship in blaming the Democrats for his situation.
Whether or not you believe Dr. Ford, I don't want this mean and dishonest man to be given such an honor and responsibility to rule over all of us regardless of ideology and political affiliation. I don't even think he should continue in his current position as a judge. Enough of this. Go away, Brett Kavanaugh.
26
I believe Kavanaugh, and I don't believe Ford.
Specifically, I think Ford's recollections are highly likely to be inaccurate.
I also think that the behavior of the media - with their attendant frenzy, purported to be in the interest of the public but in fact, to make a few extra bucks off someone else's misery - and the behavior of the Democratic senate leadership, are beyond disgraceful.
4
Listening to Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh it's easy to see who's the prey and who's the predator. Kavanaugh's tirade showed to all his true colors and if he ever gets to the SCOTUS bench he will do everything in his power to vote politically, not independently, to support the Republican agenda.
28
Thank you Dr. Ford.
Women around the world owe you a overwhelming debt of gratitude. You are a shining beacon of light for so many who are afraid to come forward with their story of assault and harassment.
Now it's up to us, the rest of the women in the world who say, Me Too, Times Up, Enough!
14
Mr Kavanaugh is not worthy of the Supreme Court and the Republican members of this Committee are not worthy of the American people. Rather than agree with members of the Congress from both parties who are calling for an FBI investigation, Kavanaugh spends his time alternately complaining about the process, making the Democrats the villains for trying to abide by the privacy desire of Dr. Ford, offering nothing to clarify it and some good acting with a sniffling nose to make himself the victim! Likewise, Lindsay Graham’s phony explosion of anger is another attempt to make Kavanaugh and the Republicans themselves the victims of the Democrats!
The Republican majority on this Committee clearly are not at all interested in discovery of anything. They want to go full speed ahead on this nominee and get him on the SC before the October start. That’s why they are ignoring calls for an investigation. They are in a hurry to get a full Senate vote on this candidate. They couldn’t care less about what Dr. Ford had to say. They only care about blindly supporting Kavanaugh and not looking too closely at his prevarications and his illegal drinking (the legal age was 21 back then, not 18.). Without any facts that could be corroborated by an FBI investigation or a lie detector test for Kavanaugh this has consequently devolved into a he said/she said. And we all can see that the woman accuser continues to BE IGNORED as an irrelevant “hiccup.”
12
I listened to Dr Blasey Ford hearing. There is no doubt she was candid.
As the headline of the front page stated, she was human. But US of A crushes humanity. Woman and man don't have any value other than economic. Humanity is not a value anymore in your country. My bet is Dr Blasey Ford will be crushed however sad it is for your country but also for the rest of humanity.
I hope I am wrong.
11
She came off as a fragile and damaged soul. So fragile and so damaged that her memories cannot be trusted.
2
@John S
He came off as lacking self control. He cannot be trusted to be fair or impartial as a judge.
5
The nominee is not a defender of your country, a representative of your ideals and ethics, neither is your head of state; both represent the worst of privilege.
If there was even a hint of these accusations being true the guy should be nuked from the process. If he's accepted the vetting process is seriously flawed and totally dishonours American integrity. Is this the type of person deserved of this position? No he is not.
25
She was the bravest version of Everywoman. Mitchell's questions didn't shake her. She answered clearly and succinctly. The cowards of the right up on the dais hid in plain sight. In the end, the question that troubles me the most was the one when Mitchell stopped being the Republican's questioner. My guess is simple: Her question about the party with all the boys that Ford described was clearly going down a dangerous road when it showed up on Kavanaugh's calendar. Lindsay Graham totally lost it at that point and it became nothing more than an attempt to prop up Kavanaugh's conspiracy theory about the Democrats, the Clintons and money. Mitchell was totally forgotten. I wonder what she will have to say.
7
Yes she was riveting, persuasive, human and stronger.
More so in every respect than Kavanaugh was.
But it's still she said vs he said.
With little or no corroborating evidence, so far.
Democrat Senators should, however, push back against the Republican Senators who have said that any member who votes against Kavanaugh's nomination is declaring him guilty of perjury.
(Kavanuagh's comment thereto was "that is my understanding"!!)
Kavanaugh and presumably a few of the senators on the committee are graduates of big name law schools. Do they really believe that the advice and consent role of the Senate is tantamount to
"confirm" = nominee is innocent of criminal perjury and
"not confirm" = nominee is guilty of criminal perjury.
In reality, senators have the power to vote against confirmation for any reason they please, such as
-not liking the nominee's haircut or style of dress,
-or not approving of his disgracing the chambers with his childish outbursts,
-or being dismayed at his twisted attempts to pretend that he is not covering up by refusing to support reopening the FBI background investigation
-or because he was nominated by someone who is the greatest embarrassment to America in the nation's history.
8
I voted for WJC, BO and HRC. I never liked DT and like him less every day. I am tired of SCOTUS members from Harvard and Yale and the mid Atlantic and northeastern states. The lack of diversity on the court has long disturbed me. I did not believe Dr. Ford’s testimony today. Her lack of recollection seemed consistently in areas that would damage her story. I felt she was acting. I am disappointed.
6
Christine Blasey Ford came across as a normal human being who found herself in the spotlight for reasons she didn't choose. She was there because she felt it was her patriotic duty to keep a man with no conscience off the United States Supreme Court.
The flip side was Brett Kavanaugh, the wild, spoiled kid who grew up to become a man who has invented a polished, pristine past and lies with the casual arrogance of someone who has never been punished for a wrongdoing. This man thinks he has the right to make moral choices for ordinary Americans.
Donald Trump selected Kavanaugh for a reason. They're both for sale, and there are lots of buyers.
33
The worst possible person to testify, from a Trump-era Republican perspective.
Very compelling, credible and clearly reluctant to recount the events of decades past that propelled her into the nation's eye.
10
So the 100 Keg Club is what? Nonsense, evidence, or what? Dr. Ford was believable. Judge K's evasion of questions from Senator Harris a few weeks back about discussing the Mueller probe were very telling. He couldn't quite remember and he was knowingly evasive.
The Republicans have the good old boy club and it is on display with Kavanaugh.
When will the revolt take place against the rigged system we now call our government?
13
Clearly one of these people is lying under oath, since one might be a Supreme Court justice that absolutely calls for an investigation.
12
Kavanaugh is somewhat correct, from the point of a inebriated person who couldn’t remember. FBI might be of help, however, then why not have Mr. Judge answer questions from the senate and accept his answers while under oath.
9
For Dr. Blasey Ford, thank you for giving a voice to all those women who were sexually abused, either verbally or physically, and decided to stay quiet. I hope your courage gives them the courage to share what they had to endure. You are one brave woman.
For those Republican men, and I use the term loosely, on the Judiciary Committee who hid behind their female hired gun, I envy you the opportunity to see what a true, courageous American looks like. You should be honored that she decided to testify before your Committee.
For the record, I believe her.
12
This is not the temperament of a potential Supreme Court Justice candidate.
23
I believe Christine Blasey Ford. Brett Kavanaugh is lying. He is blaming others for what is happening to him instead of taking responsibility. Like Trump he thinks he should be able to get away with his wrong doings. He complains that his reputation is being smeared unlike anyone else. He mentions nothing about Bill Cosby or Al Frankenstein both who have wives and families by the way and have lost the positions because of past behavior. That is also an issue, why are wives and family even important in this discussion. They have nothing to do with ones qualifications for the Supreme Court. An inability to tell the truth does. Kavanaugh is lying and it shows, no matter what that sniveling Lindsey Graham says.
14
IF only the GOP senators or the SCOTUS nominee or the current occupant of WH showed a small fraction of the courage displayed by Dr. Ford and called for an FBI investigation. Absence of even that little honesty tells us what we need to know and the swamp that needs to be drained.
9
Okay, Dr. Blasey gave compelling testimony. She was entirely credible. Then what?
Following Dr. Blasey, Kavanaugh, the attack man, cometh. Kavanaugh made a defiant, even belligerent, opening statement putting the Democratic members of the Senate Committee on the defense. And sadly the Democrats essentially rolled over and deferred to an angry, sometimes unhinged Kavanaugh who toyed with Democrats questions then proceeded to interrogate them.
Instead of the Democrats taking control, Kavanaugh mocked them, ridiculed them and made a joke of the hearing. He flippantly turned senators' questions back on the senators. Sadly, they let him get away with it.
But let us not forget Lindsey Trump Graham. By no means should he be forgotten for his bombastic grandstanding attack on the Democrats. Graham was auditioning for his next job - replacing Attorney General Sessions.
Republican senators went on to attack Democrats and the Democrats cowered.
So what comes next?
Republican senators will confirm Kavanaugh on a party line vote. They refuse to request the FBI investigate the allegations of sexual attack on Dr. Blasey. They defend Kavanaugh and they abandon all dignity and integrity.
Next comes November. If you are outraged about what Republicans are doing, then vote them out wherever they hide.
18
The Leftist-Resistance-Socialist-Democrat attack squad in their short-term desperate focus to avoid the consequences of (1) their nomination of an obviously-flawed candidate in the last election; and (2) their relentless march over the past eight years toward a post-modern socialist society that increasingly suppresses individual freedom, both of which caused an electoral college plurality to hold their noses and elect Trump, are now blithely attacking a great man.
In light of the exemplary personal and professional record of BK in the subsequent 36 years since the minutes-long incident claimed by a psychologist, who, as her testimony this morning demonstrates, is professionally trained in memory/psychology matters, and for which we have absolutely no corroboration but rather denials of her claims under penalty of perjury, are we going to accept that her memory is infallible and reject the possibility that she is either a partisan liar or her memory of the incident has been altered in some way over the years?
Absolutely NOT.
1
@SonomaEastSide: That's why we need an FBI investigation, but Kavanaugh and the Republicans don't want that.
7
And humans make mistakes. Especially about events 30 years ago.
3
Why isn't Rachel Mitchelll, the Arizona sex crimes prosecutor, questioning Kavanaugh? The whole hearing has devolved into nasty politics. Ms. Mitchell surely has experience interviewing men who have been accused of sexual assault. Her presence would given us a much more balanced and accurate picture of the situation. It seems Ms. Mitchell has been used as a prop by the Republican members of the committee. A woman for 11 old white men to hide behind. Shame. Shame on them for refusing to consider the possibility that Kavanaugh might be guilty. Shame on them for not allowing the public an opportunity to hear honest answers to honest questions. Dr. Blasey Ford was indeed persuasive. The rest of this is politics.
15
When the allegations first came out, I was very skeptical and dismissive of the whole thing. It was unverifiable, smacked of opportunism - a last-minute Hail-Mary anonymous letter alleging something that happened over 30 years ago. I remember saying to a friend, "That doesn't mean anything, it could be anyone, I could have written that."
Today, I just happened to tune into a part of her testimony on the radio while I was driving to a doctor's appointment. Listening to Dr. Ford's testimony and the pain and emotion in her voice, it hit me in the chest and in gut. I'm sorry I doubted her, I'm sorry I was so dismissive of her story.
Ultimately, it wasn't just the edge in her voice, but the way that she wouldn't say more than she remembered that stuck with me. When she said the most memorable thing was laughter, and one of the senators said, "they were laughing at you," and she didn't go along with it... a liar would have, a liar would have grasped at straws to make the lie more believable. She stuck to the truth, the more simple truth that they were laughing with each other. And suddenly I could picture it, and it was just too real.
17
@Jenny You've got real insight. I listened and watched, and it was as believable as could be, without even thinking how a liar would react to embellish their lying. Your current president was elected because of democratic voter laziness thinking Ms. Clinton had plenty of votes. Who knew blind partisan loyalty, misogyny, and repeated lies to vilify her could influence so many, especially those with the least education, who view anyone smarter than themselves as 'elitists.' They can be duped again. The airwaves will be filled over the next five weeks. The way I see it, the more women in politics, the better.
1
After watching Kavanaugh give his remarks, I think he should withdraw his nomination...
So he can run for President.
2
I found the most jarring part of this afternoon (still ongoing) after the official testimony, where the media (at least on MSNBC) cut to Senator Graham.
On cue, he was vicious (imho) attacking the credible of Doctor Ford and trying to create of a context of a court of law. Lawful terms were used again and again to put the onus on the accuser. (victimizing her yet again)
Again - this is a not a court of law (nor if it were - are all of the facts, evidence or even witnesses being presented) - it a job interview for a lifetime appointment pertaining to a job that doles out the law.
On this basis alone, and for instances of conflict of interest (not only for the applicant, but especially for the President that is putting him forth), that the candidate must recuse himself.
His life might be changed, but hers has been upended, not only from this time forth, but from decades ago.
2
"Riveting, Persuasive Testimony"? Hardly. The Republicans, Graham especially, used professional acting abilities to thoroughly outperform Ford and her supporters . The anger, pointing, and shouting were delivered so masterfully that I doubt any Republican anywhere (including the Senate) changed his/her mind about any of the allegations against Kavanaugh.
The comments included (among many others) "unethical sham" and "national disgrace." These and similar statements are exactly what Republicans have been trained to believe by relentless alt-right press coverage and pedagogues. The Republicans hit their target audience dead center, and no doubt are now receiving standing ovations.
In addition to the training, Republicans prefer to believe in that sort of behavior regardless of actual facts and truth. So that's what they'll do.
Welcome to the alt-right Supreme Court. mostly thanks not to this hearing but to Mitch McConnell's successful and unconstitutional blocking of any and all Supreme Court nominations from a sitting U.S. President.
Masterfully done, from start to inevitable finish. Together with the election of Trump, the takeover of this country by a minority of the population is complete. Refer to "1939" for an example of similar masters at work.
11
How many women were like me and could not watch her speak? Just reading accounts of it with the laughter from her attackers and the fear and confusion she felt bring back too many memories of incidents in our own lives. Knowing you could tell no one or you would be shamed or laughed at. Knowing you would probably not be believed because these are "boys from good families". Keeping it in the back of your mind all these years. Affecting how you deal with men. I am so proud of her. Maybe her courage will help someone else .
13
I found the most jarring part of this afternoon (still ongoing) after the official testimony, where the media (at least on MSNBC) cut to Senator Graham.
On cue, he was vicious (imho) attacking the credible of Doctor Ford and trying to create of a context of a court of law. Lawful terms were used again and again to put the onus on the accuser. (victimizing her yet again)
Again - this is a not a court of law (nor if it were - are all of the facts, evidence or even witnesses being presented) - it a job interview for a lifetime appointment pertaining to a job that doles out the law.
On this basis alone, and for instances of conflict of interest (not only for the applicant, but especially for the President that is putting him forth), that the candidate must recuse himself.
His life might be changed, but hers has been upended, not only from this time forth, but from decades ago.
2
I found the most jarring part of this afternoon (still ongoing) after the official testimony, where the media (at least on MSNBC) cut to Senator Graham.
On cue, he was vicious (imho) attacking the credible of Doctor Ford and trying to create of a context of a court of law. Lawful terms were used again and again to put the onus on the accuser. (victimizing her yet again)
Again - this is a not a court of law (nor if it were - are all of the facts, evidence or even witnesses being presented) - it a job interview for a lifetime appointment pertaining to a job that doles out the law.
On this basis alone, and for instances of conflict of interest (not only for the applicant, but especially for the President that is putting him forth), that the candidate must recuse himself.
His life might be changed, but hers has been upended, not only from this time forth, but from decades ago.
4
I found the most jarring part of this afternoon (still ongoing) after the official testimony, where the media (at least on MSNBC) cut to Senator Graham.
On cue, he was vicious (imho) attacking the credible of Doctor Ford and trying to create of a context of a court of law. Lawful terms were used again and again to put the onus on the accuser. (victimizing her yet again)
Again - this is a not a court of law (nor if it were - are all of the facts, evidence or even witnesses being presented) - it a job interview for a lifetime appointment pertaining to a job that doles out the law.
On this basis alone, and for instances of conflict of interest (not only for the applicant, but especially for the President that is putting him forth), that the candidate must recuse himself.
His life might be changed, but hers has been upended, not only from this time forth, but from decades ago.
12
I found the most jarring part of this afternoon (still ongoing) after the official testimony, where the media (at least on MSNBC) cut to Senator Graham.
On cue, he was vicious (imho) attacking the credible of Doctor Ford and trying to create of a context of a court of law. Lawful terms were used again and again to put the onus on the accuser. (victimizing her yet again)
Again - this is a not a court of law (nor if it were - are all of the facts, evidence or even witnesses being presented) - it a job interview for a lifetime appointment pertaining to a job that doles out the law.
On this basis alone, and for instances of conflict of interest (not only for the applicant, but especially for the President that is putting him forth), that the candidate must recuse himself.
His life might be changed, but hers has been upended, not only from this time forth, but from decades ago.
2
1. Ms Blasey Ford gave an authentic, credible testimony, not only of what happened to her, but of its impact on her life (the inability to not have an escape route.as an example.)
2. Sen. Grassley's comments about lack of corroboration are wrong (see above,)
3. Judge Kavanaugh's bullying anger in response is typical and expected from a man such as he- unfortunately.
4. If the privileged white males of the GOP manage to succeed with this nomination, it will be irrefutable proof that the party has less than zero regard for or understanding of women. That ought to be on every billboard in America from now until election day. And it ought to make Republicans seeking reelection shiver.
6
I believe that something happened to Dr Ford but this is an accusation made under oath and it will need to be investigated. We still live in a country where you are innocent until found guilty and we cannot destroy a man's life and his family on an accusation. No one would want that for their husband, son, or father. I heard Judge Kavanaugh say he wants whatever it takes to clear his name and I feel that this is the best approach. Additionally, he can not bear the burden of Anita Hill ( who I feel was telling the truth) or the #MeToo movement (which I agree with) or every guy who wrongly treated a woman in high school or college.
2
@AMurphy "whatever it takes"? He doesn't, or would welcome F.B.I. and take a polygraph.
I found the most jarring part of this afternoon (still ongoing) after the official testimony, where the media (at least on MSNBC) cut to Senator Graham.
On cue, he was vicious (imho) attacking the credible of Doctor Ford and trying to create of a context of a court of law. Lawful terms were used again and again to put the onus on the accuser. (victimizing her yet again)
Again - this is a not a court of law (nor if it were - are all of the facts, evidence or even witnesses being presented) - it a job interview for a lifetime appointment pertaining to a job that doles out the law.
On this basis alone, and for instances of conflict of interest (not only for the applicant, but especially for the President that is putting him forth), that the candidate must recuse himself.
His life might be changed, but hers has been upended, not only from this time forth, but from decades ago.
2
I found the most jarring part of this afternoon (still ongoing) after the official testimony, where the media (at least on MSNBC) cut to Senator Graham.
On cue, he was vicious (imho) attacking the credible of Doctor Ford and trying to create of a context of a court of law. Lawful terms were used again and again to put the onus on the accuser. (victimizing her yet again)
Again - this is a not a court of law (nor if it were - are all of the facts, evidence or even witnesses being presented) - it a job interview for a lifetime appointment pertaining to a job that doles out the law.
On this basis alone, and for instances of conflict of interest (not only for the applicant, but especially for the President that is putting him forth), that the candidate must recuse himself.
His life might be changed, but hers has been upended, not only from this time forth, but from decades ago.
5
My 20yo daughter called me to tell me how much Dr. Ford reminded her of me. My daughter has no knowledge that I had similar experiences in high school. Men had impunity to do as they pleased then.
No more.
14
"It was impossible not to like her."
Well, of course. Because, in the words of Orrin Hatch, she is "attractive" and "pleasing", and "a nice person".
Honestly, some people just never learn.
2
What a strong, brave woman (Christine Blasey Ford). I believe her to 100%. What goes around comes around, Mr Kavanaugh.
End of line.
6
>
She was good, but good doesn't count with these guys; its about power.
This is all due to McConnell killing the filibuster. Kavanaugh would not have even been nominated if he required 60 votes.
This could turn out badly for the Dems. It may turn out badly for Kavanaugh, but either way the GOP will make hay with it.
The Dems just don't have what it takes to go against the GOP.
If the Dems can't change a few GOP votes he is in.
3
No matter how this turns out, what we all have won with Christine Blasey Ford's testimony this morning is a victory for all of us demoralized by the acrimony, division, and hatred in our world lately. That she was able to do that above the partisan posturings of Feinstein and Grassley is a testament to her strength and humility.
Professional politicians take note. People are no longer in thrall to your machinations. The truth will out and will prevail. Christine Blasey Ford has shown us how. It's so simple and so difficult.
Be human, be honest, follow through with the courage of your convictions, and close your eyes to those who would use you for their own purposes.
4
If someone believes something is true
then their testimony will be compelling
but that does not make it true.
As of 12:30 PM PST, Thursday, September 27th
there is no corroborating evidence from 36 years ago.
That does not mean that Kavanaugh was not at that gathering
and it does not mean he did not assault Ford.
Kavanaugh cannot be faulted for defending himself
and if he believes he is innocent, how is his belief any
different than that of Ford ?
No one has come forward to show that Ford is
recalling an actual event, not even her friends
as of this date.
We are left wondering:
Whose house this gathering was held at.
How Ford arrived at the gathering.
How Ford made her way home.
And why no one, Ford claims was at the gathering,
seems willing and able to verify just one of her claims.
36 years is a long, long time,
a half-a-lifetime for most humans,
long enough to say you were
mistaken in what your remembered
and
in what you did.
But we live in an
Age of Revenge.
So no one will be forgiven
because their memories failed them
or because were mistaken.
No, most of the Commentators
want someone's held on a Pike
to be shown to the blood thirsty mob
that I once thought were my fellow Americans
but whom I know longer recognise
and no longer wish to be a fellow citizen of
a fallen America with.
I will gladly move to the 'farthest Hebrides'
if they will have me.
3
My disappointment in the hearings is that the prosecutor from Arizona, Ms. Mitchell, did not press Ms. Ford on her inability to remember anything other than Brett Kavanaugh's name. No date, no location, no participants other than Judge and no explanation as to how she travelled to the party, and later travelled home from the party. Ford also could not remember, even recently, her relationship with Democratic Party politicians Eshoo and Feinstein, and who paid for her lawyers.
It was a political calculation by the Republican senators not to be to harsh, but it would have been much more satisfying to have Ford caught in several lies. The whole story is a lie.
I hope after this is all over that Kavanaugh sues Ford for slander and defamation, and the FBI does conduct a perjury investigation of her, with the possibility of a criminal conviction.
3
Thank you for your sensitive comments, Mr. Bruni. I am relying on people like you to provide your impressions of the hearing, since I really cannot bear to hear much of it myself (much of her story is mine and also belongs to millions of other women in this patriarchy we call home). I look forward to your impressions of Mr. Kavanaugh's words.
14
And her credibility will not make a difference is anyone still watching the hearing? Dr Ford is not even mentioned, her allegations forgotten. Instead the Republicans have launched an all-out partisan attack on their Democratic colleagues. And Kavanaugh has enthusiastically joined in, abandoning any pretense of judicial non-partisanship.
That, alone, is reason enough to reject his candidacy. But the Republicans will huddle tonight, count noses, vote in the morning to approve the nomination, and then campaign on the theme of a Democratic deep state plot to undermine the Supreme Court — exactly what the Republicans are now doing.
Democrats have once again been played.
9
I was struck by her authenticity in her description of neurotransmitters encoding traumatic events on your brain. At once I knew she ws credible because the same thing happened to me approximately 55 yrs ago. Because, I too, am a victim and survivor of sexual assualt and I can recall every vivd detail of ghe violation upon my person. No matter what you do, you will neverever, forget what happened to you. I believe Dr. Ford, I am extremely proud of her courage, strength and ability to respond to embarrassing questions without hesitation. thank you Mr. Bruni for an outstanding analysis of a very fragile and sensitive personal event.
25
If Mr. Kavanaugh had half the courage that Dr. Blasey Ford has, he would withdraw his nomination.
83
Many people have asked why now, why not come forward before. This hearing answered that question. She hoped her letter would quietly keep him off of the supreme court without her being required to publicly testify. This wasn't political, she just didn't believe that he belonged on the supreme court after what he had done to her. Beyond that she's worked to put this behind her.
As a citizen she felt like it was her Civic duty to inform the Senate of his past character. Sadly some on both sides have chosen to politicize this matter. Victims deserve to be treated with respect and I'm not convinced that this show has been very respectful.
Dr Ford has nothing to gain from coming forward. But she has added to the national dialogue of how we treat abuse victims. She's also exposed the boys will be boys mentality that allows young boys to hurt a young woman, move on with their life, achieve high levels of success, and not think that these past abuses are a big deal.
Boys move on. Women must endure.
87
For a judge, Kavanaugh doesn’t seem to know much about the process of eliciting testimony. The witness answers questions; he doesn’t ask them. Multiple times he’s tried to turn a question against the questioner (e.g., to Sen. Klobuchar, “have you had trouble remembering things after a night of drinking?”). Perhaps he thinks he’s being clever or assertive, but it seems to me he’s just trying to evade the question. Undermines his credibility.
74
@Jeff
Exactly. And how he repeatedly dodges the question of the FBI looking into it! He equates what the partisan Senate committee is doing with an investigation by professional investigators.
Editor’s note: This comment has been anonymized in accordance with applicable law(s).
9
I'm a former prosecutor, and currently a criminal and civil rights attorney. I did not want Christine Blasey Ford to testify. I've represented victims of sexual assaults and I couldn't see the point of her going through this, of her being traumatized all over again, when Republicans made it clear that they were going to confirm Brett Kavanaugh no matter what she said. Every day seems to drive home that there's no decency left in the world. Trump and Republicans coddling Brett Kavanagh, while vilifying Christine Blasey Ford and the other women who spoke of being assaulted, showed (once again) how brutal America has become.
But, I was wrong.
Christine Blasey Ford is the most believable witness I've ever encountered, and considering that I've represented thousands, that's saying something. Further, I've seen it all (or at least I thought I had), and learned long ago how to keep my emotions in check when dealing with highly emotional cases. However, I broke out in tears when Christine Blasey Ford, in response to Senator Leahy's question related: "They were laughing with each other," she continued. "I was underneath one of them [Kavanaugh] while the two [Kavanaugh and Judge] laughed. Two friends having a really good time with one another."
The personal cost to publicly relive something like that is enormous. It was incredibly brave; one of the most selfless act I've ever witnessed. True decency does still exist.
Christine Blasey Ford: Thank you, Thank you. Thank you.
594
@Robert B, and I broke into tears reading your comments. Thank you so much for putting words to my feelings and thoughts.
7
@Robert B - Your eloquent observation made me cry. I am so worried for our country. Yes, there is still decency and kindness and selflessness, as evidenced by Dr. Ford today, but when will this nightmare end? I don't recall ever feeling so hopeless about where this country is heading.
2
@CateS Thank you. Yes, I don't recall ever feeling so hopeless either. However, what Christine Blasey Ford did was not just brave and selfless, it was incredibly important. She proved that decency still exists and that truth still matters, even as Trump and the Republicans seek to destroy the very idea that truth can exist. Trump and the Republicans already hold two branches of government. Kavanaugh is their attempt to consolidate control over the third branch. There has never been a nominee less qualified temperamentally, ethically, or morally to sit on the Supreme Court. It made me repeatedly ask why Trump wanted Kavanaugh so badly when so many qualified right-wing justices could easily be confirmed. The answer is painfully simple; any real jurist, even the most conservative, would uphold the independence of the Judiciary. Kavanaugh reveled in his testimony what I’ve known all along; he’s merely been masquerading as a jurist, he’s no different than Trump in the end. When I said I was wrong, I wasn't speaking of Kavanaugh being confirmed, which the Republicans will likely push through no matter what. I was wrong in saying there was no point in Christine Blasey Ford testifying. One woman stood up for the basic truth that she was sexually assaulted, a truth which a minority government maintaining power by unlawful means tried to prevent America from hearing. Christine Blasey Ford proved that speaking truth when all seems hopeless is the most important thing that anyone can do.
1
If we believe her, and I do, what then? Is it possible that a young and not yet fully-formed Kavanaugh committed the acts of which he is accused but that in the decades since the man, the husband, the father he has become evolved and is now worthy, regardless of his politics, to sit on the Supreme Court? Yes. It's possible. But how can we know? How can we ever be sure? It is that doubt which demands that we pass on his candidacy and find someone we, as a nation, can trust.
23
@Gravwell
If it is possible that he did those things, then it is possible he is lying.
If he is lying, then he is fit not for office, but for a charge of perjury.
6
@Gravwell Well, in his arrogant and angry testimony he showed me how believable she really was. He's terrified and he should be. Now--about the calendar that shows the party that included all the guys whom she identified as present. Sure sounds like that might have been when the assault occurred. I think that's why Mitchell was taken off the questioning.
8
I agree that Blasey Ford's testimony was powerful and honest. I also observe that the only way to get past the he said/she said nature of these hearings is to reopen the FBI's background investigation of Kavanaugh - surely there is enough confidence in what Blasey Ford is saying to justify that move. Or there would be, if Republicans were not hellbent on shoving this nomination through at all costs.
This column says (and others have included similar lines), "our role on Thursday, as concerned Americans, was to listen hard and hear well and assess". I don't disagree, but I can't figure out - to what end? As far as I can tell, the Republicans who control the Senate aren't interested in heeding the voices of their constituents, except when those voices align with their own desires and interests. I can hear and assess as carefully as I like, but it will make no difference in the outcome. I can rally and encourage others to vote these men out of office (finally, 27 years after the travesty of the Clarence Thomas hearings), but it will be too late - another man who believes that he shouldn't have to have his life "ruined" (read: not get what he wants) by acts for which he is responsible and which ruined the lives of others, will have a lifetime appointment on the highest court in the land. Ruling on issues that affect the women whose rights and voices he disdains.
37
@Jocelyn Ahlers
Today the voters observed. In November the voters will act.
Make sure you vote.
Most definitely!
Ford was "riveting, persuasive, strong, afraid, human" and at the same time is probably a crusading for 'women's rights' (by any means) liar who as a trained psychologist is precisely the kind of person who could contrive a believable character assassination story complete with just enough calculated not "recovered" memories and facts to prevent anyone from determining whether she was telling the truth. And she is certainly the type of person who could defeat a lie detector test (not allowable in courts of law for precisely the reason that criminals can defeat them, and so can psychopaths who feel no quilt and those with false repressed memories also can pass because after much repetition they believe falsehoods). The first mention of "recovered memories" should have been a monstrous red flag to anyone with a college education, and certainly to mental health professionals in this country, but its a testament to the current vicious anti male Inquisition orchestrated by the democrats that none dare to state the obvious. Ford is obviously 'disturbed', probably clinically insane by some definition and so has had her "hippocampus" make up a narrative to explain her psychosis, but that does not mean that Kavanaugh is the cause or guilty of anything. These other piling-on women, with their equally vague complaints are 99.999% likely outright copy cat lying for the "cause" like school shooters copycat other mass murderers in order to get more media fame than Noble Prize winners.
4
@winthrop staples
Whatever her mental state, a liar has no connection or attachment to the matter so can actually sound cleaner than Ms. Ford. In addition your arguments have no
credibility because it is just rageful conjecture on a case where the facts are just beginning to come forward. And your partisan slip is showing, so please try to at least fake some compassion for her difficult position, as you are coming up short on all matters concerning reasonable discussion.
5
Wonderful depiction of a true human being, seeking justice for others for what she knows about Kavanaugh. It is impossible for both to be truthful at the same time. And I believe her!
32
Dr. Ford has nothing(!) to gain and everything to lose by coming forward and telling the truth. Dr. Ford’s willingness to endure what she has and will continue to endure by coming forward for the sole purpose of just telling the truth for the good of our country is heroic.
On the other hand Bret Kavanaugh has literally everything(!) to gain and nothing to lose at this point.
18
Everything I have read here supporting Ford is appeal to emotion. God help us all if appeal to emotion is the way we are going to govern politics, courts and our society. I have heard or seen no evidence that Brett Kavanaugh did anything wrong.
6
Neither can I - mainly because neither President Trump nor the Republican Senate will take the matter seriously enough to ask the FBI to investigate so that greater objective clarity can be achieved. What a pity for our justice system and how sad it is that those who are generally responsible for monitoring it are so willing to overlook what we have traditionally stood for.
12
@Mystery Lits
How could you, when the accused refused to approve of an FBI investigation?
A defendant in court doesn't get to tell the court to refuse to allow the DA to investigate, and then claim that there is no evidence against him.
9
@Mystery Lits
No onr tried to appeal mmore to emotion than the variously angry, belligerent, evasice, whiney, cry-cry, weepy, snivelling, sniffling Brett Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh was all about emoting and avoiding focusing on facts.
Did today's hearing bring us to an "indisputable revelation of the truth?" As Mr. Bruni suggests, "No," but there are means to get us much closer to the truth. The GOP adamantly refuses to tap those resources.
Senator Grassley and his political cohorts dismiss the efficacy of the FBI in this matter, yet they proudly strut the reality that the FBI has already engaged in vetting Brett Kavanaugh.
It's tough trying having it both ways.
34
I didn't see Dr Ford's appearance on television, but I was up in time for Brett Kavanaugh's opening statement.
He was powerful, and I don't see this ending well for the Democrats, either for the confirmation or the midterms.
The Republicans succeed with scorched earth opposition, but for some reason, the Democrats can't do it.
10
@jzu
They can't do it because it's venal. They're always trying to do better than what they abhor. And they're right to do so - at least in theory. Watching the Republicans smash all goodness and decency this country ever had indicates that it may not be the best solution in practice but - does the end justify the means?
@jzu Brett Kavanaugh was powerful?? I doubt that many people share your impression.
Mine was different: His facial expression reminded me of a rabidly aggressive dog, while he was channeling his inner Roland Freisler.
I doubt that he has done himself any favors with this performance, especially after Ms Ford's testimony.
1
@jzu
Not true. The Democrats do succeed with a scorched earth policy. Have you forgotten about Al Franken? Oops, wrong party. Never mind!
2
Kavanaugh is insisting, while crying and sniveling, that the fact that he has female friends and that women he's known have spoken out for him are evidence that he did not assault Dr. Ford.
Anyone who saw the outrage Camille Cosby directed at her husband's accusers these last years knows that there are always wives, women friends and female colleagues who will support a powerful man who will use them to bat off accusations of sexual violence, who will claim that the man "could never have done these things."
Never forget that many of these men maintain seemingly normal personal lives while secretly abusing women. If they didn't do this, they'd be in prison.
Actually, Bill Cosby is. At 81, despite the protestations of his wife and female co-stars, time ran out for Bill Cosby.
Claiming that you're friends with women does not indemnify you against charges you sexually assaulted women.
I believe Dr. Ford 100%.
Brett Kavanaugh's cynical use of wife, daughters, little girls he coaches at basketball is shameful.
289
@fast/furious Wow. What if he's actually not guilty of what she says? You and the rest of the witch hunters are ok with this?
1
@fast/furious
Very true, I second your post.
6
I teared up before she even started talking - she looked like someone who never wanted the spotlight. I believe everything she's said about not wanting to come forward but doing it anyway and I believe she was assaulted by Brett Kavanaugh.
66
@Lively B Too bad your confirmation bias is making your decisions, instead of logic and reason!
Kavanaugh sneakily changed little bits, such that a friend of Dr. Blasey had 'refuted' her testimony, which was not what she did. . And he did not answer the question of whether he would want an FBI investigation into the accusation, instead got aggressive: "I wanted the hearing to be the next day", repeating that several times. As if we wouldn't notice that he himself being heard is not the same as an FBI investigation.
Whiny, dishonest + aggressive. A horrible combination.
206
@Elisabeth Yes! All of that. Not to mention this shifts from the choirboy persona he was pushing in the Fox interview to "well, maybe I drank a little..." He's a liar, that much is clear; the question is only how much.
9
@Elisabeth You may want add to your horrible combination some excessive alcohol abuse.
7
She hit it out of the park.
68
As I was listening her in the morning, I started shaking and felt the chill.
How horrific is that when we have old , white men in the republican committee.
59
@B.Sharp Cause white men are evil right... right. The level of anti-white anti-male bigotry expressed in the comments section is very, very concerning.
2
Dr Ford simply appeared to us today as a real diamond mixed up in a bag of republican rhinestones.
Respectfully submitted,
Jerome Lawrence Castle
35
If I was your Professor Dr. Ford I would give you an A+.
34
@Milliband For lying under oath? I agree she is a professional liar!
1
I just watched some of Kavanaugh's testimony. He's pretty believable too. And a lot of women have signed letters attesting to his character. Where do we go from here?
2
@Joanne
This is not a case of she said, he said. There was, according to her testimony, a witness: Matt Judge. He needs to appear before the committee and/or be interviewed by the FBI.
5
@Joanne
We go to an FBI investigation, which the GOP desperately wants to avoid.
I wonder why?
8
@Joanne - First, an FBI investigation. Then, the testimony of all relevant witnesses, including Mark Judge and Julie Swetnick. At the very least, Judge Kavanaugh could have demonstrated some self-reflection by admitting that he drank and partied a lot, and may not remember what happened.
5
Christine Blasey Ford, woman of valor.
46
She is a woman with her entire career to lose based off the information she shared. I doubt she is making this up. I believe her. I do not believe the fake tears of the other human being who made this about party rivalries. Rape culture must end, we do not want this rapist as a Justice!
35
@Melony Ahhhh so he is guilty then.... good to know the court of public opinion is willing to burn witches.
2
Yes, to everything Mr. Bruni so effectively communicates here.
20
She was all poise.
Kavanaugh came out fuming like an assault artist.
Guess who will win?
34
While the GOP is pushing a theory that Blasey Ford may be confused about who her attackers may have been, consider this: Maybe Kavanaugh and Judge are confused who their victim is because they've done this to so many other women/girls.
119
Sounds like and appears to be a very disturbed and confused individual. Clearly stated she was pretty much set up by Senator Feinstein and her office .Comparing the lie detector test to her written statement is pure contrivance .He's innocent and will be shortly confirmed.
6
@Alan Einstoss I am extremely curious as to how she should have presented herself that you would have found her story credible?
Would it have been better if she was hysterically crying the whole time? Would it have been better if she was unemotional, factual, and cold? Would it have been better if she remembered everything in clear and minute detail (which goes against everything we know about trauma victims?)
5
@Alan Einstoss
Feinstein was really smart then to have set this up so many years ago, by having her talk to the therapist about this assault long before Trump was a candidate.
8
@Alan Einstoss
You dismiss her lie detector results but say nothing about Kavanaugh's refusal to take one.
She wanted the FBI to investigate. He didn't.
Who's kidding who here?
6
Christine Blasey Ford is seen by the trumpian grassroots as a personal attack on them. Her existence, her poise, her erudition and her intelligence will be seen as a condemnation of everything they are and everything they stand for. Her honesty and credibility constitute an indictment of their entire belief system. Here is a person who is and represents everything that threatens them. This is why the trumpians are unwilling to believe her, against all evidence and all reason. This is why they twist and turn in the wind trying to find some way to reject her and her testimony. They are scared and in disarray because they know that here lies truth that reveals all that they are, ... fears, self-loathing, paranoia, hatred and all...
What Ms. Blasey Ford has done so courageously is to force the corrupt leaders and followers of the GOP to reveal themselves. They can no longer hide comfortably behind a mask of normality, morality, religion or decency. Now we see them for what they truly are! ... and it is truly ugly!
71
Thank you Dr Blassey Ford.
The moment that puts a glaring spotlight on the travesty of justice the Republicans arranged was the request from Sen Klobuchar to enter the lie detector summary into the record. Chairman Grassley then asked why the full lie detector evidence wasn't available to be evaluated. Ms. Ford's attorney interrupted to say they had asked to have the person who performed the test appear as a witness and present the detailed test evidence but the Chairman had refused therefore all the evidence was not immediately available. Of course it wasn't the Republicans wouldn't want that.
She was completely believable. In my own case no witnesses would testify to a physical assault that happened out in the open in public. So the argument that witnesses don't come forward is not meaningful. Few have the courage of Dr. Blassey Ford.
29
So you've all made up your minds before J. Kavanaugh testifies. What fine Americans you are, I thought Star Chambers were from the distant past.
6
@Bob The Republican Senators had decided their votes well before the hearing, most of them, at least. There are a few Republicans Senators that may not be able to stomach the tripe that has come from Kavanaugh, the Democrats certainly cannot.
With the Republicans trying to ram This appointment through so fast after the pushed President Obama's Choice and never gave him even a hearing, let alone a vote, for over a year? Certainly there is no rush to seat an ill suited person to This particular Bench.
15
@B. Honest You didn't answer my statement. Other candidates are not the issue today. Fairness, hearing both sides is the issue. You are a victim of cognitive dissonance.
We already know Kavanaugh. We grew up with his ilk in high school as one of the privileged who got away with murder, without remorse.
7
I didn't watch, I didn't need to.
I believe the 3 women (Ford, Ramirez, Swetnick).
But this is beside the point.
There are many reasons why Kavanaugh should not be a judge any where. We did not need this major national embarrassment before the world to proceed in order to pull the plug on BK.
Kavaugh's signature achievement in life appears to be his time as a political and ideological hack working for Ken Starr (yet another old white guy misogynist recently pushed out of Baylor for - drum roll - mishandling sexual assault cases).
As they say in those cheesy infomercials: but there's more.
There are the thousands upon thousands of pages covering Kavanaugh's time in the WH under Bush. We are talking the pretzel logic used to justify torture here. These were kept secret. Prior to Dr Ford first surfacing, what was the point of the hearing up that point in time if nothing was going to be heard?
But there's more!
There's the recent abortion case in Texas:
Brett Kavanaugh falsely claims 17-year-old immigrant didn't meet ...
35
I believe her.
34
I haven't watched this circus because I see no reason to. Whether she is telling the truth or not, who cares? You can't just start saying that anyone who has potentially done something wrong in their life is disqualified from working. if you disqualify someone from being a judge then you probably have to disqualify them from any other kind of work because how does drunken sexual whatever in high school not disqualify you from everything if it disqualifies you from anything?
the answer is it doesn't disqualify you from anything. it's definitely awful Behavior if it happened but it needed to be dealt with then when people's minds were clearer if that's even possible because how can people's minds be clear when they were both drunk at a party.
I just think it's inherently unfair to bring things up at the last minute and make major decisions about people's lives because of them. If he did it he should not have been a lawyer or any form of Judge and it was up to her to stop him in his tracks 30 years ago. how would any of us like to be suddenly disqualified from further progress in our lives for something that we may or may not have done 30 years ago? That's the litmus test for this Witch Hunt. Do you believe that your entire life should be examined from beginning to end and anything bad you did automatically disqualifies you from future promotion. It's that simple.
if she was any kind of person she should have brought it up to him personally.
@teach I believe him. Guess that is settled then.
@teach I believe him.
He loved beer, still does: Kavanaugh responding to Blasey Ford.
How can an incoherently drunk sexual assaulter remember anything that happened at a party?
24
Exactly, Frank. And you know what else ??? SHE has a kind, and honest FACE. I’m not being new-agey or superficial. I’m speaking from MY life experience. There’s an old saying: “ After age forty, you have the face you Deserve “. I believe every word she said. It it hard to convey my admiration and respect. Could I do the same, in HER situation ? I truly hope so. THANK YOU, Dr. FORD.
31
Agree completely. I watched the proceedings until they broke for lunch and didn’t see her make a false step or hear a false note in her testimony. Her opening statement and answers together with her demeanor were persuasive.
I hear tell that Senator Graham said that he felt like he’d been ambushed. The national Rs control the committee, the White House, who gets appointed to the Court, which witnesses to call, and whether to have the FBI look into the matter. They ambushed themselves.
By all means listen to Judge Kavanaugh with an open mind. But it would be nice if the committee had called corroborating witnesses and if the FBI had been directed to do a professional investigation.
37
Christine Blasey Ford was human, vulnerable and dignified. I'm glad that she was able to be emotional without breaking down in tears. She was respectful and considerate.
Brett Kavanaugh, from a number of accounts from others who knew him as a youth, was a heavy drinker. Is he still? All the same, he's a very ambitious candidate for the Supreme Court and is behaving as they he is entitled to be approved. That might because Donald Trump will need him to be on the high court if and when he is impeached. The tit for tat here is much greater than we all might realize.
26
Judge Kavanaugh has adopted the Clarence Thomas approach of claiming he is the victim. Sorry Brett. It's not working. You're attacking the Democrats' motives - not Prof. Ford's allegations. And now you're invoking due process? Please. Just finish up with your fake indignation and then do the right thing by announcing that you're not going to put up with this character assasination anymore and withdraw your name from consideration.
65
I admit it. I couldn't bring myself to watch Dr. Christine Blasey-Ford's testimony, for such is my anger at the sheer insensitivity and indifference exhibited to her and her revelation, and all that is only a prelude to predictable outcome; that I just couldn't bear to watch it all unfold.
No doubt the Republican bench is going to treat this as a victory, without once recognizing the sheer amount of courage it has taken this woman -- any woman, to stand up and oppose her transgressor, no matter how many years it takes.
And no doubt this president will weigh in, as he always does without letting these proceedings take their natural course.
But regardless of whatever outcome, the truly tragic thing is that there's nothing "natural" about it.
And we haven't learned a thing.
16
Me too
17
Listening to Kavanaugh now playing the outrage card. Angry white man.
I believe her 100%
88
"How she and her husband were propelled into therapy by her aesthetically indefensible desire to have two front doors — multiple exit routes — on their home."
This sentence brought tears to my eye. Only someone who has ever been trapped or felt trapped by another person and who knew in their heart that they were going to physically hurt would act and live in this manner. Some folks call this plan extreme in nature. It's not an extreme nor exaggerated gesture. It is a tangible, plausible escape plan which brings a modicum of safety to someone's emotional state which has been traumatized, shattered and irrevocably compromised. Most people will never get that or understand that because it's based on a deep fear that will never go away.
Thank you Ms. Blasey Ford for your courage, your strength, and your effort in addressing the terror you experienced and continue to experience.
Thank you Mr. Bruni for one of your most poignant and heartfelt articles. I'm not happy about still crying, but it's part of my healing process. If Ms. Blasey Ford can forge ahead, successfully, so can I.
83
I can't believe how brittle you people are. People were sent to war for years at a time and came back and we're expected to blend into society and yet now any negative event is magnified to the point where we cheer the fact that they can actually get out of bed in the morning.
you fail to realize that this society that enables you to be so weak was created for you by men. Men have a lot of strong urges beneath their civilized veneers and the sooner everyone admits and acknowledges it the better we will be off. women now can pretty much do whatever they want and what do they choose to do, complain. every executive female I know says it's far easier to be a woman because companies are trying to promote them...
this hearing is a really pathetic indictment on what Society has become at least in America. Look around you. Other societies who have far less are in far better shape. Remember that we are before anything else a species and a species is governed by biological rules. No one questions that the mail Robin goes and gets the food while the female robin sits on the eggs so if women really want equal rights than they need to take equal responsibility and that can never be accomplished by just complaining. Complaining only gets you what someone else gives you. That is not true power. That is temporary mollification. basically men are saying will you shut up if I give you what you're asking for. that's far different than going out and fighting for or earning something.
Dr. Ford, I hear you like to surf, it's a passion. I don't surf, but when I stand there fly rod in hand connected to a wild fish the rest of the world disappears.
With your testimony over I hope you are already on your way out of that awful town we call our Nation's Capital. There's no time to waste.
You did what you needed to do and did it very well. Thank you. The nation thanks you.
I trust you have a favorite board waiting for you in your garage.
Somewhere on the California Coast there is a break awaiting your arrival.
And when you connect with the energy of that first wave you feel cleansed, at peace and begin to heal.
137
Both testaments are compelling. One suspects Kavanaugh will carry the day, but let’s hope this sordid episode at least highlights to younger generations (my daughter is 16) what type of behaviour is unacceptable. I am an American woman of Kavanaugh’s generation, and the drinking party behaviour is not unfamiliar.
8
There are several things with this nomination that bother me. First is that Republicans are expected to hold on to the Senate in the Mid-Terms and can nominate another conservative justice. Second, I have never in my 50 years witnessed a Supreme Court nominee have so much ambition. Most of the time the nominee get picked, gets vetted by the Senate and passes or doesn't all without really saying a word other than in the hearing. Kavanaugh went of Fox to advocate for himself, as well as to several news outlets, unheard of. Even Merrick Garland, who wasn't even granted a hearing (also a first) remained largely silent. Third, I have no doubt that Mitch McConnell has secured Susan Collins vote and that in spite of all the information, Kavanaugh will be on the SCOTUS and that untrue to his word he will overturn Roe V Wade. I truly NEVER want to hear Republicans moralize again.
80
Tabulate this. I did not see, but I did hear some 20-30 minutes of Ford's testimony and questioning. I didn't detect any of the vibrato or variation in amplitude that would portray a fabrication. If she wasn't truthful, there wasn't evidence of it in what she said or how she said it. I'd have no reason to doubt her, if it weren't for so many Republicans, so hungrily demanding that I do.
33
I noted some vocal fry when asked to clarify, which was interesting.
1
as a moderate liberal, I agree she was afraid, she was strong, she was brave but she wasn't very persuasive.
7
@bored critic: And you're not very persuasive when you claim to be a "moderate liberal." Also when you claim to be merely a bored critic.
7
You're NOT a moderate liberal (whatever that is!) but, as your handle states, a "bored critic"!
From all accounts, including those on Fox News, she was credible -- and persuasive.
You must have been watching some other show!
11
Yes, yes, yes to all of this.
She was sincere and sweet and forthcoming.
Senator Grassley's repeated attempts to defend his and the GOP's handling of this situation lay in sharp contrast to Dr. Ford's calm candor. He should be ashamed of himself.
Also, I just have to mention, in an interview following Dr. Ford's testimony Senator Graham stated that Dr. Ford is "just as much of a victim" as Brett Kavanaugh.
Oh, really?
83
@Blue/Violet
Great comment. That comment by Graham is despicable. Just despicable.
17
Thank you. Only someone who has been that afraid for their safety understands the need to have an exit door accessible to them at all times. Someone who does not understand can't make that up. Thank you.
126
@Sharon, it is the first thing I check for everywhere I go to this day. I am 66 years old.
3
I admire Dr Ford for coming forward this morning and subjecting herself to what had to be a terrifying experience. She came across as an honest and vulnerable person who believed she was doing right by this country. Shame on the President & the Republican members for not allowing for a true investigation into Dr Ford’s claim. I believe that the Republicans will push through the Kavanaugh vote ignoring all the serious allegations. He will be the second Justice serving on the highest court in the land who’s good character is in serious doubt. Dems must vote in November to change the course of this country.
55
I knew of a very similar situation. It occurred in 1971. The girl had grown up in a trailer park and had experienced a rough life. The boys were all star jocks at the high school. I wasn't there, but I knew about it. EVERYONE knew about it. I had several of the guys tell me about it -- both from the point of view of bragging to confessing that when they got into the room they couldn't do it. One even told me how kind she had been to him when he could make it happen.
I remember these conversations very clearly.
I've been tortured about it all these years. I wanted to call the police at the time, but worried about what would happen to this girl. Would it make her already-bad life even worse? And, I admit, I worried about what it would do to me. It was Oklahoma. Everyone, regardless of gender or race, was a troglodyte. It was scary.
I'm quite certain, if called today, I could sit in front of that panel and tell it exactly as I heard it. (There are exceptions to the hearsay rule.) It happened. That many years ago. I remember exact sentences those guys said to me about it.
There's not a shred of doubt in my mind about that incident. Nor is there as shred of doubt in my mind that Dr. Ford has spoken the truth, truth that someone feeling a true sense of civic duty would speak.
Drum that offender out of the hearing process. Then kick him to curb and out of his current position.
It's time for our society to fess up and start getting it together. Enough is enough.
232
@Charlotte
Marvelous, heartfelt comment. Thank you for posting it. The Republican male Senators, many ancient, others from religions that tell women to be submissive, are completely out of touch and so disparaging to women.
2
@Charlotte Amalie
There is still time to demand that Grassley and/or McConnell halt the vote until there is a full FBI investigate.
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/constituents/questions-and-comments
4
Agreed on all counts except one. Oklahoma is my adopted home. It does not have a monopoly on “troglodytes.” And if you didn’t mean to malign Oklahomans in general, you ought be more specific in your use of language next time.
3
Thank you Mr. Bruni for your understanding and empathy. I’ve taught generations of intelligent, strong young women who, like Dr. Ford, were victimized by young men whom our society allows to act in this manner. There is a dichotomy that persists to today that excessive drinking and attacks on women are the standard by which masculinity is demonstrated and that girls need to participate in this behavior to be socially successful.
Christine Blasey Ford has demonstrated for women of all generations that this shameful behavior must end.
73
Dr. Blasey Ford will go down in history along with Rosa Parks, as a breathtakingly courageous citizen who refused to be bullied, refused to be silenced. They fought for the dignity of all Americans.
214
How often do we hear an account of sexual assault by a victim who happens to be ideally and extremely educated in matters of mind? She presents the account under the most stressful conditions imaginable and still shows unimaginable honesty, clarity and transparency.
And soon we will watch the perpetrator and his supporters try to create lies, smoke and mirrors. Never have old white men been in greater need of gender and ethnic diversity.
50
I believe her. She is authentic. She has no motive to make a false accusation and every reason to step down and back into the shadows. This woman has courage and character. She deserves to be protected, admired and believed.
Kavanaugh has motives to lie as his friend Judge has reason to flee and go into hiding.
106
I believe Dr. Ford 100%.
If the Senate GOP cared about the truth, they would have subpoenaed Mark Judge. Instead, they have allowed him to hide out while they and Trump have tried to smear Dr. Ford.
Today, Dr. Ford gave testimony that was honest, precise, sympathetic and that should have put a nail in Kavanaugh's nomination.
Kavanaugh and Trump are willing to tear this country apart and trash Dr. Ford and other survivors so Kavanaugh can be installed on the Supreme Court to protect Donald Trump from justice.
The cynicism of Trump and the GOP is boundless.
They are destroying our country.
149
Specifically, they are pushing Kavanaugh to overturn Roe v. Wade and, thus, control women's autonomy of their own bodies, just as Kavanaugh repeatedly sought to control women's bodies and use them for their own cruel, violent ends.
They are also pushing him because his far out of the mainstream deference to executive power, so that he will block the indictment and prosecution of Trump, and support any efforts undermining the special counsel, Robert Mueller, or ending his inquiry.
31
She was human in many ways, primarily by lying to prevent someone of an opposing view from attaining a position on our supreme court. Sickens me so deeply to see this lady make accusations and obtain national attention with out any shred of evidence or corroborating testimonies.
6
"Without any shred of corroborating evidence"?! You are embarrassing yourself! Therapist notes, sworn statements, lie detector test, yearbook, etc. She identified Kavanaugh AND a participant in the attempted rape. Surely, you'd want Mark Judge to testify under oath!
Other women have come forward; others AND his Yale roommate contradict his claims. He belonged to a Yale fraternity and secret society that were bastions of misogynistic behavior.
Ford and Ramirez have called for an FBI investigation. The Republicans and Kavanaugh oppose that and do NOT want to hear from others. That tells you what is going on! Read more widely. Try these for starters:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/these-are-the-stories-of-our-lives-...?
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/09/brett-kavanaugh-gave-a-spee...
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/09/brett-kavanaugh-confirmation...
14
@Indie Voter
Oh sorry, missed this.
Keep in mind, Indie, that the white male controlled Sen Judiciary committe has so far undertaken to prevent the collection of corroborating evidence and testimony.
That's called rigging the game. As an "Indie", figure that would be obvious. You seem to have a preset agenda.
You are sickened by a woman, with nothing to gain in this endeavor, share her experience as she recalls it albeit imperfectly. Against a man, who has everything to gain by lying. Logic surely isn't your thing, sadly, there are many like you.
Trumpers are funny. You believe the unsupported lies and bluster of Agent Orange, but not this woman. Ya know, there is a word for that sort of proclivity.
13
@indie - You must be an incredible reader of personality and human nature to know what a despicable liar Dr Blasey Ford is. You must have profound understanding of emotion and the human condition, far more than Mr Bruni here, or any of the other suckers watching who saw a poised yet scared, unbowed but vulnerable woman face up to a situation she never wanted to be in. You must be an incredibly perceptive and empathetic human being. Or you are merely a partisan hack. I think we can all decide which.
6
I do not believe Christine.
5
@Indie Voter
Mind telling us why?
4
@Indie Voter Interesting that you refer to her on a first name basis. Do you refer to him as Brett?
7
Then, you are unwarrantedly skeptical, blind to reality, and ignoring the mounds of evidence that paint a devastating portrait of Kavanaugh as a person who lacks a moral compass, is a misogynist, and someone willing to do anything to get on the Supreme Court, including lying under oath about several major issues.
4
More than anything else I noted her "little girl voice" and I wondered "Is this how this woman normally speaks?". Maybe it is, maybe it's her natural voice and she's never felt a reason - and nobody's ever suggested she try - to change it - though it doesn't fit with the strong and highly educated woman she also obviously is. But maybe it was accentuated by her remembering the time of her younger self, or maybe it's partly due to the trauma she endured back then and the anxiety she's felt since. Anyway it was as if a mouse was speaking for a lion, but each was her. I believed her, after all she's voluntarily submitted to, I don't know how anyone reasonably couldn't.
34
@GRW I noticed this, too. I do know successful professional women who have this muted, polite, unassuming voice (some of my professors, advisors, bosses) and in my view, it's a way of making yourself seem smaller so as not to impose or to take up as little space as possible. It could also be accentuated by the fact that this was undoubtedly stressful and terrifying. Compare to Judge Kavanaugh's stentorian and angry testimony and replies. If Dr. Blasey Ford were to adopt the same approach, I have little doubt she'd be labeled as shrill, hysterical, raging and uncredibile. The dbl standard seems to still be thriving.
15
kavanaugh lacks the decency to withdraw, and the president lacks the decency to withdraw. if there are any decent senators who are republicans, let them show themselves.
197
My heart will be hurting for a long time today after hearing the brave Dr. Blasey. I'm not her peer - but you don't have to be - to feel she could be you. Her terror was my terror, friends' terror and the terror you pray your children never face. Her recounting the laughter as the most memorable truly made me break down - I could feel that one in my soul. You'd be hard put to fine a woman out of her teens that hasn't. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make the trauma better for all the Dr. Blaseys of the world. Would her demeanor be more bold, more self assured if she hadn't been traumatized and attacked at such a tender age by those she trusted? Who knows. But - on this day she showed more courage than all those who attack her legitimacy combined.
132
Good luck Republicans if you confirm Judge Kavanaugh after Dr. Ford's testimony. This will be the beginning of a revolution.
79
@Charmaine
Actually, that is precisely what your party and its partners in the media-entertainment complex and the universities has been working toward since Ronald Reagan was elected President.
5
@L'osservatore, Actually, I knew a Major Republican Activist back in the Reagan Era, during his Military Buildup, there was a Gent out on Guam who tried to get me into the Republican Party and work with them because Reagan and VP Bush were looking to expand production in China, where it would be much cheaper, following Nixon into the area.
He explained that they were working to gain power through getting rid of all of the major production jobs so that they would be able to directly attack the Unions with the lack of supporters and workers, since the Jobs went away. He said then they could keep the wages low and spend on the Federal Deficit, if needed, and the debt would help to bust Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid.
He told me that if I got in then, and joined them and worked from the bottom up, that I could be made a Very Rich Man. They were going to secure the Courts and all the States, they were a UNIFIED Party, unlike the Democrats whom they intended to allow into office as Single Term Presidents they could blame their problems on, and then get back into office and would be able to push things through, start wars and have Real Control, especially over the Military Spending.
But instead I told Jack Abramoff that I thought he would most likely end up in jail instead, that the US People would eventually see through the Republican Facade of blaming everything on the Democrats and it would eventually backfire badly.
I was right on one, I can only hope for the rest.
1
Yeah! Now you get it! We sure as heck are!
2
Her meekness made her a victim, and her meekness makes her a hero.
For everyone who has been the subject of abuse because of your weakness, if she can find the strength to stand up to the powerful, so can you.
66
Dr. Ford came across as sincere, intelligent, sympathetic, and utterly believable. Meanwhile Republicans had handcuffed themselves by having Ms. Mitchell basically take a deposition focused on niggling details, and the Democrats got to score points unimpeded. Sen. Grassley came across as defensive and angry; one expected him to start yelling "Get off my lawn!"
Since our President, above all else, is concerned with who plays well on TV, I would say the game is over. He's huddling right now about when and how to yank the nomination.
32
Here's how they'll orchestrate it.
He'll withdraw with a statement decrying the onslaught and hurt to his family and his daughters. Trump will fulminate, spewing and tweeting about Democratic malfeasance, the unfair process, etc.
Then, he'll go off script and attack the accusers for their lies and smears and speak about how they've derailed a good, decent, and honorable family man.
Finally, the Democrats will take back both the House and the Senate!
1
@The Storm
"He's huddling right now about when and how to yank the nomination." PLEASE let it be so.
She was magnificently human and honest. She was heroic.
67
Is the GOP really going to try and vote for Kavanaugh tomorrow or any other time for that matter? Talk about DESPERATION....
38
The republican men on this committee have been destroyed because it never occurred to them that there was any possibility the woman who showed up today would not only be competent, but far more competent than they are. It never entered their realm of what is possible. They never even considered it, focusing instead on the need to appear patronizingly kind and benign via a buffer questioner. Sen Grassley's final comment about "this being the time to be nice to the witness" says it all. His script was bad, and his performance clearly limited by his own incompetence.
100
@DMS. Sadly, the Republicans on the Committee are not destroyed. You cannot eliminate zombies. These soulless creatures also have no courage, no ethics or morals. They know the woman is telling the truth and because it would interfere with getting their reactionary judge on the SC they are willing to play like human beings. Nobody is fooled. We all recognize bullies when we see them: they are the people who do whatever the H— they want to do because they don’t have to do anything else and answer to no one.
1
How savage are we as a country that we force her to lay bare, like Anita Hill, such a horrible experience?
An FBI investigation would have been more humane and the right thing to do yet Republicans had no intention of doing the right thing from the get-go.
Bravo to Dr. Ford for remaining true to herself, for overcoming her own fears, and for showing more character than nearly everyone in that room.
300
It would be equally as savage if a man were forced to testify to sexual assault. Get a grip.
@Kelly she was not forced.
“If you’re middle-aged, she’s you. If you’re a millennial, she’s your mom.” I am middle-aged and echo this. Mostly, I felt like she could be my sister. I watched all of her testimony and found myself tearing up over and over throughout. During the committee's lunch break I got on the elevator at my building. I was wondering if the men I joined on the elevator could feel my antipathy toward them. I'm sorry, men, but right now I'm riled up for Dr. Blasey Ford and for all women. I know not all men are to blame, but for the next little while, anyway, I need to feel some anger. I imagine I am not the only woman feeling this way right now. We are mad and we want to be heard.
48
@Erin - I've seen hundreds of comments here on the NYT by men who are just as angry and disgusted at Kavanaugh and the creeps who support him.
There are a lot of good men out there, they just don't tend to make headlines.
3
Exactly, Frank. The sad part, however, is that Dr. Blasey Ford is forced to be surrounded by three burly security guards. That indicates how much things have deteriorated since January 20, 2017.
71
This woman! What a courageous, honest, open and vulnerable human being she showed us today. I found her utterly credible, convincing and authentic. The question is whether any Republicans will show a fraction of her courage and integrity. Jeff Flake, don't just emote- vote!
98
I like your commentary and completely agree. I love how human she was, appreciate her honesty and courage, and am happy for her that she handled an unimaginably fearful situation (testifying) with such grace.
I 100% believe her. For Kavanaugh, it’s hard not think he was a flawed kid. If he would just own up to it, I’d be more open minded to thinking his character justified his candidacy. I feel very sorry for his daughters - this must be painful for them, or will be when they are older :(
38
@Rob Mathison
Exactly. I have plenty of reasons not to want Kavanaugh on the bench that have everything to do with his vision of the law, but I was/am uncomfortable with judging an adult man with his behavior as a juvenile, overly privileged, drunken teen...I absolutely believe Dr. Ford...and if Kavanaugh took even a moment of responsibility, "My God, after hearing from Dr. Ford, I realize that actions I took as a stupid boy--that I didn't at the time think about as more than a game--have had a profound negative effect on another human being. I am deeply ashamed and would never want anyone to treat my daughters this way. I beg Dr. Ford's forgiveness and I hope that the man I have become stands as a stark contrast to the privileged, spoiled boy I was." I still wouldn't want to have him on the Supreme Court, but I would have more of a problem about this standing in his way. But he didn't do this. He lied about it and continues lying about it. And I think that more than anything makes him unfit to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. And I would hope that Republicans in Congress would agree with me. Though there is small hope of that, given their shameful behavior with Merrick Garland.
3
I completely agree!
The hysterical, scattershot, and truth challenged outburst by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham after Dr. Ford's testimony demonstrated that no matter how the eventual vote goes Trump and his minions have lost.
92
@Milliband How did Graham go from his best buddy McCain to Trump? All his protesting about Dr. Ford makes one wonder whether he has something questionable in his own past.
3
@Milliband. These men will have lost only if their state voters don’t vote for them again. All the members have to do is the bidding of the WH and the Party. All the apologies to Kavanaugh and to Dr. Ford and all of Kavanaugh’s statement to the contrary of having done this assault are for nothing. Without an FBI investigation both these parties believe they are telling the truth, but only one is actually doing so. The Committee is as violently partisan as it can be. If the Committee Republicans and Kavanaugh think they have been victimized it remains with them to show otherwise and they have not taken the opportunity to do so.
1
"I sensed no outsize anger. I detected no guile. If she was pushing an agenda, I didn’t catch a whiff of it...She was polite."
Men still set the tone. You can't be angry because you were assaulted, because you were terrified, because you THOUGHT HE MIGHT KILL YOU. You must be polite, and not angry, and not want any punishment for your attacker.
This OpEd neatly frames all that is wrong with the male gaze, trying to be feminist. Trying to be objective, as if it's possible in this mess. Complete with a "a woman who is my among my best friends" testimony. Her hair obscured her face. My god this is full of problematic wording.
Maybe men need to say nothing. Maybe men need to not opine in this moment. Maybe men just need to listen right now.
30
As an American, I feel I have a right to have and to express an opinion on public matters. I do not think I should be told to be quiet because of my gender.
7
Stephen, Jessie said "maybe". She deftly pointed out the problems with the language and was noting that men need to be mindful of what they say about women and how tone deaf we can be, especially when discussing such matters.
Your overly defensive reaction -- and ad hominem attack on her -- illustrates exactly what the problem is and what women face!
2
This hearing was difficult to watch, and I can only imagine how much more difficult this must have been for Prof. Blasey Ford, her family, and her friends. From one citizen who loves this country very much, thank you, Prof. Blasey Ford, for speaking at these hearings and for keeping our country's best interests in mind during this tumultuous time.
As Kavanaugh said himself in his written testimony, "Allegations of sexual assault must be taken seriously." If this is the case, why hasn't he suggested that an FBI investigation be conducted? Why hasn't he volunteered for a polygraph test? What does he mean by "taken seriously"?
Am I to take seriously that, if he is sworn in, he will have every citizens' best interests in mind?
33
She is brave. She is real.
She is... us.
36
Sen. Corker's statements after her testimony says everything about the GOP - old, thoughtless, condescending, forgetful. If all were turned around, the republicans would have (and still do) stood by their men (trump and kavanaugh) with unending stupidity. They've been slapped in the face with truth and they still can't manage to be civil.
I can't wait to vote in November...
74
Dr. Blasey Ford was every ounce what Mr. Bruni said. She made me feel proud to be an American again... a feeling which I have no doubt will fade by 5:00 pm eastern standard time today.
32
Thank you Dr. Ford. I was worried, but you were fabulous. How could anyone not believe you?
50
@Ann Livingston,
I agree wholeheartedly, and appreciate what you likely meant as a rhetorical question to highlight the idea that one only has to be human, with a fully functioning brain, heart, and conscience in order to believe Dr. Blasey Ford.
Sadly, too many male Republicans seem to be lacking at least one or two of the above necessary ingredients to feel and demonstrate empathy.
9
Dr. Blasey Ford is me. It's concurrently very powerful and also extraordinarily sad viscerally knowing that this culture we live in discredits her. I wish her peace knowing that she has done more than any person should be asked. Thank you.
24
Christine Blasey Ford had a story to tell that was 36 years in the making and she emerged as an American heroine for the ages. She was calm, credible and poised. Her emotions were moving without the histrionics associated with being emotive. And most of all, she empowered women to come forward and tell the their about sexual abuse.
Christine Blasey Ford showed the way forward this morning. She joins Susan B. Anthony and Harriet Tubman as authentic pioneers to forge a better America.
35
"It was impossible not to like her."
Well, of course not. Because, to quote Sen. Orrin Hatch, she is "attractive" and "pleasing" and "a nice person".
Unbelievable.
25
@Joan
Has nothing to do with her telling the truth, right?
1
@Joan P
It's attitudes and comments like that which makes it very difficult for me to control my urge to want to smack guys like that across the face, if for no other reason that to get their attention that their reasoning is flawed, sexist, and just plain stupid.
I doubt my comment will be published, which I totally understand. But I needed to vent and get that off my chest. Apologies if I offended anyone.
5
I believe her. And I thank her.
92
Rachel Mitchell, a 'veteran sex crimes prosecutor', would have given everything to have a witness like Dr. Ford in any other trial. Dr. Ford would be a prosecutors dream. Everything about her feels authentic, nothing fake.
This testimony was truly one of the watershed moments in our nation's history.
Having said all of this, I am pretty sure that the Republican senators will still vote to confirm Kavanaugh. It is to enough that the world laughs at Trump, they also laugh at our Senate.
169
Yes, she was very well rehearsed to seem just unrehearsed enough to be compelling. A well honed propaganda tool if I ever saw one.
5
@QED I had to read over 100 comments before getting to this one. Even in the most compelling articles I've ever read, we usually see this kind of comment after the first five or ten. This doesn't bode well for the GOP come November. They may regret not dumping Kavanaugh when they had the chance.
20
Having once received a devastating accusation from a co-worker, who later passed around several more lies, I tend to agree with this.
Staying the course, following up and mainaining my work helped until the accusation was found to be a lie and the coworker fired.
Certain accusations tend to be believed and can be hard to disprove. Some people have that figured out.
1
@QED. It was Kavanaugh who has been rehearsing at the White House all week. Project much?
Grassley’s shaking, indignant tone and inability to keep his trap shut, plus his insistence on trying to score technical points, are not gonna go over well.
52
I found Dr. Ford to be polite, poised, attentive, helpful and direct. In one word: Credible. Coming forward out of a sense of civic duty, because with "100%" certainty, she knows Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her all those years ago, and is unworthy of a lifetime seat on our highest court.
I applaud her patriotism and bravery, but more importantly,
I believe her.
We must insist the FBI do a thorough investigation into all allegations brought forth by Dr. Ford and the other women accusing Kavanaugh of sexual assault/abuse — this sham GOP-led hearing is a rushed, insufficient excuse to ram through Kavanaugh's confirmation. Grassley, Graham and their party cohorts should be ashamed, their conduct is appalling.
95
When she said she remembered "the laughter" I started crying. . That one statement nailed it for me. I didn't doubt her before and don't understand how anyone can doubt her now.
Thank you, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford for you bravery. This country needed to hear your story.
282
@Michele that did it for me. That is what I remember too - the cackling laughter in my ear as my 8th grade classmate groped and fondled me. I will never forget it.
25
@Michele. They don’t doubt her; they know that she is telling the truth. However, they don’t care what this candidate did at 17. Many voters don’t care either. The real concern is to get a true right wing reactionary judge on that Court for the next 30 years. They snow job at today’s hearing was not to doubt
Dr. Ford but to make it appear as if she was the front for a conspiracy to knock out this nominee. Their task is to show what a sensitive guy Kavanaugh really is and to pretend that he is the real victim. And all those people who voted for Trump will agree. In the future Kavanaugh will show how little he actually cares about them— especially the 51% of the population that is women.
2
I believe Christine.
33
Judge Kavanaugh, please withdraw save your family if you cannot save yourself.
48
Agreed!
8
@Cecilia Cilli - I feel sorry for his daughters. He is lying repeatedly. How will they ever be able to trust anything he tells them?
3
She was sincere and credible. That's all she needs to counter Kavanaugh's smarmy script reading.
51
I literally have been unable to watch her testimony. I have been in a gut-wrenching knot all day. This has stirred-up stuff in me that had long stayed below the surface, including memories I would rather not recall. I am with this brave woman in spirit and marvel at what she is doing today.
559
#metoo
10
@JenD#metoo.#enough.
"...she was impressive." She brought honor and decency back into the public square and into the GOP-controlled Senate.
27
After Dr Ford's testimony - Senator Lindsay Graham said - Dr Ford is a nice lady that something bad happened to - but he is not convinced is was Judge Kavanaugh who did it --
It is important to watch Senator Lindsay Graham because he was the 'Righteous Passionate' Point person calling from Clinton's Impeachment - and - Senator Graham was the Leader on the Senate Clinton Impeachment Committee Hearings.
Watch and listen the words - now coming out of his mouth regrading Kavanaugh and Dr Ford - hypocrisy.
Believe the country will erupt with protests if Kavanaugh is confirmed to the Supreme Court.
Kavanuagh should bow out of his nomination - if, he were truly a fair and honorable Judge.
59
@Karen Once an outspoken critic of President Trump, Lindsay Graham is now incapable of acting for the good of our nation. Why? He needs to be replaced in November.
2
She was credible, There needs to be an FBI investigation to that her account can, if possible, be collaborated. I believed her and ached for her. She has shown her incredible strength. If Kavanaugh has lied about this, and I believe he has, he should be denied his prize. How many liars do we need on the Court?
19
I agree with your assessment of Dr. Ford.
7
A very brave woman, indeed. It was gut wrenching to watch. This is where Donald Trump has taken America and it is disgraceful.
31
I was assaulted/ fought off rape at 16 - very similar to Ford.
Searing details I'll never forget: being pinned down, his knees on my upper arms, trying to scream, him covering my mouth, then his hot breath in my ear "Go ahead and scream. I want to hear you scream..."
And somehow I fought him off. I don't know how - just like an edit in a film - next thing, I'm in my car driving home. Realizing my underwear has been torn. I lost my sweater and new camera I just got for my birthday a week before.
This was 26 years ago. I told no one, but 2 friends. I did not know this was assault. I thought it was "fighting off rape." I felt lucky that I got a way. I would not want this person on the Supreme Court.
Dr. Ford's testimony is so similar to mine. I believe her. 100%.
313
Comments by survivors like you over these past days has made me cry. My wife doesn't follow the comments, and I do too much, but I told her I couldn't believe the number of commenters who were coming forth with their stories. I can't comprehend being a man or boy like the ones in your recollections, and I cry that so many of them are out there. Thank you all. I hope we can all change minds, behaviors and paradigms for the better.
6
@SC
Thank you so very much for sharing your trauma. You and Dr. Ford are both incredibly brave.
1
God bless you Christine and I am sorry this man caused you so much pain. Thank you for reminding us what Civic duty is. Your scientific exactness was thrilling in front of all the questions . Credible,? Fabulously thank you and your family and thank you New York Times for making it available on your website
26
Like everything in our society, Dr. Ford’s testimony will be interpreted through partisan filters. Amazing to me that even Republican women who have experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment are standing by their man.
I’m a liberal Democrat so yes, my bias is towards believing her, but I think she is beyond credible.
I keep coming back to this question; who has more to gain from lying in this situation? Dr. Ford has virtually nothing to gain. I find the notion that this is a political ploy is absurd. If Kavanaugh is not confirmed, Trump will pick the next person on the Federalist Society list and rush him or her through.
Kavanaugh, on the other hand, has everything to gain from lying. And if he is really innocent, wouldn’t he be asking for a full investigation to be conducted? Why is Mark hiding out in a beach house in Delaware? If Kavanaugh were innocent, wouldn’t he be wanting to testify so he could exonerate his fellow Renate alumnus?
This stinks to high heaven.
88
“I remember their laughter,” said Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.
This is completely in keeping with boys/guys who’ve had too much to drink and think that ganging up on a defenseless girl/woman is just a hoot.
As a man, I can feel her humiliation and shame and pain and rage as these two guys were trying to take everything they could from Christine Blasey—while they were just getting their kicks. Sort of like “boys will be boys,” as Judge Kavanaugh’s (angry and resentful) defenders in the Senate are saying.
When you torture someone and find it fun and exciting, laughter-inducing , you’re not Supreme Court material. Period.
The good doctor knocked it out of the park.
252
Even with the predictable GOP circus around her, Dr. Ford was unfaltering. And perhaps more importantly, she broke wide open the festering wound of sexual assault that has plagued this nation for so long and absolutely must be addressed. Thank goodness for the voices of reason in Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, and Mazie Hirono, as no doubt the Republican clown car warms up for another lap.
18
Yes, but she was used by the Democrats. That is obvious. And there are too many holes in her story. No corroborating witnesses. That is pretty unbelievable.
4
False. There are corroborating witnesses. The Senate is not allowing them to testify. If this comes out looking like “he-said, she-said”, then that’s because the Senate Republicans DESIGNED it look that way.
34
@Stephen The question is not whether her testimony is "used" this way or that. The question is whether it is true. Focus.
21
@Stephen Let's just pretend for a second that what you say is true. Are you ready to have Kavanaugh sit and judge sexual assault legislation on the highest bench? Are you okay with the possibility that this man sexually assaulted several women? Do you truly believe him over three competent, professional, and intelligent people?
4
Truth to power. Thank you, Dr. Blasey Ford.
18
A brave woman with nothing to gain walking into the fire. Brava!
32
I believe Christine Blasey Ford and don't believe the accused male.
12
At least you heard the other side before making a call. Oh, wait.....
@Average American - Kavanaugh has spoken out multiple times, including his ridiculous appearance on Fox News.
6
Hmmm. Blasey Ford comes across as genuine and I don't doubt her testimony. However, how do the Democrats answer the charge that they knew of this weeks before and only decided to release this on the world at the last possible moment to derail the Kavanaugh appointment? Politics as usual, or are the Democrats really concerned about women's rights and date rape? This has the stench of swamp water.
2
@No I'm Spartacus So...you believe the accuser...which means that Kavanaugh is lying...and you are more concerned with the timing than the fact that Kavanaugh has unequivocally LIED about never drinking to excess, never treating woman in a less than respectful way...hell, those two things are ridiculous statements on their face. Look, I don't think people should be judged on the stupidity of their youth, but I also don't want self-serving liars on the high court.
8
@No I'm Spartacus
What is your point? If you believe she is speaking the truth (by which I mean, she was sexually assaulted by Kavanaugh), what is the relevance of whatever the Democrats may have done politically?
It sounds as if some people are right on the cusp of saying, "Well, Kavanaugh, I believe Dr. Ford, which means I believe you are sexual predator. Having repeatedly denied facts I believe to be true, you also reveal a lack of remorse for these acts, meaning that your character is the same today as it was decades ago in that room. Obviously, whatever your other credentials, you are morally unfit to decide matters of earthly justice, to say nothing of the theocratic brand of law my party reveres. Nevertheless... the Democrats must be taught a lesson about frustrating Republican ambitions. Congratulations, 'Justice' Kavanaugh."
Madness.
5
@No I'm Spartacus. That has been answered many times. Ford's initial letter asked for confidentiality. Feinstein couldn't bring it up, as tossing in an unnamed accuser would not be fair.
There is no necessary time line here. Do a proper investigation.
thank you dr christine blasey ford.
I believe you .
godspeed
36
That Dr. Ford is making herself so vulnerable before all of us demonstrates how unlikely it is that she would put herself through the wringer for something that wasn't true and deeply personal.
The emotionality of her testimony is also in sharp contrast to Kavanaugh's flat, scripted interview.
39
Thank you, Dr. Blasey.
25
Let's NOT hit the brakes, as the previous commenter suggests, except to consider the courage, decency, intelligence, and honesty of the brave woman who testified this morning--and to recognize how powerfully her testimony challenges the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh. I had watched more to see whatever holes she might blow in Kavanaugh's suspiciously seemless story. I emerged in tears, horrified by what she endured and by the cynical response to her obvious truthfulness by the Republican message machine. May her story be believed, and may a reckless teenager, contemptuous of women and of his social "inferiors" who grew up to be a partisan hatchet man not be confiined as a Supreme Court Justice. The Senate owes this nation better than that.
46
The Times and the Post will keep digging and they will find the witnesses, and they will fill in this story where the senate won't.
And as those papers plumb the depths of this sleazy crowd, I wonder if at the tom they will find - Neil Gorsuch?
11
I'd like to hear what Ross Douthat has to say after yesterday's column suggesting nothing is certain and it's basically he said/she said.
I believe her.
30
The most ordinary of us are capable of doing the most extraordinary. Brave Dr ford will open the window for many folks to demand our lawmakers and elected officials of an overlooked trait, character.
23
I have not been able to watch an entire clip from the NYT. It is too distressing to witness the private anguish of this woman who could be any one of us.
Even had I not experienced my own adult version of Ms. Blasey Ford's nightmare, there is no possible way that I could - as a living, breathing, sentient being - remain untouched by her testimony.
Bless you, Frank, for your humane and direct, yet nuanced writing about this moment in history.
And bless Ms. Ford and her family for undergoing this exposure for which I hope there is vindication not only on a personal scale, but also on a nationwide - and, indeed, a global scale - for women who have for too long been subjugated to lives without a voice and without power to self-determine.
36
THe most ordinary of us are capable of doing the most extraordinary. Brave Dr ford will open the window for many folks to demand our lawmakers and elected officials better be made of an overlooked trait, character.
10
My 91 year old father just called me to express his reaction to Dr. Blasey Ford. He does not have a computer or internet access and could not have read your column. His reaction to her testimony mirrored yours, almost to the letter.
38
Without the FBI investigation and other witnesses under oath testifying it will come down to he said/she said. And history indicates the man will be the one believed. Nothing is more symbolic in this case than Dr Ford's accusation that Kavanaugh kept his hand over her mouth. Despite her telling her story to a national audience the Republicans' attempt, led by Trump, to slut shame her will be their excuse to confirm.
11
"...If you’re middle-aged, she’s you..."
Yes. I am 52 years old, and wow, is this an affecting moment for me. The middle aged women that I know are mad as hell, because they have seen how the world has affected women of all stripes - they have lived it.
Thank you to Sen. Blumenthal for being the first to say "I believe you". It means more to hear that than to hear that Ford is inspiring and courageous, though that is also true.
697
@Cousy Ah yes, at 75, she's my daugher, now 50, who has been sexually attacked. Thank you Dr. Ford for speaking out for all victims with your bravery and candor.
13
@Cousy
"...if you’re a millennial, she’s your mom.”
Yep. And hopefully she's not an older version of your daughters too.
3
A key component of authenticity is the ability to acknowledge and admit fault. You can acknowledge your own shortcomings without bowing to your opposition. Said a different way: The ability to demonstrate humility without compromising honesty. That's not something you see much in politics these days. By contrast, I would say the ethos of politics is hubris without compromise. The contrast between the two was very much on display this morning.
12
Her testimony has changed nothing about the underlying evidence in the case. However, that's not the point. So far the political strategy has worked for the Democrats. She doesn't really need to meet any burden or proof or credibility. Just get the story out in a human way, which she did, admittedly without a good cross examination. Republicans would have done better examining her by exhuming Arlen Specter. Democrats are ahead halfway through on points.
4
@Frunobulax
Yes, I'm sure that given the opportunity you would have had a grand old time conducting a brutal cross-examination for the grand old party.
But here's the thing. However much you may want to apply the burdens of criminal law to Dr. Ford's testimony, we are not watching a criminal trial. We are not deciding whether or not we are going to remove Kavanaugh from society and stick him in a rather small box. For all the pomp and circumstance, Kavanaugh is in the middle of a job interview. If hired, his contract is for the rest of his life and he will have demonstrable power to affect the daily lives of millions in a way that is (as far as you and I are concerned) beyond review. If appointed to SCOTUS, the people who find themselves before Kavanaugh and his colleagues will be speaking to the court of FINAL appeal regarding their rights. That's the kind of power we are being asked to hand over to this man.
Does the country need proof beyond a reasonable doubt to justify withholding such power from him? Absolutely not. We don't even need a preponderance. What's the level of suspicion one needs to justify calling off a marriage? Whatever it is, that's about the burden of proof necessary here.
It is Kavanaugh's task to put our collective minds at ease on any given all matter, not least of which, whether he has ever committed acts of sexual violence. If he cannot do that, well, so much the worse for him.
2
@Frunobulax - Dr. Blasey Ford is a phycologist, not an actress. The personal is the political.
2
Yeah, it's all about points. In the worldwide joke that is Trump's GOP, it's all about points. Truth and integrity need not apply.
1
Those of us with sexual assault in our past immediately identified with Dr. Blasley Ford’s reference to derisive laughter that stood out in her memory. Her painful insistence to be helpful also reminded us the desire to please at every chance, most likely to deflect an attack. These made her believable and vulnerable at the same time. The republican desire to make her testimony not credible has failed. She spoke truth to power and was successful to stand for her character and the character of all victims.
55
This was live television at its best. As riveting as the McCarthy hearings. I was glued to the TV. Dr.Ford came across as entirely believable. Steady. Genuine. Authentic. A flat denial from Judge K will not resolve questions about his character or credibility. He is not fit to serve on SCOTUS.
185
She confirmed her credibility. I've always thought her story was probably true because even though I'm getting on a bit I remember what late teenage boys are like after a few beers. It's human chemistry and I'm even sympathetic to the view that middle aged men shouldn't be hung out to dry based on what they did between the ages of 16 and 24 but I've little doubt Kavanaugh is lying abut this encounter and this is part of a pattern of evasiveness he has exhibited throughout this entire process. Kavanaugh should withdraw for his and everyone else's sake. He's still an appeals court judge would just disappear back into relative obscurity and get on with his life.
119
@John
It's possible that if today's testimony is deemed credible, he will be impeached in his current position. The Dems may well investigate this more thoroughly if they regain the House (likely) and the Senate (possible now) in November. He has a lot at stake. If the allegations are true, he should have withdrawn his name.
15
@John - The idea of Kavanaugh continuing to have the power of any kind of judge makes me feel sick. The man lies under oath, hides his work record from history and polishes his imaginary halo like a duplicitous and precocious mommy's boy. I wouldn't want to depend on him deciding what the family eats for dinner, let alone matters of legal consequence.
9
@MJM
There are plenty of other obnoxious individuals sitting on federal appeals courts.
@Judy
The Democrats shouldn't impeach, Kavanaugh should withdraw.
Given nobody seems to actually want to hear from people who TREAT trauma, I wanted to speak as a psychologist. Mr. Graham seems to suggest that the fine details she remembers cannot co-exist with the fact that she does not remember how she got home or which house. These are completely understandable from a trauma point of view. Trauma creates segmented memories often in bits and pieces. Body sensations, images, sounds, smells, emotional states, thoughts in the moment. Especially immediately after trauma I would EXPECT she wouldn't remember how she got home. It's just not very likely she misremembered who did this to her. She has nothing to gain, much to lose (still) and she has without a doubt been traumatized and experienced this assault. That's not political--it's trauma psychology and experience treating it.
339
Some people may find Dr. Blasey Ford's resorting to highly technical neurological language to describe her particular memories of being assaulted as somehow odd. They are actually the very mark of her victory over the trauma that dislocated her life for years afterwards. She chose to become an expert on the injury that plagued her, and in so doing, reasserted her autonomy after having had it taken away in a moment of drunken violence.
Brett Kavanaugh now stands condemned by her entire career, with nothing but alcohol-muddled recollections to defend himself with. A decent man would withdraw now.
241
@Bill Levine: by her own admission, she was drinking too.
@Concerned Citizen
Well, I guess it's okay that she was assaulted then...after all she had the temerity to show up to a party with friends, have a beer and go to the bathroom by herself. There but for the grace of God go I.
2
@Concerned Citizen Yes. She had drunk one beer, according to het testimony. At the same time she doesn't seem to have assaulted anyone. So your point is...?
2
Christine Bravo! What a refreshing and poignant presence after Kavanaugh's elliptical and evasive answers at the confirmation hearing.
63
As a 68 year-old woman, looking back at my 15 year-old self, I am not certain of many things. But I am absolutely certain that had I been to a drinking party in a home with no parental supervision, and had I been violated as Dr. Blasey was, I would not, under any circumstances, tell a soul. Shame, remorse, guilt, fear, and pain, would have kept me from revealing the events of that night. It may very well be that Brett Kavanaugh does not remember a thing about that night. It was not imprinted on his soul as it was on his victim. I am fortunate. I did not have the experience of assault by a so-called friend. But I can say without doubt, that Dr. Blasey should be a patron saint to all women who have the courage to endure in silence until they have to courage to speak. There are so many women who can now look to her and know that they are not alone.
563
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Dr. Blasey. I only had time to watch her opening statement before heading to work. I could feel her emotions by watching her body language and I could not stop my eyes from welling up. See is amazingly strong. God bless her.
29
Not believing Dr. Ford's nothing-short-of-riveting testimony is like the NFL refusing to believe that head butting causes brain injuries in football. It is like those who refuse to believe scientific evidence that shows human intervention is contributing to climate change. It is like the food industry denying that the additives and chemicals in our food are contributing to poorer and poorer dietary health. It is like the Tobacco industry denying that cigarette smoking can cause cancer.
The Republican Party, by creating a seat for Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court along with Clarence Thomas, sets the stage for the continued cultural belief that the personal and professional lives of women are simply not as fundamentally important as those of men.
Everything is at stake for women in Kavanaugh's appointment to the SCOTUS - their ability to control their bodies, their lives, their financial futures, their professional productivity. Quite literally women's full participation in our country as equals is at stake.
I do wonder how the Republican men on this Senate hearing committee could be married and look their own mothers, wives and daughters in the eyes and say, "I believe Kavanaugh over Dr. Ford."
As long as women's stories about incidences of sexual misconduct are tossed out the window without regard, there will be no ultimate respect for women.
But, then again, we don't respect and protect Mother Earth either. And that is significant.
372
@Giselle Minoli Yes, to everything you wrote here. And I wonder how those mothers, wives and daughters of the Republican men on this Senate hearing committee can stand to look at them anymore.
7
@Giselle Minoli You make excellent points. However, I wanted to take this opportunity to correct the idea that attempted rape is somehow only "sexual misconduct." At the very least what Dr. Ford described was a violent assault--which is a crime, it is not mere sexual misconduct. Attempted rape is also a violent crime. If her account is true (and I personally believe her account) it means that Kavanaugh committed a crime for which he was never caught or punished. Criminals do not belong on the SC.
6
Thank you for your half-time report Frank. I found Senator Graham's comments after Prof. Ford's testimony interesting. He said that he would not reward Democrats who he claims deliberately delayed disclosure of Prof. Ford's accusations against Judge Kavanaugh in an effort to preclude him from being appointed to the Supreme Court before the November mid-term elections. I tend to agree with Senator Graham that this is what Democrats intended. However, I don't think Americans should be punished for the Democrats' political machinations by having someone appointed to the Supreme Court who, when all is said and done, may not deserve to be a member of the highest court in the land.
41
@Jay Orchard
Amen.
2
This is a sane, partisan, comment. Thank you for providing it. It stands in stark contrast to the large number of Republican voters who believe that Democrats have played political games with Dr. Ford’s testimony and thus are willing to dismiss anything she says when evaluating Judge Kavanaugh’s fitness for a Supreme Court seat.
3
@Jay Orchard
Democrats "deliberately delayed"?
Two words in response: Merrick Garland.
2
Yes, Prof. Blasey Ford was a "profile in courage."
I believe it is courage that we, the American people lack, today.
I think it is a lack of courage that brought us, Donald J. Trump.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We need the courage to stand up for what we believe in, whether we can prove it, or not. This hearing, is an example, and I imagine images and video clips will be replayed, over and over to remind us of courage and the honest expression of facts and beliefs.
So, I hope Prof. Blasey Ford will be fully recognized for her courage.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
111
All Americans owe Christine Blasey Ford a deep debt of gratitude in speaking truth to corrupt Grand Old Power that would prefer to sweep the truth and most of its citizens under a rug.
It took enormous courage and backbone for her to do her civic duty in objecting to this latest chapter of the long-running Republican hijacking of American government.
Brett Kavanaugh deserves a rebuttal and will receive one, but he also has already revealed himself as less than candid, 'lawyerly' in his responses and he has demonstrated a comfort level for publicly lying and obfuscating, not to mention a record as a partisan Republican.
Let's hope a few Republican Senators show half the spine Christine Blasey Ford has and vote against the lying frat-boy.
And let all Americans repay the civil and moral greatness of Christine Blasey Ford by marching to the polls on November 6 2018 to speak truth to corrupt Grand Old Power and ejecting every single corrupt Republican from public office nationwide.
This deplorable Republican political coup d'etat has gone on long enough.
Thank you from America, Christine Blasey Ford.
We owe you one.
745
Also writing before Kavanaugh begins his testimony:
Dr. Ford exemplifie what coming forward as a citizen to stop a travesty means, and her attorneys demonstrate the very definition of pro bono.
We're thankful that the GOPers' hired gun, Rachel Mitchell, asked a question which allowed Dr. Ford to mention there are GoFundMe pages set up for her benefit :)
As well, if Dr. Ford learned her citizenship values, her poise, and her tremendous resilience at Holman-Arms, then we suspect that school's waiting list for admissions is deservedly being overwhelmed by parents and young women all over this country.
36
@R. Law: guess you blame JUST THE BOYS down the road at Geogetown for being woman-raping drunken monsters…but their SISTERS at Holman-Arms are perfect saintly "citizens" who do no wrong?
Guess you did not read the yearbooks FROM HOLMAN ARMS, where the girls talk about getting blackout drunk….having sex….doing drugs….all the things the boys do, including hard partying and "Beach week"….
@R. Law - Ooops, make that Holton Arms.
3
@Concerned Citizen - Did any of those girls sexually assault someone?
1
Veni, vidi, vici. She came, she saw, she conquered… not only our hearts, but also our minds. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford was absolutely compelling, sincere and believable. She is going to be a hard act to follow. If Judge Kavanaugh is anything like he was in his Fox interview the other day, he might as well not show up.
Thank you, Dr. Ford for being so courageous and lifting the spirits of both, women and men across the country.
262
@Jack Nargundkar
Apparently Donald didn't like Kavanaugh's performance on Fox News.
So hence, they spiced Kavanaugh's rehearsals up with more practiced expressions of outrage.
5
It was easy for her opponents to dismiss her when she was just words on a page. Hearing this searing, disarmingly honest, completely authentic testimony should make it harder for any person with a heart. Let's hope a handful of Republican senators can locate theirs.
The word "patriot" is tossed around blithely on Fox News. To put your personal safety and your good name on the line in the service of your country--I know of no greater patriotism.
I salute this brave and forthright woman.
676
Republicans don’t believe her.
Fox News articles state kavanaugh was convincing and came out swinging.
Shameful.
1
She was a lot of things, but mostly, she's not even finished and you are writing the narrative. Hit the brakes, please. All will come in the fullness of time.
3
@TD No, it won't.
4
Is she still testifying? Then it would seem that a comment on her testimony is perfectly appropriate.
And speaking of “the fullness of time,” could you explain exactly how one squares that with Grassley’s unseemly rush, and McConnell’s scheduling the vote for about ten minutes from five minutes ago?
8
@Robert
Ask Feinstein why she withheld it-quite the unseemly delay.
Well spoken, Mr. Bruni.
I concur wholeheartedly.
Christine Blasely Ford IS America.
and America has spoken.
Clearly, concisely, fairly.
Now it's time to just let this Kavanaugh nominee go.
We must keep the shine on our Justice system.
A tainted justice system, even by appearance, robs America of much needed hope and courage.
Our kids are watching.
Their hopes and dreams stand in the balance.
Congress, please do not fail them.
97
@Cliff Cowles: WHERE has "America" spoken"? before the accused has a chance of answering charges against him?
It's just a one-sided liberal dog-and-pony show?
1
Kavanuagh has spoken. His wooden, repetitive, over-rehearsed pap on Fox News (after emerging from his hideout in the White House - a real non-partisan there), his numerous lies in previous confirmation hearings, his absolute failure to answer any of his current hearing questions directly. Yeah, we've seen him testify. And it is ugly.
7
Thanks Frank. Nicely put. I wanted to give her a hug. I imagine (almost) anyone listening did.
199
I too found her extremely credible, and very likable. It was too painful to watch the whole thing because I felt her pain. I had to turn it off. A 20 year old young man just commented to a friend: "she's being paid millions by the Democrats." What a sad place we are in.
55
I admire you Christine Blasey Ford. You were outstanding with your courage and genuine personality. Every time you hold your tears, I shed one here on behind the screen watching your testimony, feeling the pain you, and so many of us have gone through.
Kudos to you.
346
"It was impossible not to like her. It’s difficult not to believe her." That's how I felt, yet there are plenty of people out of there who are demonizing and doubting her. They will only see what they want to see.
218
And the believers will only believe what they want to believe.
Regardless of one's leanings, as an American let me say, Thank you Dr Blasey Ford for your courage. And regardless of how this turns out for Kavanaugh, may you have at least some peace of mind going forward knowing you did an honorable thing today.
773
@Allentown
Dr. Christine Blasey Ford is no Sallie Hemmings nor Recy Taylor nor Carrie Butler.
Brett Kavanaugh is no Emmett Louis Till nor Mack Charles Parker nor Clarence Thomas nor Scottsboro Boy.
See " At the Dark End of the Street: Blsck Women Rape and Resistance" Danielle McGuire; " At the Hands of Persons Unknown: The Lynching of Black America" Phillip Dray; "Dog-Whistle Politics : How Coded Racial Appeals Reinvented Racism and Wrecked the Middle Class " Ian Haney Lopez ; museumandmemorial.eji.org.
I watched Dr Ford present her testimony. I had to turn it off after Grassley exhibited cluelessness, and a crackled voice that did not suggest a wise man but a practitioner of calumny.
The Senators all seemed so out of touch from their ivory towers. i sat through the Anita Hill hearings as well.
If there is any justice, Kavanaugh will withdraw.
432
@Daniel P Quinn I'm sure he won't withdraw. And, am just as certain he has been told not to, that this is all an uncomfortable formality and nothing will deter his confirmation.
6
@Daniel P Quinn there’s not a chance he withdraws.. none he is all in as are the republicans
3
@Daniel P Quinn
Not going to happen - he and the gop feel entitled to that, and every other seat that becomes vacant.
2