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Originally Posted by OBW
And whether or not Feinstein followed the Senate's rules is still irrelevant in whether the charges were true or false, or should have been considered by anyone as a measure of qualification for a lifetime job on the highest court in the land. (Unless, of course, there is evidence of complicity on her part to conspire to push forward charges that were known to be false.) Don't forget that the "rules" are not determiners of truth, just of procedure. And sometimes rules reflect the desire of those who have the position to make the rules to keep their thumb on those who do not.
I am no fan of Feinstein or any of the recent Democrat leaders in the House or Senate. But I cannot presume that her actions reflected anything more than a desire to ensure that what she found as relevant information made an impact rather than just got buried in back-room strong-arming. It works both ways. If the Republicans do things I like it is "righteous," but when the Democrats do what I don't, it is despicable or illegal, then why do we find it so hard to understand those who see it the other way around? Do we presume that they are not working for the US? That they are enemies of the people and not patriots?
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I completely disagree. Making Ford's letter pubic was a disservice to Ford and to Kavanaugh. Feinstein had the information for months and sat on it. She could have raised the issue in the closed door sessions, she could have appealed for an FBI investigation then. She could have asked for Ford to come and testify in a closed door session. She could have asked Kavanaugh for his response. In short everything that she ultimately did do she could have done in a closed door session. If the hearing is going to hear any and all accusations regardless of merit and since we know many of those will have a political axe to grind it is prudent to perform this in a closed door session. Now if she felt she had been strong armed and the Republicans had not acted in a responsible way then she still could go public as she did. Since that is her option you would expect the Republicans would act responsibly. You are talking about an allegation that is 36 years old, he said/she said, and about a teenager who is not fully matured. There was no corroborating witness, and there was no subsequent behavior consistent with a sexual abuser. No DA would have ever taken this. Finally, Ford had asked that this be kept confidential -- i.e. closed door. Feinstein's actions were reprehensible and she should be held accountable.
Finally, there was always the possibility that Kavanaugh would be confirmed and become a Supreme court justice. Therefore her behavior has damaged the Supreme court. Hence it was irresponsible.