WHAT? – AT 11:54 A.M. ET:  Either President Trump is the shrewest politician going, or a serial blunderer who can't keep his mouth shut.  We prefer the former.  From Daily Mail: 

President Trump said Wednesday that a credible allegation from Christine Ford at a Monday hearing that will determine the fate of Supreme Court nominee would be 'interesting' and it would force him to take another look at the situation.

Ford has not said whether she will take senators up on their offer to have her appear before the Judiciary Committee on Monday.

 'If she shows up that would be wonderful,' Trump told reporters awaiting his departure in Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House. 'If she doesn’t show up that would be unfortunate.'

Trump again said that he feels terribly for Kavanaugh and his family and pounced on Democrats for suppressing the negative information for weeks until it was nearly time to vote on the appointment.

Trump said Tuesday a news conference that a sex attack allegation against Kavanaugh is 'shame' and referred to the judge whose nomination is hanging on by a thread as a 'great gentleman.'

'I feel so badly for him that he’s going through this be honest with you. I feel so badly for him. This is not a man that deserves this,' Trump told journalists.

The president pinned the blame for the 11th-hour chaos on Democrats, who he accused of resisting and obstructing his every move. He said he'd support an FBI prove into Kavanaugh's accuser's charge, except the law enforcement agency has said 'that’s not what they do.' 

COMMENT:  It is possible that the president is putting on a bit of a charm offensive – unusual for him – to lure Ford to testify in public, where her story, with all its incredible gaps, would not hold up.  Or, the president has simply made a foolish remark that will erode support for the judge.

It is a very messy affair, and ugly.  This is no standard of justice.

September 19,  2018