In the forthcoming book "An Uncivil War," by @ThePlumLineGS (out 10/16! Pre-order: goo.gl/oq9ZTj), I point out that elected Ds & Rs respond to very different media incentives. Ds hate criticism by mainstream media. For Rs, only Fox/Limbaugh matter. 1/ 
This plays out in a million ways. I tell the story of the DACA #TrumpShutdown in the book. But as @ThePlumLineGS notes, it particularly matters vis-a-vis "Constitutional hardball"—the extent to which each side is willing to flout norms in pursuit of substantive & political ends.
This dynamic is at play to a staggering extent in the Kavanaugh confirmation fight. Imagine of one of Obama's lawyers & top aides was nominated for SCOTUS, and a Dem prez refused to release >90% of White House papers. Media would scream. And Dems would buckle, & release it all.
With Kavanaugh, a mountain of papers remains locked away. Journalists have pointed it out. Editorialists have editorialized. But conservative press couldn't care less, and Republicans haven't batted an eyelash.
And then came Dr. Ford's allegations—& this dynamic is in overdrive.
And then came Dr. Ford's allegations—& this dynamic is in overdrive.
Grassley's plan to have a hearing next week without the witness alleged to have been *in the room*, without two more people who were at the party, after Kavanaugh said he wasn't at the party & none of it happened—it's just breathtakingly cynical. But GOP senators are all silent.
For them, the pushback in the mainstream press is just noise. Something to be tuned out as they bulldoze forward. If the shoe were on the other foot, this wouldn't be the case; a nominee like Kavanaugh would long have been withdrawn even pre-allegations, due to lies in testimony.
So what do you do about it? You have to make so much noise that they can't tune it out. The election is so proximate that we might be able to remind Republican senators that they're not only running in a GOP primary. Call. Protest. Bird-dog. Vow to vote. Recruit voters. Be loud.
Mitch McConnell apparently got scared enough about senators being near DC reporters that he just sent everyone home for the week. Which means that, if you live in a state, your senators are heading your way. Call offices, ask where to find them, show up.
