I keep going back to how differently this all plays out if Kavanaugh has the humility to initially say "I drank a lot in HS. I have no memory of the events that Dr Ford describes, and do not believe they occurred. But I apologize for my youthful behavior if it caused her harm."
That would have let his allies spend the past two weeks talking about his sterling character and achievements as an adult.
It would have turned this into a debate about whether the mistakes of (rich, white, male) youth should be disqualifying in adulthood. (...)
It would have turned this into a debate about whether the mistakes of (rich, white, male) youth should be disqualifying in adulthood. (...)
(...) which is the debate Republicans DESPERATELY would have preferred.
But instead he lied, brazenly and repeatedly, in full display for the Senate and the entire world. All because he was shocked and offended that he might be held to account for his teenage behavior.
But instead he lied, brazenly and repeatedly, in full display for the Senate and the entire world. All because he was shocked and offended that he might be held to account for his teenage behavior.
...Keep this in mind, as you wade through the hot-takes about how "strategic" it was for him to perform petulant rage during the hearing.
This hearing was hard for him bc he made it hard for himself.
Rs will now burn down the Court by appointing him to it. That's their choice.
This hearing was hard for him bc he made it hard for himself.
Rs will now burn down the Court by appointing him to it. That's their choice.
