The Alito hearings: Someone explain to me: What's the point?

[ComerPerro]

Why does any of it matter? How is any of it relevant?

Why do we care?

The Democrats grill him and ask him the questions that need to be asked, the Republicans fawn over him and fawn over Bush.

And, Alito doesn't even have to answer the questions honestly, or even at all.

What difference does it make whether he responds to a question on an issue like abortion or presidential power if he just dodges the question, completely blows it off, or lies?

He can say one thing in this testimony and then once appointed go and do the exact opposite. What recourse would we have? He has a lifetime appointment.

And, besides, the Democrats already know if they are going to filibuster or not.

Plus, this "up or down vote" was cast as soon as Alito was nominated. We all know that he will be confirmed. The Republicans have the majority, and nothing that we could draw out of Alito could possibly get them to change their minds, especially since he is under no obligation whatsoever to answer fully or even honestly.

So why bother with the charade? And why give it attention?

Help me understand why we are so content to just go through the motions.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Public relations

both sides are wanting to sound Alito out mainly so that the people know where he stands. I would think that some of his answers, especially those on the imperial presidency and conflict of interest, would be topics a Senator who filabusters could bring up in the home district this fall. It will be hard for the right wing to say the only reason the Dems are filabustering is abortion, which is a wedge issue. Standing up for individual rights will play well with a lot of folks, including disgruntled republicans who are not liking what Bush is doing.

[ComerPerro]

2. Yeah, but that's assuming he answers even remotely truthfully

which I am certain he has no intention of doing, when it comes to his beliefs that make him seem extreme.

All it seems to be doing is making the Democrats look "mean", and giving Alito unlimited opportunity to seem calm, rational, well-mannered, and moderate. Its just an opportunity for the GOP to "catapult the propaganda".

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

17. I don't think so

People around where I live are very worried about an imperial presidency and are interested in Alito's answers, not his demeanor.

[ComerPerro]

18. Yeah, but the thing is, who cares what he says when questioned

about presidential power. He is going to be very careful to avoid saying anything that will raise red flags.

But, once he gets confirmed, he can do whatever he wants. He isn't held accountable to how he answered these quesitons.

Hell, the whole basis of his testimony yesterday, if I understood correctly, was that his opinion when making a statment during the 80's has changed, but not to any viewpoint he cared to elaborate on.

So, lets assume he says he believes in keeping Presidential power in check, but once confirmed starts legislating from the bench and actively tries to turn Bush into an emperor.

What are we gonna do, go back and say, "but, during your confirmation hearings, you said _______".

He doesn't care, the public doesn't care, and even if they did, he isn't accountable to his statements. He doesn't have to answer truthfully, and even if he did, its obvious that he would just answer any challenges with "that's how I felt at the time, but now things are different."


So it doesn't matter what he says, at all. Its all pointless and irrelevant, as far as I can tell.

[EVDebs]

38. His Reagan-era background as enabler of 'suspension of Constitution'

efforts by Ollie North and the gang...is why it matters. But the media and the R's love POWER, not the wise use of power. It's not about democracy with them, they hate any dissent--even if they could learn from it.

We need to remind ourselves that simply by posting to DU we could be labelled 'dissenters' and hauled off to camps set up under Operation CableSplicer and Operation GardenPlot, which Alito probably signed off on during his Reagan DOJ Constitutional oversight position

""From 1985-1987, Alito served in the Office of Legal Counsel as Deputy Assistant Attorney General where he provided constitutional advice for the Executive Branch (Reagan era)""

from Bush White House weblink
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/judicialnominees/alito.html

If he was rubberstamping the evisceration of the Constitution THEN, just think what he'll do under current and future administrations...

[ihelpu2see]

3. I agree. It is 30 min. stump speeches on each side

and we don't find out anything about him... Though Kennedy did get him to admit he will hold water for the executive branch.

I feel liberal/progressives would better spend time building an impeachment case against GW.

Also, make sure the voting systems are secure for this Nov. so we don't have another stolen election.

[BuyingThyme]

4. The Dems could easily block this guy if they were willing to use

words like "liar" or "racist." But the Dems have to keep in mind that they must lose the 2006 elections in order to hold the minority.

Alito doesn't "recall" why he, on his 1985 application, indicated that was (is) is an elitist bigot; but that's just fine and dandy with the Committee Dems.

Another secret society guy on the Court. Another proud day. Oh joy.

[ComerPerro]

11. Well, its hard to call someone a liar when you can't prove it

and, its impossible to prove that someone is lying, if they can simply lie in the face of your evidence.

[elsiesummers]

23. His not recalling CAP organization bugs me...

Maybe he had a thin resume and needed to put something down, but he had to decide to join this organization to put it down on the resume.

Why did he join an organization that he apparently knew nothing about? (Indicates poor judgement).

Did he have to fill out an application? Ws he recruited by mail or in person? Did he have to be sponsored? Did he pay dues or fees to CAP?

If his memory is this bad, does he have some sort of issue (early onset of Alzheimers, perhaps) which might reduce his ability to judge?

[BuyingThyme]

34. He's lying his ass off.

Alito's not into CAP like Thomas isn't into porn.

[Dawgs]

5. 100% Agree!!!

I was thinking the same thing on the way to work this morning.

The pundits are all saying how good of a job Alito is doing, yet they don't tell us why. It's one big joke.

Alito will be confirmed; end of story. I really believe Democrats need to move on. They need to show us why we should vote for them. We need a positive outlook on the future, while at the same time bringing down the Republican party.

:mad:

[Toots]

6. If alito is confirmed why should we vote for Democrats?

The last nail in the casket will be in place so why even bother to vote.

[Eric J in MN]

7. Alito should be judged based on his terrible record of legal

work since the 1980s.

The notion of some pundits he should be judged on how he answers questions for a few days is so idiotic that it makes me wish judicial nominees didn't testify before the Senate at all.

[Triana]

9. 100% agreed....

...they are wasting time. Dems out to just filibuster his ass.

[Triana]

8. The Democrats should NOT bother with the questions...

...they ought to (IF they were DOING THEIR JOBS) just start the filibuster. They need to stop being wimps and call the Republithugs on the "nuclear" option. They don't NEED to question Scalito. They KNOW his lousy record. JUST FILIBUSTER THE TALIBAN MAN! NOW.

HERE is another thing to consider about Scalito the mysogenist Taliban man:

Alito: A Defeat for Working Women
By Martha Burk, Ms. Magazine
Posted on January 11, 2006, Printed on January 11, 2006
http://www.alternet.org/story/30645/

When most people think about women's rights and the Supreme Court, abortion is the first thing on the list. Though organized women's groups are vehemently opposed to the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the high court because he is almost certain to vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, the right to privacy is not the only thing on the line for women.

In nominating Alito, President Bush abandoned the idea of advancing gender fairness on the Court after his own side hounded Harriet Miers into withdrawing. Conservatives feared she would bring a woman's point of view to the bench, as have retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and the only female who will be left standing if Alito is confirmed, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

There's no substitute for personal experience, and both O'Connor and Ginsburg suffered sex discrimination in trying to get an education and a decent job practicing law afterward. O'Connor was offered only legal secretary positions after getting her law degree. Ginsburg was asked by the law school dean what it felt like to occupy a place that could have gone to a deserving man, and she was refused even an interview for law clerk after graduating. The stated reason? Her gender. Those kind of experiences undoubtedly played a role in Ginsburg's consistently pro-woman rulings and O'Connor's upholding of principles underlying women's rights in the workplace.

Alito's confirmation, if it happens, could also have profound implications for working women, only from the opposite point of view. Like the other seven men on the Court, he's never experienced sex discrimination firsthand, so he doesn't see it as a problem. His record is clear -- big business rules.

...

[ComerPerro]

10. See, its nice to see things like this on this forum

And people have told me at other times that these hearings give Democrats a chance, if nothing else, to air out their grievances with Alito and thus justify a fillabuster.

But stuff like the information you just posted never actually gets disclosed in these hearings. They are censored, because to mention them would be impolite...

[Triana]

44. ..and the Republithugs cancelled a witness who would have...

...helped prove it, too. The President Elect of the Woman Lawyers Assn - the Assn that deems Scalito unacceptable to working women and which will not endorse him.

Bastards.

[mopaul]

12. Photo Op #3,116B

government by hollow, pointless photo ops

[Cocoa]

13. it's important to give him a chance to answer straight

I agree with your characterization of the hearings, but only because I've read the accounts of how the hearings played out.

Now his less-than-forthcoming behavior during the hearings will be part of the case for the filibuster.

[ComerPerro]

14. Yeah, that could be. But its hard to prove that he's lying

if we have no way of verifying the truth about his views and philosophies.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. I think they should stop and just vote and get this over with -- mainly

because they already have decided - it's just a waste of time. Nothing ANYONE says will matter. And Alito is not stupid enough to say anything controversal.

Let's get back to investigating the crimes of this administration.

[ComerPerro]

16. I agree completely

[izzybeans]

19. Here's a pretty pony! Now Watch out. Oh look a Doggy!

It's the Dog and PONYYYY ShOOOWWWW! YEAH!

[ComerPerro]

25. Wow. You went very literal on that one

[izzybeans]

37. Kennedy had to go off and invalidate my joke. Good for him!

[formernaderite]

20. What? Do you mean to deprive the senators of their camera moments?

Unless they actually filibuster...that's what this has been. Face time on the air.

[wordpix]

21. even M$M is questioning why hearings are held since Scalito won't answer

the hard questions that make him look like a freeper , which he is

[ComerPerro]

26. LOL. How are they framing it?

Are they doing what I have seen most media outlets do, which is paint Alito as the victim of "mean Democrats" asking questions that are just out of line?

[kentuck]

22. I'm not sure Harry Reid has a headcount ?

"And, besides, the Democrats already know if they are going to filibuster or not."

How will Lieberman, Nelson, and a couple of other vote? It would be no use to filibuster unless we knew we had over 40 votes.

[ComerPerro]

27. I have a feeling they are certain on which way it will go

They know their fellow congressmen.

They may not know for certain, but I would hope our leadership is competent enough to know if filabuster is possible at this point.

And, its not as though anything Alito says or does in this questioning will change the way anyone votes.

[bigtree]

24. why challenge Bush at all?

why not just sit on our hands until the next election? what's the worst that could happen? :eyes:

[ComerPerro]

28. This isn't a challenge to Bush

Its just a formality.

Again, I stress that the questioning is irrelevant becasue Alito doesn't have to answer the questions, and when he does answer he doesn't have to do so truthfully.

This is just a forum for him to quip out soundbytes and appeal to the moderates as a "fair-minded" guy.

[bigtree]

31. you've got tunnel vision. this is a vital part of our democratic system

The power, the responsibility of the Senate to confirm judges is an essential part of the checks and balances on the Executive. There is still the possibility that these hearings will reveal an obstinate or a defective nominee that can attract the public to a possible fillibuster.

I do know that if we don't put up a fight, even if it's rhetorical, the voting public won't have anyone to look to to oppose the president's party. This is very much a part of the overall effort to deny Bush a free ride from his ascendence to office. This is how an opposition party should act.

If you think Alito's got a good rap you must be listening to a different hearing. He's been contradictory and evasive, refusing to support his own recorded statements and actions.

Nothing is more defeating than not trying at all. Let's get up off of our cynical cloud and find that wedge that propels our political revolution!

[sweetm2475]

29. It's A Dog And Pony Show

Just like everything else that has happened since Bush was appointed in 2000. They have made a mockery of our government. These hearings actually used to matter. I still think the Dems are gonna try and trip him up so they can Bork him. And I hope they do.;)

[robbedvoter]

30. This is NOT A WASTE OF TIME! it's meaningful, constitutional process

and absolutely needs to be done.
THEN, fillibuster should follow.
Don't let them confuse you. Just cuz media sez "they're all the same' - elections are still meaningful.
Just because the media sez: "he'll get it no matter what" - the confirmation hearing is still one vestige of checks and balance.
please don't make it easy for W and his dictatorship by buying their BS!

[sweetm2475]

32. it IS a meaningful process...

that the repugs have turned into a joke. did you watch the Roberts' confirmation hearings? He didn't have to answer one GD question! So when that becomes the case, one has to wonder, what is the point? I agree with you that the hearings need to happen, and the media is trying their damndest to make sure people think he's just gonna skate through and get confirmed. I just argued with my mom about that yesterday. She said "all the media thinks hes gonna get confirmed" i told her "that's what they want you to think, because if you fall for that crap, you won't bother wasting your energy calling and writing your senator which is what you need to be doing right now". the dems will fight if they think that's what we want, that's why we need to let them know that's what we want. and not just by posting it on DU. Everyone needs to contact them immediately if they havent already. but all that said, you can't ignore the fact that just like every other meaningful process in government, the repugs have cheapened it.

[robbedvoter]

33. GOP turns democracy into a joke - not a reason for us to say it is

It's their MO - first vilify, then destroy: Unions, public education, elections, confirmation hearings.
We should NOT give into their process of vilification - much as we see how they destroy all these guarantees of democracy into empty shells.

[sweetm2475]

36. point well taken, and i agree

i'm just saying that I understand the cynicism expressed by some regarding these hearings. nowadays, it's hard not to be that way. but you are right. and we don't need to fall into that trap. btw, i like your graphic. it gives off a very peaceful feeling.:)

[ComerPerro]

35. I'm telling you, what happens in the hearing won't serve any purpose

other than fueling fund-raising emails for both sides of the aisle.

That's it.

[EVDebs]

39. Read post #38 and think again.

[ComerPerro]

41. Post 38 says why he shouldn't be on the bench

but it doesn't indicate that this hearing will change anything.

[EVDebs]

45. If no one in the Democratic party speaks up on this subject we're sunk

Sen Feingold came close the other day...An Sen Kennedy is a possiblity... but no one has asked YET.

[Clara T]

40. To continue the charade

of a nominal democracy?

'Tough' questions will be asked

A few will vote against

Some of the Dems will vote 'for' with 'reservations' in exchange for a few bread crumbs

The liberal pundits will say "If they don't filibuster Alito what's left?", I've actually heard this ad nauseum.

Alito won't be filibustered

What's 'next' will arrive.

Rinse. Repeat cycle.

The road show will move down the line to the next bombing

[robbedvoter]

42. Lindsay Graham is just putting Ruth Ginsberg on trial

ACLU as well. It's the ruling class barking at us...

[greiner3]

43. And, Alito doesn't even have to answer the questions honestly, or even at

I got that impression also. What will happen after he gets in? subpoena a supreme? Won't happen. Hell, he has no self-respect. He lied under oath and is getting away with it.