Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing got off to a raucous start, with Chairman “Chuck” Grassley bloviating sanctimoniously, Lindsey Graham proving he’s in somebody’s pocket, Democratic Senators objecting strenuously to the rush to process Kavanaugh while reams of his memos on torture and other sordid subjects remain under wraps, and protestors timing their outbursts to maximum disruptive effect.  Tomorrow gets down to actual questioning of Kavanaugh, and here are some that should be asked:

Judge Kavanaugh, do you believe in strict construction/interpretation of the Constitution in accordance with the Original Intent of the Framers?  If so, please tell us the basis for a “rule” that a duly elected (winner of both the electoral and popular vote) sitting President is not entitled to appoint a Justice to the U.S. Supreme Court in the last year of his term.

Can a Senator vote against a nominee for the Supreme Court for any reason or for no reason at all? Do you believe a Senator has any obligation to even consider a judicial nomination or can Senators just ignore the President’s nominees?

Do you believe there is any reasonable basis to assert that Merrick Garland, the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (the court you come from) did not deserve a hearing and vote by the Senate on his Supreme Court nomination, but you do?

Is a President entitled to interfere with a Justice Department investigation of himself? Of his family? Of his close associates?

May the President “take over” any such investigation any time he wants?

If a President lies under oath, is that an impeachable offense?

Do you believe a sitting President can be indicted and forced to stand trial?  Which is it – is the President sitting or standing?

If it is found that a President “stole” an election, or otherwise obtained his Electoral College margin of victory through improper means, such as, for instance, a treasonous conspiracy with a foreign power, are all of his “official acts” nullified?  Is this automatic or must it be done by the courts?  Should such a so-called President’s judicial appointments be vacated?  Should a Supreme Court Justice appointed by such a President recuse himself form taking part in any decision which could affect his own tenure on the Court?

You’re a Catholic.  Does your religion in any way shape your views on abortion?  Do you believe there are any instances in which the right to an abortion should be protected by the federal government?  Rape? Incest? Pregnancy of the mistress of a Republican Congressman?

Does being a Catholic shape how you feel about an institution’s or individual’s responsibility for reporting sexual abuse or pedophilia to the proper law enforcement authorities?  Does a member of an institution have any responsibility to do anything, other than turn a blind eye to the abuse in order to protect his own hide and that of his institution, if he becomes aware that sexual abuse is going on in the institution by employees or officials of the institution (asking for a House colleague)?