Sex, Lies and the Supreme Court, Part 2

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-10 Friday (that's 11 Republicans to ten Democrats) to send the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh as the next Supreme Court justice to the full Senate.  As suggested by the committee, President Donald Trump has ordered a one week investigation by the FBI to check out charges of sexual assault against Kavanaugh.  This is what Democrats, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and others have wanted all along.

Most of America watched Thursday as Dr. Ford was calm and collect (even though she said she was terrified) in describing as best she could about the ordeal she said she had one night in the 1980s with Kavanaugh, as viewed by stone faced male GOP senators who let a female prosecutor from Arizona ask questions for them.  When it was Kavanaugh's turn, he behaved less like a potential justice than an aging, overgrown frat boy who was caught with his pants down to the Democratic senators who questioned him.  Republicans like Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina were either outspoken or deferential in their defense of Kavanaugh.

This was like watching an episode of "Law & Order:  Special Victims Unit"  (now in its 20th NBC season).  Both make you feel like taking a shower afterwards.

Now that the TV show is over, the GOP-controlled Senate will take at least a few minutes to do their due diligence on Kavenaugh once the FBI gets done with him before officially confirming him.  With the November elections looming and Democrats poised for a comeback (if you believe the polls), the GOP wants to leave a lasting conservative legacy on the Supreme Court before heading out the door.

For Christine Blasey Ford, this reluctant role model who chose to speak out will be remembered no matter how this turns out.  For Brett Kavanaugh, he will be the Supreme Court justice whose every decision will be influenced by what has happened to him in the past few weeks, should he be confirmed.  For the rest of us, we have a lot of soul searching to do.

UPDATE (10/8/18):  Kavanaugh has been sworn in as justice following a 50-48 confirmation vote in the Senate, which followed an FBI background check whose scope was limited by the GOP and the White House.  An angry country now looks to the elections in November for payback.  It might take more than votes to salve the wounds.