Ford Is Credible, But Does She Remember Accurately?

[Uber Genius]

After listening to the entirety of the testimony I conclude that Ford is credible. The lie-detector results prove that she believes her story. But the challenge is does she accurately remember what happened?

Here is an excerpt from Psychology Today Magazine discussing PTSD (which Ford claims, as well as an anxiety disorder) talking about how PTSD produces false memories over time.

"A converging evidence demonstrates that experiences of trauma, whether a single event (e.g., a sexual assault) or a sustained stressful experience that might involve multiple trauma types (e.g., experiences at war) are also vulnerable to memory distortion. In fact, traumatic memory distortion appears to follow a particular pattern: people tend to remember experiencing even more trauma than they actually did. This usually translates into greater severity of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) symptoms over time, as the remembered trauma “grows.”"

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/beastly-behavior/201605/trauma-ptsd-and-memory-distortion

One study found that 88% of veterans with PTSD changed their response on previously recorded descriptions of a list of events, of at least one detail and 61% changed more than one. What if the details went from someone pushed me, to someone groped me, to someone pushed me into a room and covered my mouth and groped me? To Brett Kavanaugh pushed me into a room, no wait, I don't know who pushed me, but Brett covered my mouth and groped me.

Further as it seemed strange that although she claimed to know her attacker and know he was a federal judge who could sit on the supreme court, she only shared that fact one time.

The whole story becomes real when you put your attacker out there and he is a well-known person. Why withhold that info as if your attacker were just anyone as opposed to a famous Yale lawyer who served with Bush and then was a federal judge, and for the last several years a candidate for supreme court?

I believe Ford believes Kavanaugh attacked her. But I am very skeptical that she doesn't share the same false memories that plague the large majority of others with PTSD.

Why does Trauma Cause Memory Distortion?

Had the Democrats treated her claims seriously we would have completed local investigations and interviews weeks before the public hearings. But the Dems knew that if the facts couldn't be corroborated that the investigation would yield that no charges were warranted even in civil court. Further the Dems wouldn't be able to appeal to people's emotions. So they sat on this for 6 weeks until there was not enough time to properly investigate and then, in front of the whole world, had the audacity to blame the Republicans for not investigating.

I have a wife, two daughters, and two step-daughters. I'm greatly concerned with sexual assault. I feel for Christina, no doubt she has been traumatized. But imagine what we could know if the Dems didn't hide this for 6 weeks. No investigation would have publicly outed her. A investigation could have been in its 8th week by now. All witnesses affidavits presented.

 

[thecolorsblend]

When did it happen? She doesn't know.

Where did it happen? She's not certain.

Who was the assailant? In the last 24 hours, at least one new suspect has popped up.

"Credible" isn't the word to use in relation to Ford's silly allegations.

 

[thecolorsblend]

One other thing. The expression goes "Don't wound what you can't kill". Kavanaugh is wounded by these allegations. But if his confirmation goes through... yikes.

 

[Halbhh]

What an innocent Kavanaugh really needs is a credible investigation of the accusations against him to help clear his name for millions that feel perhaps he's guilty and bluffing.

So, if you care about Kavanaugh as a human being, you'd be for that FBI investigation...assuming he's innocent. (or perhaps even otherwise, if you look to after this life)

An intense FBI fact finding investigation about all of the 5 individuals, the 3 women and also the 2 new men from the other day claiming it was them who attacked Ford -- an intense investigation of any additional corroboration, or the lack thereof, would aid the innocent, and only the guilty need fear it.

(of course the real thing for all of us is to fear God, not men really; not hiding things, but seeking to confess anything that needs confessing)

 

[LivingWordUnity]

What an innocent Kavanaugh really needs is a credible investigation of the accusations against him to help clear his name for millions that feel perhaps he's guilty and bluffing.

So, if you care about Kavanaugh as a human being, you'd be for that FBI investigation...assuming he's innocent. (or perhaps even otherwise, if you look to after this life)

An intense FBI fact finding investigation about all of the 5 individuals, the 3 women and also the 2 new men from the other day claiming it was them who attacked Ford -- an intense investigation of any additional corroboration, or the lack thereof, would aid the innocent, and only the guilty need fear it.

(of course the real thing for all of us is to fear God, not men really; not hiding things, but seeking to confess anything that needs confessing)

The FBI already thoroughly investigated Kavanaugh 6 or 7 times. But if they started another, this time it would never end because Dems keep piling on new accusations. Dems know that, and that's why they keep saying they want an FBI investigation. Delay, delay, delay has been their strategy from day one. That's why they waited until the very last minute before dropping this political bomb on the process.

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

I believe Kav is innocent. I do believe something maybe happened to Ford and she just is either accusing Kav because she doesn't like him or because she can't recall who really hurt her. There are so many times during Fords appearance that her answers would change back and forth and became inconsistent.

So far the democrats have nothing on Kav, aside from a yearbook where teens acted like teens. They drank beer, they made fart jokes...etc. Unless they are saying people who drink and make fart jokes are rapists. The D's are grasping at straws at this point.

Heck they even are trying to make him look like he's lying by asking him about FBI investigation. They know he won't say yes because it means he won't be able to voted for the position he wants since it would delay him even more. They FULL well could have asked for the FBI thing 10 days ago but didn't. They waited on purpose because its a last ditch tactic. Heck you can find past cases where democrats have pulled this stunt before with waiting until the last minute. And not to mention a FBI investigation was already did once.

In the end this is all about the SJW/PC game. It started with Rosanne who was in trouble because of the left. So they right went after James Gunn and he got fired. So now the left went for Kav since hes an even bigger person. And likley we will see the right go after someone in a high position next. Its a giant childish game both sides are playing. Our democracy is a joke and feels more like highschool bullies going at it.

This is why I am not a republican or a democrat. Both sides make me sick.

 

[Halbhh]

The FBI already thoroughly investigated Kavanaugh 6 or 7 times. But if they started another, this time it would never end because Dems keep piling on new accusations. Dems know that, and that's why they keep saying they want an FBI investigation. Delay, delay, delay has been their strategy from day one. That's why they waited until the very last minute before dropping this political bomb on the process.

Previous questions would already be addressed, but not the new allegations in the last week from new individuals.

The new allegations are what Kavanaugh needs put under a microscope to help clear his name. After a while, the innocent can rely on the reliable Boy Cries Wolf where after several false alarms (false accusations), then the community learns better.

But if you short change that, and stop after only 1, you don't get there. Tens of millions would be left thinking he's guilty. That's what you should want to fix.

Only the guilty want to avoid the light. (ah, this sounds familiar. It's also in the Gospel of John)

After his anger cools down, an innocent Kavanaugh should want that investigation.

 

[Yarddog]

Hmmm, why didn't you put a place for "I'm a Republican and we think women should accept sexual assault"? That would be dumb as your Democrat crack.

As far as Ms Ford is concerned, she was a credible witness but that doesn't make her story factual. I also wouldn't assume to be an expert on PTSD and capable of rendering a valid judgment on that or if any of her memories are false. The same would go for Kavanaugh.

 

[TuxAme]

These allegations have no evidence to warrant an FBI investigation. It's all he said, she said.

 

[Halbhh]

These allegations have no evidence to warrant an FBI investigation. It's all he said, she said.

Depends on whether you want to help clear the innocent, or leave them looking guilty.

Right now he seems combative to me, but if he's innocent, that could be...maybe...just anger, which maybe...might pass. It might pass a lot faster if his name was cleared, and restored.

He may or may not be a good judge, though we see him being caught in ego....

Regardless, I don't think it's good to leave the newer allegations against him uninvestigated, and they cloud his reputation as long as they are left unexamined by credible independent and competent investigators, namely then for a neutral group, the FBI.

 

[Halbhh]

In the last hour the Republicans seem to be posturing and making rhetoric (as are democrats too quite often), and it's discouraging. It makes them look like they want to obscure and hide something. I wish we had elected more competent conservatives.

 

[Yarddog]

Right now he seems combative to me, but if he's innocent, that could be...maybe...just anger, which maybe...might pass. It might pass a lot faster if his name was cleared, and restored.

I'm not saying that he's guilty,in the least, but it is a common ploy of the guilty to make themselves the victim. Kavanaugh did not act like someone who had the control one would want for a SC Judge. He instead went on a right wing rant.

He could have been so much better.

 

[paul1149]

One other thing. The expression goes "Don't wound what you can't kill". Kavanaugh is wounded by these allegations. But if his confirmation goes through... yikes.

My take on Kav, from watching that Fox interview with his wife, is that he has a classic judicial temperament. He's not prone to public emotions (which makes his testimony today all the more genuine and powerful), and has disciplined himself to look at all sides of issues and to stick to his role in any given matter. Consequently I believe that if approved - and I hope he will be and think he will be - he will treat his opponents with far more grace than they have treated him and his family - though most emphatically, that is an extremely low bar to clear.

Nonetheless, going through this trial by fire has got to change him in certain ways. He seems to have had a certain innocence. I think it's fair to say a lot of that has been consumed in the deepening, maturing fires of realism. I pray it doesn't make him or his wife bitter.

 

[Halbhh]

I'm not saying that he's guilty,in the least, but it is a common ploy of the guilty to make themselves the victim. Kavanaugh did not act like someone who had the control one would want for a SC Judge. He instead went on a right wing rant.

He could have been so much better.

Yes, that's true really.

 

[Tutorman]

When did it happen? She doesn't know.

Where did it happen? She's not certain.

Who was the assailant? In the last 24 hours, at least one new suspect has popped up.

"Credible" isn't the word to use in relation to Ford's silly allegations.

Exactly, prevaricator is the word for her

 

[paul1149]

Had the Democrats treated her claims seriously we would have completed local investigations and interviews weeks before the public hearings. But the Dems knew that if the facts couldn't be corroborated that the investigation would yield that no charges were warranted even in civil court. Further the Dems wouldn't be able to appeal to people's emotions. So they sat on this for 6 weeks until there was not enough time to properly investigate and then, in front of the whole world, had the audacity to blame the Republicans for not investigating.

I think you've made very good points in your OP. While I did not find Ford not believable, I found Kav very believable. And I agree with the above in spades. A decent investigation could have been done behind the scenes. If the allegations didn't pass muster, they could have been dropped; if they did, Kav's nomination could have been withdrawn, all without destroying lives and reputations and roiling our bitter politics even further. But that is not the Dem way.

 

[Halbhh]

What if the details went from someone pushed me, to someone groped me, to someone pushed me into a room and covered my mouth and groped me? To Brett Kavanaugh pushed me into a room, no wait, I don't know who pushed me, but Brett covered my mouth and groped me.

Interesting article!
A push would not be traumatic to the level to start the PTSD as in the article. Not saying there was no progression. Just that a mere push isn't PTSD inducing.

Further as it seemed strange that although she claimed to know her attacker and know he was a federal judge who could sit on the supreme court, she only shared that fact one time.

The whole story becomes real when you put your attacker out there and he is a well-known person. Why withhold that info as if your attacker were just anyone as opposed to a famous Yale lawyer who served with Bush and then was a federal judge, and for the last several years a candidate for supreme court?

Not telling about a sexual assault such as forced groping (or worse ones), is a commonplace.

It's a surprising thing. Many don't tell anyone anytime soon, even for very serious ones like rape!

You could read why.

 

[Halbhh]

Exactly, prevaricator is the word for her

It's not safe for us as believers to reach condemning judgements (like calling someone a habitual liar) Matthew 7:2 .We have to be cautious. John 7:24. That means not jumping to conclusions, but making very carefully limited assessments. Also, the OP is not about lying at all.

 

[Yekcidmij]

What an innocent Kavanaugh really needs is a credible investigation of the accusations against him to help clear his name for millions that feel perhaps he's guilty and bluffing.

So, if you care about Kavanaugh as a human being, you'd be for that FBI investigation...assuming he's innocent. (or perhaps even otherwise, if you look to after this life)

An intense FBI fact finding investigation about all of the 5 individuals, the 3 women and also the 2 new men from the other day claiming it was them who attacked Ford -- an intense investigation of any additional corroboration, or the lack thereof, would aid the innocent, and only the guilty need fear it.

(of course the real thing for all of us is to fear God, not men really; not hiding things, but seeking to confess anything that needs confessing)

I thought several good points were made about this since this was the Democrats go-to line.

(1) is this specific issue even FBI jurisdiction and not local law enforcement?

(2) The FBI would conduct interviews of witnesses and provide those in a report to the Judiciary Committee. But it looked to me as if the only two witnesses were sitting there in front of the Committee who was free to ask them anything at all and address any concerns they had. The Committee already has sword statements from everyone else. It seems the Committee has the relevant information already in front of them. And why couldn't anyone at all on the Committee or Senate at large go to the FBI and request an investigation? And if they could, then why haven't they? This isn't clear to me.

(3) Nobody on that panel actually wants a background investigation. The Republicans obviously don't want it, they want their nominee through, but neither do the Democrats. If they really wanted an FBI investigation they wouldn't have held the information since July, they would have advised Dr. Ford to get professional help as would be advised for any other victim of sexual assault, and would have handled this in Committee in privacy and confidence. Instead, the Democrats advised Dr. Ford to get some lawyers, who it appears were provided by the Democrats, rushed out a [seemingly non-standard] polygraph the day of Dr. Ford's Grandmother's funeral, which someone other than Dr. Ford is paying for, and put her out in public and on TV. Is all of this standard response when someone confides in you that they've been the victim of a sexual assault? Is this how the Democrats would model sexual assault response protocol for everyone else?

Who on that Committee actually wants an FBI investigation? None of them. This is pure politics at play. Both parties are up against a critical deadline in November. It's in the Republican's interest to get the nominee through before an election where they could possibly lose control of the Senate. It's in the Democrats interest to delay the nominee's confirmation, much like the Republican's previously did, until the election where they could gain control of the Senate and get a nominee more to their liking.

Amazingly, and very predictably, both parties are simply acting according to their party's interest. I think the Democrats bear responsibility in terms of exploiting these two particular people for political gain. Had they not withheld the information and the Republicans had then responded by stonewalling, the Democrats would have a better argument.

If there was an FBI investigation, and it appeared that everything would wrap up before the election, then I predict there would be something else that would be used by the Democrats to try to stall the process simply because this is in their and their voter's interest. I don't blame them for using a stalling tactic, rather just for exploiting two people for political gain.

 

[Halbhh]

I thought several good points were made about this since this was the Democrats go-to line.

(1) is this specific issue even FBI jurisdiction and not local law enforcement?

(2) The FBI would conduct interviews of witnesses and provide those in a report to the Judiciary Committee. But it looked to me as if the only two witnesses were sitting there in front of the Committee who was free to ask them anything at all and address any concerns they had. The Committee already has sword statements from everyone else. It seems the Committee has the relevant information already in front of them. And why couldn't anyone at all on the Committee or Senate at large go to the FBI and request an investigation? And if they could, then why haven't they? This isn't clear to me.

(3) Nobody on that panel actually wants a background investigation. The Republicans obviously don't want it, they want their nominee through, but neither do the Democrats. If they really wanted an FBI investigation they wouldn't have held the information since July, they would have advised Dr. Ford to get professional help as would be advised for any other victim of sexual assault, and would have handled this in Committee in privacy and confidence. Instead, the Democrats advised Dr. Ford to get some lawyers, who it appears were provided by the Democrats, rushed out a [seemingly non-standard] polygraph the day of Dr. Ford's Grandmother's funeral, which someone other than Dr. Ford is paying for, and put her out in public and on TV. Is all of this standard response when someone confides in you that they've been the victim of a sexual assault? Is this how the Democrats would model sexual assault response protocol for everyone else?

Who on that Committee actually wants an FBI investigation? None of them. This is pure politics at play. Both parties are up against a critical deadline in November. It's in the Republican's interest to get the nominee through before an election where they could possibly lose control of the Senate. It's in the Democrats interest to delay the nominee's confirmation, much like the Republican's previously did, until the election where they could gain control of the Senate and get a nominee more to their liking.

Amazingly, and very predictably, both parties are simply acting according to their party's interest. I think the Democrats bear responsibility in terms of exploiting these two particular people for political gain. Had they not withheld the information and the Republicans had then responded by stonewalling, the Democrats would have a better argument.

If there was an FBI investigation, and it appeared that everything would wrap up before the election, then I predict there would be something else that would be used by the Democrats to try to stall the process simply because this is in their and their voter's interest. I don't blame them for using a stalling tactic, rather just for exploiting two people for political gain.

1 -Local law enforcement could be used for any part of the alleged attack which hasn't already run past the time limit of a statue of limitations so that after a certain period, such as 1 year for misdemeanors like forced groping (which clearly is something being alleged), it's too late to file charges. Some here think it's more than just forced grouping in a way that is a felony, but for that we'd need to see what was the 1982 law then in that regard.

2- A key witness that would be central in the Ford allegation is Mark Judge, who wasn't there, see. It's not the same to only have a sworn statement about some questions.

The FBI investigation that should be done in my view is more about the 2 new allegations that just showed up in the last few days, which constitute the majority of the damage to Kavanaugh's name, in my view.

There's been no FBI investigation to corroborate or find problems in these new allegations, nor did those making the allegations come to the committee.

The U.S. being a large and rich nation could easily put 50 agents on this and get all the investigating done very quickly. I think we could put however many agents to work it takes to finish in 10 or 15 days.

3-- Who knows? The American Bar Association, who had given Kavanaugh their highest rating, now says the process should be paused and a FBI investigation done (to find corroboration or lack thereof).

Consider -- if a FBI investigation shows the allegations don't turn out to be supported, that's really great for Kavanaugh and would help clear him in the eyes of many millions and millions of Americans.
Conversely if they find more corroboration, then many Republican Senators and many more Americans would not want him on the SC in that case, of course.

Either way, it's best to have a more definite outcome than him being on the court and a large portion of all the nation thinking he's guilty and/or lying.

What would you want if you were him? See?

"Amazingly, and very predictably, both parties are simply acting according to their party's interest."
-- I think you are largely right on that. Even Kavanaugh seemed very caught up in the partisan team vs team mentality, which wasn't good at all to see.