Comments on: So, is he guilty or not? https://www.habitablezone.com/2018/09/26/so-is-he-guilty-or-not/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:41:18 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ER https://www.habitablezone.com/2018/09/26/so-is-he-guilty-or-not/#comment-42160 ER Wed, 26 Sep 2018 17:16:16 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=73405#comment-42160 But you have to admit, there are people out there (on both sides)who feel so strongly about the moral superiority of their cause that lying and treachery are perfectly justified in promoting it. Remember "Birtherism"? Not just the idiots who believed it, or the scumbags who didn't but promoted it anyway, but those who never took it seriously but chose to say nothing and look the other way because it might stop a "Socialist, Muslim, Kenyan Makaka". "Reasonable doubt" is a fine legal principle at a criminal trial, but if you were a girl's school principal interviewing a new teacher, would you hire this guy? But you have to admit, there are people out there (on both sides)who feel so strongly about the moral superiority of their cause that lying and treachery are perfectly justified in promoting it.

Remember “Birtherism”? Not just the idiots who believed it, or the scumbags who didn’t but promoted it anyway, but those who never took it seriously but chose to say nothing and look the other way because it might stop a “Socialist, Muslim, Kenyan Makaka”.

“Reasonable doubt” is a fine legal principle at a criminal trial, but if you were a girl’s school principal interviewing a new teacher, would you hire this guy?

]]> By: mcfly https://www.habitablezone.com/2018/09/26/so-is-he-guilty-or-not/#comment-42159 mcfly Wed, 26 Sep 2018 15:42:16 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=73405#comment-42159 Mostly because they risk much but have little to gain. Ford is putting a stellar reputation and a glowing career on the line--to say nothing of her family's well-being. There are many ways that this could end very badly for her, and she's obviously been keenly aware of that from the very start. But as you suggest, determining guilt or innocence at tomorrow's hearing is likely far too lofty a goal, and instead we'll be left trying to measure shreds of "reasonable doubt." I bet the R's will be making ample use of those words after the hearing...and ignoring the fact that they cut both ways: does one entertain doubts about Ford's veracity, or about K's fitness for the supreme court? I just hope they recall the wisdom of the immortal Johnnie Cochran, who said "If in doubt, you've got to toss the lout." (Or something to that effect.) Mostly because they risk much but have little to gain. Ford is putting a stellar reputation and a glowing career on the line–to say nothing of her family’s well-being. There are many ways that this could end very badly for her, and she’s obviously been keenly aware of that from the very start.

But as you suggest, determining guilt or innocence at tomorrow’s hearing is likely far too lofty a goal, and instead we’ll be left trying to measure shreds of “reasonable doubt.” I bet the R’s will be making ample use of those words after the hearing…and ignoring the fact that they cut both ways: does one entertain doubts about Ford’s veracity, or about K’s fitness for the supreme court? I just hope they recall the wisdom of the immortal Johnnie Cochran, who said “If in doubt, you’ve got to toss the lout.” (Or something to that effect.)

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