Official Alito Hearing Thread – Day 4 – Thread 5

[Sydnie]

Thread 1

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2363798#2363911

Thread 2

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=117538&mesg_id=117538

Thread 3

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=117932&mesg_id=117932

Thread 4

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=118486&mesg_id=118486

[realFedUp]

1. thanks Sydnie

I'm trying to keep up with the details of
these court cases...hope someone's going
to do some good analysis.

[Sydnie]

4. Me too

I hope someone with more legal knowledge than I researches them.

[CottonBear]

6. I just tuned in. Are they discussing the retarded child/anal rape case?

Oh my. Schumer's asking about strict construction.
Here we go.

[The Witch]

13. I bet supremecourtwatch.org or whatever will have some analysis up.

thinkprogress.org too.

[CottonBear]

45. Thanks! n/t

[Eric J in MN]

2. Do Democrats get to choose witnesses, even if the Republcans

don't want those witnesses?

[realFedUp]

8. There are supposed to be witnesses opposing Alito

Is the witness list printed anywhere?

[Sydnie]

9. they dropped one witness already because she

would have been negative. Don't know if they can call anyone they want at all.

[Eric J in MN]

17. I was wondering because the Republicans dropped Cathy Fleming

and I was wondering if the Democrats have the power to call her:
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0602,ridgeway,71682,6.html

[hang a left]

3. This freeper may make it out of committee but.....

He WILL NOT sit on the bench. This guy is done, get fork.

[Old Vet]

7. Your reasoning, Its been a joke so far.....

[The Witch]

10. what makes you so sure?

Besides having faith in our Fighting Dems(TM), right?

[hang a left]

23. I responded to you but in the wrong place

[JohnnyRingo]

46. Fighting Dems™

™ = alt/0153
Not trying to be a smartass, few know about the ascii table

[hang a left]

There is way too much opposition to Alito

and Yes I think the Dems will go to war on this. We are overdue for a war against this administration. Now is the time. I expect them to take it.

[realFedUp]

5. Strict construction...Bush described Alito as a strict constructionist

[realFedUp]

11. asks him about Arnold becoming Prez under this Constitution...

shudder.

[realFedUp]

15. asks about the 14th amendment....GOOD Schumer question

Asks if there is any Constitutional provision
that allows a citizen not born in this country
to become President.

Alito is fudging this one. He's going to make
laws, not rule on existing ones.

[realFedUp]

18. Very clear cut about this guy...he will use interpretation to overturn law

[Sydnie]

21. Exactly. He has made that clear - nuance is his middle name n/t

[Sydnie]

12. But Alito has NOT

He answered that question the other day saying that he didn't know if he was or not.

[CottonBear]

14. Alito says he does not want to express a view...NO SHIT.

Alito: "There are active legal disputes (about citizenship rights)"

[realFedUp]

22. This Schumer questioning is CRUCIAL in these hearings.

print it out.

[CottonBear]

32. I'm going to have to read the whole transcript & look for a legal analysis

I'm way over my head in these complex legal matters...
DU is such a big help to those of us who are not lawyers. :)

[sasha031]

50. i am not sure what that means

Falwell is one, but I wil have to read about it, its got to be bad

[jillan]

16. There are 2 words not in Alito's vocab.

Yes and No

Just answer the questions already.

[CottonBear]

25. He says he can't express an opinion. Schumer is nailing him on the

citizenship/president issue. Chuck: If you can't give us an opinion on this cut and dry matter then we have real problems with you...

Alito: I would never voice an initial expression here...WEASELING

[in_cog_ni_to]

19. OHFERCRYINGOUTLOUD! This man is driving me NUTS!

Damn! JUST ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION! sHEEEEEEESH!

[realFedUp]

26. he just hung himself....note the time and transcript.

[annabanana]

I think you're right

This is filibuster-worthy!

[realFedUp]

30. yep. Print it up, pass it out.....

[0007]

42. It is and I think they will filibuster now.

[Skidmore]

31. Recap please.

Been on the phone attending to something and missed this.

[annabanana]

48. Schumer asked him

to "off the top of his head" If he could imagine any legislation (NOT amendment) that could deny citizenship to a person born in America.. He quoted the pertinent passage of the Constitution that defined "citizen".. Called it possibly the most simple and straightforward statement IN the Constitution...

And the weasel wouldn't' say that that there was no such imaginable legislation.....

[in_cog_ni_to]

33. How? I missed it? n/t

[annabanana]

59. see my #48. . . . n/t

[The Witch]

37. I don't think so, I think Alito avoided this trap

and I think it was a poorly laid one, sadly. That is, Schumer was trying to pull a Tim Russert/Jerry Kilgore "THAT'S a hypothetical question" moment and Alito was too smahht for him.

[underpants]

20. What are the "murderboards"?

I saw them referenced over the last few days and on the last thread (#3). What does that mean? Anyone>?

[hang a left]

27. practice sessions

[Surya Gayatri]

44. Grilling sessions

where the nominee is subjected to "murderous" practice questioning to prepare him to field and deflect any real questions. SG

[realFedUp]

28. hello undies...

so boxers or briefs on this guy?

I say tighty whities.

[underpants]

49. Definitely

Thanks I was eating

[txindy]

71. Oh, my, yes. A size or two too small.

He's got that pinched look about him.

[annabanana]

24. HOW can he be a "strict constructionist"??

If he can't even agree that there isn't possible legislation that could deny citizenship to someone born on American soil???

[CottonBear]

29. Good lord, the man will not answer anything. He's SO forthcoming, NOT. nt

[realFedUp]

34. only a strict constructionist when it suits his agenda...

he's going to pretty unstrict when it comes
to his interpretation.

[CottonBear]

35. It depends on what your definition of Strict Constructionist is...n/t

[Sydnie]

36. It took him months to come up with that answer?

:wtf:

[Surya Gayatri]

54. LOL!!

Love that new verb: to unstrict
That's a keeper!

[Sparkman]

62. Goes by facts to support corporations, but argues jurisdiction to oppose

the little guy.

[annabanana]

ding ding!... give that man a seee-gar!

[realFedUp]

38. Schumer's doing a good job. Lots of meat here.

and Alito's having a hard time cutting through it.

[CottonBear]

41. Did your tenure as a US Atty affect your feeling on Fed involvement in

state issues?

Something about car odometers and federalism and the Ribar (?) case...

[annabanana]

76. ... makes me proud to be a NYer!

[Thorandmjolnir]

39. They should ask him a question

from a Constitutional Law exam.

Then when he refuses to give an answer, say that every first year law student has to know that answer, so why not him.

Someone asked why the issue of "people can disagree" matters.

In a case, if there is a dispute over the facts, it goes to the jury. The judge is not supposed to make decisions as to credibility and to what the facts are, that is the job of the jury ("Fact finder"). Apparently Judge Alito has on several occasions refused to let the jury decide on factual issues, thus violating his role as a judge.

[WahooJunkie]

40. Anyone Know...

...when they plan to break for lunch? After Schumer? I wanna take my lunch break when they do so I don't miss anything, but I didn't hear what Specter said about it.

[in_cog_ni_to]

43. I don't know. sorry. n/t

[Sydnie]

47. I think they probably will n./t

[hang a left]

51. They have been breaking at about 1PM every day. Don't know

about today.

[CottonBear]

52. Alito talking about reagan Admin. going beyond Const. stds

and using legal resources to address crime problems of the district in which he was an atty...cooperating w/ local and state law enforcemnt officials...US attys used far-reaching fed powers and STUNNED when appeals court threw it out on commerce clause grounds...

[realFedUp]

53. Republicans will try to clean up Alito's answers to Schumer...

Schumer's troubled by Alito's answers.

[CottonBear]

57. I'm troubled he wants to deny citizenship to those born in the USA.

:scared:

[CornField]

74. That's a big republican theme

The idea being that pregnant women in Mexico feel the first pangs of labor and leap for the border, knowing that if they give birth in the states, their child will be a citizen and the parents can live here more easily. (on our welfare system while taking good-paying jobs away from true American citizens, etc.)

[Sydnie]

79. It;'s the Lou Dobbs "get back on your side of the fence" argument n/t

[realFedUp]

55. Schumer's troubled by Alito's answers. Good closer.

[realFedUp]

58. It will be very hard to vote yes for him.....

Schumer hasn't heard anything this week that
would dissuade him from voting no.

[in_cog_ni_to]

56. NO DEM will vote for him in committee.

I hope their witnesses are good ones.

[sasha031]

65. that Sessions looks like one of the characters form

Mississippi Burning

[hlthe2b]

113. See my post 92. NO committe vote on SC noms--go directly to

Chamber for full vote (but filibuster can occur at that juncture) At least this is what some of the Senate/SC process experts have put forth. I've heard it from at least two different "experts" this week.

[in_cog_ni_to]

60. Jeff Sessions....UGH! STFU!

I hate that little snake!

[realFedUp]

61. Sessions doing clean up...says ABA says qualified judge

thanks his family for being there...

[realFedUp]

64. adding lighter moments. Who was a better debater?

What a crockashit.

[Cooley Hurd]

70. "...and I see your sister, another nationally known lawyer..."

Sessions: "Who was the better debater at the dinner table?"

Sessions - crooked as the day is long...:puke:

[Sydnie]

63. Sessions fluff questions!

:puke: gag!

[CottonBear]

66. Chuck: "...in the end you always choose the rightward course."

Chuck: "You pose as a meticulous legal navigator but, in the end you always choose the rightward course."

Now a Sessions is giving Alito a BJ.

[jillan]

73. And for that - I say THANK YOU Chuck!

[babylonsister]

67. Repugs always bring up the glowing recommendation of the ABA;

why haven't Dems countered with names of all the groups that oppose his nomination? I'm sure there are loads!

[jillan]

80. which is so ridiculous because if he didn't have a recommendation

from the ABA he wouldn't be on the hot seat.

[Sparkman]

102. NAACP + Nat'l Lawyers Guild + Nat'l Bar Assoc....all OPPOSE

NAACP opposes
www.naacp.org/inc/docs/washington/109/109_aa-2005-12-15.pdf

National Lawyers Guild
www.nlg.org/news/statements/alitoPR05.htm

National Bar Association
Reginald Turner of the National Bar Association
Reginald Turner is head of the National Bar Association, representing African American lawyers.

"We've reviewed Judge Roberts's record," he said, and it's "troubling."

The stakes in this appointment could not be higher, according to Turner, especially in light of the
inequities exposed by Katrina. "The available record precludes us from supporting Roberts's
nomination," he said. The record is incomplete because documents have been withheld, he said,
and available documents show he does not support equal justice under law or civil rights and civil
liberties.

He said the National Bar Association cannot support Roberts's confirmation

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/campaignforthecourt/2005/09/reginald_turner.html

[LSK]

68. UNBELIEVABLE

WHY DONT THE REPUBLICANS RUN TO GIVE HIM WATER AND PULL HIS CHAIR OUT FOR HIM TOO!!! :sarcasm:

[0007]

69. Jeff Sessions is John Cornyn cousin in that one is a halfwit and

the other (Jeff) is a complete nitwit.

[realFedUp]

78. The bar for intelligence on the Judish is a lot lower on the Pub side IMO

Hate to think these are their best legal minds...
too bad their backroom boys aren't any better.

[realFedUp]

72. Republican's job is to get this guy on the court.

I suggest you send your comments directly to
those Senator's offices.

[CottonBear]

75. Sessions: "Do you believe the 3 branches should stay w/in bounds

in order to avoid a const. crisis?"

Alito: I haven't really studied that...blah, blah, blah

[Sparkman]

77. OH the ABA likes DuLito...they forbade minority membership for a long time

That's why pioneering Black lawyers joined the National Bar Association, or the National Lawyer's Guild. ABA was an association for those who want to go into business law and earn 7 figure incomes.
Those attourneys who want to fight civil rights issues and anti-pollution and criminal case law find the National Lawyers Guild or the Nat'l Bar Assoc.
I'm no expert, but heard this, on KPFK (Pacifica Radio).

[Sydnie]

81. Well, that explains quite a lot.

I hate these bastards so much .... there are no words.

[Surya Gayatri]

93. Their perfidy

just takes your breath away, doesn't it. How can the middle hold with these criminal marauders attacking from all sides? The more I see of these horrors, the more I fear for the future survival of the US experiment. Can the polity endure under these dire conditions? SG :hide:

[wordpix]

87. Sessions says thanks Scalito for being so forthcoming ,WTF?

[CottonBear]

97. Jeffy thanked him for the mutual blow job they just gave each other. n/t

[CottonBear]

82. Session: There's 3 branches of gov't. That's correct is it not?"

Alito: "Yes." :eyes: An answer at last...

but wait for it...Sessions is leading him to say they are NOT independent...comparing to treaties btwn nations...
GAH!

[CottonBear]

84. How/why is Sessions tying the commerce clause into this line of quest? nt

[underpants]

85. WOW

See my post below.

This man is a US SENATOR?

[CottonBear]

89. He's a mean little gnome who is tied in with the 10 commandments crowd

in AL (Remember the Judge and the monument in the Sate Supreme Court?)

I'm here in GA sandwiched btwn. Graham in SC and Sessions in AL while having to deal w/ Saxby "Sack o Shit" Chambliss & Johhny Isakson here.
:cry:
My senators used to be Max Cleland and Sam Nunn and Wyche Fowler...:cry:

edit: I think he's a closeted gay man. He and Lindsey should double date with Ed Gillespie and Ken Melman.

[BR_Parkway]

94. Well, they can update their chart now on how many questions

the judge answered vs Ginsburg. No mention that some of the questions were "who argued better as a kid, you or your sister" or "there's 3 branches of gov't, right" or even "where do you want to go for lunch, your honor?"

[underpants]

83. Okay Alabama you win no one can't come close to Sessions

or Senator Laurel as I call him.

Yes SENATOR every part of the Federal Government is part of one of the three PARTS.

Good LORD

[Sydnie]

86. Durbin up now n/t

[sasha031]

90. Oh my gawd

padding a vet down, fascism

[sasha031]

88. I feel sick

if this nut gets in, Falwell USA

[in_cog_ni_to]

91. Back to the strip search of the little 10 year old girl.

Go Dick!

[CottonBear]

95. Mrs, Alito smirked and smiled when he talked about this yesterday...

She didn't cry about that little girl...

[sasha031]

100. typical repuke

if it doesn't effect them it's OK

[WinkyDink]

96. Typical pervert RW'er.

I'm serious.
NOW Alito is arguing that ALL minors are up for searching, because, if not, "drug-dealers would hide their drugs" on their persons!

[wordpix]

98. can strip search a 10 y.o. thanks to absurd Drug War

[leftstreet]

99. How many billions$ worth of drugs could a 10 yr old conceal?

:eyes:

[BR_Parkway]

101. "but think of the children" n/t

[hlthe2b]

92. Point of clarification: SC nominations do not get a committee vote

they automatically go to the full chamber for a vote. Now, filibuster is still possible as I understand this, but it will go to the full Senate ultimately. I'll look for some kind of link, but I have heard this stated by more than one "senate and supreme court process" expert over the past two weeks.

[in_cog_ni_to]

105. What's this mean then?

Specter, R-Pa., said he expected to wrap up the hearings this week and has called for a committee vote by Jan. 17.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/01/09/supremecourt/main1192324.shtml

[CottonBear]

103. "Minors can be the repository of firearms or drugs."

"we must get into the practicality of the situation." :(
Alito said this to try to say it was ok to strip search little children.

[sasha031]

104. firearms , but it is ok to carry a machine gun

[CottonBear]

106. The better to kill people with...especially those pesky minorities...n/t

[sasha031]

108. who would ever want asylum in this country now

Europe so much safer

[hlthe2b]

110. heck.. they may force their drugs down the throat of their dog

So, do police have the right to shoot and gut any dog they find in the household? Got to be sure they don't miss that contraband, right? :mad:

[Skidmore]

107. Cause they're all little terrorists in the making.

This is the subscript.

[Sydnie]

109. thread 6 open now

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x119467

[wordpix]

111. Scalito sends man seeking asylum back to home country after wife

beaten, raped and their home burned down. Scalito says he must go home, there's no problem!

[CottonBear]

112. It's too bad we can't deport Alito for simply being an asshole.

According to him we could possibly retroactively take away his citizenship.

:sarcasm:

[sasha031]

114. people should go to Canada

hell maybe we can

[sasha031]

115. no comment form Graham

afraid the wife will start crying again

[LeftCoast]

116. Locking

Please continue discussion here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x119467