We Believe Christine Blasey Ford

Events have been unfolding quickly since yesterday when Christine Blasey Ford — the Brett Kavanaugh accuser — revealed her name and spoke publicly for the first time about the incident. Since Christine Blasey Ford came forward, Republican Senator Jeff Flake has threatened to put his confirmation on pause until Ford can be heard from; Alaska’s Senator Lisa Murkowski has expressed reservations and also suggested potentially putting the brakes on; and Senator Lindsay Graham said that Christine Blasey Ford should be given an opportunity — if she wants it — to speak in front of the Senate.

Christine Blasey Ford has since said that she is willing to speak in front of the Senate, which — I’m sorry if this is the inappropriate way to describe this — is fucking metal of her to do, considering the number of Trump Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee who are likely going to try and undermine and gaslight her, as well as endeavor to destroy her reputation.

Debra Katz, the attorney for #ChristineBlaseyFord, on @NewDay: Ford considers what Kavanaugh did to be “attempted rape”; she’s willing to testify before the Judiciary Committee; she has not been contacted to do so; she’s willing to submit polygraph results to Committee

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) September 17, 2018

Meanwhile, rather than fess up and apologize — which might have been the easiest way out of this — Kavanaugh is sticking by his denial, which is in keeping with Trump’s M.O.: Deny, deny, deny. “On Friday, Judge Kavanaugh ‘categorically and unequivocally’ denied this allegation. This has not changed. Judge Kavanaugh and the White House both stand by that statement,” the White House said through a statement.

Meanwhile, Susan Collins — who did ask for Al Franken to resign — is all ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Per Maggie Haberman at the NYTimes, the White House believes that having Christine Blasey Ford testify in front of the Senate is the better of two option (the other seeing Brett Kavanaugh withdraw), and they are reportedly wary of attacking Ford and alienating the two most crucial votes in this process, Collins and Murkowski.

In fact, Kellyanne Conway, who has repeatedly ignored and insulted the women who have accused Donald Trump of sexual assault, is saying that Ford should not be ignored or insulted.

FLAGGING: Kellyanne Conway, moments ago to Fox News, on Kavanaugh’s accuser: “This woman should not be ignored and should not be insulted. She should be heard.”

— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) September 17, 2018

Ultimately, if Kavanaugh withdraws — and I’m putting the odds of that at only 15-20 percent — the GOP won’t be able to put another SCOTUS nominee forward until after the midterms, which is good. The bad news is, if the Democrats don’t retake the Senate, I am terrified of the evangelical monster Trump might try and shove through in January out of spite.