Media Must Set Higher Standard for Reporting Career-Ending Accusations

Western Journal  "Conservative political commentator for The Hill and host of “What America’s Thinking,” Joe Concha, penned an Op-Ed that highlights the ills plaguing the media in America today.

"The mistrust of the media, which has been growing over the past decade or more, took off when President Donald Trump began to call out major networks for their questionable journalistic ethics.

"Concha began his analysis of what is wrong with the coverage of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, and the accusation made against him by Christine Blasey Ford, by pointing out that the facts themselves can be presented in a dishonest way.

“ 'The public is presented with information by media that invariably takes a side based on the three furthest things from the pillars of sound journalism: sensationalism, dishonesty and an ideological tilt while being hopelessly pious in the process,” Concha said.

"As an example of this type of bad journalism, Concha castigated MSNBC for their choice to run a story that he calls a “third-party tale” by someone who vaguely remembered Ford, but didn’t actually know her. The benefit of that story is that the “witness” claimed that Ford’s story was indeed true." . . .

What on earth is happening with women of this nation?

“Flimsier Than The Original’: Lots Of Problem With New Kavanaugh Allegation
"It used to be "journalists"* would never have run with a story like this, with so many holes. Now they don’t care at all."
*(quotation marks added by TD for sarcasm)

Matt Walsh

✔@MattWalshBlog

Dear Lord. This is insane. She says she was wasted, she was playing a drinking game, she doesn't remember much about that night, and she wasn't even sure until this week whether Brett Kavanaugh was involved. Three other people alleged to be involved denied it.

Hirono 1: Shaming Opponents into Silence Is a Favorite Tactic of the Left

“I just want to say to the men of this country… shut up and step up. Do the right thing for a change.”
Those were the words of Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii in light of the recent allegations of sexual assault made against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

. . . "A sitting U.S. senator called for her opposition in an important national dialogue to not only listen and empathize with a potential victim, but to believe her or keep their mouths shut. This is the key distinction that [bears] note." . . .

Kavanaugh: Feminism is Just Another Lefty Tribalism

What we are seeing right now with the feminists and #MeToo and #BelieveAllWomen and the Kavanaugh moment is another tragedy, midwived by the left: a gender tribal war.

Hirono 2: Mazie Hirono gives away the game  . . . "Hirono strayed from the Party Line that far more credible allegations of domestic violence against Keith Ellison – supported by evidence of police calls and medical treatment – should be ignored.  Kudos to Tapper for raising the issue and forcing a response." . . .  (Video)

Hirono 3: Senator Hirono Didn’t Always Tell Men to ‘Shut Up’ and Believe Accusers

"When it mattered in her own backyard, with a male Democratic senator, she turned a blind eye to sexual abuse." . . .

Another Kananaugh accuser comes after Dem lawyer persuades her she's a victim

. . . First, Ramirez says she was completely inebriated when the misconduct supposedly occurred.
Second, she told the New Yorker she wasn’t certain what happened until “after six days of talking with her attorney” a former elected Democrat. According to Farrow and Mayer, “in her initial conversations with The New Yorker, [Ramirez] was reluctant to characterize Kavanaugh’s role in the alleged incident with certainty.” But one can do plenty of brain washing in six days.
We’ve all heard of the “MeToo” movement. Now we have the “MeToo, My Democrat Attorney Thinks” movement." . . .

 How many Hillary fans in this group will accuse Judge Kavanaugh?

From the grooveyard of anti-Kavanaugh women's hits

"Stand Up and Say So" | Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers

This guy thinks his dog is a Democrat. It could be fake news, but the seriousness of the charges merits investigation. TD

Twitter Locks James Woods’ Account, Reason Why Is Ridiculous. Have you heard of the "Streisand effect"?

Weasel Zippers

"He was told he was locked out of his account for a tweet that could “mislead” during an election.

This is what they’re locking accounts for now? With all the ridiculous threats and fake stuff out there?
Or is it that he’s a conservative with 1.7 million followers who they want to incapacitate before the election?
He can be unlocked if he deletes the tweet. He refuses, on principle.
But one has to wonder if this is their “new system,” it’s pretty bad. #FreeJamesWoods.

 What's the "Streisand effect" you ask?

A political smear and the 6th Amendment/ Parents of Boys Should Be Outraged at Democrats

A political smear and the 6th Amendment  . . . "We know one thing about Dr. Ford: multiple years in various universities did not prepare her to be an informed citizen. She obviously knows nothing about the Constitution of the United States. She may know psychologists Jung and Freud but she does not know the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. It destroys her charges, not because Kavanaugh didn’t assault her; he denies that, but because she just made the charge with no proof whatsoever. 

"Apparently she is unaware of the Bill Rights of the U.S. Constitution. It is the Sixth Amendment that concerns us here. It is clear that Judge Kavanaugh has rights “to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; (and) to be confronted with the witnesses against him…”

"What we have, though, is a left-wing political activist who is a politically illiterate woman making unsubstantiated charges of something she claims happened decades ago in which she has no witnesses or proof. 

"Liberal Democrat activist Ford is sabotaging a Republican Supreme Court nomination that literally was only days from being approved. Her support comes from 85-year-old Senator Dianne Feinstein who appears to be having serious memory problems and who says she can’t guarantee the truthfulness of the charges. Ever fair Ford supporter Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HA) declares that “men should shut up.”  Emphasis mine, TD

Parents of Boys Should Be Outraged at Democrats  "The circus that Democrats are putting on for all the world to witness is a display of partisanship that should disgust even the casual observer, regardless of party.  Shockingly, as disgusting as their blatant disregard for the integrity of the Supreme Court confirmation process is, it's not even close to the clear and present danger that their immediate presumption of guilt for Judge Kavanaugh poses to our nation's boys and young men.

"Parents of boys must understand the brave new world Democrats are attempting to usher in and the legitimate threats it poses to their sons' futures – their reputations, college and career prospects, and general welfare.

"Democrats' instantaneous presumption of guilt for Judge Kavanaugh is setting a new standard for sexual assault allegations wherein they should be accepted simply for having been made.  Moreover, the allegations are to be believed, despite lacking any semblance of credible evidence, solely for having been made by a woman.

"Consider Democratic senator Hirono from Hawaii's recent comments: "Not only do women like Dr. Ford, who bravely come forward, need to be heard, but they need to be believed."

"Statements like that of Sen. Hirono, of which there have been a plethora, undermine the very nature of our nation's judicial system and rule of law by placing the burden to disprove the allegations on the accused and, thus, rendering him guilty should he be unable to persuade the mob in the court of public opinion." . . .

Ian Macfarlane

Byron York: For Democrats in Ford-Kavanaugh fight, believing is enough

So what do Democrats do, with so little to go on? For some, the answer is faith.
"I believe Dr. Ford," said Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Judiciary Committee.
"I believe Dr. Ford," said Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono, also a member of the Judiciary Committee.
"We believe Dr. Ford," said Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, also a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Byron York  "What is perhaps most extraordinary about the all-out war over the Brett Kavanaugh nomination is how little the public knows about the accusations of Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who claims that at a high-school party in 1982, when she was 15, a drunken 17 year-old Kavanaugh forced her onto a bed, tried to undress her, and, when she tried to scream, covered her mouth with his hand.

"The problem with Ford's allegation is that she has produced no contemporaneous evidence to support it. The Washington Post, which interviewed Ford, reported that she "told no one of the incident in any detail until 2012, when she was in couples therapy with her husband." That was 30 years after the alleged event. (Whether the phrase "in detail" has any significance is impossible to know -- did she tell someone in a vague manner? -- since the Post article is the only public information about Ford's account.)

"Ford reportedly named a number of people who she said attended the party. None has so far corroborated her story. On Saturday, the Senate Judiciary Committee reached Ford classmate and friend Leland Ingham Keyser, who was said to have attended. "Ms. Keyser does not know Mr. Kavanaugh and she has no recollection of ever being at a party or gathering where he was present, with, or without, Dr. Ford," Keyser's lawyer wrote to the committee.

"Kavanaugh, of course, has strongly denied Ford's accusation. "I have never done anything like what the accuser describes -- to her or to anyone," he said.

"Contemporaneous accounts of the matter, either from people who were at the party or people Ford might have discussed it with shortly after, would be enormously valuable in assessing her allegations. That's why Ford supporters were so excited when a former classmate of Ford's, Cristina King Miranda, wrote on social media, "The incident DID happen, many of us heard about it in school." Inundated with questions from reporters, King quickly backtracked, telling NPR, "That it happened or not, I have no idea."

When Ford did tell her story, to the therapist in 2012, there were some discrepancies between the therapist's notes and Ford's present account. It's unclear whether those discrepancies are significant, since all the public has is the Post story." . . .

Read more...

"BOMBSHELL: Kavanaugh Has Evidence That Casts Doubts On Accuser's Claim, Report Says"

Daily Wire

Kavanaugh's team reportedly plans to argue to the Senate Judiciary Committee that the calendars do not corroborate Ford's account of what happened based on the simple fact that he was not in town often that summer and when he was in town he focused on sports and academic activities as he prepared for college.

"Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh reportedly has calendars from 1982 which show that he was out of town for much of the summer when his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, claims that a party happened where Kavanaugh acted in an inappropriate manner towards her.

"The calendars reportedly show that Kavanaugh was frequently out of town with his parents on vacation and, when he was home, was occupied with multiple planned sports activities that he participated in, The New York Times reported.

"The Times notes that while Ford doesn't remember when the party happened, she believes it took place in the summer of 1982 when she was 15.

"The calendars include "his basketball games, movie outings, football workouts and college interviews" and several parties that "include names of friends other than those identified by Dr. Blasey.' " . . .

How the Democrats Could Have Handled the Allegations Against Kavanaugh

Weekly Standard

"It’s almost like they would rather delay and disrupt the process for political reasons."

"Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court hearing opened as a two-ring circus: On the dais Senate Democrats repeatedly interrupted and attempted to derail the proceedings; in the audience, a succession of protests did much the same. Senator Ben Sasse drew notice, and nods, when he declared in his opening statement that “confirmation hearings haven’t worked for 31 years in America.” 

"Confirmation hearings, however, constitute a small part of the badly battered confirmation process. Much of the Senate's “advice and consent” function occurs quietly, behind closed doors, and away from the cameras. As a former chief nominations counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, I had the privilege to play a role in this process and to see the best and the worst of our judicial confirmation system. Among the most effective part of the process is the Senate’s review of a nominee’s character and fitness—the so-called “background investigation process.” 

"When Senator Dianne Feinstein received very serious allegations against Judge Kavanaugh, she could have—and should have— handled those concerns through the committee’s normal protocols. This process, which applies not just to Supreme Court nominees but to hundreds of judicial and Justice Department appointments, is specifically designed to protect the interests of both accusers and nominees. The process is both confidential and bipartisan. Its goal is to pursue the truth, not political advantage. That Senator Feinstein inexplicably chose not to handle the serious allegation Dr. Christine Blasey Ford made against Judge Kavanaugh according to these procedures has had terrible consequences for all the individuals involved and has done lasting damage to the Senate and the Supreme Court as institutions. " . . .

The Democrats and those who elect them have placed this nation in very bad hands. TD

OpEd: The REGRESSIVE Progressives & FORD

Socio-Political-Journal...  (Entire article posted with corrections in punctuation. TD) "How insulting that a Professional Psychologist needs the Advice and Consent of Political Operatives to recall a Personal Experience nearly 4 Decades Old. 

When trying to fulfill its Agenda, the Left cares little about the littered bodies of the Accused or even those who have had serious life changing Trauma. As we can again plainly see, the Left is promoting Fractions of the Truth, and Exceptions to the Norms.

Ms. Ford is a Clinical Psychologist, and being so, knows that her accusations can cause Harm to Others if they are not Accurate and Truthful. She of all people, should not need the Resistance, to  Tell The TRUTH!

                        

Here's Why We Have Gone Astray...

Obama's attraction on the do-gooders was his suave manner and boyish smile. These are great attributes to sell cars, vacuum cleaners, and timeshares, but not for real social change. Just ask any knowledgeable  Africa/American, Hispanic/American, and yes, young White Male. 

Obama was no more than a cheap suit who promised Utopia and delivered more poverty. He consumed 8 years of their lives and a future filled with regrets.

Of course, the Demagogues will argue the exceptions to the overall data, but they only deal in the fractional spaces between the norms, where the modern-day Progressive survives. They can no longer offer viable policy or explanations for the numerous failures featured in their "Give America Away" model. They are bone dry on Progress, and in their failures, the past resurrects the call of Equality as if the world stood still.

Any fool with a 100 word vocabulary can sign into their narrative of failure. The Regressive Progressive ultimately has an expiration date emblazoned on their forehead. Its time will come and go.  Even it's most ardent supporters assume an irrelevant posture when their time is up. 

What we are witnessing today, is far worse than the Hippies, Black Panthers and the Social Warriors of the Vietnam War. The young are always easily led into hell by a new shiny evil that awaits every generation. Unfortunately, this Evil is insidious and discards the future with no regret. 

The Obama Perfunctory was no less careless in its empty promise. The Rich got Richer and the Poor got Poorer. How's that for Social Justice, you young Anarchist. 

Not alone in this charade of Equality, Obama solicited Tech Giants like Facebook, Google and Apple to pull the wool over the eyes of American youth. These new seducers offer no more than an Addiction, the New Opiate of the Masses. 

They would have our children Beg, Borrow, and Steal to become part of this heartless mass of Group Thinkers to Assimilate and join the road to No-Where.

What can they be thinking? Is the world moving too fast for their liking? So they destroy it instead of formulating solutions for a better future.

It should be clear to all that this model of Creative/Destruction works hand in hand with a narrative of how to Bully the opposition into Submission. We don't get what we want, we destroy citizenship, we don' get what we want, we allow our nation to be invaded, we don't get what we want we Rob, Steal, Loot, Rape, Murder and Plunder like the Days of Old.

WHY? Because they are the Regressive Progressives that offer nothing of Value but the Darkness of Failure."

The malevolent lynching of Kavanaugh

"The left is killing America and it is purposeful.  Trump is trying to save the nation and doing a damn good job of it, a shockingly good job.  So the left hates him even more for  exposing the lies of their contrary agenda."

Patricia McCarthy  "The left's smear campaign against Judge Brett Kavanaugh has descended into the worst kind of buffoonery.  It was clearly planned many months in advance and orchestrated by a bevy of Democrats from Dianne Feintstein to Ford's lawyer, Debra Katz, and Rickie Seidmon, a vicious veteran strategist of the Bork Senate Judiciary hearings. 

Blasey-Ford has surrounded herself with Alinskyite leftists for whom no dirty trick is too low in service of taking out an opponent.   That so many members of Congress are willing to participate in this wholesale destruction of a good and qualified man over a 36-year-old  fact-free accusation is appalling.  

This is the saddest commentary on the state of American politics today -- along with the outpouring of evidence that higher-ups in the Obama administration, in conjunction with the DOJ, NSA, and FBI, actually did conspire to  destroy Trump, both before and after his election, simply because they do not like him and cannot accept his victory over the most corrupt candidate for the office of the presidency ever is beyond sad; it is lethal for the United States.  The left is killing America and it is purposeful.  Trump is trying to save the nation and doing a damn good job of it, a shockingly good job.  So the left hates him even more for  exposing the lies of their contrary agenda.

. . . 

"We are indeed engaged in a cultural and political civil war.  The left has achieved victories repeatedly even when Republicans have been in the majority.  Democrats fight dirty. Republicans capitulate, over and over again. They cower and fear the negative press that is the rule in the odious mainstream media.  But who on this planet with an intact mind automatically believes anything the NYT or the WaPo publishes?  Current events junkies know to ignore them; they are merely arms of the DNC,  calculated promoters of leftist propaganda.  

"If the specious claims of Blasey Ford succeed in derailing Kavanaugh, we are done as a democratic republic.  The Left will have won.  They have already won on university campuses.  If this amazing nominee to the Court is  destroyed, it means the entire country is at the mercy of the totalitarian pols and  blinkered, mind-numbed academics.  Republicans in Congress:  DO NOT LET HIS HAPPEN.  They will use this victory over you to forever alter the character of this nation."

Is This Ford an Edsel?; ". . . the "Resistance" appears dead set on jumping every last shark in every last ocean".

Clarice Feldman  "There were two compelling stories this week: The Kavanaugh confirmation to the Supreme Court and the dueling tales respecting Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. The latter was brilliantly handled by this site’s owner, Thomas Lifson, and I have little to add to his recitation of the events though I urge you to read it for a  concise analysis of what was reported this week." . . .

. . . Update from Clarice Feldman:

Now every single person who Ford says were witnesses denies it without reservation. The fourth is Leyland Keyer, a lifetime friend of Ford's who said she never ever was at a party where Kavanaugh was present. She is a PGA golfer and was Bob Beckel's first wife.  As Instapundit says: forget these continuing negotiations with her lawyer--just take the vote.

‘Simply Understanding How To Dress’ Is Just One Reason Christine Blasey Ford Can’t Make Monday Hearing

How on earth did the US Senate come to consider itself the "greatest deliberative body in the world"? Isn't it about time the late-night "comics" realized great what comedy material the Democrats are if only they did not do such great damage to this nation? TD

Weasel Zippers

"At this point, it’s Kabuki theater. How long did she need to write the letter accusing Kavanaugh, going to the WaPo and Ronan Farrow? How much ‘preparation’ to you need, if you’re telling the truth. She’s been preparing for months.

"Via Twitchy:

As Twitchy reported Thursday, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh informed Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley that he would be in the committee’s chambers Monday as scheduled and remained “committed to defending my integrity.”

Why can’t accuser Christine Blasey Ford make Monday’s meeting as well? Well, for one reason that we hadn’t heard until Friday afternoon, Ford “doesn’t want to fly” and might have to make the cross-country drive from California to D.C. — this after Grassley had offered to fly committee staffers to California to interview her at a place and time of her convenience.

Now The Atlantic has published a piece explaining why it would be nearly impossible for Ford to make Monday’s hearing.

Keep reading…