A few observations on the politics of #Kavanaugh
1) Democrats have driven the argument over his confirmation since day 1 of the hearings when they flagrantly interrupted committee proceedings and paid no price.
1) Democrats have driven the argument over his confirmation since day 1 of the hearings when they flagrantly interrupted committee proceedings and paid no price.
2) Dr. Ford's allegations seriously jeopardize Kavanaugh's nomination. But Ramirez's allegation, published a day after Ford 'committed' to Thursday's hearing, has had the effect of rallying conservative grassroots behind Kavanaugh.
3) Republicans now find themselves in the position of having to proceed with confirmation process—including an up-or-down vote after Thursday—or risk the collapse of grassroots support weeks before midterm elections.
4) Any further delay of the confirmation process, including pushing back the hearing schedule for Thursday as Sen. Feinstein now demands, would be tantamount to pulling the nomination in the eyes of conservative base.
5) A defeated Kavanaugh nomination may well become a rallying cry for conservative activists in midterms. A pulled nomination, in the aftermath of interventions by the New Yorker and Avenatti, would cause those same activists to throw up their hands and lose enthusiasm.
