SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET: 

ALL "SHORT TAKES" TONIGHT ARE ABOUT THE KAVANAUGH FARCE

THE NERVE – FROM FOX:  Christine Blasey Ford, the California professor claiming Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her more than 35 years ago, late Tuesday demanded a "full investigation" by the FBI before she will attend any congressional hearing or "interrogation" into her accusations.  Republicans repeatedly have invited Ford and Kavanaugh to testify on Monday after delaying a planned Judiciary Committee vote on his confirmation that had been scheduled for Thursday. Kavanaugh accepted the committee's invitation, but Ford stayed mum until Tuesday night.  The development throws the entire hearing into doubt: Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Ia., had threatened to nix the proceeding if Ford refused to participate. It was also sure to add fuel to Republican claims that the allegations -- which were known to ranking Judiciary Committee Democrat Dianne Feinstein in July, but only revealed to federal authorities last Thursday -- are part of a concerted effort to stall Kavanaugh's nomination.  "While Dr. Ford’s life was being turned upside down, you and your staff scheduled a public hearing for her to testify at the same table as Judge Kavanaugh in front of two dozen U.S. Senators on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident," Ford's attorneys wrote to Grassley.   That is a barefaced lie.  No one intended for Ford and Kavanaugh to sit at the same table at the same time.  This is pure politics, and is becoming absurd.

THE CHAIRMAN RESPONDS – FROM AP:  Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley says there's "no reason for any further delay" in a hearing about a sexual assault allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.  Lawyers for accuser Christine Blasey Ford say she wants an FBI investigation of the incident before a Judiciary Committee hearing set for Monday.  They say that in the days since Ford went public with her allegation, she has been the target of "vicious harassment and even death threats."  Grassley says, "Nobody should be subject to threats and intimidation."  But he adds: "Dr. Ford's testimony would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events. Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee."  And Grassley is correct.The FBI actually does not have legal power to conduct a criminal investigation of a state matter – in this case the state of Maryland, where the offense allegedly took place.  It's doubtful a state agency would launch a new investigation either, as the statute of limitations probably ran out years ago.

VERY IMPORTANT –  FROM CNN:    Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, sits on the Judiciary Committee and had previously said the committee should hold off on voting until they hear from the accuser. However, Flake said Tuesday that if Ford fails to appear at the hearing scheduled for Monday, he would support his party's push to move forward on a vote on Kavanaugh.  "I think we'll have to move to the markup," he told CNN.  This is posssibly the most important political statement of the day.  Flake is the one Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee who could gum things up.  He is an anti-Trumper.  Now he is showing flexibility, and that's a good thing.

September 18, 2018