Kavanaugh On Deck

For John, BLUF:  I think the election is making everyone a little crazy.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Both sides prepare for marathon confirmation hearing

From Yahoo, by Associated Press Reporters Zeke Miller and Lisa Mascaro, 1 September 2018.

My recent sense of the Associated Press is that it is anti-President Trump, all the time.

Here is the lede plus one:

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh isn't the only one engaging in practice sessions ahead of next week's grueling confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senators from both parties also are prepping for the four-day marathon — including Wednesday's multi-hour question-and-answer exchange — in which Kavanaugh's views on the biggest legal issues of the day are expected to be mined for the conservative judge's approach to the law.

And that is all well and good.

The part I worry about is the idea, being put forward by the likes of Professor Paul Krugman, that a Supreme Court nominee, if confirmed, will be illegitimate because the nominating President is suspected by some of conspiring to commit a felony (I assume they mean "obstructing justice".

For example we have Professor Krugman tweeting out from @paulkrugman

Paul Krugman Retweeted Charles M. Blow
Yes. Kavanaugh may yet be confirmed, but this will make the SC fundamentally illegitimate. Paul Krugman added, Charles M. Blow

@CharlesMBlow
Again, how are we going to move forward with a SCOTUS nominee chosen by a president implicated in a conspiracy to commit a felony?
2:36 PM - 21 Aug 2018

I wonder if this kind of reasoning leads to thinking that everything the President touches is illegitimate.  For instance, legislation signed.  What about executive orders, like ordering the American flag to be at half staff for longer than normal for the late Senator John McCain?

Maybe Congress should adjourn until January.  I know I would feel safer.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh