Samuel Alito is a much more patient man that I would be.
After watching some of his performance in the Senate Judiciary Committee, Alito clearly knew the law and showed that he was a sharp and incisive legal mind.
And the Judiciary Committee once again showed themselves to be the biggest bunch of idiots in the room. They were pathetic. In fact, they were beyond pathetic. Joseph Biden barely let Alito get a word in edgewise. Ted Kennedy appeared to be soused. Chuck Schumer couldn’t pass a high school civics class, no less Constitutional Law 101. For instance, take this line of questioning from the excretable Senator Schumer:
SCHUMER: Does the Constitution protect the right to free speech?
ALITO: Certainly it does. That’s in the First Amendment.
SCHUMER: So why can’t you answer the question of: Does the Constitution protect the right to an abortion the same way without talking about stare decisis, without talking about cases, et cetera?
ALITO: Because answering the question of whether the Constitution provides a right to free speech is simply responding to whether there is language in the First Amendment that says that the freedom of speech and freedom of the press can’t be abridged. Asking about the issue of abortion has to do with the interpretation of certain provisions of the Constitution.
SCHUMER: Well, OK. I know you’re not going to answer the question…
This is the most singularly dumb line of question I’ve ever heard. Does Schumer not understand that in order for Alito to argue that there is or is not a Constittutional right to abortion he’d have to answer a question he should not answer less he prejudice himself in future cases on that issue? The Supreme Court does not hear hypothetical cases. Neither should a Supreme Court nominee be asked to comment on specific legal issues that they may have to adjudicate upon during their tenure on the Court. Of course Alito won’t answer that question, and Schumer’s whole line of questioning demonstrates a massive ignorance of the most basic fundamentals of constitutional law.
If I were Alito, I’d be damned tempted to respond thusly:
Senator, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Which is probably why I’ll never be nominated to the Supreme Court. (Unless I am, in which case I’m just kidding.)
Of course, one would think that members of the Senate Judiciary Committee would know better than this. Sadly, it would appear that some Senators sitting on that august panel seem to make Harriet Miers like like Oliver Wendell Holmes…
I liked the 10-15 minute blovating “question” from Biden, in which he discribed his family and somehow made a complete campaign commercial out of the ordeal. I still don’t remeber what the question was, 3 minutes in and even I was switching channels.
I wonder if its because the Libs got nothing on him or they are incapable to deal with the complexity of the issues. Maybe they need a Nan Aron or Ralph Neas to be on a remote mike and ear piece so they can actually follow up on the questions they ask.
Are you kidding? The Democrats are softballing this clown.
The most appalling spectacle of any of the recent confirmation hearings is Ted Keendy sitting in judgment of anyone. Talk about brass ones – a murderer sitting there discussing why he’s “troubled” or ‘concerned” or whatever about some aspect of an individual’s judicial philosphy. Here’s my dream response:
Senator: “Is the right to an abortion included in the Consititution?”
Alito: “No more than the right to drown a woman in your car.”
The only downside is that he’s probably too drunk understand or care.