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Independent Voters Alliance (IVA)

A Minor Change in Political Concept, But Profound in the Positive Ways Our Lives Will Be Affected

The Great Divider

Not a Leader, a Healer, or a Uniter! “The Divider in Chief!” Don Lemon, CNN!, “Pussy Grabber in Chief!” President Trump, His Own Foul Mouth!

Open Ballot Access and Equal Political Speech

By Rich Stevenson ©October 26, 2018

Interim Acting Chair of the Jefferson County KYIVA

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Donald Trump is an empty suit. Not fact, just my considered opinion. He is a reason for national shame. Just my opinion. President Trump is the great divider.

“Justice” and “truth,” are only meaningless words to the “President;” dull, cruel, tools in his warped version of reality. The “mob” actually threatening death to a sexual assault victim, Dr. Ford, are voters in his base, his followers. Trump obviously enjoys the fact that Dr. Ford cannot return to her home. Her crime? She told the truth. Trump's derisive laughter blends easily with the laughter of Bart McKavanaugh and Mark Judge, teenage drunks, who are probably persons who committed sexual assault in 1982.

This is my expert opinion, as a trained federal investigator, based upon the best evidence uncovered to date. The investigation is far from complete. I estimate the probable guilt based on Civil probable cause standards is at about 50% to 70% probability based upon the incomplete totally inadequate investigation completed before the confirmation vote. Not enough to convict “Bart” of a crime, but enough to award damages to a plaintiff before a jury in a civil suit. Dr. Ford's “mob of women” protestors are not a mob.

Trump's own “mob” is the “mob” who kills and assaults doctors and women who are legally seeking to end pregnancies under the law. If Dr. Ford and her “mob of protesters” who support her testimony are harmed in any way it will be on the head of President Donald Trump. He is like a person who yells “fire” in a crowded theatre where there is no fire. Trump is an accessory to every crime that is committed in his name. The assault and battery of protesters at his political rallies, from his 2016 campaign on through to his current mid-term campaign speeches, are at his direction. Incited by his lies! His lies making “false allegations” and “lies” to a national audience are intended to incite violence against his political enemies. Beyond reckless! He is urging violence for which “he will pay the legal fees.” He incites his base, his “mobs,” to commit violence.

The evidence is on many public videos of Trump available to the public and to Journalists, who Trump recklessly calls “the enemy.” Criminals like Nixon and Trump have “enemies” and an “enemies list,” for all the wrong anti-social reasons. The President is a low life person. My words. He is no leader, healer, or uniter. He deserves ridicule, not support.

Trump's assertion that Judge Kavanaugh was “proven innocent” is totally false. Innocence or guilt can only be determined in a criminal court, not in a Congressional hearing. There were no criminal charges against Kavanaugh. Like in civil court, the object of a thorough investigation, is to see what the preponderance of evidence indicates. The final result would be a reasonable assessment of probability that Kavanaugh and Judge did or did not commit an assault against Dr. Ford or other victims.

With a complete investigation each Senator would have had a solid basis for voting “yes” or “no” on the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh, which is within their duty to “advise and consent” on the nominations made by the President. Their vote would not be based on whether or not Brett Kananaugh committed an assault against Dr. Ford, but on whether or not he has the temperament and character needed to be appointed for a lifetime on a Federal Court. In this case, the Supreme Court, the highest court in our nation.

If the probability is seen as over 50% that he committed the assault under the influence of alcohol, there would be some cause to consider not voting for confirmation. My “no” vote at this point would have been based on what I see as 70% probability that Brett Kavanaugh committed an assault against Dr. Ford, and others yet unnamed or uninvestigated. In addition, part of my “no” vote would have been based on his extreme partisanship expressed in his testimony. Also, it is my opinion that he was an unresponsive hostile witness who totally avoided answering the simplest reasonable questions about his self-established history of alcohol abuse at the time in question.

He appeared to lie while under oath, which would be disqualifying to confirm a person to sit on the Supreme Court. His testimony seemed to me to indicate perjury on his part. He seemed to me to be contemptuous of the dignity of the constitutional right of Senators to question his qualifications for nomination. It is the duty of every Senator to cast a vote on each nomination to the best of their ability and conscience. No person has a right to serve on the Supreme Court, but if confirmed, would have the privilege and honor to serve on the court for a lifetime. To support or change our system at will!

We live in the most divided nation in my lifetime. I am 76, born in 1942. The Congress, both houses, are so evenly divided that most votes are decided by a few votes on a totally partisan basis with Democrats voting one way and the Republicans voting the other way. A few votes. They oppose one another on many important, yet divisive issues.

The battle for liberal or conservative control of the Judiciary branch of the Federal government should not be decided on a partisan basis. Most candidates elected to public office are extreme “Wingnuts,” radical left or radical right persons. Most judicial nominations are made to grab power over public policy, by making nominations of judges who will make decisions based on pleasing their “wingnut” voter base. Radical nominations enhance power for the nominating party. Nominations should not be at all political.

Balance of Powers: A judge should not be appointed by a mere simple majority of 50 votes, so that one radical partisan side can force a confirmation against the strong objection of the other radical partisan side. If a 2/3 vote of 67 votes were required, no radical left or right nominee could be confirmed against the vote of the other side. Fifty votes from the opposite side could block any nomination. In fact, a 1/3 vote of 34 no votes could block any nomination at the sole discretion of any 34 Senators. Presidents would be forced to nominate more centrist or moderate persons to the Federal Judiciary to fill a lifetime position on the Federal Courts.

Decisions made by a nonpartisan Federal Judiciary would be more likely to adhere to the Constitution and established precedent. There would be less chance of the judiciary making law, which should be left to the legislative branch, the Congress. We need to assure the balance of powers between the three co-equal branches of the U.S. Government.

What about the only actual mob involved in this story? The threats/assault against Dr. Ford, the victim who dutifully testified about her experience, is mob behavior.

Unite America: Kavanaugh or any other Federal Judge nominee should not be given a lifetime appointment to any Federal Court based on a simple majoity vote. We need judges that will unite the country. Everyone should feel comfortable with every nominee to the Federal Courts. Nomination by a 2/3 majority vote would accomplish that end. Judges need to adhere to the law, not make new law to please any minority. Update the appointment process.

The 99.999% have not had our interests represented in the last 100 years. We know. So we don't vote. There are no real choices so elections are decided by random unmotivated 50% chance, by a handful of votes. Wall Street Billionaires control undemocratic elections and public policy. “We must become proactive good citizens.” Occupy Elections - Everybody Vote!

We must take power from (and within) the D and R parties to have open elections so all voters have a reason to vote. Elect populist candidates we put on the ballot to defeat establishment D and R candidates. Occupy Elections. Everybody Vote! “We must become proactive good citizens.” Take the pledge.

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