Judge Kavanaugh will be Confirmed!

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Late Thursday night, Townhall media broke the news that Judge Brett Kavanaugh has the votes to be confirmed by the Senate. Republican fence-sitters Flake (R-AZ), Collins (R-ME), and Murkowski (R-AK) are expected to vote yes, along with West Virginia Democrat Sen. Manchin. Rumors are that several Democrats may break ranks and back Kavanaugh.

Here is a summary of Thursday’s hearing

Looking frightened and speaking with a quivering voice, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. After several hours of testimony, it was then Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s turn to face the Committee. Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her 36 years ago while they were in high school.

The Republicans chose to have Rachel Mitchell, a sexual assault prosecutor, question Ford. It was an awkward hearing, with Democrats and Mitchell trading five minute exchanges with the witness.

Was she believable?

Ford frequently consulted her attorneys or her notes before answering any questions. She didn’t remember dates–even that of the recent funeral for her grandmother–and often seemed unsure of herself. Ford said she didn’t know the meaning of the word “exculpatory,” even though she holds a PhD. Throughout, Ford insisted that although her memory wasn’t perfect, she knew without a shadow of a doubt that it was Brett Kavanaugh who tried to rape her and almost inadvertently killed her in 1982.

She doesn’t remember where, when or how she got to and from the party.

There have been some holes in Ford’s statements. She initially said she couldn’t get to Capitol Hill for testimony because she’s afraid to fly. During the hearings, it was revealed she flies at least once a year to visit her family and also flies often for her hobbies and vacations.

Ford says she didn’t know how to get information to Congress, how to receive payments on a GoFundMe account, and said she didn’t know she should have engaged a lawyer before going to the press with her story.

She complained about a polygraph test administered in a hotel room, calling it an ordeal and saying she cried a lot. The person who administered the polygraph told Fox News that she was only asked two unspecific questions.

Democrat Senators lauded Ford’s “bravery” and called her courageous. Sen. Cory Booker, who wrote about his experience groping a classmate in high school, said Ford is brilliant.

Chairman Grassley submitted into the record the statements of three witnesses named by Ford. All three denied Ford’s allegations–one of whom is a life-long friend of hers. Grassley said he had also reached out to Kavanaugh’s two other accusers, six times to one and eight times to the other, but both refused to testify or to provide evidence.

At 3:10 p.m., Judge Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in and began to read his opening statement. He came on strong, fighting for his reputation and for what he says is the truth. Kavanaugh stated under oath that he never had sexual intercourse during high school–or for many years after that.

Kavanaugh kept a calendar/diary for the time in question. He did so because his father began keeping one in 1979, and he wanted to be like his dad. Kavanaugh says his calendar proves “all but definitively that I was not there” at the party in question. He says “church” is not written on some Sundays because going to church is automatic like “brushing my teeth; still is.”

The Judge denies ever having done anything like what’s been alleged. He said her story is uncorroborated and refuted by the people she said were at the party.

Kavanaugh was angry and emotional. He teared-up telling of the trauma this has inflicted on his family. He told of how his 10-year-old daughter said they should pray for Christine Ford. Here are some of his key statements:

• “This whole two-week effort has been a calculated and orchestrated political hit, fueled with apparent pent-up anger about President Trump and the 2016 election, fear that has been unfairly stoked about judicial record, revenge on behalf of the Clintons, and millions of dollars from outside left-wing opposition groups.”
• “You may defeat me in the final vote, but you’ll never get me to quit.”
• “People have been willing to do anything, to make any physical threat to my family, to blow me up and take me down. You sowed the wind. For decades to come, I fear the whole country will reap the whirlwind.”
• “This confirmation process has become a national disgrace… you have replaced advice and consent with search and destroy.”
• “A Democratic Senator on this committee publicly referred to me as evil. Evil. Think about that word.”

Kavanaugh got sidetracked a few times when Democrats asked about his use of alcohol and things written in his yearbook. He denied ever blacking out from alcohol use or not remembering events because he was drunk.

Democrats such as Sen. Dick Durbin were determined to suggest that Kavanaugh should demand that the FBI investigate Ford’s story. He instructed Kavanaugh to turn to White House Council Don McGann and ask that the hearing be suspended in favor of an investigation. Grassley cut in, saying “We’re not suspending this hearing.”

Some of the Republican standouts from the hearing were Senators Lindsey Graham and Orrin Hatch.

• Graham called it “the most unethical sham” since he has been in politics, and accused the Democrats of wanting power. He suggested Sen. Chuck Schumer would do whatever it takes to derail the nomination so the seat is left open until 2020.
• Graham told Kavanaugh, “You came to the wrong town if you’re looking for a fair process,” and said that what is happening will destroy good people from coming forward because of “this trap.”
• Graham told Democrats: “You want this seat? I hope you never get it.”
• Senator Hatch defended the nominee, saying, “This man is not a monster,” and Kavanaugh’s confirmation process is worse than Robert Bork–worse than Clarence Thomas. Hatch called it a “national disgrace.”

A final bit of sparring took place when Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) denied that her office leaked Ford’s letter to the media. She said the story was likely leaked by Ford’s friends.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) chimed in that the only people who could have released the letter were either the ranking member (Feinstein), her staff, or Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) who forwarded the letter to Feinstein.

The first story on the sexual assault appeared in The Intercept on September 12. Four days later, Ford gave her story to the Washington Post. Ford’s letter was turned over to the FBI. Shortly after that, it was published by CNN.

The hearing ended just before 7 p.m. and the vote to confirm will take place on Friday.

Why this Matters: Ford spoke using “fry tones,” a stylized way of creating creaking vibration, and she ended most statements as though they were questions. She had terrible recall of events and brought an accusation based on nothing more than her story. At the end of her testimony, Ford couldn’t provide anything in the way of evidence.

The President tweeted:

How to Pray: Thank God for men who will stand up against their accusers. Pray that the final stages of the confirmation will proceed smoothly. Pray that Justice Kavanaugh will continue to have a heart to protect the Constitution and God will set the stage for a legal cancellation of Roe v. Wade.

Prov. 18:10 – The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.