Thread by @jedshug

Kavanaugh's partisan conspiracy rant was disqualifying.
Many claim that he threatened "revenge."
We need to be precise. He said, "What goes around comes around."
This may not be an explicit threat, but it was an injudicious statement creating a permanent appearance of bias. 1/

2/ Here's the full passage. Soon after he said "This whole 2-week effort was a calculated and orchestrated political hit... Revenge on behalf of the Clintons," he said, "What goes around comes around."
This is patently unacceptable from a judge.
washingtonpost.com/news/national/…

3/ This wasn't a kindergarten class or a bad religious sermon, where you'd hear "What goes around comes around" as a banal take on karma.
It was a seething, unhinged judicial nominee alleging a conspiracy. Even if one claims ambiguity, this was from his PREPARED testimony.

4/ Now read Kavanaugh's NON-apology in @wsj. It was the opportunity, a week later, to address this injudicious disaster. He doesn't use anything like the words "sorry" or "apology." He doesn't acknowledge any specific error in substance. This is worse. wsj.com/articles/i-am-…

5/ Kavanaugh's only passage vaguely addressing the issue:
"I was very emotional last Thursday, more so than I have ever been. I might have been too emotional at times. I know that my tone was sharp, and I said a few things I should not have said."
Um, like what? Implied threats?

6/ Someone with character or at least some political judgment would acknowledge that veiled partisan threats are crossing a red line for a judge. And a specific acknowledgement and apology was necessary. He couldn't even muster the courage to do that.

7/ Let's review where he referred explicitly to "Democrats" in his prepared testimony. It was often. It was blistering. And this bell can't be unrung.
A. "The behavior of several of the Democratic members of this committee at my hearing a few weeks ago was an embarrassment."

B. Kavanaugh: "Some of you were lying in wait and had it ready. This first allegation was held in secret for weeks by a Democratic member of this committee, and by staff. It would be needed only if you couldn’t take me out on the merits."

C. Kavanaugh: "I’m called 'evil' by a Democratic member of this committee, while Democratic opponents of my nomination say people will die if I am confirmed."
I think it's a reference to Sen. Booker, and Booker's rhetoric was wrong. But Kavanaugh also erred with partisan framing.

D. Kavanaugh: "Another Democratic senator on this committee said, quote, 'Judge Kavanaugh is your worst nightmare.' A former head of the DNC said,, “Judge Kavanaugh will threaten the lives of millions of Americans for decades to come.”
More partisan framing...