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Kavanaugh Hearings Open Thread

By Scott Lemieux

On September 4, 2018

At 10:22 am

In General

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, from left, Brett Kavanaugh, U.S. Supreme Court associate justice nominee for U.S. President Donald Trump, and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, stand during a meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, July 10, 2018. Senate Republicans are pledging a swift confirmation process that would put Kavanaugh on the bench before the new term opens Oct. 1, and there is little Democrats can do to stop them. Photographer: Chip Somodevilla/Pool via Bloomberg

A little more drama than usual! A couple points:

The prominent role of Harris and Booker in drawing attention to the failure of the majority to follow basic norms, and the highlighting of the Garland obstruction, are important because while the Dems can’t stop Kavanaugh they do need to mobilize around his nomination and what he represents. Liberals care a lot less about the courts — which is one reason Trump won — and this has to change. The 2020 contenders seem a lot more serious about this than Obama was. And thanks to Trump Kavanaugh is really unpopular, presenting an excellent opportunity.
Grassley’s willful refusal to pronounce Justice Sotomayor’s name close to correctly is a good symbol for his desire to ram through a fifth vote to maintain the total gutting of the Voting Rights Act as quickly as possible.

The scene outside Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing this morning. #SCOTUS pic.twitter.com/FkCsjbsaWw
— Kevin Daley (@KevinDaleyDC) September 4, 2018

…the “Ginsburg rule” being invoked by Grassley is complete bullshit. RBG was clear that she thought Roe was correct.