The right question

Once in a while a penetrating query receives a revealing response. In a CBS interview yesterday Hillary was asked whether her husband should have resigned in the wake of revelations about his relations with Monica Lewinski. Hillary's immediate response, without the slightest hesitation, was No. She rationalized her position by comparing Bill to Donald and, by implication, herself to Melania.

A Senate votes

With respect to the Kavanaugh confirmation, one observation is inescapable. Though each and every senator has or will declare that s/he voted according to her/his conscience, the Senate vote broke down on strictly party lines, tempered only slightly by political self-interest. While this may not prove anything, we may nevertheless infer with a high degree of confidence that the United States Senate, the upper chamber of Congress with members elected to a 6-year term of office, consists entirely of overpaid, underperforming hypocrites.

The wheel turns, the pendulum swings

The Kavanaugh confirmation process is an engaging drama. The drama contains far too much comedy for it to ennoble the main character or the principal players (Kavanaugh, Trump, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and soon the entire Senate). Nevertheless, there are lessons to be learned here.

One thing seems certain to emerge from the FBI investigation. Kavanaugh's oft-repeated, rosy description of himself and his teenage years will not stand up to scrutiny.

When people talk about themselves, typically they tend to lie. Hence, the people who talk about themselves the most are generally the biggest liars. Combine that with the gullibility of most people, and you have the makings of a con artist... or a professional politician.

The worst of that bunch... the con artists and politicians... understand that when they praise themselves to the sky and then trash their opponents, many will blindly believe both assertions. If they do that often enough in the simplest of terms, then their false narrative will achieve a significant measure of popular acceptance. And so we get a Donald Trump... and now a Brett Kavanaugh.

Postgame analysis

After viewing the Senate hearing yesterday, I could only concur with one remark by Kavanaugh. It was indeed a national disgrace. As was Trump's speech before the United Nations General Assembly.

That said, it once again looks more likely that Kavanaugh will secure a seat on the United States Supreme Court. But, belying the short span of modern news cycles, I doubt that this story will quickly fade from memory.

What was played out yesterday on a world stage was the vision of a US government, indeed of the US nation, deeply divided. The communication gap was bitter and extreme. Ironic though it may be, the hearing gave proof to the concept of confirmation bias.

Enough Kavanaugh!

Not only must justice be done, it must also be seen to be done.

That is an oft-cited, 100-year-old maxim relating to the British and American legal system. Per that maxim, the mere existence of credible bias is enough to overturn a court ruling. How much more so is that the case when the credible bias, the potential corruption, pertains to a person nominated for a lifetime seat on the highest court in the United States!

Many people are claiming that the current process of sifting through allegations against Brett Kavanaugh is essentially a search for the truth. That is not so. The search for truth is a secondary concern. It is primarily a search for a suitable appointment to the United States Supreme Court. And as of now, Brett Kavanaugh is a tainted commodity. Not only that, both Brett Kavanaugh and his supporters seem reluctant to take even the minimum necessary steps to impartially and genuinely investigate the allegations against him. That only makes the taint more credible.

Under such circumstances, Kavanaugh is clearly unfit to sit on the Supreme Court. Indeed, he is unfit to be a judge on any level of court whatsoever. It seems very unlikely that Kavanaugh will secure a recommendation by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Should he actually gain that recommendation and ultimately be confirmed, then the entire Supreme Court and the very rule of law in the United States would be discredited.

A world in crisis

Due to the Trump Administration's border separation policy, the USA has now forfeited any and all moral authority that it once might have had on the world stage. Thankfully, the USA has now withdrawn from the United Nations Human Rights Council. Even in respect to that thoroughly corrupt and hypocritical body, having nothing but a name to its credit, the USA does not merit a seat. And so two questions cannot be escaped today. Does the world as a whole have a moral compass? And what will become of us if there be no one in political power who is truly worthy of respect?

At a loss

It is rare that I am at a loss for words, but words do not adequately express my indignation. How repugnant is it to separate children from their parents when a family is only seeking refuge! How much harm is done to those innocent children! How much pain is inflicted upon those well-meaning parents! How much does the heart of a nation lose as a result of such an entitled and cruel attitude!

Oh so predictable

Everyone knew in advance what Trump was going to say about the summit in Singapore. Actually, there is only one thing he ever says... a never-ending, unsubstantiated assertion of his own greatness... in other words, an unending lie. And most also knew in advance what was likely to happen in Singapore. True to form, Trump merely pandered to a brutal dictator.

Pitiful

Nikki Haley tried to bolster the US President's stupid and costly decision to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. See here. Her speech in the United Nations included some undeniable facts but joined them with non sequitur fallacies. No doubt she is an intelligent woman, but only a fool carries water for a jackass.