San Franciscans watched Kavanaugh and Ford, alone and in crowds

Thursday, September 27, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Welcome to the food court of public opinion where jurors sit, not in a box, but pass judgement from thousands of miles away even while eating lunch.

As Senator Lindsay Graham posed the question, "Would you say you've been through hell?"
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And Judge Brett Kavanaugh observed, "This is a circus..."



And Dr. Christine Blasey Ford proclaimed, "I believe I am here because this is my civic duty..."

Many of us observed the politics and process on mobile devices, surrounded by crowds, and yet alone.

WATCH: Key moments from the Kavanaugh-Ford hearing

Thursday's Senate hearings streamed almost anywhere to those caught up in it -- or not.
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"There has been nastiness brewing for a long time," said Liam Clark, an interior decorator in San Francisco.

At street level, we detected a level of disconnect, Thursday, even for this narrative that affects all of us. Imagine a contest, almost like a political Super Bowl, for so many of us had already pre-chosen sides and winners. Fair enough. Except, when football games end, a victor emerges. In this case, it depends who you ask.

VIDEO: Christine Blasey Ford's full statement at Senate hearing

"There is no winner here," we heard time and again.



"The nation loses." We heard variations of that, as well, of a process that has strayed into territory never imagined by our nation's founders.

"We're losers because we don't get an ideal candidate," said Michelle Abala.
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"This whole mess is upsetting," said Clark. "There has been nastiness brewing for a long time. It's upsetting to see the most powerful nation in the world behaving like utter children."

VIDEO: Watch Brett Kavanaugh's statement to Senate Judiciary Committee

Those would be observations from a distance.



At lunch.

Full coverage on the hearing here.
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