Here’s a third open thread for the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing with Dr. Blasey and, eventually, with Judge Kavanaugh.
Open thread!
Adam L. Silverman is a consulting national security subject matter expert specializing in low intensity warfare (asymmetric, irregular, and unconventional warfare, revolution, insurgency, terrorism), civil affairs, psychological operations, and cultural considerations for strategy and policy.
He routinely provides operational support to a number of US Army, DOD, and other US Government elements. Dr. Silverman holds a doctorate in political science and criminology from the University of Florida, as well as masters' degrees in comparative religion and international security. Full professional bio available here: https://balloon-juice.com/adam-silverman-bio/
Adam Silverman has been a Balloon Juice writer since 2015.
by Adam L Silverman| 257 Comments
This post is in: America, Domestic Politics, Election 2016, Election 2018, Open Threads, Politics, Popular Culture, Post-racial America, Not Normal
Here’s a third open thread for the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing with Dr. Blasey and, eventually, with Judge Kavanaugh.
Open thread!
by Adam L Silverman| 280 Comments
This post is in: America, Domestic Politics, Election 2016, Election 2018, Open Threads, Politics, Popular Culture, Post-racial America, Not Normal
Here’s a Part II to for the live feed for the Senate Judiciary Hearing with Dr. Blasey and Judge Kavanaugh.
Open thread!
by Adam L Silverman| 309 Comments
This post is in: America, Domestic Politics, Election 2016, Election 2018, Open Threads, Politics, Popular Culture, Post-racial America, Not Normal
Here’s the live feed for today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Dr. Blasey and Judge Kavanaugh. A quick note: it has been reported that they are using one of the smaller/smallest hearing rooms in the Dirkson Senate Building. It is so small that there will only be room for about six reporters, basically a small reportorial pool, in the room. I think this was done to try to minimize the audience/crowd so as to minimize protestors and prevent this from getting completely out of hand and becoming a complete circus. For instance, it has also been reported that Juanita Broaddrick is traveling to the Capitol to headline a rally in support of Judge Kavanaugh and try to attend today’s hearing, so…
Updated at 9:58 AM EDT
Here’s Dr. Blasey’s opening statement that was released/submitted last night.
And here’s Judge Kavanaugh’s.
Open thread!
Senate Judiciary Hearing with Dr. Blasey and Judge Kavanaugh Live FeedPost + Comments (309)
by Adam L Silverman| 97 Comments
This post is in: America, Crazification Factor, Election 2016, Election 2018, Open Threads, Politics, Popular Culture, Post-racial America, The War On Women, Women's Rights Are Human Rights, Not Normal
Chuck Grassley’s staff says two different (unnamed) men came forward and admitted sexual assault in the past week, looking to exonerate Kavanaugh https://t.co/ylpNsiwkNz
— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) September 27, 2018
Now we know why they brought in the sex crimes prosecutor from Arizona.
In a timeline of actions the Senate Judiciary Cmte has taken in response to allegations against Kavanaugh, they says TWO individuals have come forward to the Cmte saying THEY had the encounter with Dr Ford instead of Kavanaugh —> pic.twitter.com/WqgX4gRSYo
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) September 27, 2018
Asked for more info about the individuals, @ChuckGrassley Spox Taylor Foy says “Nothing further at the moment.”
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) September 27, 2018
Dem aide responds: “Twelve hours before the hearing they suggest two anonymous men claimed to have assaulted her. Democrats were never informed of these assertions or interviews, in violation of Senate rules. This is shameful and the height of irresponsibility.”
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) September 27, 2018
The state of play less than ten hours out from the hearing is that the Senate Judiciary Committee’s GOP majority has conducted three interviews, with two men, without notifying the ranking Democratic member or any of the Democratic staff on the Judiciary Committee, both of whom claim they are the man who attacked Dr. Blasey. I will be very, very, very (pleasantly) surprised if the female sex crimes prosecutor from Maricopa County, AZ doesn’t conduct an inquisition of Dr. Blasey tomorrow morning.
Dr. Ford KNOWS it was Kavanaugh. She has no doubt. Republicans still trying this "silly woman must be confused" defense is so so offensive.
— JackiSchechner (@JackiSchechner) September 27, 2018
Make them come before the committee and publicly say it. On live television, make them say “yes, I believe I was the one who committed sexual assault”. https://t.co/rnDT8VKw2N
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) September 27, 2018
Brace for impact!
Open thread!
Senator Grassley, Via His Staff, Tips His HandPost + Comments (97)
by Adam L Silverman| 331 Comments
This post is in: America, Domestic Politics, Election 2016, Election 2018, Open Threads, Politics, Popular Culture, Post-racial America, Silverman on Security, Not Normal
With the new allegations brought forth by Michael Avenatti, as well as the reporting that the President is taking over the public relations regarding his nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, including an announced 5 PM press conference/statement/availability, the real action will be within the Republican majority caucus in the Senate. Specifically all the attention needs to be on Senator McConnell.
The Senate majority leader is not particularly popular within his own caucus. He’s a top down, micromanager who tries to control everything. This includes the committees. The GOP committee chairs in the Senate are, in many ways, just figureheads. Right now every reporter is scrambling to get answers from Senator Grassley, who is the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, about what is going to happen. And while he or his office will eventually provide some, they aren’t really Grassley’s answers. They’re McConnell’s. Senator Grassley is just the face of the GOP majority on the committee, McConnell is really calling the shots.
Senator McConnell is almost the truest example of a natural fascist in American politics and public life today. His guiding principle that might makes right is the distilled essence of totalitarianism and was a hallmark of Mussollini’s fascism (national-syndicalism), as well as part of the bastardization of Nietzche’s philosophies adopted and used by the NAZIs. As I wrote back in June:
Senate Majority Leader McConnell isn’t a politician or like any politician who has ever served as Senate Majority or Minority Leader. Rather than view him as a politician, it is more appropriate to understand Senator McConnell as an insurgent, albeit a non-violent one. He recognizes no legitimacy but his own. When out of power he’ll do whatever is necessary using asymmetric, irregular, and/or unconventional means to achieve power. And once he achieves power he will do whatever he can to achieve his objectives to consolidate his gains as quickly as possible using any means necessary as he believes his actions are self justifying – that his achievement of power justifies his by any means necessary strategy. This is, by the way, the basic argument of the premier Italian fascist (national-syndicalist) theorist Sergio Panunzio, who delineated the fascist theories for the use of political violence and low intensity warfare in the 1920s. As a result, there is no law, rule, tradition, norm, ethic, promise, and/or deal he won’t violate or renege on. This also makes him an unreliable interlocutor and makes it impossible to negotiate with him in good faith as he doesn’t believe in good faith negotiations.
Senator McConnell doesn’t do anything in good faith. The last thing that Senator McConnell wants is to lose control of the Senate. Whether now because of the defections of a pair of his retiring members using it as leverage to achieve their own objectives or in the mid terms because enough voters want a check on the President to override the partisan Republican advantage in this senatorial election cycle. It is why he’s ground everything in the chamber other than handling nominations, specifically judicial nominations, to a halt. It is why he doesn’t want to do the legally required annual budgetary resolution so he can avoid having his members take tough votes before the midterms. And it is why he’s cancelled most of the August recess under the pretense that it is the only way he can move judicial nominees because of what he alleges is Democratic obstruction. Nominations that only exist because he prevented President Obama from seating almost any judicial nominees during his final two years in office. The Democratic minority has no tools to stop these nominations, regardless of what Senator McConnell says because Senator McConnell in conjunction with Senator Grassley has gotten rid of the blue slip rule and refuses to recognize Democratic senators holds on nominees. Senator McConnell’s cancellation of the August recess is really just a thinly veiled attempt to keep incumbent Democratic senators up for reelection off the campaign trail. Every Senate rule, tradition, norm, ethic, and even law (Congressional Budget Act) has been bent or stretched to breaking or just outright ignored by Senator McConnell in his quest to consolidate his power and achieve his revanchist and reactionary objectives. As an insurgent, albeit a non-violent one, Senator McConnell only understands and recognizes the application of leverage and force.
If you want to know how the Senate is going to respond to these recent allegations, or specifically how the Senate’s GOP majority is going to respond, watch Senator McConnell. He is the only Republican senator that matters.
Open thread.
What to Watch for in the US Senate Over the Next Several DaysPost + Comments (331)
by Adam L Silverman| 16 Comments
This post is in: America, Open Threads, Women's Rights Are Human Rights
I know from reading comments in relation to both the allegations against Judge Kavanaugh and how the GOP majority in the Senate, the President, and their surrogates in the media are responding to them are negatively effecting a number of our readers and commenters. Or friends and/or family members of our readers and commenters. If you or someone you know is having trouble right now, especially if it is after hours or you can’t get to a professional mental health care practitioner for a face to face appointment, please call RAINN! They have personnel available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at:
or
Hearing about sexual violence in the media and online can be very difficult for survivors and their loved ones. Remember to take care of yourself during these times. Below is a thread of resources:
— RAINN (@RAINN) September 24, 2018
Free. Confidential. 24/7. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is here for support—800.656.HOPE & https://t.co/j9dQGwplI2
— RAINN (@RAINN) September 14, 2018
For those who want to check things out online, here’s RAINN’s terms of service:
The National Sexual Assault Online Hotline
Chat online with a trained staff member who can provide you confidential crisis support.
Your privacy and safety are crucial. Please make sure you are in a safe place and that you are using a secure device and Internet connection. Please note that while we have taken numerous measures to keep your communications safe while using our site, no Internet transmission is 100% secure.
Terms:
During your session, we will not ask for information that would identify you (such as your name or address) and we will not record the chat. However, if you disclose your name and location and are under 18 or if we fear that you are in danger of committing suicide (or otherwise as required by law), we may have to provide information you have given us to the appropriate authorities.
At that link is a button for online chat if that is preferable/easier than speaking to someone on the phone.
RAINN’s front page is at this link.
Here’s the link to finding local, in person help if you need it.
And here’s the link for tips for survivors regarding consuming news and entertainment media.
Here’s the link to RAINN’s information on flashbacks.
And finally, here’s the link for self care for friends and family.
You’re not alone! You don’t have to be alone! There is help out there! And you deserve that help if you need it!
Here’s some more on RAINN for those not familiar with the organization.
I know I speak for all of the other front pagers, but if you need something, please reach out to one of us using the contact a front pager tool at the top right of the page.
Open thread!
by Adam L Silverman| 209 Comments
This post is in: 2020 Elections, America, Domestic Politics, Election 2016, Election 2018, Foreign Affairs, Open Threads, Politics, Popular Culture, Post-racial America, Silverman on Security, Not Normal
The President’s speech to the UN General Assembly this morning was basically a modified rally speech. He started off with his usual vigorous patting himself on the back, which was received well…
Trump begins his UN speech by saying his administration has accomplished more than "almost any administration in the history of our country." There is some laughter in the hall. "So true," he says. The laughter gets louder. "Didn't expect that reaction," Trump says.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) September 25, 2018
WOW! The UN audience laughs at Trump after he claims, "my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country." pic.twitter.com/tXg50ejQqy
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 25, 2018
So that went well. But as the speech went on, it went someplace weird. And not just weird, but obscurely weird.
Trump: "We reject the ideology of globalism, and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism."
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) September 25, 2018
We already know that globalism is the code that Stephen Miller and Steve Bannon use to refer to not just the current global system of international trade, international relations, and international security agreements, but to Jews. It is intended to be understood, if I may, literally by the majority of people who aren’t anti-Semites or anti-Semitic curious and figuratively by the President’s supporters who are. But what is this Doctrine of Patriotism? The Doctrine of Patriotism was proposed by Charles Spurgeon a mid to late 19th Century Calvinist Baptist from London.
Specifically, Spurgeon wrote (emphasis mine):
Patriotism is an instinct which is found, I think, in every true Englishman. And most of the other nations of the earth can also boast of their patriots. Let it never be said that the Church of God has no feeling of patriotism for the Holy City, for the Heavenly Land and for her glorious King enthroned above. To us, Christian patriotism means love to the Church of God, for—
“There our best friends, our kindred dwell, There God our Savior reigns.”
Let us have loyalty, by all means, but, chiefly, loyalty to Christ! Let us have true patriotism, but, especially that patriotism which consists in love to “the land of the living” of which Christ is the one King and Ruler.
So here too we have the President using a phrase that is going to either just get a “hmm, that sounds a bit odd” or “what does he mean by that” from most listeners, including scholars of international relations and security and national security professionals and that is going to be heard and understood differently by a very specific group of the President’s base: white Evangelical Christians. Moreover, this concept dovetails with a lot of Putin’s attempts to use and leverage the Russian Orthodox Church to promote himself to white American Evangelicals, as well as a variety of American and European white supremacists, neo-NAZIs, neo-fascists, and neo-nationalists. The President’s use of the doctrine of patriotism, like his use of the term globalist, is meant to be taken figuratively by his base and fellow travelers, but literally by everyone else who doesn’t speak in this coded jargon.
Sweet jumping jeebus. Tha what? https://t.co/Sbb9W7809H
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) September 25, 2018
Aside from the fact that realism can’t really be principled by its very nature, neither of these two things – principled realism and the doctrine of patriotism – are actually the Trump Doctrine. The Trump Doctrine, as we’ve discussed here extensively, is “I will be treated fairly or else and only I can ensure that America will be treated fairly or else and only I can ensure that the forgotten men and women of America will be treated fairly or else.”
I’m sure tomorrow’s UN Security Council meeting is going to go very smoothly…
Open thread.
The President Had Quite the Morning at the UNPost + Comments (209)