They offered to let her testify on Wednesday, and she (so far) hasn't gone for it. I am hearing that Ford's reasoning for refusing to testify before Thursday is because she has safety concerns about flying on a commercial jet to get to DC in time. She is planning on driving, and doesn't think she can get there and be well-rested enough to participate before Thursday.
I don't know whether to call BS or not... I can certainly understand her not being comfortable in public with her newfound notoriety, but it still seems oddly flaky. If she's prepared to face down sitting Senators who are trying to prove her to be a liar, then surely she can handle some random yokels jeering at her on a plane? But I can also see why she wants to simply avoid that and show up a few days later. If only someone high up in government had access to a private jet they could send for her. Mr. Trump, are you listening? She needs a plane! I guess she could also just have a genuine fear of flying, but that would seem weird for an academic that presumably travels to conferences regularly.
The arguing over the date does seem kind of petty to me, as long as it happens next week sometime. If she tried to push it out for weeks on end, that would be one thing. But they offered her Wednesday, and she is asking for Thursday... It's one extra day. I just really hope that sanity reigns and something can be worked out.
I guess what I am saying is this: Call her bluff, GOP, and work in good faith to get her out there asap. There are two possibilities.
1 ) She continues to beat around the bush. Then you can in good faith ignore her and get on with the confirmation, while being honestly able to say to the media and voters, "Hey, we tried to get her out here to tell her story, but she was being completely uncooperative." You'll look compassionate, and it would give you the cover you need to vote to confirm. All you have to do is say, "I did take the allegations very seriously, but the accuser refused to cooperate, and I had to make a decision. I can't let an unconfirmed accusation from someone who refuses to go on the record influence my vote."
2) She agrees to testify. You should use kids gloves on her for the most part, because you don't want to appear to be bullying a potential sexual assault victim. She could either be a very damning and believable witness, or her story could wilt in the spotlight. Either way, you look like compassionate human beings who were willing to hear out a credible accuser. If her story falls apart, then hey, win-win and you vote to confirm. If she appears credible, you can reject and declare a redo, and again look like decent human beings. "We heard her out, and we are not able to dismiss her testimony. Whatever character Brett Kavanaugh may have, we feel his presence on the court would do a dishonor to sexual assault victims everywhere, and would serve as a constant distraction to him and render him ineffective. We look forward to a quick and non-controversial confirmation of whomever Mr. Trump appoints in his place, and wish Mr. Kavanaugh the best of luck in his continued career as a federal judge."
You could even still vote to confirm and tell the voters with a straight face "We met her every request and considered her testimony very seriously. She was treated respectfully and we gave her the benefit of the doubt. Ultimately, we believe that Brett Kavanaugh today is not the same man that Dr. Ford regrettably encountered, and we don't feel that it will affect his ability to be an effective and impartial justice." It wouldn't endear them to women voters, but I think it would certainly be better then dismissing her without considering any of her concerns about testifying.
