Since Jeff read a brief excerpt of something I sent him for this episode, I figure I would post the rest of my comments here:

I am not going to fault Kavanaugh for crying in his opening statement. When I was falsely accused of sexual assault in the mid 90s I was terrified and cried for hours, until she came to her senses a few hours later and admitted she was lying. So it’s entirely possible he is crying because he feels trapped and helpless, much as I remember feeling when all this happened. When I step into his perspective and fully suspend my disbelief, my heart breaks.

Or he could be crying for a different reason. It could be because of a different kind of heart-clenching terror, the kind that comes with seeing his chickens come home to roost, and watching his life’s accomplishments crumble around him because of a reprehensible violation he may have committed in his youth.

All that said, I do not find his opening defense compelling. He is lashing out at his accuser(s), at the left, and even at the Clintons, which I think is further revealing his partisan colors.

In the end, he is not fit for a seat on SCOTUS. Not because he is “guilty until proven innocent”. This is not a criminal hearing. This is a job interview. Which means that the question is not, “is he guilty beyond a reasonable doubt?” This is not the time or place to answer that. The question is, “is he QUALIFIED beyond a reasonable doubt to occupy a lifetime seat in the highest court in the land?”

No, he is not. Considering the number of accusers, the credibility of Ford’s testimony, the lack of a proper investigation, and especially the lack of transparency around Kavanaugh’s full professional history, there is far too much reasonable doubt around both his character and his qualifications.

I want a proper and thorough investigation. The American people deserve nothing less. The accusers deserve nothing less. Hell, Kavanaugh himself deserves nothing less, especially if he is innocent.

That’s a great question regarding restorative justice and an Integral analysis on the matter would be fascinating. Tamler Sommer’s new book “Why Honor Matters” elucidates the importance of a restorative justice approach, and how restorative justice originated from red and amber societies, and found a resurgence in green, which is a needed addition to our currently sterile and value-neutral orange approaches.

It’s been a fascinating week for sure. I think the culture is working through really deep issues around power and sexuality. This isn’t just a male issue either. #metoo is about women’s power, how we feel exerting power. Fear about how we are perceived and received exerting power. This is also about freedom and boundaries around sexuality. We are all players here. When I shift states it actually gets exciting. Something very powerful is getting brought forward. Painfully, but in the end it will be cathartic, even if he gets the seat. I think the hold orange power structures have are starting to give way to deeper individuated power structures. In the end I believe governmental power is will be transcended and included into a great sense of self power. He wins, but the process will weaken, for the good, the power of the institution.

One thing that’s interesting is the way the Clinton’s keep being brought into this. Apparently Bill raped women too, yet, during his administration I don’t remember that ever being brought up. I remember the outrage was all around the infidelity. The Clintons were before the internet so I remember women being brought forward by these white men who were trying to “protect their virtue”. I was about the age of Monica at the time and I was offended. I was empowered and didn’t need these daddy figures to protect my virtue. I was defining that for myself. I never remember the word raped being used until the Trump/Hilary debates. The blue meme doesn’t see rape. They want to protect a woman’s virtue not discuss abuse of power. Women are protected, not by creating space for their empowerment, but by holding men to the rules.

Then there is Hilary. Classes will be taught about Hilary. I said after the election that Hilary would have won if she had divorced Bill. Why didn’t she? I don’t think there is an easy answer there, but power and sex dynamics are playing out in very complex ways. I hope one day she can reflect on that and share what she experienced.

I think sexuality is also playing out. I believe the cultural melt down actually started with the trans bathroom issue. The boundaries around gender/sexuality broke down very fast. It’s interesting watching it in my community and in my family. I never remember questioning by gender. It never occurred to me. All these kids are now doing it. My very boy crazy, butterfly loving, fairy like prancing daughter is convinced she is a bit of a boy. All my friends kids are doing this. None of us really know what it is. It’s ok, no one is bothered by it, but we are confused and interested because this is not something we remember experiencing. It seems to intensify during puberty. She was interested in gender at a younger age, but now she is insistent on it.

These young kids are working through something. My guess is they perceive male/female power differentials and they want both! My daughter is very aware of the feminine power to seduce. She is also aware of the masculine power to overpower. I have no idea where this is going, but these kids are different. I believe that we are not born the same generationally. They come into this world with a different Karma. I am very excited about what I am seeing with this “gen-z” group. They are 2nd tier pre-wired! All is good