On the North River

Kavanaugh’s letter to Senators Grassley and Feinstein

These are smears, pure and simple.  And they debase our public discourse.  But there are also a threat to any man or woman who wishes to serve our country.  Such grotesque and obvious character assassination–if allowed to succeed–will dissuade competent and good people of all political persuasions from service.

As I told the Committee during my hearing, a federal judge must be independent, no swayed by public or political pressure.  That is the kind of judge I will always be.  I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process.  The coordinated effort to destroy my good name will not drive me out.  The vile threats of violence against my family will not drive me out.  That last minute character assassination will not succeed.

From a 187 years ago (1831):

I am in earnest — I will not equivocate — I will not excuse — I will not retreat a single inch — AND I WILL BE HEARD.

William Lloyd Garrison

From the comments at Instapundit:

“This is the kind of thing that causes good people to decline to be nominated. Indeed, it will dissuade people even if it doesn’t succeed in his case.”

Eh? Cause morally upstanding people on the political right to choose not to run or be nominated? Some yes. But those people are not the people we need, no matter how decent and conservative they might be.

We need people who relish the fight. Whose response to attacks is become more determined and more committed. So our opponents (enemies is probably a more accurate term) are sorting us in a way that will benefit us and harm them in the medium and long run.

texasjimbo