First blog entry: Disaster of confirming Kavanaugh

(This is the first post on my new blog.  Welcome!)

Where were you on 10/6/2018 when Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court?

I remember hearing that he had been confirmed.  It wasn’t wholly a surprise.  But it felt to me like a seismic shift in this country.  It probably shouldn’t have.  But, like death by 1,000 cuts, you reach a point where you recognize you’re bleeding.

I do see this as the political equivalent of 9/11.  It’s something that ought to make you sit up and take notice.

What did you do after 9/11?

I know what I did.  Essentially, nothing.

What did you do after 10/6?

I would like to do something.  Take action.

What should we do?

Talk isn’t enough, IMHO.  I’ve actually talked a lot.  It’s not _bad_, it’s useful to hone your opinions.  But action is more important.

I would like to share questions that I have, and the answers as I see them.  Questions, because statements by themselves do not allow for discussion - statements are vehicles for disagreement and anger.  Maybe questions are too, we shall see.

Here are the types of questions I have (some of which I have strong answers to):

Should a man who is partisan and a comprehensive liar be on the Supreme Court?

(I believe NO.)

Did Kavanaugh’s testimony demonstrate that he is partisan?

(I believe, clearly YES.)

Did Kavanaugh’s testimony demonstrate that he is a comprehensive liar?

(I believe, clearly YES.)

Can Kavanaugh be removed from the Supreme Court?

(Yes.)

What mechanisms can be used to get Kavanaugh off the Supreme Court, now that he’s there?

(He can be convinced to resign, which seems unlikely.  He can be impeached, with 67 votes in the Senate.)

What can be done to prevent more Kavanaughs from being confirmed in the future?

(Replace senators who chose to confirm Kavanaugh.)

How can we replace senators who confirm Kavanaugh?

(Register voters who are not registered, including those purged from the rolls. Take states to court that disenfranchise voters.  Support Democrats.  Oppose Republicans.)

How can we impeach Kavanaugh?

(Document his misdeeds.  Document his lies.  Document his partisanship.  Prepare the facts for an impeachment.  Find and support a champion to accomplish this.)

What actions can I take?

(Give money to help register voters.  Give money to support legal actions protecting voter rights. Give money to Democrats.  Join the Democratic party.  Demonstrate in public.  Write a blog.  Become active on Twitter.  Write to the local paper.  Talk with friends, share opinions.  Volunteer with local Democrats.  Take time, each day, to do something.)

How long will it take to effect change?

(Years.  Realistically, trying to get control of the House plus 67 Democrats in the Senate is a struggle that will require intense focus in 2018 to even retain existing seats in the Senate, possibly make reasonable progress in 2020, but even 2022 is unlikely to reach 67 Democrats.  Changing minds of the public and Republican senators is more feasible.)

Should we just move to another country instead?

(No.  This is my home.  I will not cede it to others.  No other place will ever be home as much.)

Are accusations of sexual misdeeds justification for removing Kavanaugh?

(That is not the basis of MY concerns, and I believe his lies are sufficient to justify his removal.)

Is Kavanaugh being attacked by unjustified liberal partisanship?

(To the extent that I demonstrate liberal partisanship now personally, I believe it largely driven _by_ Kavanaugh's confirmation.  Effect, not cause.)

If Kavanaugh is impeached, what happens to him?

(He shouldn’t be a judge.  Period.)

Will there be political consequences for impeaching Kavanaugh?

(Probably.)

Will this divide our already-divided country?

(Possibly, but it might pull us together, if done carefully.)

Aren’t there more important issues to address?

(Probably.  But we should not let this stand.)

Should Kavanaugh be treated so roughly?  Doesn’t everyone lie?

(He zoomed past my threshold of acceptable lies.)

Should Republicans be treated so roughly?  Doesn’t everyone make complex political decisions?

(They have failed in a fundamental responsibility, which they acknowledge is fundamental.  Until and unless they fix their mistake, they remain part of the problem.)

Don’t these things work themselves out?  Aren’t we getting better as a country?

(After 9/11, we invaded Iraq - we made a bad situation much worse.)

Aren’t we rational people making rational decisions?

(Demonstrably, no.  See Iraq, above.)

Isn’t this a lot more complex than I’m making this out to be?

(Sure.  But one should start somewhere.)

Isn’t Trump the “real” problem?

(No.  He’s another symptom.  He’s _a_ problem.  Solving Kavanaugh may also solve Trump.)

Those are the questions that have been keeping me up tonight.  As I write this, it’s 3:20AM, I have had trouble sleeping.

Actions I intend to take today, 10/7:

Create my blog (CHECK!)

Identify organizations that support registering voters.  Contribute.(CHECK! https://www.voterparticipation.org/, https://swingleft.org/, https://front.moveon.org/, https://www.wvwvaf.org/)

Identify organizations that oppose restricting voters’ rights in court. Contribute.  (CHECK! https://www.vote.org/, https://democraticredistricting.com/)

Identify Democrats in tight Senate elections.  Contribute.

Identify Republicans in tight Senate elections.  Contribute to their opponents.

Actions I intend to take longer-term:

Volunteer for Jamie McLeod-Skinner campaign for Oregon’s 2nd district to replace Greg Walden (Republican, awful incumbent).

Walk precincts?

Sign up to help during election weekend (CHECK! https://thelastweekend.org - good links to other sites)

Contact Ron Wyden’s office, identify opportunities to volunteer for my favorite Senator.

Contact Jeff Merkley’s office, identify opportunities to volunteer for my second favorite Senator.

Contact the local Democratic party, get involved.

Search for groups working to impeach Kavanaugh.  Get involved.

Write in my blog - detailed answers to questions like I posed above.

Respond to comments on my blog.

Write opinions for the local paper.

Encourage others to take action