Послесловие

[tijd.livejournal.com]

Левые (прогрессивные) взгляды в политике подразумевают борьбу за изменение существующего порядка. Это предоставляет возможность людям правых (консервативных) взглядов упирать на патриотизм и сохранение существующих правил. Нынешняя ситуация создает запрос на здоровый центризм: отстаивание существующих демократических институтов от их искажения трампизмом.

После смерти Маккейна я ждал, кто из политических лидеров сможет эти идеи выразить. Пока что ближе всего предсказуемо подошла Хиллари Клинтон, написав послесловие к своей книжке:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/09/american-democracy-is-in-crisis/570394/



Вслед Маккейну и Обаме Клинтон явным образом отсылает к Декларации независимости: "The message [Trump] sends by his lack of concern and respect for some Americans is unmistakable. He is saying that some of us don’t belong, that all people are not created equal, and that some are not endowed by their Creator with the same inalienable rights as others."

Клинтон называет пять проблем трампизма:

First, there is Donald Trump’s assault on the rule of law.
Second, the legitimacy of our elections is in doubt.
Third, the president is waging war on truth and reason.
Fourth, there’s Trump’s breathtaking corruption.
Fifth, Trump undermines the national unity that makes democracy possible.

И призывает к "братству" американцев в борьбе за демократию:

There are concrete steps that would help, like greatly expanding national-service programs and bringing back civics education in our schools. We also need systemic economic reforms that reduce inequality and the unchecked power of corporations and give a strong voice to working families. And ultimately, healing our country will come down to each of us, as citizens and individuals, doing the work—trying to reach across divides of race, class, and politics and see through the eyes of people very different from ourselves. When we think about politics and judge our leaders, we can’t just ask, “Am I better off than I was four years ago?” We have to ask, “Are we better off? Are we as a country better, stronger, and fairer?” Democracy works only when we accept that we’re all in this together.

Judge Kavanaugh backed up by his forever and current girl’s basketball teams pic.twitter.com/si4fdh68ed

— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) September 6, 2018

During a break, Senators chat with girls who were coached by Judge Kavanaugh in his oft-cited other role as a youth basketball coach. pic.twitter.com/fFkIRT9JIP

— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) September 6, 2018

Судье Бретту Кавано, который притащил баскетбольную команду своей дочери на сенатские слушания, предстоит борьба за отмазывание от обвинений в попытке изнасилования. Но о его человеческих качествах и об его онтошении к женщинам можно судить по его отношению к Хиллари Клинтон.

Из воспоминаний Дэвида Брока:

Brett actually makes a cameo appearance in my memoir of my time in the GOP, "Blinded By The Right." I describe him at a party full of zealous young conservatives gathered to watch President Bill Clinton's 1998 State of the Union address — just weeks after the story of his affair with a White House intern had broken. When the TV camera panned to Hillary Clinton, I saw Brett — at the time a key lieutenant of Ken Starr, the independent counsel investigating various Clinton scandals — mouth the word "bitch."
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/i-knew-brett-kavanaugh-during-his-years-republican-operative-don-ncna907391



Зная, что Винс Фостер, советник Билла Клинтона, покончил жизнь самоубийством, Кавано, работая в команде Кена Стара, запустил расследование его смерти, основанное на пропагандистских сплетнях, включая лживые сплетни о связи Фостера с Хиллари Клинтон.

Mr. Kavanaugh noted in various memos that he personally believed that Mr. Foster had indeed committed suicide — “my thoughts, not the Office’s position,” he clarified at one point. But he did not file away the harebrained theories; instead, he apparently felt obligated to address the conspiracy-mongers’ already disproved fantasies. And for nearly three years at a cost of $2 million he aggressively followed up. He investigated the Swiss bank account connection, down to examining Mr. Foster’s American Express bills for flights to Switzerland. He meticulously examined the White House carpets, old and new. (By now, Mr. Foster had been dead four years.) He sent investigators in search of follicle specimens from Mr. Foster’s bereft, blond, teenage daughter. (“We have Foster’s hair,” one agent working for Mr. Kavanaugh reported in triumph.)
Steve Perry Walked Away From Journey. A Promise Finally Ended His Silence.
Mr. Kavanaugh apparently took a special interest in Hillary Clinton’s bruited affair with Mr. Foster, a popular rumor in the fever swamps of the right. As he reported, his investigators “asked numerous people about it,” before he decided to ask Mrs. Clinton herself.
Of course, Mr. Kavanaugh proved nothing new, as there was nothing new to prove except in conspiratorial illusion. But there was nothing funny about his Inspector Clouseau performance. For months, his inquiries callously harassed a grieving family and Mr. Foster’s friends. His office spread malicious sexual innuendo about Hillary Clinton, whom he seems to have regarded as prey. By reopening a closed investigation, he irresponsibly gave the Foster conspiracy freaks credibility to continue smearing the Clintons and poison public debate for another three years, all at the taxpayers’ expense.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/05/opinion/why-was-kavanaugh-obsessed-with-vince-foster.html



Расследование закончилось ничем, но послужило питательным кормом для анти-клинтоновской индустрии, включая творчество Роджера Стоуна, вплоть до предвыборной кампании 2016.

"No Justice, No Peace," Roger Stone chants over Hillary Clinton's non-indictment over the emails.

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) July 18, 2016

Trump suspicious of VINCE FOSTER death: "very fishy," he tells WaPo https://t.co/zaXlBsC2Ib

— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 24, 2016

Каким образом всплыла кандидатура Кавано?

В мае 2016 Трамп огласил список из 11 кандидатов, из которых он собирался выбирать в верховные судьи:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-releases-list-of-11-possible-supreme-court-nominees/

В сентябре 2016 он увеличил список до 20 кандидатов:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-expands-list-of-possible-supreme-court-picks/

С этим списком он шел на выборы. Горсач в этом списке был, а Кавано не было.

В ноябре 2017 список был расширен до 25, теперь уже с Кавано:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-announces-five-additions-supreme-court-list/

На слушаниях на это обратил внимание сенатор Кори Букер: "He wasn't on the outsourced Federalist Society's original list. He wasn't on the second version of that list. He got on to that list after this special investigation got going, in other words, after the president was in jeopardy. He was added to the list. And then the president pulled the one person from all of that list late -- that was added late that would give him, in a sense, the ability to pick a judge that has already spoken vastly about a president's ability to be prosecuted, about a president's ability to dismiss or end an investigation."

День 17 ноября 2017, когда всплыла кандидатура Кавано, примечателен тем, что накануне стало известно о том, что Мюллер начал выписывать повестки (ордера на документы) участникам избирательной кампании Трампа. Встал вопрос о том, что делать, если повестка придет самому Трампу. В виду отсутствия однозначного прецедента было понятно, что этот вопрос будет решаться Верховным судом.

На вопросы Камалы Харрис о том, с кем он обсуждал расследование Мюллера, Кавано не смог дать вразумительного ответа.

Since November 8, 2016, have you communicated with Attorney General Sessions, Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein, or anyone else in the U.S. Department of Justice—including through an intermediary—about Robert Mueller’s investigation, special counsel investigations generally, recusals, or any other matters related to President Trump or the 2016 election? If yes, please describe the nature of the contact, including the identity of the person(s) you communicated with and the timing and substance of the communications.
RESPONSE: To the best of my knowledge and recollection, I have not had inappropriate communications with the people identified on the subjects referenced in your question.

Since November 8, 2016, have you communicated with anyone who represents or advises (or has represented or advised) President Trump or the White House— including through an intermediary—about Robert Mueller’s investigation; about any other investigations or legal matters that may implicate President Trump personally; or about presidential investigations, liability, or pardons generally? If yes, please describe the nature of the contact, including the identity of the person(s) you communicated with and the timing and substance of the communications.
RESPONSE: To the best of my knowledge and recollection, I have not had inappropriate communications with the people identified on the subjects referenced in your question.
https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Kavanaugh%20Responses%20to%20Questions%20for%20the%20Record.pdf