Dianne Feinstein’s Opening Statement at the Alito Nomination Hearing

[kerrygoddess]

Dianne Feinstein’s Opening Statement at the Alito Nomination Hearing
January 9th, 2006

The following is the opening statement from Senator Dianne Feinstein at today’s Alito nomination hearings:

“I’m one who believes that your appointment is the pivotal appointment, and because you replace Sandra Day O’Connor, and because she was the fifth vote on 148 cases, you well could be a very key and decisive vote.

During these hearings, I think it’s fair for us to try to determine if your legal reasoning is within the mainstream of American legal thought and whether you will follow the law regardless of your personal views about the law. And since you have provided personal and legal opinions in the past, I very much hope that you will be straightforward with us, and share your thinking and legal reasoning with the Committee about individual constitutional rights as well as checks and balances between the branches of government.

I’d like to use my time to discuss some of my concerns.

I have very deep concern about the legacy of the Rehnquist Court and its efforts to restrict Congressional authority to enact legislation by adopting a very narrow view of several provisions of the Constitution, including the Commerce Clause and the 14th Amendment. This trend, I believe, if continued, would restrict, and could even prevent, the Congress from addressing major environmental and social issues in the future.

MORE - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1599

[ladjf]

1. But what about Alito's involvement in supporting the

unlimited power of the Presidency? That is the major question. Do we want to abandon the Constitution and become a fascist, military, theocratic dictatorship?

[Blutodog]

2. Agreed

More important then even Abortion as an issue is the rise of the Imperial Presidency highlighted to all of us by Bu$h's arrogant disregard for THE LAW and ultimately the Constitution in the NSA spying scandal. He really believes he is above the law and that he is beholden to noone not even the Constitution he swore to uphold with an oath. It now seems that since 9/11 he 's seen himself as a KING or a Dictator and Congress has abrogated it's Constitutional role to make the laws. I'd like to hear Judge Alito's views on Executive power before anything else. I suspect the one over riding reason Bu$hCo even considered this guy is his fealty to the belief in an Empire ruled by an Emperor named George W Bu$hCo et al.

[ladjf]

3. You are "right on the money". Let's hope that enough Americans

figure this out in time to influence the Senate.

[AntiCoup2K4]

4. You expect DiFi the war profiteer to worry about things like that?

Her husband's a defense contractor. She'll be happy if the entire PNAC agenda plays out exactly as they planned it.

[ladjf]

5. I used to think that she was one of our good ones. But, as you

have pointed out, she's just working for the money. I believe there is a word for that.

[leesa]

8. Exactly and she's all for a dictatorship of the rich and powerful. DLC!

[cascadiance]

6. After another "no comment" ruling on States Secrets today...

... Alito needs to be asked his opinion on how this law should be applied. We don't need yet another justice to harden the balance to cover up this administrations' misdeeds! Sterling also has had his case dismissed today too "without opinion" for potential violation of states secrets too. It really seems like the Supremes are now even more complicit rather than just avoiding this issue.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2031015&mesg_id=2031015

[Auntie Bush]

7. deleted

[fujiyama]

9. Why is it

I just don't trust anything that comes out of her mouth?