Changing Values

THE POINT IS WORTH MAKING than when multiple women accused Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct, nary a Republican asserted the presumption of his innocence. Clinton was Accused, and Clinton was guilty, because that's the sort of low life Clinton, being a democrat, absolutely, certainly was. He wa guilty a priori because he was the sort of [person who would do such horrible things; ultimately, hes was guilty because those who hated him said he was. For Bill Clinton, the presumption was guilt. Bill Clinton was even impeached for his alleged sexual misconduct, for allegedly lying about it, not for having been convicted of it, or of anything pertaining to it. Presumed innocence is apparently a protection granted by conservatives, reserved for Republicans. Those who apply high moral standards selectively, discriminantly, only for the benefit of a few elite powerful people, are in fact weaponizing morality. Doing so is not only hypocritical, but verification of moral bankruptcy. And so it is with the Congressional Republicans and conservative community, shameful in their behavior, shameless in their defense of their shameful behavior. Even Donald Trump, whose self proclaimed sexual misconduct is expediently overlooked by Republicans,is either presumed innocent of any wrongdoing, or has done wrong which is being ignored, for teh benefit of the political aspirations of his supporters. Had Brett Kavanaugh testified under oath before Congress that he had in his younger days misbehaved sexually, more than once, it would either be immediately dismissed is irrelevant youthful indiscretions, or consigned to the category of a false memory, or meaningless locker room talk. warped by te passage of time. for our morally bankrupt conservative Republicans, morality is relative to circumstance, and morality is used as a malleable tool to achieve the goal of placing a conservative on the Supreme Court. the most tragic aspect of their behavior is that it worked, like a charm.In recent months dozens of prominent men have been accused of sexual misbehavior; all of them have paid for it by losing their jobs; there has been no presumption of innocence for them.But Kavanaugh's nomination was too closely tied to the right wing political agenda, and to Republican Congressional pride, and defiant stubbornness. Those who argued that Kavanaugh's integrity was compromised and must be removed from consideration were people the Republican majority despises, and hatred rules their actions. And then right wing manipulation took an even more bizarre turn; you blinked, then looked up, and before your very eyes there was Brett Kavanaugh, now suddenly the injured party, now suddenly the victim. those who opposed and protested his nomination because of serious questions about his morality, possible criminal behavior, and ill suited temperament for the bench had now become a mob, out to destroy a good man only for spite.And then the final, most amazing transfiguration; Kavanaugh's supporters had now become victims just like Kavanaugh, champions of truth, justice, and the American way bravely defending themselves and virtue itself against the evil horde. It would be funny if it weren't true. Brett kavanaugh and his supporters, victims of a mob of maniacs with the temerity to suggest that a nominee sullied by the possibility of serious misconduct should not be hired, not because of any proof of guilt, but because of a compromised reputation, which destroys trust. A large majority of the American people do not trust the new Supreme court justice, and wanted another nominee. this is but one of many examples of the Republican leaders of the country governing against the will of the people, Our conservative leaders want the supreme court packed with conservatives, to facilitate a conservative American future. to maybe even over turn Roe vs. Wade, to maybe eliminate all government regulation of the economy and the environment, and to legalize Jim Crow discrimination, none of which the American people want. A hopeful sign is that the Republicans are governing for the benefit of their shrinking base of supporters, whose shrinkage will some fine day result in its extinction.