Pierce: Dr. Christine Blasey Ford Just Gave Chuck Grassley the Chance to Do the Right Thing

[mcar]

Dr. Christine Blasey Ford Just Gave Chuck Grassley the Chance to Do the Right Thing
The outlines of Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation process are clearer than ever.

BY CHARLES P. PIERCE
SEP 20, 2018

You know what's an interesting thought experiment? Change this New York Times headline...

Kavanaugh Accuser Opens Negotiations on Testimony Next Week

...to the following...

Kavanaugh's Alleged Victim Opens Negotiations on Testimony Next Week

The whole "accuser" thing is driving me crazy. There is a carefully nuanced pejorative lurking in the syllables there that makes me uneasy.

Anyway, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and her legal team on Thursday proved themselves to be not only brave, but also shrewd. They told the Senate Judiciary Committee that Dr. Ford would be happy to testify before it next week. But not on Monday, and not until certain completely reasonable conditions are met.

“As you are aware, she has been receiving death threats, which have been reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and she and her family have been forced out of their home...She wishes to testify, provided that we can agree on terms that are fair and which ensure her safety.”

Obliquely, of course, this invites Charles Grassley and his merry majority to line up with the anonymous callers and the cyberthugs who are making life miserable for Ford and her family. All they have to do is turn her down.

It also draws a nice bright line under the consequences Dr. Ford has suffered since coming forward. Kavanaugh's eating at the White House mess, while Ford and her family are eating takeout at some Motel 6. Only one of them has anything at risk behind what they have to say. Ford and her lawyers are offering Grassley a chance to be decent in front of the whole wide world. Their next move, of course, if Grassley declines the offer, will be to write him a letter expressing regret that he couldn't see fit to provide Dr. Ford with measures to ensure her safety. Grassley will certainly enjoy that, I'm sure.

https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a23344241/christine-blasey-ford-testify-chuck-grassley-brett-kavanaugh/

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I hope Grassley accepts this challenge, but I rather doubt he will. n/t

[mcar]

2. CNN is reporting that Rs are considering having a female lawyer question her

Given the questionable optics of the all white male Republicans on the judiciary.

I was feeling glum about it today, Peggy, but this news is lifting my spirits. I think the good Dr. has a good team advising her.

[still_one]

5. I suspect any attorney from the republicans will be someone like Victoria Toensing

[mcar]

6. I'm sure

But it seems like Ford's team has some bargaining power.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. Oh, that is good news!

I think she has a good team advising her, too.

[Cha]

3. Kavanaugh's Alleged Victim Opens Negotiations on Testimony Next Week

Yes! Thank You for Pierce, mcar

[Hermit-The-Prog]

4. Kavanaugh Still Credibly Accused, Seeks Negotiations

How 'bout the above instead?

[mcar]

7. The framing is important, Cha

I'm at least glad that some reporters are referring to her as Dr or Professor.

[Cha]

12. Yes, it is. And, too many times

it's as if the US M$M go out of their way to frame it in the worst possible way.

[ffr]

11. +1

[ffr]

8. Why does the "right" feel they have the right to threaten people's lives so openly?

Is this 1933 Germany all of a sudden?

If there was ever any doubt about which political party was in the right historically and which was in the wrong, there's nothing left to doubt anymore.

Republicans are just small brained, weak minded drones. Doing Fox Entertainment's bidding.

[mcar]

10. They get away with it

Gawd is with them. They are hateful, hate-filled sociopaths