Ted Crud is a dick, if you didn't know that all ready. He needs a trip to Cancun.
That was horrible. These people have no shame.
I listened to Howley yesterday and it about made me want to puke. What was Crud's major grievance today?
Same thing. All they care about are gotcha question soundbites regarding culture warrior bullshit to rile up people like the guy posting above me. Seems to be working!
Ted Crud is a dick, if you didn't know that all ready. He needs a trip to Cancun.
That was horrible. These people have no shame.
I listened to Howley yesterday and it about made me want to puke. What was Crud's major grievance today?
Same thing. All they care about are gotcha question soundbites regarding culture warrior bullshit to rile up people like the guy posting above me. Seems to be working!
Culture warrior bullshit? How is asking how someone defines a woman or asking when life begins bullshit? Those are legitimate questions and considering she would be on the SCOTUS for life, those are valid questions which she either refused to answer because she didn't want to say how she really feels or she's not very smart. Obviously, she is smart.
Same thing.... disregard valid concerns and then attack.
Ted Crud is a dick, if you didn't know that all ready. He needs a trip to Cancun.
That was horrible. These people have no shame.
I listened to Howley yesterday and it about made me want to puke. What was Crud's major grievance today?
Same thing. All they care about are gotcha question soundbites regarding culture warrior bullshit to rile up people like the guy posting above me. Seems to be working!
Culture warrior bullshit? How is asking how someone defines a woman or asking when life begins bullshit? Those are legitimate questions and considering she would be on the SCOTUS for life, those are valid questions which she either refused to answer because she didn't want to say how she really feels or she's not very smart. Obviously, she is smart.
Same thing.... disregard valid concerns and then attack.
Can you define a woman? How about when life begins? Are either question relevant to your job? Could you listen to two different arguments on either issue and ultimately make a decision, having been swayed by one argument or the other?
See, this right here, is what is wrong with the Republican party in a nutshell. They are mostly not serious legislatures. They're primary interest is getting booked on Hannity or Tucker Carlson and they know these dumb gotcha questions will get the soundbite needed to get the job done. They also are keenly aware that a large base of their constituents are heavily swayed by these out of context soundbites and will use them as their basis for judging people as opposed to actually watching a boring confirmation hearing or reading about it in detail from a legitimate news source.
There are still a few serious people in that party, though. Good on Sasse for calling out their bullshit
Ted Crud is a dick, if you didn't know that all ready. He needs a trip to Cancun.
That was horrible. These people have no shame.
I listened to Howley yesterday and it about made me want to puke. What was Crud's major grievance today?
Same thing. All they care about are gotcha question soundbites regarding culture warrior bullshit to rile up people like the guy posting above me. Seems to be working!
Culture warrior bullshit? How is asking how someone defines a woman or asking when life begins bullshit? Those are legitimate questions and considering she would be on the SCOTUS for life, those are valid questions which she either refused to answer because she didn't want to say how she really feels or she's not very smart. Obviously, she is smart.
Same thing.... disregard valid concerns and then attack.
Can you define a woman? How about when life begins? Are either question relevant to your job? Could you listen to two different arguments on either issue and ultimately make a decision, having been swayed by one argument or the other?
Neither question is relevant to my job but they are to the job she has been nominated for. Her opinion matters. Why couldn't she answer how she feels and then follow that up with the point you were making that she will hear 2 sides to an argument and then decide? She's completely refusing to answer those questions on purpose.
Ted Crud is a dick, if you didn't know that all ready. He needs a trip to Cancun.
That was horrible. These people have no shame.
I listened to Howley yesterday and it about made me want to puke. What was Crud's major grievance today?
Same thing. All they care about are gotcha question soundbites regarding culture warrior bullshit to rile up people like the guy posting above me. Seems to be working!
Culture warrior bullshit? How is asking how someone defines a woman or asking when life begins bullshit? Those are legitimate questions and considering she would be on the SCOTUS for life, those are valid questions which she either refused to answer because she didn't want to say how she really feels or she's not very smart. Obviously, she is smart.
Same thing.... disregard valid concerns and then attack.
Can you define a woman? How about when life begins? Are either question relevant to your job? Could you listen to two different arguments on either issue and ultimately make a decision, having been swayed by one argument or the other?
Neither question is relevant to my job but they are to the job she has been nominated for. Her opinion matters. Why couldn't she answer how she feels and then follow that up with the point you were making that she will hear 2 sides to an argument and then decide? She's completely refusing to answer those questions on purpose.
how she feels is irrelevant to a job thats to be an impartial interpreter of the Constitution and of the arguments made by appellants to that end.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Ted Crud is a dick, if you didn't know that all ready. He needs a trip to Cancun.
That was horrible. These people have no shame.
I listened to Howley yesterday and it about made me want to puke. What was Crud's major grievance today?
Same thing. All they care about are gotcha question soundbites regarding culture warrior bullshit to rile up people like the guy posting above me. Seems to be working!
Culture warrior bullshit? How is asking how someone defines a woman or asking when life begins bullshit? Those are legitimate questions and considering she would be on the SCOTUS for life, those are valid questions which she either refused to answer because she didn't want to say how she really feels or she's not very smart. Obviously, she is smart.
Same thing.... disregard valid concerns and then attack.
Can you define a woman? How about when life begins? Are either question relevant to your job? Could you listen to two different arguments on either issue and ultimately make a decision, having been swayed by one argument or the other?
Neither question is relevant to my job but they are to the job she has been nominated for. Her opinion matters. Why couldn't she answer how she feels and then follow that up with the point you were making that she will hear 2 sides to an argument and then decide? She's completely refusing to answer those questions on purpose.
The answers to those two questions in the forum she was asked are irrelevant. She doesn’t need to answer them. But I’m guessing you can’t either?
Ted Crud is a dick, if you didn't know that all ready. He needs a trip to Cancun.
That was horrible. These people have no shame.
I listened to Howley yesterday and it about made me want to puke. What was Crud's major grievance today?
Same thing. All they care about are gotcha question soundbites regarding culture warrior bullshit to rile up people like the guy posting above me. Seems to be working!
Culture warrior bullshit? How is asking how someone defines a woman or asking when life begins bullshit? Those are legitimate questions and considering she would be on the SCOTUS for life, those are valid questions which she either refused to answer because she didn't want to say how she really feels or she's not very smart. Obviously, she is smart.
Same thing.... disregard valid concerns and then attack.
Can you define a woman? How about when life begins? Are either question relevant to your job? Could you listen to two different arguments on either issue and ultimately make a decision, having been swayed by one argument or the other?
Neither question is relevant to my job but they are to the job she has been nominated for. Her opinion matters. Why couldn't she answer how she feels and then follow that up with the point you were making that she will hear 2 sides to an argument and then decide? She's completely refusing to answer those questions on purpose.
how she feels is irrelevant to a job thats to be an impartial interpreter of the Constitution and of the arguments made by appellants to that end.
This is correct.
These were pretty gauche questions to ask of a Supreme Court nominee, and it would not behoove any Supreme Court Justice nominee (or Supreme Court Justice, for that matter) to answer such divisive questions that are simply a matter of opinion.
Because actually, contrary to what our own JB has written above, their opinions absolutely do NOT matter (just like everyone else on the planet, BTW); what matters for a Supreme Court Justice nominee (and a Supreme Court Justice) are their judgments/rulings.
And from what I've seen, Ketanji Brown Jackson's have been fairly sound.
Ted Crud is a dick, if you didn't know that all ready. He needs a trip to Cancun.
That was horrible. These people have no shame.
I listened to Howley yesterday and it about made me want to puke. What was Crud's major grievance today?
Same thing. All they care about are gotcha question soundbites regarding culture warrior bullshit to rile up people like the guy posting above me. Seems to be working!
Culture warrior bullshit? How is asking how someone defines a woman or asking when life begins bullshit? Those are legitimate questions and considering she would be on the SCOTUS for life, those are valid questions which she either refused to answer because she didn't want to say how she really feels or she's not very smart. Obviously, she is smart.
Same thing.... disregard valid concerns and then attack.
Can you define a woman? How about when life begins? Are either question relevant to your job? Could you listen to two different arguments on either issue and ultimately make a decision, having been swayed by one argument or the other?
Neither question is relevant to my job but they are to the job she has been nominated for. Her opinion matters. Why couldn't she answer how she feels and then follow that up with the point you were making that she will hear 2 sides to an argument and then decide? She's completely refusing to answer those questions on purpose.
I'm pretty sure that those questions were not asked of the last 3 nominees by those same senators.
They probably asked important questions like...what is your fave color and why is grass green?
I've heard a couple of soundbites from this and thought it was interesting. The first one I heard was from John Kennedy. He asked Ketanji Brown, "When does life begin, in your opinion?"
Her answer, "Senator, umm..... I..... don't know...."
The other soundbite I heard was from Marsha Blackburn. She asked, "Can you
provide a definition for the word ‘woman?’" Ketanji replied, "Can I provide a
definition? No, I can’t, not in this context, I'm not a biologist."
Some of the biggest issues right now are abortion and transgender rights. Ketanji doesn't know when life begins and can't define a woman or she is choosing to not be honest and give legitimate answers.
Those are dumb questions to ask a judge. Political theater.
Ted Crud is a dick, if you didn't know that all ready. He needs a trip to Cancun.
That was horrible. These people have no shame.
I listened to Howley yesterday and it about made me want to puke. What was Crud's major grievance today?
Same thing. All they care about are gotcha question soundbites regarding culture warrior bullshit to rile up people like the guy posting above me. Seems to be working!
Culture warrior bullshit? How is asking how someone defines a woman or asking when life begins bullshit? Those are legitimate questions and considering she would be on the SCOTUS for life, those are valid questions which she either refused to answer because she didn't want to say how she really feels or she's not very smart. Obviously, she is smart.
Same thing.... disregard valid concerns and then attack.
Can you define a woman? How about when life begins? Are either question relevant to your job? Could you listen to two different arguments on either issue and ultimately make a decision, having been swayed by one argument or the other?
Neither question is relevant to my job but they are to the job she has been nominated for. Her opinion matters. Why couldn't she answer how she feels and then follow that up with the point you were making that she will hear 2 sides to an argument and then decide? She's completely refusing to answer those questions on purpose.
I'm pretty sure that those questions were not asked of the last 3 nominees by those same senators.
They probably asked important questions like...what is your fave color and why is grass green?
Do you like beer? Did you attend parties in college?
I've heard a couple of soundbites from this and thought it was interesting. The first one I heard was from John Kennedy. He asked Ketanji Brown, "When does life begin, in your opinion?"
Her answer, "Senator, umm..... I..... don't know...."
The other soundbite I heard was from Marsha Blackburn. She asked, "Can you
provide a definition for the word ‘woman?’" Ketanji replied, "Can I provide a
definition? No, I can’t, not in this context, I'm not a biologist."
Some of the biggest issues right now are abortion and transgender rights. Ketanji doesn't know when life begins and can't define a woman or she is choosing to not be honest and give legitimate answers.
Those are dumb questions to ask a judge. Political theater.
You're right. Women's rights are not important. It's just political theater.
I've heard a couple of soundbites from this and thought it was interesting. The first one I heard was from John Kennedy. He asked Ketanji Brown, "When does life begin, in your opinion?"
Her answer, "Senator, umm..... I..... don't know...."
The other soundbite I heard was from Marsha Blackburn. She asked, "Can you
provide a definition for the word ‘woman?’" Ketanji replied, "Can I provide a
definition? No, I can’t, not in this context, I'm not a biologist."
Some of the biggest issues right now are abortion and transgender rights. Ketanji doesn't know when life begins and can't define a woman or she is choosing to not be honest and give legitimate answers.
Those are dumb questions to ask a judge. Political theater.
You're right. Women's rights are not important. It's just political theater.
What do those two questions have to do with women's rights?
my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
Ted Crud is a dick, if you didn't know that all ready. He needs a trip to Cancun.
That was horrible. These people have no shame.
I listened to Howley yesterday and it about made me want to puke. What was Crud's major grievance today?
Same thing. All they care about are gotcha question soundbites regarding culture warrior bullshit to rile up people like the guy posting above me. Seems to be working!
Culture warrior bullshit? How is asking how someone defines a woman or asking when life begins bullshit? Those are legitimate questions and considering she would be on the SCOTUS for life, those are valid questions which she either refused to answer because she didn't want to say how she really feels or she's not very smart. Obviously, she is smart.
Same thing.... disregard valid concerns and then attack.
Can you define a woman? How about when life begins? Are either question relevant to your job? Could you listen to two different arguments on either issue and ultimately make a decision, having been swayed by one argument or the other?
Neither question is relevant to my job but they are to the job she has been nominated for. Her opinion matters. Why couldn't she answer how she feels and then follow that up with the point you were making that she will hear 2 sides to an argument and then decide? She's completely refusing to answer those questions on purpose.
I'm pretty sure that those questions were not asked of the last 3 nominees by those same senators.
They probably asked important questions like...what is your fave color and why is grass green?
Do you like beer? Did you attend parties in college?
Like those important questions?
given they were asked surrounding the allegations asserted by Dr Ford, yeah they were important.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Ted Crud is a dick, if you didn't know that all ready. He needs a trip to Cancun.
That was horrible. These people have no shame.
I listened to Howley yesterday and it about made me want to puke. What was Crud's major grievance today?
Same thing. All they care about are gotcha question soundbites regarding culture warrior bullshit to rile up people like the guy posting above me. Seems to be working!
Culture warrior bullshit? How is asking how someone defines a woman or asking when life begins bullshit? Those are legitimate questions and considering she would be on the SCOTUS for life, those are valid questions which she either refused to answer because she didn't want to say how she really feels or she's not very smart. Obviously, she is smart.
Same thing.... disregard valid concerns and then attack.
Can you define a woman? How about when life begins? Are either question relevant to your job? Could you listen to two different arguments on either issue and ultimately make a decision, having been swayed by one argument or the other?
Neither question is relevant to my job but they are to the job she has been nominated for. Her opinion matters. Why couldn't she answer how she feels and then follow that up with the point you were making that she will hear 2 sides to an argument and then decide? She's completely refusing to answer those questions on purpose.
I'm pretty sure that those questions were not asked of the last 3 nominees by those same senators.
They probably asked important questions like...what is your fave color and why is grass green?
Do you like beer? Did you attend parties in college?
Like those important questions?
given they were asked surrounding the allegations asserted by Dr Ford, yeah they were important.
You see ^. Cruz and Hawley know what they're doing. It works with their constituents. The dumbing down of America is continuing.
Ignorance is bliss.... Go ahead and write off others' opinions. Only having one train of thought will get you nowhere.
You're conveniently short term memory does wonders for your ever changing concerns depending on which side of the aisle is posing the question/concern.
I've heard a couple of soundbites from this and thought it was interesting. The first one I heard was from John Kennedy. He asked Ketanji Brown, "When does life begin, in your opinion?"
Her answer, "Senator, umm..... I..... don't know...."
The other soundbite I heard was from Marsha Blackburn. She asked, "Can you
provide a definition for the word ‘woman?’" Ketanji replied, "Can I provide a
definition? No, I can’t, not in this context, I'm not a biologist."
Some of the biggest issues right now are abortion and transgender rights. Ketanji doesn't know when life begins and can't define a woman or she is choosing to not be honest and give legitimate answers.
Those are dumb questions to ask a judge. Political theater.
You're right. Women's rights are not important. It's just political theater.
Is this how you support women's rights, you know, as a man wondering why a woman appointed to serve on the highest court isn't defining when life begins? You're concerned about Hunter's laptop story being suppressed, but not about the ability for men, mostly men anyway, to determine when a woman is allowed to have an abortion. Not that an out of context question about when life begins matters. Maybe next they can ask her about the existence of Jesus, the easter bunny and Santa Claus.
Ted Crud is a dick, if you didn't know that all ready. He needs a trip to Cancun.
That was horrible. These people have no shame.
I listened to Howley yesterday and it about made me want to puke. What was Crud's major grievance today?
Same thing. All they care about are gotcha question soundbites regarding culture warrior bullshit to rile up people like the guy posting above me. Seems to be working!
Culture warrior bullshit? How is asking how someone defines a woman or asking when life begins bullshit? Those are legitimate questions and considering she would be on the SCOTUS for life, those are valid questions which she either refused to answer because she didn't want to say how she really feels or she's not very smart. Obviously, she is smart.
Same thing.... disregard valid concerns and then attack.
Can you define a woman? How about when life begins? Are either question relevant to your job? Could you listen to two different arguments on either issue and ultimately make a decision, having been swayed by one argument or the other?
Neither question is relevant to my job but they are to the job she has been nominated for. Her opinion matters. Why couldn't she answer how she feels and then follow that up with the point you were making that she will hear 2 sides to an argument and then decide? She's completely refusing to answer those questions on purpose.
I'm pretty sure that those questions were not asked of the last 3 nominees by those same senators.
They probably asked important questions like...what is your fave color and why is grass green?
Do you like beer? Did you attend parties in college?
Like those important questions?
given they were asked surrounding the allegations asserted by Dr Ford, yeah they were important.
Allegations that were never proven.....
and at the time they were asked it was an open question, that preceded a pro forma cursory "investigation" by the fbi instead of a serious digging instigated because of those allegations. given she told very few at the time , its not something that might have been revealed during the course of the deep backgroud checks normally done in such nomination processes.
as I recall she came forward in the midst of his hearings. so yes , those were pertinant questions. she alleged excessive drinking in her accusations. his producton of calenders showing listed drinking days etc , means to me the potential for alcoholism.Do you want an active alcoholic seated in a lifetime position? I dont. I say that as an alcoholic in recovery.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Ted Crud is a dick, if you didn't know that all ready. He needs a trip to Cancun.
That was horrible. These people have no shame.
I listened to Howley yesterday and it about made me want to puke. What was Crud's major grievance today?
Same thing. All they care about are gotcha question soundbites regarding culture warrior bullshit to rile up people like the guy posting above me. Seems to be working!
Culture warrior bullshit? How is asking how someone defines a woman or asking when life begins bullshit? Those are legitimate questions and considering she would be on the SCOTUS for life, those are valid questions which she either refused to answer because she didn't want to say how she really feels or she's not very smart. Obviously, she is smart.
Same thing.... disregard valid concerns and then attack.
Can you define a woman? How about when life begins? Are either question relevant to your job? Could you listen to two different arguments on either issue and ultimately make a decision, having been swayed by one argument or the other?
Neither question is relevant to my job but they are to the job she has been nominated for. Her opinion matters. Why couldn't she answer how she feels and then follow that up with the point you were making that she will hear 2 sides to an argument and then decide? She's completely refusing to answer those questions on purpose.
I'm pretty sure that those questions were not asked of the last 3 nominees by those same senators.
They probably asked important questions like...what is your fave color and why is grass green?
Do you like beer? Did you attend parties in college?
Like those important questions?
given they were asked surrounding the allegations asserted by Dr Ford, yeah they were important.
Allegations that were never proven.....
and at the time they were asked it was an open question, that preceded a pro forma cursory "investigation" by the fbi instead of a serious digging instigated because of those allegations. given she told very few at the time , its not something that might have been revealed during the course of the deep backgroud checks normally done in such nomination processes.
as I recall she came forward in the midst of his hearings. so yes , those were pertinant questions. she alleged excessive drinking in her accusations. his producton of calenders showing listed drinking days etc , means to me the potential for alcoholism.Do you want an active alcoholic seated in a lifetime position? I dont. I say that as an alcoholic in recovery.
Is the active alcoholic Asian? In your hypothetical? If so, I think I know the answer.
I've heard a couple of soundbites from this and thought it was interesting. The first one I heard was from John Kennedy. He asked Ketanji Brown, "When does life begin, in your opinion?"
Her answer, "Senator, umm..... I..... don't know...."
The other soundbite I heard was from Marsha Blackburn. She asked, "Can you
provide a definition for the word ‘woman?’" Ketanji replied, "Can I provide a
definition? No, I can’t, not in this context, I'm not a biologist."
Some of the biggest issues right now are abortion and transgender rights. Ketanji doesn't know when life begins and can't define a woman or she is choosing to not be honest and give legitimate answers.
Those are dumb questions to ask a judge. Political theater.
You're right. Women's rights are not important. It's just political theater.
They are dumb questions. Not because they are not important, but because if any nominee answers, they are either lying or speaking from opinion, attributes nobody should want on the bench.
We all kow that each side of the aisle is going to ask the questions that it's party wants to ask/hear. It's nothing new. It's been happening since Clarence Thomas, when I first started listening to these hearings.
One side of the aisle is a tad more hypocritical than the other side of the aisle and a shitton more hypocritical. Article continues about other hypocritical stances like POOTWH judges with the same sentences handed down for child pornographers being approved by Ted Crud. Fuck him and Tejas for electing such douchebaggery.
Sen. Ted Cruz seldom overlooks a chance to be underhanded, and, sure enough, the Texas Republican led the effort to imbue this week’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings with the latest effort by the right to make White America fear Black America.
Cruz attempted to tie Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman nominated to the high court, to the supposed menace of “critical race theory” — because, he said, this theory is taught at the private school where she serves on the board (and where she sent her daughters).
“If you look at the Georgetown Day School’s curriculum, it is filled and overflowing with critical race theory,” Cruz alleged, holding up books he said the school has on reading lists, including “Stamped (for Kids): Racism, Antiracism and You,” by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. “It is an astonishing book,” charged Cruz, who had found it “offensive” that President Biden had promised to nominate a Black woman to the court. “On Page 33, it asks the question, ‘Can we send White people back to Europe?’ … Are you comfortable with these ideas being taught to children as young as 4?”
Georgetown Day School, in the nation’s capital, does indeed take a strong “anti-racism” approach. So does St. John’s School, the private school in Houston where, as the New Republic’s Timothy Noah noted, Cruz sends his daughters.
I've heard a couple of soundbites from this and thought it was interesting. The first one I heard was from John Kennedy. He asked Ketanji Brown, "When does life begin, in your opinion?"
Her answer, "Senator, umm..... I..... don't know...."
The other soundbite I heard was from Marsha Blackburn. She asked, "Can you
provide a definition for the word ‘woman?’" Ketanji replied, "Can I provide a
definition? No, I can’t, not in this context, I'm not a biologist."
Some of the biggest issues right now are abortion and transgender rights. Ketanji doesn't know when life begins and can't define a woman or she is choosing to not be honest and give legitimate answers.
Those are dumb questions to ask a judge. Political theater.
You're right. Women's rights are not important. It's just political theater.
Cause that is what I said. You are nothing more than messageboard theater...and it is a really bad show.
For those wanting to look beyond the repub soundbites. Intellectually dishonest and lazy. Hey buh, buh, buh, same-same. From the NYT email blast:
View in browser|nytimes.com
March 24, 2022
Continue reading the main story
SUPPORTED BY
By David Leonhardt
Good morning. Senate Republicans are painting a false portrait of Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson at the confirmation hearing yesterday.Hilary Swift for The New York Times
Distorted reality
Here are a few facts about Ketanji Brown Jackson:
• She frequently associates herself with a patriotic narrative of American history. “The first of my many blessings,” she told the Senate this week, “is the fact that I was born in this great nation.”
• She is not an advocate of critical race theory or other progressive ideas about education. She has never taken a public position on hot-button school issues like whether young children should be taught about gender identity.
• As a federal judge, she has a mainstream record, broadly typical of a Democratic nominee. She has often praised law enforcement, including her proud mention this week that her brother and two of her uncles worked as police officers.
You might not know any of this — you might well believe the opposite — if you spent the past few days listening to Republican senators or consuming many conservative media sources.
Jackson’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing has turned into a case study of how disconnected from reality large parts of the Republican ecosystem have become. I know that description sounds harsh and will bother some conservative readers. But I think the facts warrant it.
Birtherism to pornography
The debate over Jackson’s nomination has often had little to do with her. It has become an argument over a nominee who does not exist — one who does not respect America, is not truly religious, coddles child abusers and terrorists and has highly developed views about the importance of “woke” education. Yesterday, conservative activists used this portrayal to pressure moderate Democratic senators to vote against Jackson.
Conspiracy theories and unfair accusations have a long history in American politics, of course. But they have often remained on the margins. Today, distortions and falsehoods have moved to the center of politics.
While neither party is entirely innocent, there is a fundamental difference between Republicans and Democrats. False claims regularly flow from the leaders of the Republican Party — including its most recent president, several of its likely future presidential candidates and the most influential media figures aligned with the party.
Donald Trump began his political career by claiming that Barack Obama was born in Africa and ended his presidency with false accusations of voter fraud. Prominent Republicans regularly cast doubt on the fact that greenhouse gases are warming the planet and contributing to extreme weather. Disinformation about Covid-19 vaccines has been so widespread that almost 40 percent of Republican adults have not received a shot, sometimes with fatal consequences.
There is no comparable list of false information coming from senior members of the Democratic Party.
Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, presenting details of Judge Jackson’s sentencing history.Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times
The Jackson hearings have become the latest example. Several Republican senators — including Josh Hawley, Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz yesterday — have tried to portray her as soft on child pornographers. Their argument depends on a misleading cherry-picking of facts from cases she has heard.
A useful debunking appeared this week in National Review, the conservative magazine, written by Andrew McCarthy, a former prosecutor who noted that he disagreed with Jackson on many legal matters. McCarthy also wrote that Hawley’s accusations were “meritless to the point of demagoguery” and “a smear.” Senator Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, has pointed out that some Trump nominees had a similar record as Jackson in child-pornography cases, and that Hawley voted to confirm them.
Woke education has become another focus of the hearings, with Republicans like Cruz and Marsha Blackburn trying to portray Jackson as an advocate for it. In truth, she has not taken a position on the issues that fall under that category. Her sole — tenuous — connection to them is serving on the board of Georgetown Day School, an elite private school in Washington.
That was apparently enough for the Republican National Committee to tweet an image of her this week, with her initials — KBJ — crossed out and replaced with CRT, an abbreviation for critical race theory. (Much of the Republican criticism of Jackson probably would have applied to any nominee, regardless of race, but it is hard to imagine the same tweet about a white judge.)
The only time Jackson appears to have mentioned critical race theory publicly was in a 2015 speech. It was part of a list of disciplines that she said had an intellectual connection to criminal sentencing, including administrative law, philosophy, psychology and statistics.
A fairer critique
To be fair, Republicans are correct that many of the broader issues are legitimate matters of public debate. And on some of them, Republicans can make a credible case that progressive Democrats are to the left of public opinion (as Thomas Edsall, a Times Opinion columnist, explains).
Most Americans oppose cutting police budgets, for instance. Many believe that allowing all transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports can be unfair to other girls. Many voters — and not just white voters — think that liberals focus too much on racial identity. Most Americans feel proud of the country and its symbols, including those that some progressives consider racist, like Thanksgiving, the Constitution, the flag and George Washington.
But in trying to make Jackson a stand-in for these views, Republican senators are distorting reality. They are creating a caricature of a liberal Democrat that bears little resemblance to Jackson herself.
“One thing that is striking about this hearing,” Lori Ringhand, a legal scholar, told The Times, “is how little effort we are seeing to engage the nominee on her views about actual legal issues.”
More on the hearings
• After hours of patiently responding to accusations, Jackson displayed some pique at Hawley’s focus on pornography and later dabbed her eyes as Senator Cory Booker praised her life story.
• A few Republican senators, including John Cornyn and Mike Lee, took a different approach, turning down the temperature to ask substantive questions.
Comments
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
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There are still a few serious people in that party, though. Good on Sasse for calling out their bullshit
how she feels is irrelevant to a job thats to be an impartial interpreter of the Constitution and of the arguments made by appellants to that end.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
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These were pretty gauche questions to ask of a Supreme Court nominee, and it would not behoove any Supreme Court Justice nominee (or Supreme Court Justice, for that matter) to answer such divisive questions that are simply a matter of opinion.
Because actually, contrary to what our own JB has written above, their opinions absolutely do NOT matter (just like everyone else on the planet, BTW); what matters for a Supreme Court Justice nominee (and a Supreme Court Justice) are their judgments/rulings.
And from what I've seen, Ketanji Brown Jackson's have been fairly sound.
They probably asked important questions like...what is your fave color and why is grass green?
What do those two questions have to do with women's rights?
given they were asked surrounding the allegations asserted by Dr Ford, yeah they were important.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
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Sen. Ted Cruz seldom overlooks a chance to be underhanded, and, sure enough, the Texas Republican led the effort to imbue this week’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings with the latest effort by the right to make White America fear Black America.
Cruz attempted to tie Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman nominated to the high court, to the supposed menace of “critical race theory” — because, he said, this theory is taught at the private school where she serves on the board (and where she sent her daughters).
“If you look at the Georgetown Day School’s curriculum, it is filled and overflowing with critical race theory,” Cruz alleged, holding up books he said the school has on reading lists, including “Stamped (for Kids): Racism, Antiracism and You,” by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. “It is an astonishing book,” charged Cruz, who had found it “offensive” that President Biden had promised to nominate a Black woman to the court. “On Page 33, it asks the question, ‘Can we send White people back to Europe?’ … Are you comfortable with these ideas being taught to children as young as 4?”
Georgetown Day School, in the nation’s capital, does indeed take a strong “anti-racism” approach. So does St. John’s School, the private school in Houston where, as the New Republic’s Timothy Noah noted, Cruz sends his daughters.
https://wapo.st/36qAsIG
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
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Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©