I just figured out why Bwana Bush bypassed Abu Gonzalez....

[whalerider55]

for the Supremes.

because Bertie is up to his short hairs in the NSA mess. Can't have that become a subject of Congressional Inquiry, in say, a nomination hearing.

it takes me a while, but i catch on.

and another thing. whassup up with this whole alito idea that the president can reinterpret thje meaning and intent of a law by simply making a statement why he is signing it. Man, i'd love to see a strict constructionist court sink their teeth into that one. it's ridiculous.

i mean, what if he's plastered, and decides to sign a bill to fight alcoholism, and with a flourish (before he passes out) says something like...

"i'm signing this bill, with the full understanding that if i wanna drink and drive, there ain't squattie roo you can do with me when i'm commander in chief. Laura, git yer ass in the truck, we're gonna take a drive down main street and get us some armadillos. and screw y'all if ya think you can stop us."

it just makes no sense to me, there's no precedent. who cares what the presdient thinks- it's the congressional record of the debate and process in creating the bill that the courts turn to for intent.

lawdy. W is like the rosie ruiz of presidents, thinks he can take a cab to the finish line while everybody else does th heavy legislative lifting.

man, i am getting really tired of this.

whalerider

[MADem]

1. Awww, Georgie ain't like Rosie Ruiz!!!

If I recall, she took the T to the finish line!!! And he's just too damn important to take PUBLIC transportation!!!!! He'd call for the limo!

But I agree with your essential point--Alberto is up to his ass with this business--he was WH counsel when it all went down, and it's hard to scrub records when they are serialized and copies tucked away everywhere. Though it would have been high theater to see Arlen Specter bang the gavel and send the friken Supreme Court nomination process into CLOSED session (which he would have had to do!!). The tongue wagging...the leaking...the spinning...the spitting and fuming by the talking heads!!!

[aquart]

2. It's going to be a very leaky year.

Me, I asked Santa for indictments. And I want indictments for my birthday, and Valentine's Day, and Mothers Day and Fathers Day and the Fourth of July and Easter.

And Election Day.

[gratuitous]

3. I think there might be enough indictments to cover all those days

Don't forget Arbor Day.

[awoke_in_2003]

5. and don't forget

MLK day, president's day, flag day, secretaries day, and a whole bunch of other days.

[madeline_con]

4. Another one of Al's "accolades"...

Didn't he help out with the whole nasty business of redefining torture for the neocons' new rules on "enemy combatants" and all that?

Things like that could be embarrasing at a Supreme hearing.