In the 1978 classic National Lampoon’s Animal House, the chief boozer and juvenile mischief maker of the infamous Delta Tau Chi fraternity is John Blutarsky, played by John Belushi. “Bluto” spends his entire college life drinking beer, hard-partying, and finding ways to torment Faber College Dean Wormer, while proudly amassing a straight-F grade average. The movie ends with the Deltas carrying off a “a really futile and stupid gesture”, wrecking a city parade to honor Dean Wormer, with the Delta car plowing into the parade reviewing stand.
As the movie ends, and before the credits start to roll, photos of Delta fraternity members come to the screen, with comments on their alleged achievements after college. The last one, of course, features Belushi triumphantly driving down the road in a convertible, sorority girl at his side, with the caption, “Senator and Mrs. John Blutarsky, Washington D.C.”
Yeah, I suppose that could happen (and it probably has, judging by some of the talent walking the halls of Congress!)
On a serious note, I was once a young man and did some stupid things that I’m not too proud of, particularly when shit-faced. I can remember being plastered at one of our Delta Chi frat parties and acting the fool toward our sorority guests; I thought I was being cool. It’s a good thing that cell phones and U-Tube weren’t in use back then!
I bring all of this up to reflect on the unseemly travails of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who is being unfairly publicly pilloried for indiscretions he may have made, while drunk, at wild parties…when he was 18 years old.
I can hear Mr. Kavanaugh thinking, “C’mon, Man…name one person who didn’t do stupid things as a teenager. You can’t, because that is the definition of teenager!” I agree.
Let’s all be honest: Poor Kavanaugh is being horsewhipped in the media by his opponents, who probably did worse as teens, as public payback for dirty tricks employed by the Republican Party a few years ago.
What goes around, comes around.
You might recall the incident in question: the Merrick Garland appointment to the Supreme Court by President Obama. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell overturned tradition and refused to schedule a hearing on the nomination…the first time in the history of the country that a President has been so snubbed. Everyone knew that there’d eventually be payback for this crass political move that will forever stain the legacy of the Republican Party.
I happen to believe that one of the perks of being President is the ability to appoint Supreme Court Justices. It is perhaps the greatest power of the Chief Executive…because Supreme Court positions are lifetime appointments. In some ways, they become the legacy of the President.
I’m not a fan of Donald Trump, but, by election, he earned the right to nominate Brett Kavanaugh. And, the Senate, as lousy as it has become, has the right to “advise and consent” on such nominations. The process is the spoils of political war, like it or not.
The normal mode of operation is for the out-of-power political party to protest at the President’s SCOTUS nominations, but acquiesce in the face of reality. In this case, however, with the lingering, bitter taste of the Merrick Garland fiasco still on the Democrats’ lips, coupled with the impending mid-term elections, anything could happen.
Brett Kavanaugh could continue to be a public whipping boy for the foreseeable future, not that it’s right. He could be denied the SCOTUS appointment, although that is not likely.
If the Democrats make sufficient inroads through the mid-term elections, and gain control of one or more houses of Congress, they could re-visit the Kavanaugh appointment with impeachment proceedings based upon perjury he may have committed in the nomination hearings…denying that he was ever at drunken parties, fondling young gals, doing his best “Bluto” Blutarsky impersonation.
It’s unfair, to be sure, but…as they say…”that’s politics”. Brett can thank Senator Mitch McConnell for his public humiliation.
