Democrats say Avenatti undercut their case against Kavanaugh

[oberliner]

Senate Democrats believed they had Brett Kavanaugh on the ropes.

Christine Blasey Ford had just revealed her identity and was prepared to testify in public, detailing her allegations that Kavanaugh had tried to sexual assault her more than three decades ago. On top of that, a New Yorker article had just revealed that a second woman, Deborah Ramirez, was accusing Kavanaugh of exposing his genitals to her while they were college students.

Then came Michael Avenatti.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/06/politics/democrats-avenatti-swetnick-accusation/index.html

[lame54]

1. The fix was in...

No outside factors made repugs vote for this guy - it was pre-voted
Not one repug changed their mind due to Avenatti

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

67. Exactly.

Scapegoating Avenatti is just ignoring the reality that it didn't matter how much substantial evidence the Dems provided -- hell, they could have produced a handwritten letter reading, "I am a Republican and will always support corporate interests and protect the powerful against the weak. Fuck the Constitution!" -- and the Repukes would have still shoved him through.

Unless we win the House the Repukes will keep giving Mushroom Dick everything he wants, including destroying the nation's intelligence and enforcement institutions. Unless we win the Senate, the next liberal or moderate justice who leaves the bench will be replaced by someone even more blatantly a political right wing than the child molester who took over Kennedy's seat.

I would love to see if there was some relationship between Justice Kennedy's sudden decision to retire and Deutche Bank, which lent Trump $1 billion for real estate projects while Kennedy's son led the bank's real estate division. "Hey, Pops, have I got a deal for you! How would you like to retire rich?"

Let's see how Anthony Kennedy's net worth changed once he retired, shall we?

[TheBlackAdder]

68. This OP is verging on RW propaganda, just another thread meant to be divisive.

[fallout87]

70. From CNN?

Oh yeah, CNN is totally right wing

I read that article earlier and agree.

[TheBlackAdder]

71. Yeah, CNN is a liberal network.

[BigmanPigman]

2. I am not so sure about that!

The GOP has decades of dirty tricks to use as reference for up to date cheating and lying.

[Hortensis]

25. Avenatti's broad, sensationalist claims were seized on

to undermine the more carefully and responsibly delineated claims of the first two, just as many expected the Republican operatives to do, including me. Hand a thief a key, he'll use it. Bare your belly to the Republicans and they'll stick a knife in it.

Avenotti served his nation poorly and only did his client good if what she wants is to become famous and monetize that fame, like his other clients. If she wanted to serve her nation, she chose the wrong style of representative, but please note that this is the representative she did choose. Regrettable mistake or on track to talk show appearances and a book?

[EffieBlack]

32. And if Avenatti didn't exist, they'd have seized on something else

We need to stop letting the GOP convince us not to fight.

[Hortensis]

39. Oh, absolutely they would and manufacture it if needed.

They always do.

But, fighting smart is of course desirable. Those who have no limits have way too many advantages without handing them more.

[Freestate_MD]

33. Okay,

WHY, I mean, really, why, do Avenatti's amphetamine orations have anything to do with anything?

Dude is a opportunist, just like Trump.

[qazplm135]

3. no, they didn't

Collins and Flake were always going to vote this way.

Avenatti did not sway either of them to vote yes. They were always going to vote yes.

We had no chance and still managed to stall, delay and inflame (rightfully).

That's as much of a win as we were ever going to get, and we need to take that anger and turn it towards Nov not at each other.

(But we are democrats and liberals so, of course we will self-immolate).

[EndGOPPropaganda]

9. Not just self- .... propaganda machine on the right is in full play

[0rganism]

4. i disagree. n/t

[oldtime dfl_er]

5. the more women who speak up the better

Avenatti is self serving, yes, but he represents a woman with a credible story. I would not ever silence him. IN fact, his involvement amplifies our voices. Sadly, it takes a white man to make that kind of noise. But he knows how to use the media, and we sorely need that.

I think we should be glad that he is on our side.

[triron]

6. Tired of this diatribe against Avenatti.

[BeyondGeography]

7. This again?

The R’s plus Manchin took blotto frat boy’s word over Blasey Ford’s. Is that Avenatti’s fault too?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

11. "It's Like Dj Vu All Over Again."

[BeyondGeography]

19. Politics is 90 percent emotional

The other half is rational.

[EndGOPPropaganda]

8. Oberliner with another anti-Dem rightwing talking point

This post is unquestionably amplifying a rightwing talking point. The right fears Avenatti so they slime him. Avenatti isn’t a perfect candidate; there are better. But he’s good at PR. That’s why the rightwing propaganda machine is mobilizing against him.

And even some Dems and DU posters believe the right wing talking points. Sad, really.

[Squinch]

23. And Avenatti seems to frighten this ilk a whole lot. Must be why we love him.

[0rganism]

28. Avenatti isn't a candidate

fixed it for you

[EndGOPPropaganda]

73. +1 yes

[Meowmee]

41. Yep

This poster posts mostly right wing anti dem talking points.

[uponit7771]

60. +1, this gets asinine

[Stallion]

62. How Many Shots is Oberliner Going to Take at Avenatti

what is that about 5 or 6 in a few days?

[CrispyQ]

10. Maybe the democrats are allergic to bulldogs?

[standingtall]

12. republicans were going to confirm Kavanaugh no matter what

Useless to blame it on Avenatti.

[Va Lefty]

13. I call bullshit. Avenatti is a fighter.

If we had more of his ilk, Derrick Garland might be on the Supreme Court

[dchill]

14. Avenatti: This season's Franken?

Too much competition?

Enquiring minds...

[LiberalFighter]

15. Really? Blame it on Avenatti?

If that is how the Senate Democrats felt about it they had the option to control the narrative. Did they? No!

[Azathoth]

16. Avenatti definitely did not help

But the simple fact is that, as Collins made very clear at the end of her grotesque kabuki dance, she was always going to vote for Kavanaugh. She was a stronger 'YES' than Graham was.

[NanceGreggs]

17. The usual RW bullshit ...

... from the usual poster.

[JonLP24]

18. I think the fact her lawyer is Michael Avenatti is irrelevant

They should have took the additional claims more seriously.

Reached for comment Saturday, Avenatti pushed back, criticizing anonymous Democrats as "cowards" and saying the assessment shows the "failed leadership" in the Democratic Party.

"It is outrageous that these so-called Democrats would attack a sexual assault victim from coming forward," Avenatti told CNN. "I guess their position is that she should have shut her mouth and remained silent? It is disgusting that these cowards blame my client and the other accusers from coming forward.""

(Snip)

Avenatti sharply criticized Collins -- and Democrats, as well.
"How do they know her claims, supported by six witnesses were not credible?" Avenatti said. "They did basically nothing to find out."

(Snip)

Avenatti, who headlined an Ohio fundraiser Friday and is considering running for president in 2020, said he wears that Democratic criticism with a "badge of honor."

"Many establishment Democrats are concerned because they see me as a threat," Avenatti said.
https://www-m.cnn.com/2018/10/06/politics/democrats-avenatti-swetnick-accusation/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.democraticunderground.com%2F100211245271

[ismnotwasm]

20. I am NOT Avenatti's biggest fan

But this is bullshit. He’s wasn’t going to change one single Republican mind.

Also, the title is misleading— a couple of Democrats thought, well maybe he didn’t help. There is no outrage from Democrats or the Democratic Party.

Where do you even find this stuff, your newsfeed? I tend to stay away from bombastic and or misleading stuff.

[Squinch]

21. Oh, FFS. No, Democrats fucking don't. Don't you ever get tired of this shit?

[spanone]

22. Avenatti had nothing to do with the democrats.

give it up.

[world wide wally]

24. Maybe,,, just MAYBE it was the Republicans

[MustLoveBeagles]

49. +1

[W_HAMILTON]

26. How many times are you going to post this same sort of article?

[Doodley]

27. CNN attacking Democrats again. If CNN and others did their f###g jobs we wouldn't be in this mess

[EffieBlack]

29. That's bullshit

Don't fall for it.

[KT2000]

30. that is BS

gambling, drinking now?, how were debts paid off so quickly? blackouts, FBI not even giving corroborators an answer, just sending them on wild goose chases.
I wish they had demanded answers in the FBI probe. Of course they would have been denied but at least the questions would still be on the table.
Avenatti had no effect on their probe.

[Turbineguy]

31. The GOP is more worried about Avenatti than

the Democratic Party since they can always fix the election.

[Baitball Blogger]

34. Bunk.

I don't even know what this means? They had the poor little white boy on the ground and the pile-on of facts made him too sympathetic because white people won't kick one of their own when they're down?

[YOHABLO]

35. Hey wait a minute: I'm a damn Democrat and no one asked me about Avenatti.

[Snake Plissken]

36. Avenatti was not in the room when the Democratic Senators fell for Kavanaugh's crying little boy act

They had the chance right there and then to stick the knife in and twist it, but they folded, because of their "high road" bullshit.

They should have stuck Kavanaugh like a pig when he was under oath and let him bleed out, but they didn't, and here we are today.

[Doodley]

46. Exactly. And they should have called out his ,BS attacks against Democrats and held him to

Account for every unsubstantiated statement.

[dem4decades]

37. So Democrats are blaming the guy who wants to run for President

As a Democrat?

Could this be trying to stop a competitor?

Blaming other Democrats for Republican power plays has to stop.

[Downtown Hound]

38. Stupid. n/t

[libdem4life]

40. He's the only one not sending his "thoughts and prayers" for justice for the abused.

It's not a wonder he's being scapegoated...especially by Democrats who should have been doing what he did. The pearl-clutching Democrats are embarrassed, that's all. They didn't have a freaking case or a response or a pair of whatever...boobs or balls.

[Kingofalldems]

42. Wow, oberliner, lots of OPs attacking Avenatti.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211240009

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211222857

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211178898

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211176178

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211177647

Funny, couldn't find one OP supporting Kavanaugh's accusers. Maybe you can clue us all in.






And coincidentally the right wing is also on the attack against him.

[ismnotwasm]

64. You know I noticed the same thing myself.

Hmm

[JCMach1]

43. Rubbish

they put all their chips on the FBI and they got punked...

[Vinca]

44. Baloney. Avenatti had nothing to do with it. My only complaint re Avenatti is that he has could

have escorted his client to a local law enforcement agency and made a criminal complaint against Kavanaugh. An official, criminal complaint. Maybe his client wasn't on board with that, but it might have slowed the process down a bit.

[MadDAsHell]

48. But then his clients and the police would have gotten all the screen time. nt

[MustLoveBeagles]

45. Not a fan of Avenatti's but this flat out wrong

He seems to like the spotlight a little too much, but you know what? We need all the allies we can get at this point and I'm glad he's on our side. He's a fighter and I respect that. I hope he keeps it up.

As for the confirmation vote, the fix was in from the beginning. There's no point in pretending otherwise. They had no intention of voting any other way. Last week's show trail was only done to make themselves look good and appear to give a damn. They failed on both counts.

[MadDAsHell]

47. Accusing a guy with no criminal record of scores of witnessed gang rapes stretches credibility.

Could have been true, I have no idea. But I agree that what seemed like 2 very credible and plausible claims were drowned out by increasingly convoluted and questionable claims (e.g. 20 guys gang raping girls on multiple occasions, and NOONE, including female eyewitnesses, says a word??) and childish nicknames like “Rapey Brett.” Again, every accusation certainly could have been true, but it’s not hard to see why, as the claims got wilder and wilder and the rhetoric got more and more savage, people started to question the entire movements legitimacy.

[StevieM]

50. Avenatti did not make the accusation, Julie Swetnick did. Besides, the hearing stayed focused

on Christine Ford. Swetnick and Ramirez were not really discussed.

[Quixote1818]

51. Whatever

[violetpastille]

52. Do you get a bonus if I say, "Yeah Fuck Avenatti" ?

Personally, I'm obsessed with low-cost, high-nutrition school lunches for picky eaters. Who are toying with veganism. But they don't eat beans or tofu.

If you come up with a really great idea for me..tradesies. Maybe.

I'm really not obsessed with Avenatti though.

School lunches on the other hand? They're all I can think about. Also school breakfasts.
We can talk about those in your next Avenatti thread.

[MustLoveBeagles]

54. Lol

[JI7]

53. if Al Franken was still in the senate same would be posting

that democrats failed to keep kavanaugh out when they decided to keep franken.

[still_one]

55. No he didn't, and they know it. It was over before it began. That is what happens when you don't

vote

This is CNN just trying to stir things up, then they will Avenatti on their shows and try to stir up more shit on this

The votes were never there, but we got to view the DIVA Collins, and media drama show as a bonus when the results were a day be deal

[rzemanfl]

56. Lots of views, no recs. Imagine that. n/t

[OilemFirchen]

57. She should have gone to Kirsten Gillibrand and claimed that Kavanaugh squeezed her waist.

We'd at least have been spared from your barrage of posts about the subject.

[Doremus]

58. Rubbish.

Just like most of the other anti-Avenatti threads from the usual suspects.

[eleny]

59. You again with this baloney

[ret5hd]

65. I keep telling' ya'll..."It's his job."

[eleny]

66. Lol

Funny how they don't come back to debate it. Just drop their fart bomb and disappear.
..... .....

[Drahthaardogs]

69. Amazing isn't it?

If you want some fun, go look at her posts on Al Franken and Gillibrand

[OBrien]

61. Why did she go to a male

rather than plenty of qualified female lawyers? Avenatti appears to flaunt it but can’t supply. Stop with the idolizing please. He’s an egotistical conman that would crawl over ground glass to get in tv.

[MountCleaners]

63. Avenatti is helping us

A lot of talking heads and pundits on social media are saying, "it's time to get over Kavanaugh." Whatever that means. I agree that we neglected a lot of other issues, but this was a national trauma. Avenatti will take the heat off Democrats for having a Kavanaugh "obsession" and will continue to come out with stuff.

He gets people to come out of the woodwork, like this gem I read today:

Link to tweet

[rzemanfl]

72. OMG a rec! Please read this thread-

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211247840