The claim by the Republican party to be the party of ‘the rule of law’ was officially abdicated at about 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time on October 6, 2018 when Republicans, via a virtual party line vote – Joe Manchin who is a Democrat in name only (DINO) voted with them – confirmed Brett Kavanaugh to become a Supreme Court Justice judge. Judge Kavanaugh was confirmed despite the credible charge of attempted rape that was levied against him by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, by way of support of a so called FBI investigation into that charge which was initiated by and controlled by the Republican Party.
During that investigation, which was supposed to last not more than a week but was closed in about three days, someone in the Republican Party – either the White House or the senate – handcuffed the FBI by limiting it to the number of witnesses it could interview and who those witnesses could be. Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh were not among those who could be interviewed. Not only was who actually handcuffed the FBI kept secret but once the investigation was complete, its contents were not made available to the public and could only be viewed by senators. And those senators were restricted from talking to the public about what they had read in the documents provided to them by way of the investigation.
The Republicans then used what they said was ‘the fact’ that the seventh (this investigation) investigation of Judge Kavanaugh still did not reveal any more derogatory information about him than had been revealed in the prior six to clear his name in order to confirm him to become a Supreme Court judge. In particular, prior to telling America whether or not she would vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh (anyone with the slightest inkling of political savvy already knew that she would vote ‘yes’), senator Susan Collins of Maine went on a rambling 45 minute speech about how great and independent Judge Kavanaugh had been all of his life and is now. Rather than him being extremely conservative and possibly having even the slightest hint of being a political operative, during her speech she transformed him into the person that she wanted him to be in order for her to get to her vote of ‘yes’ to confirm him, which she wanted desperately to reach.
Senator Collins is not stupid and I do not think that she is naive. She knew exactly what she was doing when she gave her rambling 45 minute speech. She desperately wanted to be a team player and to please Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in this situation and the fact that she obviously really likes Judge Kavanaugh made it easier for her to get to her ‘yes’ vote. Unfortunately, she will likely ultimately find out that Senator Mitch McConnell will treat her like a woman first and then like a team player. The title ‘man’ for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, will always hold priority over the title ‘woman’ when it comes to ‘man’ team player and ‘woman’ team player in the senate. What Majority Leader McConnell wanted most in this instance was a win…and he got it and more with the help of Senator Collins. She betrayed victims of sexual assault and perhaps all women for what she hoped would be 12 pieces of silver. Only time will reveal whether she will receive her 12 pieces of silver or struggle to look at herself in the mirror. Senate Majority Leader McConnell has proven to be a shrewd political operative and, as such, he will do (and did) whatever it takes to secure a win.
I mentioned in a previous article about how brave and determined to do the right thing that Senator Jeff Flake was. I also mentioned in that article that although what he did was likely but a brief moment of bravery, it was worth noting and that he should be given credit for it. That notwithstanding, I do not see how things could have changed so much in his mind with the sham of an FBI investigation that took place that he could with good conscience vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh knowing what he knows and witnessing the way that Judge Kavanaugh conducted himself during his testimony to the senate.
It appears that in the end, Senator Flake chose personal ambition and party over what was the right thing to do. I choose to believe that Senator Flake’s decision to call for an FBI investigation prior to confirming Judge Kavanaugh was sincere and not a ploy to provide cover for his party. Only he, and any others that he might have collaborated with if it was a ploy, knows the true answer to this question. Either way, he – like Senator Collins, will ultimately have to face the person in the mirror.
I cannot end this article without addressing Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. I did not say Democratic senator Joe Manchin because Senator Manchin, in this case and many others, is a DINO. He acts like a Republican, talks like a Republican, and obviously votes like a Republican. It appears that he simply appropriated the title, Democrat, because it is in his best interest. Some refer to him as a moderate Democrat and others refer to him as a conservative Democrat. Whichever he is, he has voted with Mr. Donald Trump most of the time (up to 71%). In the Brett Kavanaugh situation, when Democrats needed him most, he voted with Republicans to confirm Judge Kavanaugh.
Democrats do not need a senator who is a Democrat in name only. If in crucial situations that person is going to vote like a Republican – if it is not strongly supported by facts that assure that it is the right thing to do, they might as well be a Republican. I would hope that the DNC would not waste its money by supporting Senator Manchin. Even if they choose to, I will not donate any of my hard earned money to support him and I believe that there are a lot of other Democrats, men and women, who feel the same way that I do.
Do not be dismayed Democrats and all of those who know that what occurred today, October 6, 2018, was totally partisan, all about power, and the wrong thing to do. Keep fighting and be sure to show up at the polls and vote in November. And always remember, your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it!
Eulus Dennis – author, Operation Rubik’s Cube and Living Between The Line