If it wasn't my own fine Lord Biden of Delaware, going on and on about Princeton in a gibberish that bordered on juvenile, then it was Lord Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts getting it into his head that he was Chairman of the House of Lords' judiciary committee and calling for an unwarranted executive session.
Then we had Lord Schumer of New York declare unequivocally that Alito would overturn the beloved right to abortion so cherished by Schumer's supporters.
As he told Wolf Blitzer on CNN:
As you know I questioned him pretty hard on Roe v. Wade. I came to a conclusion that in all likelihood he would vote to overturn. That was increased this morning by Senator Durbin's questioning, made it — you know, it seemed even more so. And that's something that'll have to be weighed along with other issues.
For two grueling days, the Lords in their House questioned the Supreme Court nominee about what was basically nothing, yes nothing, nothing, and more nothing. Nothing at all.
It was about abortion and some little-known Princeton alumni organization that supposedly fought against the admission of minorities and women in that august institution. The "Concerned Alumni of Princeton" is the group and Alito was once a member. He had the audacity of listing his membership in that organization in a resume submitted in 1985.
Since when does our constitution call for the Lords, in their role of providing advice and consent for Supreme Court nominees, to consider every line in every resume ever submitted by a nominee to be the stuff of high drama?
A Supreme Court nominee should be a qualified jurist. He or she should come with recommendations from the Bar Association and should have a work history that's reasonably clean and steady. He or she probably shouldn’t have a criminal record. Supreme Court nominees really shouldn’t have to discuss cases on which they might rule in the future. I’m no judge but this smacks of common sense.
Article comments
1 - Baronius
The senators don't know history. The lone citizen being grilled by the Lords always becomes the hero. Senator McCarthy was exposed as a bully in that setting. Oliver North became a hero, or at least pulled out of his tailspin. Anita Hill ushered in the "Year of the Woman", her impact mitigated by the fact that Thomas had been throttled at the same location days before.
Twenty years from now, we'll look back on the reform of the confirmation process and remember the moment it began, with a wife in tears. Mark my words. Women everywhere "get it", and pundits don't: those are sure signs that something big is brewing.
2 - GoHah
Well said. I'm surprised that Durbin didn't ask if Alioto was a closet Nazi.
3 - gonzo marx
ok, correct me if i am way off here, but we are talkign about the vetting process of someone who is about to be Appointed for the rest of his Life to the Supreme Court of the United States?
as in, one of the elite who are never elected, but are going to Rule on Constitutional matters as an equal part of our 3 Branch Government
and the ONLY time this person is going to be interviewed, discussed, looked over and brought out for the entire Nation to see and try and get a handle on is when a single committe asks him some Questions and goes over his "resume"
are we all together on this still?
so, let me Ask...how is it NOT vitally Important for any such nominee to gladly sit and deal with this few hours of process in order to assure both the Senate (who are required to "advise and consent"...note the consent part) as well as the Nation's citizens of the Qualifications, temperment and ability to deserve to sit on that Bench
do i think some of the Questioning was silly and a waste of time...well yes...of course
do i think there are one helluva lot more Important things that should not only have been Asked, but Answered?
hell yeah
do i think it's going to matter in the End
fuck no
unAnswered questions notwithstanding, this gentleman is more than likely going to fill that Seat on the Bench
and only Time will tell the Wisdom of that decision...the sham of those hearings certainly did not
nuff said?
Excelsior!
4 - Aaman
Gonzo, you'll love this article from the WP:
5 - gonzo marx
excellent linkage Aaman, thanks for sharing!
i dunno, i listened to all of it on the radio at work, and i put the gist of it in my comment above
the linked Article lays out even more to think about
unfortunately, thinking about it is all we can do
and so It goes
Excelsior!
6 - Bing
Wow the hypocrites are out in full force.
During the Ruth Bader Ginsberg confirmation Joe Biden said that it is the nominee's right not to choose to answer any questions they want during the Senate hearings and he said he supported this right.
Biden went ont o vote for Ginsberg even though she did not answer any of the questions that have been asked of Alito and Roberts,
NOt a single Republican voted against Ginsberg.
Compare that to what the Dems are doing today to Alito.
Just shows how petty today's Dem leadership is.
They think they will win in the electiosn this year but they won't if they conduct themselves like this.
7 - Temple Stark
Bing you are assuming by ommission that the reverse isn't true. Bad assumption.
Your example is a clear one of hypocrisy, however. And from anyone, disgusting.
Judge hearings .. almost a complete waste of time.
8 - Bing
You referring to the "reverse" being the republicans winning Nov?
9 - Temple Stark
Compare that to what the Dems are doing today to Alito.
that part. ...
10 - Baronius
Aaman, that's an op-ed piece, not an article. Big difference.
11 - Bing
Yes.....and..........
What did the GOp do to Clinton's nominees Temple?
They surely didn't use baseless attempts to assassinate thier character.
I'm not sure what you're getting at.
12 - gonzo marx
well Bing..go and look at the record, over 200 of those nominees never even made it out of committe
compared to the what...10, that were shot down for Bush?
so, you are stating that a grilling...the ONLY grilling a SCOTUS nominee will EVER receive in his entire tenure (the one before Appointment) is somehow worse than systemically chopping off hundreds from even getting the CHANCE at sitting there and taking those Questions?
put the kool-aid down and bakc away slowly...take a deep breath, and then...
try harder
Excelsior!
13 - larry
in the past only only a cad would would make a women cry larry would