My remarks to Brett Kavanaugh if I was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

“Thank you, Mr. Kavanaugh, for coming here today.

“Apologies for the antics of the protesters and my fellow Democrats. Apologies for the dreary, stuffy atmosphere.

“But most of all, apologies for forcing you to come here in the first place.

“I understand the value of tradition and the important role the Senate has in approving Supreme Court justices, for once we confirm a justice to the Court, we can do very little if he or she turns out to be, as my stepkids might say, an incompetent creeper.

“Decorum dictates that we ask lawyerly questions to which you respond with lawyerly evasive gravitas. But we senators are far more interested in making you look brilliant or foolish so that we will look good to our funders and those we think we’re representing. Instead of listening to your answers seriously, we’re here to flatter or badger you.

“Condescension and arrogance masquerading as protocol

“I’m sure you understand this. You’ve been playing your part well.

“As have your supporters. A couple of days ago, I heard a representative of the Federalist Society try to muddy the waters about your position on repealing Roe V. Wade. The guy was good. Very smooth.

“Confusing masquerading as clarifying.

“But let’s be real. If you were to rule that Roe should not be overturned, anti-choice activists would throw endless temper tantrums, as they have been yearning to make abortion illegal for thirty-five years.

“And your reputation would be ruined.

“With only tepid thanks from the pro-abortion crowd.

“Revenge masquerading as integrity.

“So I have some good and bad news for you, Mr. Kavanaugh.

“The bad news first. When it comes time to vote whether or not to confirm you, I will firmly vote `no.`

“I believe that a woman is much more able to decide on the future of her unborn baby than a person — usually a man — wearing robes. I support the right of gay people to be married.

“I also believe that if your view of our constitution — resembling a revered, sweet-smelling corpse, was in vogue in the 1950s, `separate but equal` would still reign throughout our land, thus delaying and perhaps stalling civil rights of African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ folk, and others from underrepresented groups. No, our Constitution is a vibrant document full of life, energy, and with a flexible spirit that allows those inevitable tensions among amendments to be managed with empathy, grace, and justice. A dead constitution, no matter its scent, supports the powerful over the weak because of the disproportionate impact of money in politics.

“Wealth masquerading as justice.

“Profit masquerading as principle.

“Additionally, your evolving views that now seem to support the shielding of a president from prosecution after the work you did to prosecute former President Clinton reeks of hypocrisy. The honorable thing would be for you to recuse yourself from all matters related to the investigation of President Trump. But we already know what happened when Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself.

“And we cannot allow that to happen again, can we.

“But while I will vote against your confirmation, I will not waste your time to ask you those questions with the goal of making a dent in your shining armor while burnishing my creds with those that will support the Democrat who will replace me as senator next year. I hope you find that to be the good news that I promised.

“Mr. Kavanaugh, I expect you to be confirmed after the usual howls, chest-beatings, posturing, and fake civility. I expect that you will use your considerable skills and influence to make conditions better for rich, white, straight, non-disabled men at the expense of the rest of us.

“I hope that I am wrong.

“I yield back the rest of my time, and ask that my allotted time to ask Mr. Kavanaugh questions not be given to anyone else.

“I’ll come back when it’s time to vote.”