January 10, 2006

Judge Alito's Confirmation Hearings Live drama available via webcast on the linked site, or Here at NPR. More News at the NYT.

He got a good grilling by Ted Kennedy in terms of letting the President "interpret" laws passed by Congress, and he made no effort to deny that he thought that was A-OK. (He considers it "gospel" that the executive branch act as it wants to regardless of Congress or SCOTUS.) Followed by softball questions such as "Would you have any problem ruling against the executive branch if you thought they overstepped their bounds?" (No.) Broad, unclear questioning and unctuous weasely testimony abounding. Grab your headphones campers! This one could be a good ol' fashioned hole-diggin'! And by gar, it's been awhile!

posted by petebest 18 years ago
  • He also had his ballsack gently washed, powdered, and then tickled by Lindsey Graham yesterday. It almost made me want to masturbate on my drive home. If we do, if we go down that road, there will be no going back. Good men and women will be deterred from coming before this body to serve their nation as a judge at the highest levels. Yeah. Right.
  • It's oddly pornographic, I'll give you that. "In close cases you lean to the state over the individual. If Im right that would be a change that would be more than subtle to the bench." --Sen. Biden Folks, if you're not familiar with the "unitary executive", you may want to tune in. It's ah . . important.
  • Alito was quoted as saying Judge Robert Bork (nominated by Reagan, but defeated) was an excellent nominee. Bork thought, among other things, Contraception was not a protected right Minorities do not have a right to be counted equally in voting Roe v. Wade is unconstitutional Alito's response? Nah, I didn't mean that. Scary stuff.
  • Wow. I didn't catch which Senator it was, but he basically just said "I want you to overturn Roe v. Wade, so just hang in there, and we'll get it done, ok? Wink Wink" Man that was creepy.
  • Yeah, that was probably Graham. I just listened to him lecture* Alito for half an hour on why due process is a bad idea. Lindsey Graham is, in a convenient single-serving package, all that is stupid with America. * Because it sure as fuck wasn't questioning. Christ, if L-sauce where my own grandpa I'd probably have cut his tongue out.
  • I like that a lot of people are focusing on decisions he made that benefit the state, and decisions he made that benefit the individual. It is not going to change minds regarding his nomination, but it could set a wonderful precedent for measuring future political candidates. I would like people to tally up votes and positions of politicians in the following way: 1 How many of your positions benefit the wealthy? 2 How many of your positions benefit the poor? 3 How many of your positions benefit corporations? 4 How many of your positions benefit people? I think that by framing politicians' positions in those terms would lead to a lot of elected officials losing their jobs. I mean, try to think of examples of Bush positions that fall under 2 and 4. The ones you will find will almost never harm 1 and 3 (abortion, school prayer, etc.).
  • Day 3 started out slow but it's picking up, courtesy Sen. Leahy. So far it's been like this: Republican Senator: Judge Alito, isn't it true that you rock? I just want to say that I'd overturn that Roe v. Wade decision in a heartbeat. And I think you're great. Alito: Thank you (*wink*) Democrat Senator: Judge Alito, why did you eat a human baby, as shown in the pictures and notarized documents from June 1985? Alito: Senator, I don't remember eating that particular baby . ahh . . as I recall, the supreme court said that in Baby v. Johnson, the power was reserved by the eater, as precedent dictated. Republican Senator: Judge, isn't it true that that baby asked to be eaten? Didn't that baby tell a nursemaid that it wanted nothing more than to be splotches on your lobster bib? etc. Senator Oral Hatch is currently blowing Alito.
  • Hoo hoo! Catfight! Arlen Specter and Ted Kennedy callin' each other bitch!
  • My friend Loren has officially claimed coinage of the term RATS for "Roberts/Alito/Scalia/Thomas". Spread the meme.
  • me diggity.
  • Supreme Court upholds Oregon's assisted suicide law. Justice Kenedy wrote the opinion for the majority, concluding that Ashcroft did not have the authority to sanction doctors under the Controlled Substances Act. Justice Scalia dissented, joined by Justice Thomas and Chief Justice Roberts. Thomas also wrote a separate dissent. The Washington Post has the opinions, and you can get the pdf from the Supreme Court's website. Huh. Go figure. It's the R*TS again.
  • username: ididntknow pw: whattodo
  • Democrats say No "At a time when the president is seizing unprecedented power, the Supreme Court needs to act as a check and to provide balance," Leahy said. "Based on the hearing and his record, I have no confidence that Judge Alito would provide that check and balance."
  • He has a radically broad view of the president's power, and a radically narrow view of Congress's power. He has long argued that the Constitution does not protect abortion rights. He wants to reduce the rights and liberties of ordinary Americans, and has a history of tilting the scales of justice against the little guy. MMmm pretty much, yeah. It's a beatdown a-comin' if'n something good doesn't happen.
  • Well, I never thought he was your standard "I'm an asshole" conservative. That wasn't my objection to him. Although the article doesn't mention why he upheld the stay anyway.