Judicially Intemperate

My liberal credentials and beliefs s are no secret and for that reason I never supported the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.  His reading of the Constitution is different from mine — he does not favor the right to privacy, which protects both a woman’s right to choose as well as marriage equality.  He favors a reading of the second amendment which permits little restriction of guns, including automatic assault rifles.  In terms of the Voting Rights Act, nothing he has written is promising and the gutting of the VRA will continue if he’s on the Court.  Ditto for the Violence Against Women Act.

These are not negotiable issues for me and my opposition was clear from the outset.

Add in the allegations by Susan Blasey Ford and others and my suspicions that Brett Kavanaugh is not suitable for a Supreme Court lifetime appointment is confirmed.  He could have apologized for the behavior toward Blasey Ford; he could have acknowledged that as a young man he drank to excess and may very well have made some poor decisions.  He did not. Instead, he denied and, quite frankly, lied about his drinking under sworn oath.

Then came his appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week.  There, his anger and vitriol toward Senate Democrats and the half of the nation who identify with that party made very clear that this man is nor prepared to be an unbiased, thoughtful judge.  He is a partisan hack whose naked and ugly ambitions govern his every word and every thought.  The Wall Street Journal editorial he penned yesterday further magnifies his disqualification.  It was a pathetic effort to make amends for his trifling and sniping he showed in his Senate appearance last week.  He was called before the Judiciary Committee as a candidate for judge, not as a man, a father, or a husband.  And if couldn’t set aside his politics then (or even create the appearance that he will do so), then he cannot serve on the Supreme Court, let alone the lower federal judiciary.

Historically, the Supreme Court has been an institution in which the American people have confidence and faith.  If Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed to the Court the Supreme Court will automatically become less credible.  Its ability to protect our rights from a tyrannical government will be in doubt.   Our most trusted institution will stumble, perhaps forever.  The stakes are that significant.  

Kavanaugh must be rejected, if not for his Constitutional views and character, then for his unapologetic partisanship.  He is judicially intemperate and the republic cannot take such risks.