Official Alito Committee Hearing thread 2

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Thread 1
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x224640

[Coexist]

1. Feinstein up!

"the basic understanding is that its a free country and the right to be left alone" - Roberts

now discussing how he voted far right after that statement.

"personal views DO play a role"

[Sydnie]

2. she needs to do the right thing and NOW! n/t

[quiet.american]

3. I agree. She's said she'll vote no, but won't filibuster.

:shrug:

[Coexist]

4. I'm trying very hard to take a 'wait-and-see' attitude

she is laying out a pretty good argument against Alito.

[Freddie Stubbs]

25. Niether will Kennedy

[rodeodance]

5. 'restricted view of Congressional authority"--(Alito defers to Exc.branch)

[rodeodance]

6. I missed Kohl of WI--but heard he did well.

[Wordie]

9. They all are doing an outstanding job. eom

[rodeodance]

11. thanks --glad to hear this.

[rodeodance]

10. I heard Hatch today saying Dems always put the focus on abortion. He

and other repugs--and newscasters have done the same. but listen to these Dems--abortion is not the primary focus.

[rodeodance]

14. glad to see she is talking of abortion though (so so many import issues).

[Wordie]

7. She is making excellent points. Roberts made a promise, then broke it.

He told the Judiciary Committee one thing, then promptly voted just the opposite. Obviously, the concern is that Alito will do the same. Excellent that she brought this up!

[Coexist]

8. Yes - because that it the Republican's main argument.

This is the second time it has been brought up.

[Wordie]

13. Good point on how things have changed in last 10 years, and that's why

we need to take a closer look at Alito's views on constitutional issues. Repubs, in supporting Alito, have repeatedly brought up how Ginsberg was allowed not to answer those sorts of questions. She has a very good point there. Good for her!


With these well-laid out concerns, how could she not support a filibuster?

[Skidmore]

12. You know what is making me very angry at the moment?

How many times have we given feedback to people like Feinstein and asked them to represent this party, and they IGNORED us. I don't want handwringing from them after they've acquiesced to go to an illegal war, done nothing about voter rights or fraud, sold women out, sold our rights out. The next person that whines that they are in the minority will get a slap back from me. When they weren't in the minority, they ignored the fights that needed to be fought. They were not vigilant.

[rodeodance]

16. I think so so many are trying to do the right thing. I give them credit.

[Wordie]

22. I second that. This isn't the time to offer a critique, when they are

doing such a great job.

[Surya Gayatri]

15. "Very concerned about the inpact

Alito would have on women's rights". Feinstein

[rodeodance]

17. considering how often they bring up womens rights and foreign countries

you would think the Repugs were concerned about this issue. dah!!!

[annabanana]

18. She's said she won't vote for him...

but will she FILBUSTER? That's the question for Dems now.

[Surya Gayatri]

19. "Fundamental right to liberty in question

with this nominee" DF

[goclark]

23. Please Diane, get a spine and keep it please ~ I called

her office yesterday!

Call, please!

[Shortyfuse]

53. Ok then Call Ben Nelson today

The Nebraska jerk is voting for Alito. This is not a surprise after looking at his voting record. I have better Democrats in my back yard.

[Wordie]

59. Hey, welcome to DU, Shortyfuse! You join us at a historic moment. eom

[Shortyfuse]

80. Thanks

Thanks, I have become real political since I retired( lost job to overseas) I can see now why we are in such a mess. However I think it will take a lot more than this old gray haired Democrat to change things. I hope that the young people are more alert than I was. Please use larger and bolder font.

[adigal]

112. Run for local office

and then you can be employed in a way that makes our country a better place than before.

[Surya Gayatri]

26. "Slither" Sessions up now...

"Disappointed that Harry Reid has asked his Dem colleagues to vote "No"! Go Harry !!!!!

[Sydnie]

34. Doesn't he remind you of the blonde kid villain from

Harry Potter? That's what I envision that character to be when he grows up! Sessions! :rofl:



Separated at birth?

[Surya Gayatri]

54. Yes!!!! Draco Malfroy in middle age!!!! eom

[annabanana]

20. Sessions is such an ass

' ol flappy eared ignoramus

[annabanana]

24. "all his fellow judges"

all part of the Federalist Society, no doubt.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

27. Did he steal his statement from Kyl?

same damn thing he said.

they keep bringing up the ABA rating (cause it's all they've got) ... but nothing about the other groups that said he was not qualified.

[TahitiNut]

33. They admire the ABA ONLY when it serves their agenda.

They didn't admire it with Thomas and Junior threw them out of the nomination process. Complete hypocrisy.

[TahitiNut]

28. He's one of the most intellectually dishonest Senators I've ver seen.

He prostitutes his (limited) skills constantly and is completely lacking any open-mindedness.

[Skidmore]

32. Intellectual and Sessions do not belong in the same sentence together.

[Surya Gayatri]

35. He just looks like such a backwoods throwback...

Reminds me of something out of the film "Deliverance"!!

[Greeby]

21. oops, wrong wingnut

nevermind

[Wordie]

29. The Republicans keep confusing personal likeability with judicial

appropriateness. Everyone apparently likes Judge Alito, but that really isn't the point of the hearings, is it?

And just because Alito hasn't offered ideological views in personal conversations, doesn't mean he doesn't have them! We have his record!

[annabanana]

31. lol. . . ."modest"

I suppose we should be delighted that he doesn't "go commando" under those robes, I guess.

[Skidmore]

30. A judge is not a politician according to Sessions.

Tell that to Scalia, Roberts, and Alito.

[Surya Gayatri]

39. Thank Gawd,

Sessions kept it short. SG

[TahitiNut]

40. Yeah. Sure. That's why they only support right wingers.

Fucking two-faced hypocrites! The political views of judges are the ONLY thing that matter to reichbots.

[ClayZ]

36. searching young girls ... shooting young boys...

OH well!:sarcasm:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

37. Feingold up!

[annabanana]

38. Yay... Feingold up. . . n/t

[Surya Gayatri]

42. Rah, Rah, Rah, Feingold's the man!!

"I must vote "NO". I have grave concerns how this nominee would rule on the application of the Bill of Rights in time of war."

[annabanana]

41. There's HIS "no"..

for their little list

[Surya Gayatri]

49. He is more deferential

than his Third Circuit Court colleagues. Recurring pattern in more than one dozen dissents, not once did he argue in favor of individual rights.

[Wordie]

43. The fact that so many Dems have voted for other nominees kinda

undermines the Republicans argument that it's all a partisan thing, doesn't it? I'm glad so many of the Dems are bringing that up. Although it's unlikely that it will penetrate too many RW heads.

[Surya Gayatri]

61. Yes, excellent argument

to support filibuster! SG

[annabanana]

44. the role as a critical check on executive power

brings up spying..
We may well need the Supreme Court to have th efinal word on this.. to tell the Executive that they have "gone too far"
His record shows he's regularly deferred, deferred, to the executive.

[annabanana]

45. Alito is VERY deferential...

more than his republican colleagues

[ClayZ]

46. Whoo Hooo... Fiengold v/s SPY

:woohoo:

[annabanana]

47. I think I'm in love... n/t

[Viva_La_Revolution]

50. back off! I saw him first!

:rofl:

hubba hubba

[annabanana]

62. lol. . . eom

[goclark]

52. Go Feingold! His spine is straight as an arrow!

Keep letting us know what's happening.

I can't bare to watch it.

[realFedUp]

48. Roberts v Alito

What were Russ's reasons for voting yes
on Roberts versus no on Alito...are they
that different to him?

[ClayZ]

58. He would be a DANGEROUS addition to the court!

Well said!

[realFedUp]

63. yeah, well I thought Roberts was and is a dangerous addition

to the court also. I just wondered what the difference
is to Feingold.

[mb7588a]

65. There are quite a few differences...

There's a huge difference in executive overreach...death penalty is very impt. to Feingold.

His floor statement on Roberts is here:
http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/statements/05/09/2005929CR.html

[realFedUp]

74. thanks, I'll read both statements. nt

[annabanana]

51. Justices should protect individual's liberty

He has inadequate appreciation of the norms of individual liberty

[Wordie]

55. Feingold describes Alito's responses as "practiced and opaque"...Great!

[annabanana]

56. He gratuitously raised issues

(even questioning whether the courts have any business in checking presidential power)

[Coexist]

57. Feingold is doing us proud, here.

[Wordie]

70. Every one of the Dems is doing us proud. They have done an excellent

job! Again, I just hope that a lot of this will make the msm.

[goclark]

86. WE must be the MSM on this ~ CNN is on their side

and so are all the others.

[annabanana]

60. calls him "dangerous"

also in Death Penalty cases...
he always voted against the inmates... significanlty more often than other judges...
his answers were chilling

all procedure..
Would not say that a prisoner, after having been proven innocent did not have the right to NOT be executed

[goclark]

64. Feingold said that? If so, he is my President! nt

[annabanana]

66. yes. he. did. 'dangerous'.... just like that

hot stuff, Feingold

[ClayZ]

72. The word "Dangerous" is still ringing in my ears.

He said it so well!!!!!!!!!

[Sydnie]

67. That is so outrageous!

He makes me cry hot angry tears!

[mb7588a]

Graham has been a cocky son of a bitch

in these hearings.

[Surya Gayatri]

69. "Record & testimony do not

give me the same reassurance as Judge Roberts--Alito wrote memo advocating chipping away at Roe V Wade. Will be inclined to narrow reproductive rights."

[mb7588a]

68. He's gonna nail him on ethics

in the Vangaard case.

Awesome. Thank you Russ.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

71. First one to bring that up, I think...

Unless I missed something.

[annabanana]

76. Biden just had to hop out to

catch a plane..left his proxy with Leahy

[Surya Gayatri]

73. "Concerns about conflicts of interest" eom

[Coexist]

81. The difference between the Republican and Democrat arguments

Dem: His record clearly shows his words do not match his deeds

Rep: I think he seems like a stand up guy.

Dem: He works to erode privacy rights

Rep: This one judge I spoke to likes him fine.

Dem: His decisions show a complete disregard for workers/woman's rights

Rep: This one black judge likes him.

Dem: His record reflects a pre-disposition to allow for unchecked presidential power.

Rep: You guys are obstructionists. George is my President - give him his way.

sigh....

[Viva_La_Revolution]

88. Excellent summary!!

[Coexist]

102. thanks - I was getting sick of the "he's so nice, don't be mean to him"

crap they were spouting ad nauseum.

[Wordie]

75. Feingold bringing up recusal issue. Good.

The point is that Alito promised to recuse, but did not. That he may be able to give reasons for not recusing later just isn't relevant. He broke his promise.

[Surya Gayatri]

82. Biden passes his proxy

to Leahy. Has to catch plane to Israel to monitor elections.

[Greeby]

77. Lindsey Graham up now

Anyone got tissues? :evilgrin:

[annabanana]

78. Graham up

[Viva_La_Revolution]

79. Graham now.... 2nd in slimyness to Sessions nt

[Surya Gayatri]

91. Engaging in usual

hyberbole and exaggeration--apologist down the line.

[in_cog_ni_to]

83. woohoo! They're all voting NO.....all our Democrats, that is.

NOW....will they filibuster? That is the question!

[Sydnie]

84. anyone need a kleenex for Graham?

[Coexist]

87. LOL!

"we'll clean your clock"

What a nasty little weasel.

[realFedUp]

96. I look forward to his loss in the next election

Clean the House and the Senate of rodents.

[Wordie]

98. Graham is creepy. Again trying to point out partisan issues.

But he just mentioned concerns that the war resolution being interpreted overly broadly by the President. Doesn't he get it? The Dems are concerned that Alito would support that overly broad interpretation!!!

Or are there certain partisan issues that are motivating Graham's vote?

[ClayZ]

85. He should say What did you expect bu$h to do when he stole the election?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

89. OMG! that statement about vanguard 'bothering you"

what an immoral little shit!

[Coexist]

93. "I have been party to some judicial politics myself, that I'm

not proud of" - but you are not allowed to because, what? now, I will not get my way????

WTF kind of argument is that?

[annabanana]

90. Graham is completely hoodwinked..

[Skidmore]

92. Why is Graham issuing threats in this committee?

[Surya Gayatri]

94. He should be called out on this...

menacing words--confrontational rhetoric.

[Surya Gayatri]

99. OMG

Did I hear this bastard just say "When Bush was CHOSEN President??????

[ClayZ]

97. He said " We'll Clean Your Clock"

They have dirtied up 5 years of my clock. THEY SHOULD clean it!

[Sydnie]

100. Not just this committee but to anyone that would dissent!

clean your clock? That's language of a statesman? Wonder how long before he regrets this "political" action in this vote, as he said he had done things before that he "probably shouldn't have done"?

[Skidmore]

103. Actually he issued more than one threat. The second

was more subtle. Can't recall the exact wording.

[Shortyfuse]

95. Lindsey Graham is a fool

Clean our clock. They are spending millions on Louisiana to change Sen. Landieus' vote according to a post on the state of Louisiana. Think I will call her office and Garhams alos.

[Surya Gayatri]

106. Schumer up

Talking risk of Alito doing away with "stare decisis".

[mb7588a]

107. Welcome to DU, shortyfuse.

:toast:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

110. Welcome to DU Shortyfuse!

[annabanana]

101. Schumer pounding him now..

(his NO is there for the list)

[Coexist]

105. Careful Chuck - Graham will "clean your clock"

:eyes:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

104. Thread 3 is up!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x225725

[Wordie]

108. Schumer: Alito's answers were "artful evasions and banalities" Terrific!

[annabanana]

109. Is it my imagination..

or does the "background crowd" look discomfited everytime a Dem speaks? It's as if they're hoping no one is listening..

[mb7588a]

111. Most of them are reporters.

So maybe :)

[marions ghost]

113. This whole presentation

of the opposing views of the committee really expresses the extreme schizophrenia of our present government. They inhabit two different worlds, two entirely different views of what is needed in this country.

Did any other Repugs speak out against Alito other than Specter?

[pinto]

114. Thread 3 is here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=225725&mesg_id=225725