[–] 14139849? 0 points 8 points 8 points (+8|-0) ago
That "meeting is adjourned, 2 hr rule" moment was the best and just awesome. DiFi saying "what?!?" out loud like she could not believe it that they just got played and didn't get their motion attached or any other conditions other than some wishful thinking from flakey Flake who will most likely be straighten out by Q and come around before the floor vote.
[–] 14141106? 0 points 9 points 9 points (+9|-0) ago
an anon had a good take.
Theory: Why is Judge Kavanaugh so important to be confirmed quickly?
On the surface, it is believed it will tip the court to a reliable conservative vote and that cannot stand (Roe v. Wade) in the liberal view. But I am not sure that is true. I think the importance is more immediate. So far, we can conclude that Congress is corrupt. We also can reasonably assume the executive branch is corrupt (DOJ/FBI/CIA, etc). But no allegations have been made on the Judiciary. What if the release of the FISA docs do "Bring down the house?" What if the corruption is also rampant in the FISC system? Who is in charge of FISC? Would he then be removed/recused? If so, then the current court switches to a 4-3 liberal majority. Hard to prosecute in that environment. This would explain the urgency, and the FISA release delay.
Not sure if it has been brought up before, but this is the only puzzle piece that fits in my mind….going back to lurking now.
[–] 14139858? 0 points 10 points 10 points (+10|-0) ago
I think this was about getting a quorum. You need 7 members to discuss business. you need 9 members (including 2 from the minority party) to conduct business. To pass a bill or nomination out of the committee, you need a majority of the members. 21/2 = 10.5, so 11 members, two of which must be from the minority party. The threatened Democrat walkout would have prevented transacting committee business whether or not it was a nomination. The judiciary committee can't impose more FBI investigations on the Senate as a whole or make passing the nomination out contingent on more FBI investigations. Flake's promise seemed like a gambit to get the quorum, but not actually be an enforceable promise. it depends on whether Flake is a deciding vote on the Senate floor.
[–] 14140115? 0 points 11 points 11 points (+11|-0) ago
Amazing “orchestration” of words... Flake speaks making it “sound” like he wants an amendment. Dems jump all over it. Grassley has them vote first, then will talk about it. He lets them talk then drops the hammer on the 2 hour time limit. Afterwards you can hear him say it was a “(ladies and) gentleman’s agreement” look that up! Brilliant!
[–] 14139160? 0 points 7 points 7 points (+7|-0) ago
drop the hammer Q