Came up with a mistaken identity theory that blamed a kavanaugh classmate, and named him and pretty much doxxed him
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 Hatchās aide predict that Whelan is about to reveal critical info exonerating Kavanaugh. Then Whelan does his tweetstorm. Itās orchestrated.
What Reddit handle does he use?
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.
Itās 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 āoh look this floor plan has a bathroom right across the hall from a bedroom, how unusual!ā
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.
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.
The last time either party had 67 seats was, I think, 1981. It isnāt going to happen.
The Dems will be lucky to have 50 this time around.
Now itās even worse. In one of Whelanās 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 attendedā¦?
Is this guy trying to single-handedly take down BK? He sure seems to be doing a fine job of it.
This was plan A - treat Ford with ārespectā but insist itās a case of mistaken identity. That didnāt 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, itās the only reason heās still there. This is the guy the FBI told about Rob Porterās spousal abuse but who nonetheless stayed around for months afterwards. For these men, women are essentially non-entities
Iām 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.)
I donāt 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. Itās 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 itās 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.
No senate Republican is going to want to commit political suicide by being the one dissenter.
Why are Republicans triple downing on Kavanaugh? Donāt they have 2 dozen other prospects at this point?
Iām guessing his expansive views on presidential powers, that and they donāt want 4-4 decisions for the October docket.
Kavanaugh is the one prospect who believes sitting presidents cannot be indicted, or at least heās the only one who has expressed that openly. I expect that is far more important to Trump than Roe or anything else.
Because thereās about a 1 in 3 chance that the stars will align and the Dems will take the Senate, and they donāt want to have to deal with the optics of a lame duck confirmation of someone else.
(Because you just know theyād pull that shit.)
Whatever, Susan Collins. Your party has been doing this shit for years and you still support them. Youāre part of the problem. āI am so appalled at myself for voting for Kavanaugh but I shall still do so.ā