Will Alito be confirmed? Do bears shit in the woods?

[Jersey Devil]

There are consequences to elections and despite the fact that many Democrats tried to point out to voters in 2000 and 2004 that the real importance of those elections were their effect on the Supreme Court, few paid attention. I know that it was my primary focus but I think it was something that very few others paid much attention to.

With a Republican President and a Republican Senate the Court was bound to tilt conservative no matter who the nominees were that were sent to the Senate for confirmation. The only thing the Democrats could do is perhaps block one or two by either bringing out facts that would prove the nominee unacceptable or by using the filibuster. But that would only be temporary because any rejected right winger would simply be replaced by another (as Harriet Meiers was replaced by Alito). In fact, it could prove to be worse.

The hearings were a sick joke and accomplished absolutely nothing since the rules are that the nominee really doesn't have to answer any of the questions. Biden pointed this out yesterday and basically said they ought to just skip the hearings, debate the nominations on the floor of the Senate and vote.

Alito answered none of the questions about his beliefs on issues like abortion, presidential power, etc. I don't hold it against him personally. He was just following the rules set down, ironically by Democrats when they had the majority and said Ginsberg didn't have to answer such questions during her hearings. So, in a sense, Democrats were hoisted by their own petards. Bork was "borked" because he had to answer the questions, so Dems changed the rules so that Republicans could not "bork" Ginsberg. Now they have to live with it.

I am hoping (though I don't think it will happen) that the Democrats filibuster Alito causing the Republicans to invoke the "nuclear option" because some day that will backfire on the Republicans in much the same way the anti-bork hearings have backfired on the Democrats.

Back to "consequences" - When you lose elections you lose control and power. I do think it was necessary to oppose Alito in the hope that more people become aware of what is happening to the Court under conservatives. However, that being said, once he is confirmed, we have to live with it and move on until we have the power to change it.

[jsamuel]

1. Are Bears Catholic? Does the Pope shit in the woods?

[Jersey Devil]

2. snarky

but admittedly funny. :-)

[OneBlueSky]

3. damn . . . ya beat me to it . . . :) n/t

.

[deutsey]

4. No, but bears are the #2 threat to America

according to the Colbert Report.

:evilgrin: