On CNN last night, Alan Dershowitz said that the questioners were inept.

[boston bean]

He says they should be asking him questions about his personal opinions on issues.

Since Alito says that he has to separate his personal opinions and views out of his decisions involving cases, his personal opinions are fair game.

I agree.

Ask him how he personally feels about abortion, presidential authority. Since he will be able to put these feeling aside it won't tell us how he will decide a case.

[ewagner]

1. I agree...

from the little bit I heard, it was more grandstanding on the part of the questioners than serious inquiry.

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. Well, why don't the Dems know to do that then?

Maybe today that will be their strategy? :(

[boston bean]

3. I am afraid the whole hearing is choreographed. I hope I am wrong.

but these people can't be that dumb, can they??

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. Well, your OP has me a bit worried now.

:( IF they can ask Alito's PERSONAL beliefs, why aren't they? They are Lawyers, No? They MUST know what they can and cannot ask? No? What the hall is up...is my question now. :(

[peaches2003]

4. Disgusted

I was absolutely disgusted with the Dems. What idiots! You have to mount a line of questioning that, as a group, is meant to dig and dig deep and pin Alito to the wall on several areas.

So what do our illustrious Senators do- act like a bunch of windy blowhards trying to keep their faces in front of the camera and not Alito's. A TWELVE MINUTE QUESTION from Joe Biden! He ought to be yanked off the damn committee. And I tend to like him; no more! This is the most important thing these Democratic Senators have had to do and they have blown it!

[The Stranger]

5. Maybe Alan would like it better if they tortured him,

of course, only after obtaining a "torture warrant."

[boston bean]

7. Well, he's right on this one. nt

[librechik]

8. I saw Schumer specifically ask him his personal belief on abortion

He tried on that point repeatedly for several minutes, to be artfully and boringly rebuffed with the same non answer talking point over and over. Finally Schumer said "It's obvious you aren't going to answer that question, I'll move on" and then the same thing happened. Dershowitz wasn't watching.

[boston bean]

9. 1 question from Schumer. each and every one should be pounding

the same point home every single time.

What is the matter with them?

[CottonBear]

10. Durbin is asking him about his personal opinion on abortion now and

Alito is NOT answering. Durbin asking"why can you answer specifically on all these other issues but not this one especially considering the 1985 memo?

[hlthe2b]

11. Dershowitz pisses me off... but I think he does have a point...

It seems to me that at least some of the DEMS on the committee should have gotten some outside input from some high powered legal experts on how best to question him--in a way that he could not hide behind the usual excuses...