1953

Came up with a mistaken identity theory that blamed a kavanaugh classmate, and named him and pretty much doxxed him

1954

Thanks, @triggercut and @vyshka. Whelan sounds like a winner.

1955

And the Whelan nonsense seems to have been part of a concerted plan. Kavanaugh suggests to Hatch and others that Ford is telling the truth about the attack but is wrong about the attacker. Multiple sources promote the idea, including a column in the Post. Multiple tweets e.g. from Hatch’s aide predict that Whelan is about to reveal critical info exonerating Kavanaugh. Then Whelan does his tweetstorm. It’s orchestrated.

1956

What Reddit handle does he use?

1957

Whelan also (was) a lawyer of pretty high stature when he engaged in this nonsense. Managed to very skillfully steer his own career into the rocks.

1958

It’s worth mentioning that his theory of the true culprit was based on comparing the floor plans of cookie-cutter houses in the neighborhood where these people grew up with the few details Ford made public. Arguments of the form ‘oh look this floor plan has a bathroom right across the hall from a bedroom, how unusual!’

1959

Whelan is basically at the epicenter of the conservative judicial confirmation process. The fact that kavanaugh was also offering up mistaken identity to hatch or grassley a couple days ago makes it look even worse. And now McConnell basically saying he is going in the sc, so gfy.

1960

I assume Kavanaugh will perjure himself at the hearing. He may already have done so. If the Dems ever manage to get 2/3 of the Senate, he could be impeached.

1961

The last time either party had 67 seats was, I think, 1981. It isn’t going to happen.

1962

The Dems will be lucky to have 50 this time around.

1963

Now it’s even worse. In one of Whelan’s tweets, he identified the home of one of the girls at the party. Ford has not named any of them, which means that Whelan got the name from someone else. Who, I wonder, could have told Whelan the name of one of the girls at a party Kavanaugh says he never attended…?

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1964

Is this guy trying to single-handedly take down BK? He sure seems to be doing a fine job of it.

1965

This was plan A - treat Ford with “respect” but insist it’s a case of mistaken identity. That didn’t work, so now they are doing plan B - character assassination/blame the victim - the go-to strategy for men - and I use the word loosely - like trump. Remember, WH lawyer Don McGahn is point on this nomination, it’s the only reason he’s still there. This is the guy the FBI told about Rob Porter’s spousal abuse but who nonetheless stayed around for months afterwards. For these men, women are essentially non-entities

I’m not entirely sure why they are doing this, honestly. The Senate Republicans are going to confirm anyway (McConnell has said as much at the cough Value Voter summit this morning.)

1966

I don’t attach much importance to that McConnell statement. He would continue to say that Kavanaugh is certain to be confirmed right up until the point where it was no longer possible; then he would say the exact same thing about the next appointee. It’s certainly his plan to confirm Kavanaugh, but there are 50 other Republicans with a vote, and a President who can Trump all their votes by asking Kavanaugh to withdraw.

I still think it’s likely Kavanaugh is confirmed; but it is less likely than it was even a day ago. The Whelan tweetstorm looks to me like a blunder born of panic.

1967

No senate Republican is going to want to commit political suicide by being the one dissenter.

Why are Republicans triple downing on Kavanaugh? Don’t they have 2 dozen other prospects at this point?

1968

I’m guessing his expansive views on presidential powers, that and they don’t want 4-4 decisions for the October docket.

1969

Kavanaugh is the one prospect who believes sitting presidents cannot be indicted, or at least he’s the only one who has expressed that openly. I expect that is far more important to Trump than Roe or anything else.

1970

Because there’s about a 1 in 3 chance that the stars will align and the Dems will take the Senate, and they don’t want to have to deal with the optics of a lame duck confirmation of someone else.

(Because you just know they’d pull that shit.)

1971
1972

Whatever, Susan Collins. Your party has been doing this shit for years and you still support them. You’re part of the problem. “I am so appalled at myself for voting for Kavanaugh but I shall still do so.”