Tuesday 25 September 2018

What if Trump is proved wrong about Judge Brett Kavanaugh?

Donald Trump is sticking with Brett Kavanaugh as his nominee for the Supreme Court and dismisses the sex assault accusations against him, saying it's all a political stunt by the Democratic Party. He also insists Kavanaugh is an amazing bloke whose middle name is integrity. Although I guess the president has had little alternative but to support his nominee, what if it turns out that the judge is lying - or has serious memory loss - and the women who have come forward with their stories of his sexual misbehaviour can back them up with proof, and the Senate Judiciary Committee believes them? If Kavanaugh is not confirmed for the Supreme Court, it won't be just a matter of Trump shrugging his shoulders and nominating someone else. Kavanaugh is Trump's perfect candidate for the Supreme Court because at his age - only 53 - he will be around long enough to have a huge influence on judgement-making in the court - the sort of influence Trump will find to his personal and political taste. Losing Kavanaugh will also be a blow to Trump's judgement, prestige and leadership. It could give a huge boost to the Democrats in the midterm elections on November 6. In other words, if Kavanaugh is not confirmed by the Judiciary Committee or by the full Senate, as required, it will be disastrous for Trump. No wonder he is going out of his way to trash the women who have come forward and to bellow what a good bloke his nominee is. Kavanaugh appearing on Fox News with his wife to denounce the accusations against him was extraordinary. It was also desperate and could go against him on Thursday when Professor Christine Blasey Ford appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee and gives her alleged account of how she was assaulted when she was 15. It will be one of the most dramatic appearances of any confirmation hearing of this sort. I don't think Trump can win this one. If the Republican members of the committee and the Senate rough-ride over the Democrats and confirm Kavanaugh's nomination whatever Dr Ford says, the voters, even Trump supporters, might take their revenge on November 6. If Dr Ford fails to convince the committee members, Democrats as well as Republicans, it will still leave a very unpleasant taste in the mouth. The voters might take their revenge anyway.

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