I guess all that time Alito spent with Senator Lesley Graham at the White House in a "mock hearing" was all for nothing?

If they didn't go over the questions they knew t were going to asked about his past...and review what Alito said and did back then, what was the point? Or was that the point...to go over the things you want to forget and decide how you will evade the questions.

This guy is a total fraud. He's making a mockery of these hearings.

Maybe he thinks it's clever. But it demeans the the honor of the Supreme Court. Maybe he'd like to take over at Saddam's trial as a court jester?

How can ANYONE say, they do not remember what groups, clubs, activities they belonged to in college???

This is an exciting time in people's life, when they go off on their own, etc, and you remember every detail only too well.

What a freakin liar!

And so proud of belonging to the Federalist Society! I would bet the Free Republic bloggers all belong to that too! Group of hardcore, Radical right wingers.

Tim, If you listened to the phone calls to C-Span during the break after Alito was questioned about this---- you had the same old blind Republicans calling in, saying the Democrats were being SOOOO mean and petty, asking about this old membership, which alito clearly does not remember!

I can't believe that his pants haven't burst into flames yet.
Yet another lying Republican.....And listening to NPR on the way to the Doctor this morning,
I was astounded to hear a news reporter saying that this is a done deal, the Senate hearings are just a "going through the motions exercise."

Tim,

As you walk through the halls making accusations that one of our sitting Judges a liar, did you taken in consideration the lies your own chairman feeds to the American People with impunity? Your own chairman said in his Christmas radio address:

"Democrats are the only party to have balanced the budget in America in the last thirty eight years. We will do it again.”

But in fact it was a Republican Congress, a Republican Majority that submitted the first balanced budget and a Democratic President who certified that budget.

Another point of fact; According to Wikipedia,

“The Republican takeover of Congress in 1994 led to a push for a balanced budget, President Clinton and congress reduced the deficit.”

Mike

Hey, you guys at the DNC. Did you hear Randi give the credit for clearing Democrats of Abramoff involvement to a couple of folks at DU? Seemed to me like you guys did a lot of work on FEC searches. What's up with that?

Senator Cornyn came out at last break, and said you could tell by the Democrat's body language, etc, that they are facing the fact that they will have to accept Alito!

DAMN, if that is true ! WHY can't the Dems really blast this guy about the lies he is telling.

In address to the comment "why can't Dems really blast this guy", they can. But look around. Have they really blasted anyone? What exactly have Dems done but roll over and play dead. Look, I realize that I sound like I am anti-Dem and believe me--NOTHING is further from the truth. I have pictures of Clinton, Carter, Gore and Kerry hanging in my entrance way as an announcement to anyone that enters my home. I would sooner dive head first into my own vomit than vote for a Republican. But I am so totally ticked off that Dems have rubber stamped Bush for that last five years that I am nearly beside myself. Just as soon as they get leverage, it is like they don't even want to use it. We have a president that signs a law one day and then passes another law the next day that says he doesn't have to follow the first one. We have a president that openly defends his right to wire tap the whole country. Never mind all of the other five years of corruption! This president is totally impeachable. And yet, are our Dems cutting the throats that they need to cut right now? No. In fact, they are going to confirm this guy. Alito will be the worst thing in the world for us, and they are going to confirm him. And it is going to make me sick. Dems need to dig in; either that, or we really are a nation with a failed constitution--if our constitution is so easily pushed aside by the Bush administration without wild resistance, maybe we never were the country I used to think we were. Alito would have women listed under mules in the Medieval Church logs of property. Anyone else out there as depressed as I am? Stupid question. No wonder prosac sales are up.

Hey Howard! I received your email asking for donations...now where's the bat? Please put up the bat so I can donate and hit a HOME RUN! You're doing great...we're taking back the House this year! :)

By the way...I want to be able to put up a bat too so I can get my friends to donate and I can really hit a home run...the bat makes it exciting!

(before anyone says I can make a donation without the bat...yes, I will donate even if a bat doesn't go up...)

We need a real old-fashioned bat. We will donate anyway, but that bat is so inspiring. As Howard Dean said on Leno's show recently...the Democrats are just learning how to fight. Keep teaching them, Governor. They are doing better.

He clearly remembers that he believed that the students at Princeton were acting "irresponsibly" in the 1960s and in opposing the war and indicated that he joined CAP because as a member of ROTC he was joining in CAP's protest of the removal of ROTC from campus. However, the ROTC had already been brought back to Princeton in 1972 the year in which CAP was formed and the year in which Alito graduated.

CAP "stated explicitly that they were not in favor of coeducation and that they weren't in favor of affirmative action. Implicitly, they were opposed to any form of diversity on campus."

In address to Mike about the budget, you moron. Who the hell do you think pushed for that balanced budget? Who had that plan,eh? Go get your facts straight. And while you are at it, why don't you learn why the budget needed to be balanced in the first place. Why don't you check out where all that debt came from to begin with. You see Mike, the dirty little secret they don't tell you in Sunday school is that Republicans don't want a balanced budget. See, if we go into debt, we have to borrow money. And if we borrow money, Mike, we have to pay it back, and when we pay it back, we pay it back with interest. See, you following me, tiger? Now, go find out who (what companies) we borrow the money from. Or, Mike, here's an idea, just watch some old vidoes of Bush's special interest groups' dinners. You see those folks right there? Our interest rate debts are making their bosses very happy. How do you think their bosses vote, Mike? The sad thing is that our debt is also making China very happy as we only borrow some of it from our companies. Do you want to be part of China, Mike? Well, bud, I suggest you find out a little more about your party. There is a very good reason why most all of the professors at universities (ie: our elite brain power) never vote Republican. Do you think your party cares about you, Mike? You're middle class right? Say this phrase with me, Mike; here we go; we'll say it together..."Going, Going, Gone!"

EEEK! Let me clarify--I was addressing Mike, The Working Patriot. Not the other Mike.

Alito want's very much to belong to the group that's in power. He's finding the confirmation process difficult because he can't figure out which is the winning side.
When Democrats come at him with authoritative informations and questions, while Republicans present him with mush, he gets conflicted. His intellect tells him he ought to be with the Democrats, but he knows that's not going to give him a win.

Perhaps the GOP has good reason to believe they can confirm the anti choice Alito since the Democratic party is at the moment forcing a majority of anti-choice candidates in local elections.

Maybe that is why the questioning is weak... because they would look like the hypocrits if they dare demand Alito to uphold women's reproductive right while at the same time the Democratic party has all but removed the prochoice plank from the party platform.

This is just another Kabuki dance...

LOL! Well well well... THe democrats think ALito (or as KKKKKennedy put it Alioto! BWWAHHAHAHAHAH!!! Democrats think everybody is LYING TO THEM! AHAHAHAHAHAHAH! They are losing so badly right nbiw it isnt funny! Alito ran CIRCLES around the DIMS! all the dems can do is CRY waaa hahahahahahahahahah!!!!

Ya fucking hypocrites! How could TED ask someoneELSE about their past when his is about as clean as a petrol staion shitter hA! ya bunch of fuck ups

"The dems have rolled over and played dead?" They have done NOTHING but oBSTUCT for 5 years running now. YOu guys think all republicans are LYING? take a look at your own dismal crunbling party. ya fuckers

Posted by progressivearlingtonian

CAP "stated explicitly that they were not in favor of coeducation and that they weren't in favor of affirmative action. Implicitly, they were opposed to any form of diversity on campus."

Yeah, and Senator Byrd (former KKK member) and Senator Thurman thought that the civil rights leaders were agitators. The only point you can make about the early 70s and late 60s is that there were many people who needed to wake up and see the world around them. Whether Alito felt that way 30 years ago or not does not mean that he hasn’t grown from his experiences over the years just as those two Senators supposedly did; well the must’ve because they stayed in office for another 3 decades.

Proudlylibby,

You continue to follow the political dinners while I continue to follow history and the truth. If you’re actually going to try to make a case about the state of our nation and who was in control, the Dem’s controlled the Congress through VietNam, the Iran Hostage incident , the Draft, more than one recession, and the great depression, so I wouldn’t go touting off so loudly about the Dems record. It’s funny you mention China (who I am no fan of); it was the Democrat Al Gore who went there with his hand out looking for illegal contributions if I’m not mistaken…

The economy is as strong as it was in the 90s and considering events like 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the Hurricanes of 2004 our economy is BOOMING!

As much as you would like to disagree, the Bush tax cuts have helped our overall economy…didn’t the DOW close over 11,000 again? Btw… I’m not a Republican!

TheWorkingPatriot

Posted by progressivearlingtonian

CAP "stated explicitly that they were not in favor of coeducation and that they weren't in favor of affirmative action. Implicitly, they were opposed to any form of diversity on campus."

Yeah, and Senator Byrd (former KKK member) and Senator Thurman thought that the civil rights leaders were agitators. The only point you can make about the early 70s and late 60s is that there were many people who needed to wake up and see the world around them. Whether Alito felt that way 30 years ago or not does not mean that he hasn’t grown from his experiences over the years just as those two Senators supposedly did; well the must’ve because they stayed in office for another 3 decades.

Proudlylibby,

You continue to follow the political dinners while I continue to follow history and the truth. If you’re actually going to try to make a case about the state of our nation and who was in control, the Dem’s controlled the Congress through VietNam, the Iran Hostage incident , the Draft, more than one recession, and the great depression, so I wouldn’t go touting off so loudly about the Dems record. It’s funny you mention China (who I am no fan of); it was the Democrat Al Gore who went there with his hand out looking for illegal contributions if I’m not mistaken…

The economy is as strong as it was in the 90s and considering events like 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the Hurricanes of 2004 our economy is BOOMING!

As much as you would like to disagree, the Bush tax cuts have helped our overall economy…didn’t the DOW close over 11,000 again? Btw… I’m not a Republican!

TheWorkingPatriot

Gotsa ta go Im sure youl cal me a troll and bash a miss spelling or something like that. Becaus eyou're all so eloquent arent you? You know whats BEST for everyone right? Peace niggas!

Oh Im sorry in advance for the verbal thrashing that ALito is going to give this shit stain of a party! Wooot woot its gonna be fun aint it? Lookin at Tedy holding his head during the chearings? Whats he thinking of HIS PAST maybe? Hmmmmmm Err ahh I am Oh and HOWARD STOP SENDING ME YOU STUPID EMAILS I SIGNED UP HERE TO SEE WHAT THIS PARTY IS ALL ABOUT You all sound like you're constipated... dunno how that is though ya havent done shit to help anyhting. Its alway AHHH MY CIVIL RIGHTS AHHH! what are you fucking stupid? Civil rights arent going anywhere. Good grief

OK, OK...the time is coming soon, so it's time to ask yet again.

Show of hands, all you stupid, pussy Democrats who thought the compromise by the Gang of 14 on the cloture rule was a "WIN".

HA! Right on right on Scarpia! Isnt it HILLARIOUS that there are more of us on this entire site than the Dems? Oh wait they're not Dems they are "Progressives" "Moderate" "Centrists"
Blah blah blah you're liberal there is nothing wrong with the WORD liberal. Pollitical correctness has been running rampant for too long now. Somebody needs to stamp it out

please, please, please - the Democrats must filibuster Alito.

please, please, please - the Democrats must filibuster Alito.

please, please, please - the Democrats must filibuster Alito.

"Hi, I'm Sam Alito. I'm no moderate. But I play one on TV".

PROGRESSIVE VALUES

Yes try and filibuster a person you approoved of TWICE yes please be the hypocrites you are so the whole country can see.

It must suck bein a liberal.. Going around blindly hating ALL republicans gee wiz you guys are lame.

Judge Judy would have remembered what groups she belonged to in college.

Go ahead and fillibuster Alito and make Darth Vader blow up the Senate with the whole nation watching. Let's see how that looks to the voters right before the '06 election? More high drama and irresponsibility like Schivo and Katrina. You guys can't stop yourself, can you?

Go ahead and show your ugly side just one too many times. We are counting on you.

I heard today that CAP was one of 2 organizations on Princeton's campus, with Alito being with one that wanted ROTC back, and the other opposing women and minorities.

I have to admit that Alito is breaking the asses of his opponents. Ted Kennedy and Chuck Schumer look particularly bad.

I don't know if Alito is telling the truth. The media seems to believe that he is on his way to being confirmed.

The fact is that Alito is too far right foran already right leaning court. Simple fact. The Supreme Court is, by design of our founding fathers, supposed to be politically benign. It is the task of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and later the full Senate to ensure the proper balance is achieved to protect the rights of all and I reiterate ALL of American citizens. What is happening in the Senate Judiary Committee currently is not about personal attacks, likes, or dislikes. It is about achieving the proper balance for the sake of the future of our democracy.

Wow,

It's amazing all the little Imps (trolls) coming out to praise the Prince of Darkness (Alito)

It hurts doesn't it? The Democrats are killing your master and your attacking us because you can't touch them.Well, sorry boys,but guess what the Democrats got for Christmas? Bold Blue Backbones and they're using them.Ha Ha Ha ha ha.......

Fillibuster!!!!

Show us you are a party worth fighting for, contributing to and voting for. Please!!!

Ofcourse you can't believe anything Alito says. Look at who nominated him. George Bush, the biggist liar that has every set foot in the White House. His past tells the truth about him, not what dribbles out of his mouth during these hearings.

I'm afraid the Dems are missing the boat again. Very afraid.

Much as I hate to say it, the Dems just can't get it together. There seems to be no cohesive strategy in exposing the dangers of this nomination, so their attacks are coming off as nit-picking.

Besides, focus on the red meat issues like abortion plays right into the administration's hands, which is to keep the nation divided so they can continue to pull the wool over the eyes of the middle and lower-middle class folks whose support they enjoy based on so-called "moral" issues. How else can they continue this unprecedented redistribution of wealth with the support of the very people from whom they're stealing?

Once those supporters realize that 98% of Americans have more in common with each other than the wealthiest 1-2% of this country, corporate interests, and the administration that serves them, it's game over.

For the hearing, they need to get to one of the most important issues (and one that could unite--polls to the contrary be damned). That is, they've barely touched the executive powers vs. civil liberties issue (relatively speaking), which is HUGE and should be of concern to all Americans.

This is an opportunity to bring this issue to the fore, along with the underlying (extremist) imperial Pax Americana idealogy that's really at the heart of the Iraq war (and imminent expansion into Iran). This unchecked executive powers issue provides a huge pillar for that extremist agenda and should be brought into the light.

For those who support the war, we should make sure they understand they are really supporting this ideology, not a "war on terror" for their "security". Expose the PNAC writings that well pre-dated 9/11 (a tragedy that has been abused to promote the agenda) and demonstrate how the war fits perfectly with the ideology. Point out that the architects of Pax Americana are in the positions of power to prosecute this unprecedented, pre-emptive and illegal war and are indeed doing so.

Unite Americans under the truth and our much greater commonalities, rather than playing to red meat issues (left or right) that isolate our fellow citizens, who happen to be in another party.

Instead, isolate this administration, as they should be in their extremism, and underscore to real conservatives that they have been infilitrated by "neocons" who really have little use for true conservative ideals (if the trillion-dollar plus defecit, growing government and complete fiscal irresponsibility doesn't prove this, I don't know what would).

For now, the Dems must make the case against Alito as best they can, then filibuster (even if they believe it will be unpopular). Not only to impede this nomination, but to show some backbone.

I think the democrats would be more successful in the hearings with non-democrats if Ted Kennedy was not the mouth piece. Everytime, as soon as I see him, I am for whatever he is against. He just makes me sick just knowing he got away with murder.

come_back_JFK,
"Senators are charged with approving a Judicial nominee based on the nominee's qualifications not the Senator's personal opinion"
Really! Then can you explain why the radical right fight so hard against Miers?
One has just to look at the facts to know where lies the hypocricy!

midwestbouy,
Senator Kennedy is a much better voice for the Democratic Party then W, Dick and Rummy, DeLay, Ney, Frist and Abramoff are mouth pieces of the Republican Party.
Senator Kennedy has done more the country than W, Daddy and Grandaddy put together. The Radical Right has used Senator Kennedy as a target in their propaganda. That doesn't work anymore.

Wish other Senators have the courage that Senator Kennedy has shown to stand up to the totalitarian agenda of this radical right wing administration and majoprity in Congress!

midwestbouy, it is making me sick that W, Dick and Rummy are getting with the death of over 2000 young men and women in Iraq because of their utter incompetence!

The case against Senator Kennedy was decided by the courts over 25 years back. Grow up pal!

Re: Alito's CAT membership. As for not remembering and being active in organization, I was more concerned that he would pad resume for job with org. he knew nothing about and did nothing with. Question for hearing?

So poor Teddy had to stay up till 2 am looking for Judge Alito's name on CAP documents. Needed his shoes shined when he got out of their dumpster. Found ... nothing. Maybe if he needs to go back 20 years to find dirt on this man that is this trivial, he's actually a good choice. My guess is that if W nominated Teddy himself, Democrats would find fault. When you become, as you were for so long, a party of action, with decisive plans, instead of a party of hopeless whiners, you will be the ones nominating federal judges. Think about it.

I would like to urge all democrats in the senate to block Judge Alito from becoming a supreme court justice

I am a conservative democrat. I worked along with President Clinton's Steering Committee while he was in office. I do not whole hardidly beleive in abortion. I beleive the woman holds productive rights over her spouse to choose whether to have an abortion. I beleive that under the circumstances of having a baby to being life threatening or complications with the uterus should an abortion be allowed. In 1998, I thought I was pregnat and had a miscarriage and I still suffer. I beleive abortion is murder.
Replacing Judge O'Conner will be dificult. O'Conner was the woman's veto in feminist cases. Questions like these need to be addressed. Can he identify with feminist issues? Can Alito identify with feminist issues like O'Conner. What is his beleif to the death penalty? What is his belief on Civil Rights? What is opinion in effort to support civil liberties? What is his opinion to health issues such as aids? What are his veiws on war and the legislature? How does he confront the legislature with social issues we face in America and over seas? When Alito can confront the panel and sight his true beleifs in how he would come to handle these issues, then I beleive Americans can identify who Alito is as Supreme Justice on the Supreme Court. God Bless...

I am a conservative democrat. I worked along with President Clinton's Steering Committee while he was in office. I do not whole hardidly beleive in abortion. I beleive the woman holds productive rights over her spouse to choose whether to have an abortion. I beleive that under the circumstances of having a baby to being life threatening or complications with the uterus should an abortion be allowed. In 1998, I thought I was pregnat and had a miscarriage and I still suffer. I beleive abortion is murder.
Replacing Judge O'Conner will be dificult. O'Conner was the woman's veto in feminist cases. Questions like these need to be addressed. Can he identify with feminist issues? Can Alito identify with feminist issues like O'Conner. What is his beleif to the death penalty? What is his belief on Civil Rights? What is opinion in effort to support civil liberties? What is his opinion to health issues such as aids? What are his veiws on war and the legislature? How does he confront the legislature with social issues we face in America and over seas? When Alito can confront the panel and sight his true beleifs in how he would come to handle these issues, then I beleive Americans can identify who Alito is as Supreme Justice on the Supreme Court. God Bless...

Honestly, ladies and gentlemen, this self-righteous garbage is the reason that independents, such as myself, are continually forced to vote, primarily, for Republicans. I might add, I fully realize that Republicans are not my friends. Tonight's news reports indicate that Kennedy belonged to a club, while in college, that formally excluded women. Has he forgotten, or is he just a hypocrite. Or did he just make an ill-advised choice a long time ago. He apparently has forgotten, surely he is not dishonest or hypocritical. I watched the good Senator attempt to harpoon Alito over his association with an exclusionary group. He just didn't remember, right?Right?

watchbear,

I hear what you're saying (on the independent bit too), but on the substance, does what Ted did really matter here? I mean, he may well be a hypocrite or it just may be that he belonged to something similar to a fraternity (just as sororities exclude men).

I think there's a big difference between joining a fraternity or non-coed social organization and being part of an organization that works to completely exclude women and minorities from institutions of higher learning.

But even if he is a hypocrite, I think we have to be careful to not let our natural human response to self-righteousness cloud our judgement regarding what's at stake here. i.e. it doesn't make Alito any better for this country if Ted's a hypocrite.

Either way, I still contend that the Democrats wasted time on that line of questioning. Of course it's hugely important, but they made little headway and just came off as whining and fishing. They should've focused more on issues like executive power, wiretapping and civil liberties.

Maybe even could've scored some points by implying he'd check Congress's power by deferring to the president. Worth a shot.

I saw this poem today written by Tarzana Joe at tarzanajoe.com. It surely speaks of people like Biden who took up 26 minutes of his 30 minutes of question and answers by talking and talking and talking and talking. Rather pontificating, and pontificating.

Q&A

by Tarzana Joe

Welcome Judge, your honor

To our little tete a tete

We’re really pleased to have you

On hand with us today

I have several thousand questions

That I want to put to you

So that if you join the SCOTUS

I’ll know what you will do

My questions are important

Listen—and you’ll find--

That every word I utter

Reveals what’s in your mind

I’ve been thinking since I met you

Of some hypotheticals to test

So the folks who watch on C-span

Would see me at my best

And frankly I’m just puzzled

By the answers that I’ve heard

I’ve been speaking for an hour

And you haven’t said a word

I hope you don’t mind me having

Um, having my little say

But to use a baseball analogy

Rome wasn’t built in a day

Now let’s get down to business

The public needs to know

On every vital issue

Which way your vote will go.

I’ve devised a tricky question

From which my genius you’ll infer

I see your wife behind you

When did you stop beating her?

Heh-heh, I thought that I could trap you

But you wouldn’t take the bait

I thought that you might drop your guard

While I pontificate

And I’m frankly disappointed

By the way you’ve kept your head

And I don’t believe a word of

Everything you haven’t said.

Don’t think that you’ve convinced me

Don’t think that it’s been fun

Thank you judge for coming

I see my time is done

Come on, Libs - SPARE ME. You're just a bunch of sore-sport, crybabies who can't BUY an election - although I bet Teddy Kennedy would still try. Of course, you would take defeats even in the GWOT if that would put your buddies in to office.

Judge Alito will make a GREAT Justice, and that concerns you, as it does Teddy, The Swimmer. Alito is not a liberal who can be bought. Of course, having activist judges are the ONLY way the corrupt DNC can try to make law today, because they're so out of touch with the mainstream. Ask John Dean to yell about that one...oh, I love to hear your defeatist Chairman talk, but he IS the Dems-KOOK Mainstream...

Of course, you guys still have perky Katie Couric, Matt Lauer, Al Franken, Chris Matthews, ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN News...most of all the liberal-slanted media. Thank GOD for FOX News, which is a great source of irritation to you, isn't it? :)

Alito will do great things, the GOP will GAIN seats, and you libs will LOSE even more. I'm SO looking forward to the Election years to come. Oh, yes...BRING ON "BILLIARY." Dr. Rice, someone who IS much smarter, will clean her clock!

J. CAREY
U.S. ARMY

Tarzana Joe at tarzanajoe.com. & Happyonahorse...Good words.

The Dems are a-crying. Wahhhhhhhh!

Bring on the Fillibuster, Losers, and watch the Nuclear Option take over!

I LOVE hearing Dean in his crybaby mode...

J. Carey,

I consider myself in the middle, so I don't take your comment as aimed at me.

But, I do think it's interesting that you refer to dems buying government, given the widespread Abramoff scandal currently sweeping through the Republican party.

Both sides have displayed "ethical issues". The Repubs are just the most recent to get caught.

My point is that I don't think we should be blinded by partisanship on either side. Lobbying, PACS, special interests, etc. are completely out of control and threaten our democracy.

Who cares about this? Democrats allowed the debate to be shaped by such trivial minutae, such as CAP or whether he Alito would emulate O'Connor. Alito's ability to answer questions adroitly does not qualify him. Membership in CAP is meaningless. The fundamental issue is that his record as a judge is repugnant to free thinking people, and rudderless Democrats entertained him instead of rejecting him by that measure. The result, after four days of chitty-chat, is that we are about to give birth to the Republicans' long-gestated plan of a reactionary Supreme Court.

I hope the few pro-choice republicans and the idiot gay/lesbian republicans finally realize what the closet cases at the White House and RNC have brought OUR country to with Alito nearly confirmed. THERE ARE NO PRO CHOICE OR GAY FRIENDLY REPUBLICANS! Rove, Mehlman, McClellan, Drierer, Mark Foley thanks guys you set the LGBT movement back 40 years, hope those closets of yours have strong doors for your sakes, cuz brothers we are going to make sure you suffer just as we will suffer. I will REMEMBER any Democrat supporting Alito, and they'll NEVER get my vote or donations again.

Looking at the comments made by various Senators of both parties, it seems to me that everyone is missing the obvious deficit in Alito. The only reason that Alito is not qualified to be a Supreme Court Justice is that has admitted to be a liar. I can't understand why our Senators refuse to see this point. Alito is not a decent and honorable man and should not be confirmed. It does not matter whether your a republican or a democrat, Alito's actions in applying for a Reagan job and as an appeals judge show that he will lie to serve his own selfish ends. How can any rebuplican want this man to be on the highest court of the land?
Our democratic party Senators missed a golden oppurtunity to impeach his testimony by pointing out his lies and self-serving comments. It doesn't matter that Alito said nothing about his political views with respect to the law. He either lied on his job application in 1985 about his membership in CAP, or he lied to the committee this last week. If he wasn't a member, as he tried to infer at first, than he only put in on the 1985 application to get hired by a conservative Justice Department. If he was a member, as he said on the 1985 application, than he lied to the committee by saying he had no recollection of ever being a member of CAP. His lie is evident, whether he is a bigot or not. Alito can't have it both ways, either he was a member of CAP or not. Thus, he is lying now or in 1985.
Now, he says he was, maybe, a member to get the ROTC back on campus. Yet, he didn't "remember" it until it was suggested to him a few days after he said he could not remember being a member of CAP. Alito says he has no racist or bigoted opinions about minorities and women. But, he might have joined an openingly bigoted organization to gain something he desired to see happen, the return of the ROTC on the Princeton campus? This goes to show he is willing to compromise those ethical values he professes to have for the mere personal satisfaction of his own selfish desires. Alito has no moral fiber and just agrees with whomever he is speaking with. He showed that he has no orginal thought or opinion and is ill-suited to be a Justice of the Supreme Court.
Now, his supporters say he had an outstanding career as a appeals judge. However, there again he showed he has no moral fiber and his promises are worthless and anything he says should be distrusted. He promised the Senate in 1990 he would recuse himself from any dealings with the mutual fund he has investments in. Yet, when such a matter came across his bench, he not only refused to uphold his solemn oath and promise to the Senate but ruled in the mutual fund's favor, enriching his financial position. If it was so important for him to retain his mutual fund position when being confirmed in 1990, why could he not remember his solemn promise over such a critical matter of his life? It might have been ten years since his promise was given, but is there an expiration date concerning oaths given to the American people? Alito's actions and words have shown he is a highly selfish person who conveniently forgets his promises when they become a hinderance to him.
Alito is a liar and an oath breaker. Any Senator that confirms such a person to the People's Supreme Court should be ashamed of themselves and consider resigning. How can anyone say that Alito is an honest and ethical judge or person? He has openly expressed his lies and self-serving demeanor for all to see. If the Senate can't see the lies that Alito is spewing out than our country is in serious trouble. Every senator that believes in the Constitution should do everything in their power to prevent Alito from becoming a Justice. Also, Congress should impeach and remove Alito as a federal judge. This obvious liar has no place in a court of law and the longer such persons remain in our courts the more trouble they will cause and the more the People will suffer under their unethical actions.

Senator Edward "Cape Cod Orca" Kennedy really looked like a fool during the hearings. This is the last person in the world who should be questioning a person's morality.

Judge Sam Alito has never gotten drunk driven off a bridge and killed someone. Then lied to cover it up.

Even the New York Times the biggest left wing rag in this country could not find anything dirty on Sam Alito.

All of the Lib Senators had their cute little pocket copies of the US Constitution. Maybe the next time they are on national tv they should try and read it as well instead of using it as a prop.

The Constitution asks for Advise and Consent on nominees not slandering and making personal attacks to the point where you make his wife cry.

And just one more thought for all you Libs. The only reason that the Republicans have control of Congress, the White House, and now apparently the courts is because they win elections.

Let me get this straight. Kennedy, who as recently as a year or so ago updated his membership in the Owl Club at Harvard. That club was kicked of MANY years ago for being sexist. So in short, Harvard says they are dirtbags. Kennedy then wants to ask Alito about CAP which was about 30 years ago.

Do you guys get why we all think you are hypocrites?

So when we are all in college and say stupid things (which we all do) (ala the Citadel, VMI, etc) should we then be told that when we are 50 we are still stuck to those ideas? If that is so, then all of you who said you did some dope in college are still drug users. Think about it and stop your constant whining and sniveling.

ohpaulva,

Well put. I second that. Actually, I first it and now third it.

Is Judge Alito a conservative? Yes.
Was he nominated by a sitting U.S. President? Yes.
Will he be confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate? Yes.
Will he vote, along with other sane SCOTUS judges, to overturn years of asinine, unconstitutional rulings? Yes.
Is there anything the whining, lying Democrats can do about it? No.
I sincerely hope the Dems filibuster Judge Alito. Maybe the Republicans will finally show some backbone and end that little charade once and for all.
If the Dems want to nominate liberal judges, then win the next presidential election. Until then, whine away while watching judge after judge after judge be confirmed.
Welcome to a new day. It's going to be fun.

Republicans don't have the cajonnes to pull the nuclear option, because they know when Democrats clean their clocks in 2006, we'll use the same option they ushered into the Senate.
Diane Feinstien is a coward, and if Alito becomes a Supreme Court Justice, I'll REMEMBER her not supporting a filibuster, the day Roe vs. Wade, and Lawrence vs. Texas are overturned!

AProudRepublican

got your indictment yet?
dumped your Abramoff money yet?
going to lose the next two elections?.....oh yeah!

underbear1

I see you don't deny the crux of my post so I'll take it that you concede my points.

If Republicans broke the law with Abramoff may they, along with any Democrats who did the same thing, be indicted, convicted, and sit in a federal prison.

It is purely wishful thinking that the Dems are going to re-take the Senate, the House, or the White House anytime soon. The American people have it figured out and have denied any Democratic presidential candidate a majority vote since 1976. Thirty years!!! What in the world is the Democratic Party going to do to change that? Delay, obfuscate, whine, point fingers? What? Eventually one has to be for something and say something positive but I sure haven't seen a sign of that. Don't say there's nothing positive to say because you know deep down that's not the truth. I am a Republican but I have always been in favor of a strong, POSITIVE Democratic Party. When one political party becomes too strong the temptation to cram laws down everyone's throats is just too strong. I don't trust any politican, Democrat or Republican, with that much power.
So how are you going to remember Sen. Feinstein when Judge Alito is confirmed? Are you going to vote for her Republican opponent next election or are you going to vote for a Third-Party candidate?
When Clinton was President he nominated judges that weren't filibustered. Card-carrying ACLU member Ruth Bader-Ginsburg was confirmed 98-0. Do you actually believe that each and every Republican senator thought she was going to be an impartial, middle of the road justice? No, but those senators understood that the POTUS got to nominate judges of his choice and they gave him that courtesy, which is more than the Dems have done.

Democrats in the 21st Century: Crying, Complaining, Plotting...Meeting in the Backrooms and trying to find their "Message." Question: Is Bubba still trying to find his legacy?

Both the Dems and Bubba can find it in a seedy hotel room somewhere...so can Dean.

DownTheMiddle:

I thank you for your thoughtful concerns, and understand your responses, but I'm tired of the President Bush & the GOP being attacked on the GWOT, and the War In Iraq, when Clinton, DNC did nothing but bomb a couple of buildings and kill janitors. (No, this talk is NOT aimed at you, but at those in this blog who don't know any better, or who are ignoring facts).em>

The personal attacks on Judge, and soon to be, JUSTICE Alito, and left his wife in tears. Liberal AP News tried to blame that on Sen Graham, and NOT on DNC Cohorts and upstanding role models like "Driving & killing under the influence, Racial clubber Teddy Kennedy" and Chucky "let's not violate Civil Rights unless I want to dig up dirt on someone" Shumer (SP).

Now we want to talk about the scandal. This one might have more GOP members, and they should be ASHAMED. I see Dingy Harry Reid on this list, too, as well as other Dems, so they're NOT clean on this one, either.
GOP should be above this, though, and the rules should get tougher. But, do we kill lobbying all together? Not so sure...both sides are guilty, but DNC is trying to turn this into "yet another GOP scandal," and I think the public is tired of hearing about it. Again. That's all DNC is good for these days, like little dogs (Pelosi), nipping at the heals of people walking in the house.
GOP will, again, come out on top in 2006 AND 2008. Billiary can't win, not if Dr. Rice runs. Dr. Rice is much more accomplished than Sen. Clinton, who's just another liberal feminist NAG in the Senate. Dr. Rice, besides her vast education, has been National Security Advisor, and is now Secretary of State. Billiary couldn't even get a Dem-controlled Congress to sign off on her health-care debacle when she was First Lady. Let's not forget her being the Only First Lady to have to appear before the Grand Jury, like her Impeached Man.

Dr. Rice is very accomplished, and she is a Black American who has done this in the GOP. The DNC and libs are still the racist ones - how many Black Americans were in Bubba's cabinet? GOD Bless America, President Bush, Our Brave Fighting Men and Women, and GOD Bless the GOP!
J. CAREY
U.S. ARMY
(Proud to Serve)

So lets get this straight, none of these RNC workers that post on this board are worried about next election or all these good friends of Bush and Cheney being indicted and probably rolling over to save their a**. Why are they here? You don't need propaganda when things are going your way. Bush hitting the road all of a sudden, the propaganda machine going at full throttle. I'd say they are plenty worried.

I certainly hope that the Democrats filibuster Alito. He has two serious character flaws. Regardless of what you think of Kennedy or any of the other senators, this is a LIFETIME appointment, for a 1 of 9 seat on the SUPREME COURT.

1) Neglecting to recuse himself when promising to under oath means that he can not be trusted to avoid conflicts of interest. This is a serious threat to the integrity of the court.

2) His views on unitary executive power are radical and in direct contrast to the articles of the consitution which explicitly provide for the separation of powers. He is unwilling to uphold even the most basic and obvious tenets of the constitution.

Just to repeat: The legislative branch writes law, not the executive branch. The judicial branch should have no interest in the individuals surrounding a case, only in the case itself.

Alito FAILS MISERABLY

Now lets see of those trash talking CONs care to refute that.

I certainly hope that the Democrats filibuster Alito. He has two serious character flaws. Regardless of what you think of Kennedy or any of the other senators, this is a LIFETIME appointment, for a 1 of 9 seat on the SUPREME COURT.

1) Neglecting to recuse himself when promising to under oath means that he can not be trusted to avoid conflicts of interest. This is a serious threat to the integrity of the court.

2) His views on unitary executive power are radical and in direct contrast to the articles of the consitution which explicitly provide for the separation of powers. He is unwilling to uphold even the most basic and obvious tenets of the constitution.

Just to repeat: The legislative branch writes law, not the executive branch. The judicial branch should have no interest in the individuals surrounding a case, only in the case itself.

Alito FAILS MISERABLY

Now lets see of those trash talking CONs care to refute that.

"I just said that to get a job."

Feinstein asked Alito to explain the difference between his position on abortion now and in 1985, when he strongly advocated getting rid of Roe in a letter to the Reagan Administration. Alito's response? "I just said that to get a job."

Well, Judge Alito, aren't you in line for a much more prestigious job now? Why should I believe anything you say?

And by the way, dear Republican trolls, your hero just admitted to lying to the Reagan administration.

OK. Diane Feinstein, Senator of California has said she won't support a filibuster of Alito.

After reading on Salon, it turns out that:

Olympia Snowe, Senator of Maine, doesn't support a filibuster.
4 other Republican Senators in the "gang of fourteen" that kept the filibuster alive last summer with a compromise don't support a filibuster.

So, Salon concludes, Diane and others are afraid to filibuster for fear the Republicans will "go nuclear" and take away the filibuster forever.

As one Salon reader responded: what's the point of having the filibuster then? Either you have the right to filibuster or you don't. If you have to shrink from using it every time the majority party gets peeved, then, obviously, you'll never use it. The whole point of the filibuster is that you're blocking something the majority party *wants*. Hence, they will inevitably get peeved.

My response: So it's all up to Olympia Snowe, her junior senator whose name I always forget, Lincoln Chafee, and a couple other moderate Republicans? As these five go, so goes the nation? The entire Democratic party watching them to see how they jump, waiting for these five (or seven) "moderate" Republicans to tell them whether or not they're *allowed* to filibuster?

What was I fighting for last summer? Unpaid political work for the Democrats in evangelical North Florida isn't fun (usually). Why did I bother to do the work?

Are the Democrats going to be cringing in fear forever? because, if so, all of us who don't like Bush's "America" have some hard choices ahead.

TUG,
I'm not an RNC worker, just a guy who tends to comment when people are acting stupidly or are being hypocrites. I notice that the "lion of the democratic party" Kennedy recently dropped out of the Owl Club stating something to the effect that had he known what they were about he never would have given money. OK, I'll take him at his word, so he should do the same for Alito.

As for the Bush haters, you are the same as the Clinton haters. Both were presidents and duly elected (don't rehash the 2000 elections or I'll remind you that Clinton never had more than about 37% of the vote). Get over the hatred and the bashing. Do you really think a guy made up a was just to do it? Yeah, we Republicans (and I am one) just want to destroy the earth, make war, bla bla bla. If you really believe that, then the problem in in your mirror. God forbid somebody disagree with you.

The DNC plan for stopping terrorists was......... Ah yes, the same plan that brought us the nuclear reactor in N Korea.

Work with the current situation and just quit your whining. It gets old.

i am very upset with ted kennedy. he, and rightfully so, grilled alito regarding belonging to a group that was against women and minorities, and then we find out that ted belonged to a similar group at harvard.....we, as democrats, have to be better than this. i know we all have our demons to fight and skelletons in our closet, but people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones......
i'm a lifelong democrat, and always will be. but this type of behavior is wrong and needs to be addressed by our party. why give the party of the rich and well connected corporations the ammunition to make our party look bad?
is our family name and reputation worth so little as a fistfull of green paper?

the democrats need to fillibuster alito. this country cannot afford to have alito given a lifetime job on the highest court. the court has shown its right leaning position when they upheld the right of a city to seize by emminent domain a private individuals property and give it to a private corporation for development. the reason was more income in taxes was able to be collected for a strip mall than a private, run down home.
what has this country turned into.
the next thing we'll be seeing is the gulf coast seized to build the next vacation land for the rich. harrah's of las vegas is already proposing to build two new casinos there. they'll be ready when the rich take over new orleans.
they don't need to spend monies on any poor black folks down there. let them go elsewhere to exist.

what good bible toting christians we now have in the whitehouse......
p.s.
please read jimmy carters book about our changing values.....it rings true.
god bless you president carter.....

sick of bush administration taking from the poor and sick and disabled.

sick of bush administration taking from the poor and sick and disabled.

Kennedy is not the point. Alito and his anti-Constitutionalist attitudes is the point. His appointment needs to be fought tooth and toenail. that's the bottom line. If it isn't, we may not have much of a constitution left.

People would remember things like their own membership in a racist, sexist group like CAP. Especially a guy like Alito who I saw in the confirmation hearings quoting, without notes, complex legal cases in stunning detail to impress the senators. He lied to the Senate. Alito proves the reality of Selective Memory Syndrome.

The very fact that the religious right is supporting Alito convinces me that he's given them compelling assurances of his loyalty.

Democrats seems to be afraid to use the filibuster because of the Republican "nuclear option" threat to eliminate the filibuster itself. If not for the issue of the swing vote in the Supreme Court at a time where abortion rights, church-state separation, torture of suspects, and unwarranted spying upon citizens are all at stake, then WHAT IS THE FILIBUSTER BEING SAVED FOR?

This is an historic watershed, a true test of the Democratic Party. I'm a long-time Democrat, but I will never again support my Senators Feinstein or Boxer if they don't use all the ammo they have to defeat Alito.

No filibuster, no vote!

I don't like CAP. But at this moment, I don't really give a shit about it--or about what organizations Ted Kennedy belongs to.

As robilefox said, we should condemn Alito b/c he has admitted to lying about the most sensitive judicial issue of our time, because he would not recuse himself from a case dealing with a company in which he owned hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stock, and because he believes George Bush has the right to throw us in jail indefinitely--just because he says so and he's the Commander-in-Chief.

Funny, thought that gave him authority over the military--are we a military state now? Every citizen George Bush's soldier?

I don't think so.

Filibuster him, people. Filibuster him. Stop trying to distract me with other issues. FILIBUSTER HIM.

If the Democratic leadership in the Senate doesn't hold their ground and defeat this nomination by whatever means, Democrats need seriously to look at new leadership. Just talk and speech making is not enough. This is too crucial a nomination; leadership have to go beyond mere speech making!

The issue with Alito is much bigger than abortion. The issue is of privacy rights, individual rights, civil rights and the scope and boundary of executive powers.

If filibuster is the nuclear option, then by all means NUKE 'EM!!!! Hoooah!!!

Dear Democratic Senators,

Please don't filibuster. Please. If you don't filibuster you're going to irritate your base and they're not going to vote for you. I don't know who in the hell they're going vote for but it's not going to be you. Hmm, maybe they'll vote for your Republican challenger or maybe the Libertarian candidate or the Communist Party candidate or the Green Party candidate. Hey, maybe they won't vote at all! Yeah, that'll show you. That'll be an excellent way to punish you spineless Senate Democrats. The rank-and- file will withhold the vote and let someone else take your seat. Wow, we should've thought this strategy up years ago.

Sincerely,

Republicans

George Bush's strategy for revenge on Bin Laden is becoming very clear to all of us. Let him live to be very old. Bush can't catch him so why don't he make a deal with Bin Laden and call that a new strategy. Most of us call it a colossal failure.

You WILL filibuster him, son of Jorel!

If Democrats won't fight to filibuster Scalito, they may as well just stay home this session, Bush/Cheney will have their impeachment proof Supreme Court. There will be nothing to dampen the powers Cheney will sieze for his imperial presidency. An annoying Republican thinks we might sit out races, that won't happen. What will happen is Progressive kick-ass Democrats will run in primaries against DINOs like Lieberman, Landrieu, Feinstien,and Nelson.When feminist women fought for reproductive choise, and gays/lesbians fought for repeal of Sodomy laws, we didn't fight those battles so decades later some spineless "democrat" gives back all our hard won gains.Either fight or GO HOME!

If Democrats won't fight to filibuster Scalito, they may as well just stay home this session, Bush/Cheney will have their impeachment proof Supreme Court. There will be nothing to dampen the powers Cheney will sieze for his imperial presidency. An annoying Republican thinks we might sit out races, that won't happen. What will happen is Progressive kick-ass Democrats will run in primaries against DINOs like Lieberman, Landrieu, Feinstien,and Nelson.When feminist women fought for reproductive choise, and gays/lesbians fought for repeal of Sodomy laws, we didn't fight those battles so decades later some spineless "democrat" gives back all our hard won gains.Either fight or GO HOME!

typo choise=choice

"God bless Jimmy Carter"? Are you kidding? The guy who made my first car loan 19 percent? The guy who left hostages in Iran for 444 days?

Filibuster Alito if you want to, but it will just prove what hypocrites you are. Was Ginsburg filibustered? No.

The democratic party is truly a bunch of no strategy, no plan, whimps who complain about the "evil Bush empire" and simply cannot fathom that people disagree with them.

You want to talk about the constitution? Please show me where it says that you have a right to an abortion. I personally think that a woman should make that call, and that the government has no place in the mix (for or against), but that does not mean that it is a constitutionally protected right. It isn't.

How does it feel to be about a month from 6-3 votes which will overturn the mess left to us by 40 years of Democratic control of Congress and a activist judiciary?

You guys just don't get it. As an independent, I believe the best reason to vote Republican continues to be the actions of the Democrats.

The bullying tactics, the use of the flimsiest of 'facts' to try to impugn a good man was a disgrace. The Alito hearings proved Judge Alito will be a good, thoughtful Supreme Court justice and the cabal of Kennedy, Schumer, and Durbin merely a pitiful group of Senatorial thugs.

You still have no plan to move ahead; no ideas for the future of this country, just bully tactics and abject resistance to any and all plans to improve the business climate thru reduced taxes, to save Social Security thru Private Savings Accounts, to opening up the medical mess by giving people the freedom to control their own costs thru Health Savings Accounts and the continued protection of America thru a reasoned and legal monitoring of contacts between those terrorists who happened to be in the US and their foreign controllers.

You continue to be phenominally weak on National Security, favoring capitulation over strong action. It's shameful. And it has hurt you in a big way. No one will ever trust you to protect America from the zealots who have pledged themselves to martyrdom in order to destroy our way of life. Get a spine already.

The liberal base of the Democratic Party has way too much say in how you conduct business. You're losing the vast majority of Americans who have good common sense and are begging for a reasonable leader from anyone out there.

Phenomenally weak on national security?

You must be talking about the guy who stayed on vacation while Bin Laden planned an attack that killed 3,000 of us--even though he had a memo telling him "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Targets Within U.S." Who sat around reading a kid's book while the attack was going on. Who let Bin Laden escape from Afghanistan, calling our troops back when they had him cornered. Who still hasn't caught him. Who stonewalled the 9-11 investigation. Who still hasn't protected our nuclear power plants or our ports. Who has driven everyone out of the CIA except those who tell him exactly what he wants to here.

3,000 dead--not on our watch. You ran the executive branch. The Commander-in-Chief is supposed to protect the nation. He had the knowledge necessary to do so. He sat on his hands.

The worst attack on the continental U.S. since the war of 1812 happened on your watch. How dare you point the finger.

By the way, who wants to capitulate? Bring me Bin Laden's head on a pole if you want to. I've got nothing against it. You're the ones who decided a three-year side trip to Iraq was a dandy idea.

Ginsburg wasn't out to change the Constitution. Alito wants to destroy it. His judicial track record shows he supports executive branch supremacy, with no checks and balances between the three branches of government, which our Founding Fathers wrote into the Constitutiion. He has no love for the rights of the common people which is in the Constitution, and which comes from English common Law, and the Magna Charta, which goes back much farther than that.
Alito's model of government seems to be based on the Napoleonic Code, Germany under Hitler, and the legal models of many third-world dictatorships.
The Democrats would be horribly malfeasant if they do not filibuster Alito, and try to pressure any Republicans who might have a conscience or a regard for the Constitution of the United States to join them.