I'm going to concede that Dr. Blasey’s account of the attempted rape by Brett Kavanaugh is accurate. In fact, I don't think it's one-off. Is Judge Kavanaugh a…(you fill your own words - mine are unprintable!?) YES.
If you admit those facts, why in Hell are you voting to confirm him?
I think Justice Thomas will be the first Supreme Court Justice to retire when the court is in session since Louis Brandeis retired in 1939. Others left while the court was in session due to death, take another position (Arthur Goldberg - Ambassador to the UN), unforeseen failing health and declining influence (George Sutherland & Stanley Reed).
Justice Thomas is the senior Justice in terms of service (27 years to RBG's 25), has reached full retirement age (70 on June 23 of this year) and is known to hate Washington and love driving his motor home across America with his wife Ginny (a conservative icon.)
Assume Justice Thomas retires within a few days of the Democrats winning at least 50 seats in the Senate in the 116th Congress.
Justice Age Service
Chief Justice John Roberts 63 13
Justice Samuel Alito 68 13
Justice Neil Gorsuch 51 1
Justice Amy C, Barrett 45 -- ( or anther Justice under 50)
Justice Federalist Society 49 -- ( or anther Justice under 50)
Barring ill health and death that lineup looks good for at least 3 Presidential terms and if we are entering an era of 1 term Presidencies…
Yes, I know RBG is 85 and wish her and Steven Breyer (80) the best of health.
True, if Judge Kavanaugh's nomination fails I'm guessing President Trump will nominate an equally odious icon of the right with no skeletons in their closet, attic or cellar. The simple country where I grew had a sub-basement so I will not guarantee there will be no nauseating corpses in their sub-basement or stables.
What are the chances of death or ill health among the above Justices? I'd rather take my chances or impeaching a Justice Kavanaugh.
Who upon reading this blog will bet against a conversation similar to the 1 of the 2 described below has not taken place in the office of every United States Senator (both Ds & Rs.)
R Conversation
"We're screwed if the Ds ever obtain an unredacted version of Kavanaugh's White House papers, or his role with Ken Starr or … We all know he lied to the Senate Judiciary Committee on at least 2 occasions.."
D Conversation
"Our best chance of changing the ideological balance of the Supreme Court will be to confirm Kavanaugh and bide our time until we control the House and the House votes articles of impeachment…have more than 50 Democratic Senators. There are several Republican Senators to whom he about Roe v Wade, torture writing, stolen e-Mails, etc. We have nothing to lose… Dr. Blasey has filed a compliant with the Maryland authorities and the appropriate Maryland DA may file…”
Now, I you're a Joe Manchin or Donnelly, Heidi Heitkamp or Claire McCaskill and 50 votes have been cast against his confirmation and 49 to confirm. If you vote Yes, VP Pence's vote sends him to the Supreme Court…
Brett Kavanaugh is 53 years old. Amy Coney Barrett is 45 years old. The Democrats will take control of the House and Senate (likely) during Justice Kavanaugh's term on the Supreme Court…