Late last week, as I’m sure most of you will remember, Senator Diane Feinstein went public with news that a woman had sent a letter to her office claiming that, several decades ago, Supreme Court nominee Bret Kavanaugh, while a high school student, had attempted to rape her at a party. While refusing to identify the author of the letter, saying that she had requested anonymity, Feinstein indicated that the letter had been forwarded to the authorities… Kavanaugh, as you might expect, issued a statement denying the attack. “I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation,” the Supreme Court said. “I did not do this back in high school, or at any time.” And the GOP, hoping to kill the story, released a list of 65 women not sexually molested by Kavanaugh in high school, and, then, for good measure, began attacking Feinstein for coming forward with what they claim she knew to be a bogus accusation… Well, apparently none of that sat well with the author of the letter, Christine Blasey Ford, who decided to out herself this afternoon.
Following is an excerpt from the Washington Post interview with Christine Blasey Ford, who is now a well-respected professor of clinical psychology at Palo Alto University.
Earlier this summer, Christine Blasey Ford wrote a confidential letter to a senior Democratic lawmaker alleging that Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her more than three decades ago, when they were high school students in suburban Maryland. Since Wednesday, she has watched as that bare-bones version of her story became public without her name or her consent, drawing a blanket denial from Kavanaugh and roiling a nomination that just days ago seemed all but certain to succeed.
Now, Ford has decided that if her story is going to be told, she wants to be the one to tell it.
Speaking publicly for the first time, Ford said that one summer in the early 1980s, Kavanaugh and a friend — both “stumbling drunk,” Ford alleges — corralled her into a bedroom during a gathering of teenagers at a house in Montgomery County.
While his friend watched, she said, Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed on her back and groped her over her clothes, grinding his body against hers and clumsily attempting to pull off her one-piece bathing suit and the clothing she wore over it. When she tried to scream, she said, he put his hand over her mouth.
“I thought he might inadvertently kill me,” said Ford, now a 51-year-old research psychologist in northern California. “He was trying to attack me and remove my clothing.”
Ford said she was able to escape when Kavanaugh’s friend and classmate at Georgetown Preparatory School, Mark Judge, jumped on top of them, sending all three tumbling. She said she ran from the room, briefly locked herself in a bathroom and then fled the house.
Ford said she told no one of the incident in any detail until 2012, when she was in couples therapy with her husband…
And, with that, a lot of the pieces started to fall into place… Mark Judge, you see, is a conservative author, who, in the past, has written about his days of being a rich, young binge drinker looking to get laid in 1980’s DC. While his social media accounts are busy being scrubbed at the moment, the photo at the top of this post is something that he’d posted some time ago on Facebook. That’s Brett Kavanaugh in the back row, second from the right. [The photo, as I understand it, was taken in 1981, not long before the alleged attack.] And, Kavanaugh, by the way, seems to show up in one of Judge’s books, Wasted: Tales of a Gen X Drunk, as a fellow drunk by the name of Bart O’Kavanaugh. So the two did go to school together, and it would appear that they often drank to the point of blacking out. Does this prove this most recent allegation against Kavanaugh? Not exactly. But it does make me wonder who else might step forward, now that Christine Blassey Ford has shown the courage to stand up and speak out. I know it’s possible that, if this happened, it was a one time occurrence, but I suspect, if you’re the kind of man to attempt rape once, you’re the kind of man to attempt it again.
For what it’s worth, this Mark Judge character seems to still be creepy as fuck. Again, all of his social media accounts are presently down, but, before they got pulled, someone grabbed a number of still images from his “films” that had been posted to Youtube… films of young women in bathtubs, draped over beds, and, for some reason, holding books near their breasts. You can find quite a few online, but here’s an example of his “art”.
One last thing about Judge. He authored a piece not too long ago about how, after his bike was stolen “in a black part of town,” he’d decided to put his “white guilt” behind him, and become a conservative. And, by “conservative,” he pretty clearly means “racist.”
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Talking Points Memo: “Feinstein, Schumer Call For Pause In Kavanaugh Nom Over Assault Allegation”
Read more:
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/feinstein-calls-for-pause-in-kavanaugh-nom-until-fbi-investigates-alleged-sexual-assault
The Senate Judiciary Committee issued a statement after the Washington Post story came out. They apparently aren’t concerned about the allegations of attempted rape. They are, however, concerned about the fact that Feinstein chose to release the letter when she did, just as they were getting ready to vote. These people are despicable.
Politico editor Carrie Budoff Brown:
A lawyer close to the White House said the nomination will not be withdrawn. “No way, not even a hint of it. If anything, it’s the opposite. If somebody can be brought down by accusations like this, then you, me, every man certainly should be worried.”
A new low for the Democrats.
She took a polygraph, Jan. Would you happen to know if he did? Just curious.
Also, Lindsey Graham is a vile human being.
The men of the Republican party don’t see a problem with this. They’re all cut from the same cloth. They’re all entitled white men to take what they want.
Ed Rollins, the co-chairman of the pro-Trump Great America PAC, said about the Kavanaugh accusations: “If this is the new standard, no one will ever want or be able to serve in government or on the judiciary.”
He’s like a character straight out of a Brett Easton Ellis novel.
I saw an amazing exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum today called Soul of aNation: Art in the age of Black Power. It covered Black American artists from the 60’s to the present, roughly the span of my lifetime. I left feeling like, at 52, I’d already witnessed too much American history.
I do hope things will get better after this lowest point, but the Kavanaugh stuff (so familiar) reminds me how, no matter how much we know some kinds of behavior are both wrong and damaging , there will be many others who just don’t see it, or refuse to. I don’t know how we’ll ever really progress.
It’s a big joke to them.
I am so very sick and tired of rich, entitled, white men
Yeah, Kim and Anne, you’re so right that only rich guys rape. Middle-class and poor men don’t. Also, only white men rape.
I’m surprised Jean didn’t join in on that with the two of you. She really dropped the ball.
Jan is hilarious. Can you imagine a Trump supporter talking about “a new low” for anyone?
Yeah, Jan, it’s so low for the Democrats to take advantage of the Republicans once again nominating a rapist for office. I don’t know how Democrats can live with themselves.
I am so very sick and tired of these rapist men whose mothers are all named Kim or Anne.
Hey Jan! If you think the Democrats have sunk to a new low now, just wait ‘til you see the campaign ads they run against the Senators who try to push through the nomination of a rapist.
Who is so dumb as to get their bike stolen in a Washington D.C. ghetto? As stupid and ridiculous Mark Judge is, he did stop Kavanaugh from proceeding with the rape of Christine Ford. For that, I am sure she is thankful.
It seems pretty clear that Mark Judge felt he had to do something to stop his rapist pal Kavanaugh, without doing it in a direct confrontational way. Some of us would have been less tactful and just used a baseball bat or something, forever losing that precious friend.
iRobert – I did not say anything about “only rich white men rape.” I said I was sick and tired of ENTITLED, rich, white men. By that, I mean Donald, McConnell, Ryan, Graham, Kavanaugh, Pence and all the rest of the cabal who have bought their way into our government. They make and enforce laws that govern women and people of color without our interest or needs even considered. There intent is to oppress. They are privileged and they are callous. They are inhumane and do not have a drop of compassion. They do not know suffering. They live in gold towers and their existence is devoted to creating and maintaining a wealthy oligarchy. If you don’t agree with me fine, but do not misrepresent me.
Why not extend your accusations to mentioning their religion and sexual orientation while you’re at it. Go ahead. That’s the course you’re on. Why not mention eye color or height too, while your at it, Anne?
I’m just sick of all the rapists raised by mothers named Anne. I’m talking about Anne Smith, Anne Jones, Anne Doe.
By the way, Anne, a rapist is a sociopath. A sociopath is the way they are because of their early developmental experiences. That’s also “suffering.” Suffering is not just what creates victims. It is also what creates victimizers.
I’m sick of all these pasty white, rich, male, Christian, heterosexuals.
I’m speaking of Mark Maynard, or course.
Are the men in nearly all positions of power in the Middle East not as reprehensible? How about the men who occupy almost all positions of power in Africa? What about South America? How about the Asian men who hold almost ever seat of power in the continent which has a population more than ten times that of North America?
Is there a reason you want to leave non-white individuals out of your expansion of an issue that is obviously purely about men and abusive dominance? Is there a reason you want to lessen the crimes non-“rich” men in your expansion of this issue with men?
I’m asking rhetorically of course. It’s painfully obvious what your intention is.
Hopefully, Jean will step in and continue your line of racist and classist hate-speech. She’s a big proponent.
I’m sorry. I must make a correction. I meant to say the population of Asia is more than ten times that of the US (and Canada). I wouldn’t want to include Mexican men in that horrible group of white, male, rich, heterosexual, Christian, fat, North American rapists.
Again, no offense, Mark.
I get your point, iRobert, but you’re coming across like the guy yelling “all lives matter” at the funeral of black kid killed by cops.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe Ruth Bader Ginsburg, or any other female member of the Supreme Court, has ever been accused of attempted rape. Maybe it’s time to put more women on the court.
I didn’t realize this was a funeral. Makes sense though. What is this a funeral for? Sanity? Reason? Intelligence? Probably all of the above and more.
In the imaginations of the idiots who comment on this blog, I’m sure all sorts of absurd things are conjured up in reaction to my comments.
Some of the commenters on this blog probably think you are actually an eel, Eel.
Debra Katz, the lawyer of Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser, says her client is “willing to do what she needs to do” before the Senate Judiciary Committee as Republicans prepare to grill her over sexual misconduct allegations against the Supreme Court nominee. cbsn.ws/2MFEr4f
This Kavanaugh imbroglio is suddenly a five-alarm fire, filled w/peril for Senate @GOP. If they jam nomination without regard to allegation, they risk driving gender gap into an even larger chasm. If they don’t, base will rebel. High drama!
What I’m saying is, these folks aren’t too bright.
You know, since Mark started making commenters solve a rudimentary math problem the number of them to get through has been cut in half. I mean, can you believe these are the smart ones? Yikes!
I mean these are not sharp minds here.
These people make The Jersey Shore gang look like an elite think-tank. It’s sad.
They’re baby-droppers. You know what I’m talking about.
…and oh my God are these people dull. It takes a real special occasion to get them out of the house. Something like a fire, for example.
Sometimes they do get out though. I know because I occasionally see them in traffic, usually overwhelmed by the complexity of the signs and signals.
Sometimes I see one driving around in a roundabout trying to figure out which exit is theirs. It’s embarrassing.
Mark Maynard blog commenters are the reason for those billboards warning people not to set their babies on hot stovetops. This is the level of what we’re dealing with here.
I bumped into a Maynard commenter walking downtown the other day. We got to talking about Mark. I said, “…but with that nice family and good job and everything, don’t you think he’s kinda spoiled.” They said, “A lot of bloggers smell like that.” It’s a challenge trying to communicate with them.
Most Maynard commenters think a synapse is a gingerbread cookie. It’s true!
Only two of the 65 women who vouched for Kavanaugh stand by him after accuser comes forward
https://twitter.com/rawstory/status/1041689584017530881?s=21
It’s a good thing there isn’t a spelling or grammer test for commenters, or nobody would get through.
Several local school districts have set up a refund department specifically for Maynard commenters. A lot of people don’t know that.
Don’t be so hard on yourself iRobert, keep trying and you might be able to get out whatever it is you’re trying to say. Communicating can be difficult, especially on sensitive topics.
What we want to know is; What color are each of those 65 women who vouched for Kavanaugh. That’s what’s important here.
Thank you, Sad. I’m just brushing up on my stand-up. I do an entire hour-long set on how stupid Mark Maynard commenters are.
…and I don’t even get into the who EOS thing. Can you imagine? I think EOS was the reason Mark added the math problem filter.
The challenge is whittling down the whole thing to just one hour. I have to talk real fast!
When you read the comments on this blog, even Mark’s posts start to have the ring of reason and intelligence. I guess that might be his strategy.
I mean, we’re talking dumb people here.
To them, grey matter is a medical drama Thursday nights on ABC.
I am glad that Ms Ford has been brave and gone public. I hope it makes a difference.
MLive recently compiled a list of places in Washtenaw County where one could enjoy intelligent conversation. The Mark Maynard comment section came is just behind the men’s bathroom at Scorekeepers.
Lynne, you can be damn sure it makes a difference. The GOP got set up and the smart ones know it. But now they’re going to have to scramble hard to minimize the damage. It couldn’t happen to a better group of lowlives.
Sad, I assume before discovering the comment section on this blog, you were Happy.
good lord, where did you dig up that Spring Break of the Douchbags pic with WhiteBrett in it?
Shall we chip in and get iRobert a Greyhound ticket?
Where should we send him? Where would he most likely find intellectual equals?
“I do an entire hour-long set on how stupid Mark Maynard commenters are.”
— the dude who just commented 27 times on MarkMaynard.com
PS iRobert– You are right– Racism doesn’t exist and white straight christian etc men do not hold any undue power and do not abuse that power. “The abuse of power comes as no surprise.” I don’t believe anyone here has claimed that white straight etc men are uniquely inclined to abuse of power and privilege.
We are simply acknowledging they have it. We would like more representation and some leveling of existing systemic and cultural hierarchies.
Is that something you don’t believe or support, iRobert?
I knew you wouldn’t let me down, Jean.
Anonymous, you can just pick the destination at random. I know I couldn’t do worse.
By the way, Jean. If you want more representation, all you have to do is vote. Maybe you should run. I guarantee you’d get my vote.
I always vote iRobert. I don’t vote based on gender. I do support developing many more women candidates. I’m glad we have many to choose from this November.
I will never ever run for office, because I hate politics and I’m not a damned fool– most days anyways.
I hope I haven’t offended any black people. I assumed none ever looked at this blog. Black people avoid Mark like the plague. Just good instincts, I suppose.
WaPo reporter Emma Brown says Kavanaugh accuser first came forward to her “in early July when Brett Kavanaugh was on the shortlist before he had been announced the nominee” cnn.it/2OtidE9
I enjoyed this hope you will too.
https://www.facebook.com/ABCiview/videos/1870904259886168/UzpfSTUwMzUwNjI5MjoxMDE1NjMyOTcwODEyMTI5Mw/
never forget that 11 Democrats voted to confirm Clarence Thomas. Democrats (Dixon (D-IL), Exon (D-NE), DeConcini (D-AZ), Robb (D-VA), Hollings (D-SC), Fowler (D-GA), Nunn (D-GA), Breaux (D-LA), Johnston (D-LA), Boren (D-OK), and Shelby (D-AL) now (R-AL)) voted to confirm ensuring his confirmation. Dixon is still a Senator. Remind me again why I am supposed to vote Democrat.
Lynn who are you lining up for scape goating once Kavenaugh is forced on us.
We’re going to get a nationally broadcast hearing with Republican senators badgering a rape victim in these final seven weeks before a midterm. That’s going to be significant.
We’ll also possibly get a FBI investigation and report.
Wobblie, I don’t scape goat. Those who failed to vote for the only candidate who had a chance of beating the guy who nominated Kavenaugh are the most responsible.
As if we don’t know who, what and where the problem is. Vote for whoever can overturn this crazy bullshit. It really is that simple.
Wobblie— I have no love whatsoever for the Dem party or ANY political party, big or small. But I co distantly vote Dem because I’m not an idiot. My version of ‘being right’ is causing the least harm/doing the most good. Yes, it’s a compromise. It’s a mediation. Welcome to Democracy. PS Democracy is a peace process. Your absolutism is evidence of how little you understand the processes by which peace can be achieved and sustained.
Luckily there is an election in November. Try to vote better
22 Democrats voted for Chief Judge Roberts, including Michigan’s Levin.
4 Democrats voted for Judge Alito, S
3 Democrats voted for Gorsuch. For Trump’s nominee who was stolen from Obama.
This conservative court only exist because of the bi-partisan support of many Democrats. JH, wants “compromise” . What compromise are you proposing about Kavaunagh? What did the Democrats get out of supporting Roberts, Alito and Gorsuch? Not to mention what compromise was there over the Thomas nomination?
Be best!
Didn’t Roberts save Obamacare? Or you don’t care Wobblie because it’s not single payer and you’re on your wife’s insurance?
Good point Sad, we also got Citizens United, Janus, Shelby County, Hobby Shop. All 5-4 decisions basically decided by Roberts. Lets’s see–Citizens United turned money into speech and empowered plutocrats buying elections, Janus made government employee’s right to work, Hobby Shop exempted “Christian” corporations from the contraceptive requirements of the ACA, Shelby County gutted the voting rights act. That was quite the deal the Democrats got for us.
I don’t fault Democrats for voting to confirm Roberts. He was about as good as one might expect from a conservative president. Sometimes working across the aisle is valuable.
But much like our current situation, it was those who didn’t vote for Gore who ultimately are responsible and is yet another good example of a time when the Green Party screwed up and helped usher in a conservative on the court.
Trump defends Kavanaugh on sexual assault allegations: “I feel so badly for him that he’s going through this… This is not a man who deserves this.”
“While his social media accounts are busy being scrubbed at the moment, ”
If scrubbing your social media points to guilt, Ford deleted hers as early as August when she was supposedly going to remain anonymous. That act contradicts her stated intentions.
#BREAKING: Kavanaugh’s ex-classmate Mark Judge tells senators he won’t testify http://hill.cm/fiQXe9a
Demi Task, what it means is that the degenerate morons you support didn’t see this coming, while the ones you oppose are being deliberate about how they proceed.
Kavanaugh has no business being a judge, or any sort of public official. Nor do any of the other frat-boy creeps which so infest politics thanks to folks like yourself. Like all excrement, they should be flushed.
Maybe I should be more clear.
What I was implying is that this whole thing is designed to cause an explosion of outrage, driving women and decent men to get out and vote against the assholes you worship. It’s not the chance event it’s being portrayed as, and only yahoos who’ve never bothered to actually get involved in politics buy that cover story.
All you know how to do Lynn is scape goat. Gore lost because because 5 Republicans on the Supreme Court made Bush President–one of those Justices was Sandra Day O’Conner. That is why Bush is President and your scape goating does not change that fact. Clinton lost because she refused to fight for the election. Could have demanded a recount in Michigan, probably would have won Michigan if she had. Gore and Clinton lost because they ran miserable campaigns. Being anti-Trump might be enough in this mid-term, but if that is all the Democrats run on in 2020…maybe not. Demand better more accountable politicians.
Maybe EOS, FF and HW have gotten together and started their own blog. Sure took them long enough. It was kind of a no-brainer that they should.
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