Biden: Supreme Court confirmation hearings should be scrapped
I tend to agree, the whole confirmation process is broke.
I tend to agree, the whole confirmation process is broke.
Thanks for a good laugh :laugh: :laugh:
Biden so thoroughly defeated he is now wishing to stop confirmation hearings?
What is the point if the selectees whole goal is to tell as little as possible about his / her beliefs, etc. Like Zendari pointed out it wasn't always common pratice and was started by Ginsberg. Either force the hardball questions or scrap the practice, otherwords it's just a dog and pony show. One day the Dems will have the majority, the presidency, or both, will your opinion be the same then? I know mine will.
It's true...I would think the point of the confirmation hearings would be to see if the to-be-Judge actually lets his beliefs into his judgments. Hence asking for clarification about past decisions, why he made them and what his beliefs were then, and what his beliefs are now.
Of course when you "can't remember" anything personal about yourself, the guy doesn't even need to be there.
Of course when you "can't remember" anything personal about yourself, the guy doesn't even need to be there.
umbrella39
Lifer
- Jun 11, 2004
- 13,816
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Hmm, still kind of perplexing why he can't remember being part of a sexist/racist organization that he thought enough of to include on his resume. Hell of a guy. We can count on someone like that to put those petty little details and prejudices behind him when ruling. :thumbsup:
OrganizedChaos
Diamond Member
- Apr 21, 2002
- 4,524
- 0
- 0
SC.CONFIRM.ALITO
Samuel A Alito to be Confirmed to the Supreme Court by the US Senate M 95.3 95.9 95.9 13045 +1.9
odds don't get much better than that
Samuel A Alito to be Confirmed to the Supreme Court by the US Senate M 95.3 95.9 95.9 13045 +1.9
odds don't get much better than that
Well, after the Bork hearings people realized that they can only hurt you, not help you. I guess it really started when the Democrats rejected one of the most brilliant men in the country.
Don Vito Corleone
Elite
- Feb 10, 2000
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Ahem - the Bork confirmation hearings happened before you were able to walk. You'll have to forgive me if I have no interest or respect in your take on them.
As I've said before, I don't have a huge problem with Alito. My only concern is that he will not fill the moderate role left open by O'Connor, but will instead simply side with the more vocal (and extreme) conservatives on the court. I'm less interested in his opinions than his backbone, but I'm not sure how you can truly see that ahead of time. And in any case, I think the balance may actually shift with Roberts already on the court. IMHO, Roberts is a much better judge than the man he replaced, so we might actually come out ahead overall. Regardless, the gutless court wet-dream of the far right will amost certainly not come to pass, regardless of whether or not Alito is confirmed.
That being said, I'm kind of disappointed in the Dems on this one. If they really don't like Alito, it seems like the hearings could have been much more well done. I'm no Karl Rove, but it seems like there would have been much more effective attacks on Alito if they had really looked for them. But I guess I should have expected this, the weakness of the Democrats is that they simply don't have the viscious streak you get from the Republicans. If the situation were reversed, and Alito was the Democratic candidate trying to get by a minority Republican vote, he would have been torn to shreds. Still though, pretty weak stuff from the Dems, even for them.
That being said, I'm kind of disappointed in the Dems on this one. If they really don't like Alito, it seems like the hearings could have been much more well done. I'm no Karl Rove, but it seems like there would have been much more effective attacks on Alito if they had really looked for them. But I guess I should have expected this, the weakness of the Democrats is that they simply don't have the viscious streak you get from the Republicans. If the situation were reversed, and Alito was the Democratic candidate trying to get by a minority Republican vote, he would have been torn to shreds. Still though, pretty weak stuff from the Dems, even for them.
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't a vast amount of legal precedent from cases that happened well before the people citing them were born, let alone practicing law ?
Your dismissive attitude may be warranted, but not on the excuse that you gave I think.
How short our memories as I remember kookie Ginsberg didn't say to much either, this behaviour is normal from both sides . Why do Dems act so suprised now?
Rainsford has a good point, alot of people have pointed out that Roberts is much more like O'Connor then Rehnquist so even if Alito is like Scalia like most people think he will be I don't think the court will have as dramatic of a shift as some people expect. That said I don't like Roberts, his views on executive power and civil liberties really bother me, I don't like that he won't be upfront about the Concerned Alumni for Princeton, just say yes I was a member and I now see that it was wrong, or no I wasn't a member I padded my resume to get a job, if he did that I'd have a ton of respect for him.
some members question why the democrats didnot throw the hard questions at alito? listen to the congressman for two days like i did and you will have your answer. they donot have the intelligence or the ball,s to ask the right questions. and that goes for dems and repub alike. when they asked him a question, which was probably written by a staffer, he came back so far over their head that they were scared to come back. so they would change to another stupid question. thanks for bidden and grahm for a little comedy.
The consitution was written before you were born. Forgive me if I have no interest or respect in your take on it. Then again that goes for things after you were born as well including your trite teenagerteenagerteenager whining.
SHOO IN. Not all Republicans are "smart cookies" apparently.
You don't expect the Dems to just sit there while Bush carries out his radicalization of the government agenda? It's their responsibility to attempt to stop him. So the weird rightward shift of the U.S. continues. This isn't a big surprise to me.
He didn't strike me as particularly erudite. I think Roberts is much smarter, as far as that goes.
Zebo
Elite Member
- Jul 29, 2001
- 39,398
- 19
- 81
Hearings should be disbanded if all they going to do in grandstanding by the senate and trite reponses by the appointee. It is a joke.
something I don't understand too well is whats wrong exactly with asking direct questions of how the appointee will vote? Simple things like do you believe there is consititutional right to bear arms? Explain?
something I don't understand too well is whats wrong exactly with asking direct questions of how the appointee will vote? Simple things like do you believe there is consititutional right to bear arms? Explain?
"He might have to consider a case before him on that issue."
It's an excuse designed to allow him to avoid answering any questions. I mean, he could theoretically consider cases on any issue. It's a dog and pony show. Meanwhile, soldiers are dying in Iraq....
It's an excuse designed to allow him to avoid answering any questions. I mean, he could theoretically consider cases on any issue. It's a dog and pony show. Meanwhile, soldiers are dying in Iraq....
I guess we can toss your opinions out on anything before you were born as well right?
What a silly statement, seriously.
btw when were you born so we can get an idea on how many years back your expertise goes.
Or there wasnt much there to begin with.
Democrats have mean streaks but their mean streaks are ineffective at motivating anybody but the base and fall on deaf ears.
Text
Democrats trying to delay the vote now.
WASHINGTON - Democrats confirmed Friday that they will make a last-ditch attempt to slow Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito's momentum by delaying the first vote on his candidacy.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (news, bio, voting record), D-Vt., said in the waning minutes of Alito's confirmation hearing that unnamed Democrats will "exercise their rights" to put off next week's scheduled Alito vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
That vote would have been Republicans' first chance to officially endorse
President Bush's pick to replace retiring Justice
Sandra Day O'Connor. All ten GOP Judiciary Committee members have already announced their support for Alito, a 55-year-old federal appeals judge, former federal prosecutor and Reagan administration lawyer.
The White House on Friday heaped praise on Alito, with spokesman Scott McClellan saying the proceedings showed Americans a man who's "brilliant, honorable and decent, open-minded and fair."
But Democrats say they won't be ready Tuesday to vote on his nomination, since Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has called on party members to hold off making a decision until after a Wednesday meeting.
The federal government is closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
"A number of our members are going to be home for Martin Luther King events this weekend, will not be back on time on Tuesday and so they will exercise their rights" to delay the vote, Leahy said.
Sen. John Cornyn (news, bio, voting record), R-Texas, a Judiciary Committee member, said "a delay for delay's sake would be a petty, partisan move."
Most ? if not all ? of the Senate's 55 Republicans are expected to line up behind Alito.
Judiciary chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., predicted that all eight of the committee Democrats would vote against Alito, whenever the vote is held. But on the final Senate vote, "I think there will be a little deviation," he said.
The 44 Senate Democrats have been mostly silent about their intentions, although committee senators like Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Charles Schumer of New York have indicated they will oppose Alito's confirmation.
Their liberal supporters plan to work senators hard before the final vote to ensure as many of them as possible vote against Alito, who they say will be likely to swing the court to the right in replacing O'Connor. She provided decisive votes on such important issues as abortion, capital punishment and affirmative action.
During the hearing, Democrats repeatedly attacked Alito's decisions as a judge on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and his writings while a lawyer for the Reagan administration, including a 1985 statement saying the Constitution did not protect the right to an abortion. They also highlighted his membership in an organization that discouraged the admission of women and minorities at Princeton University.
"In what he said and what he failed to say, Alito confirmed our worst fears about the kind of Supreme Court justice he would be," said Wade Henderson of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.
But Democrats' chances of stopping Alito seem to get slimmer each day. The only way they can block his nomination is through a filibuster, and they would need Republican help to keep Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., from banning the tactic.
But five of the seven Republican members of the "Gang of 14" ? centrist senators who defused a Senate showdown over judicial filibusters last year by saying "extraordinary circumstances" would be needed ? already have said they will not help Democrats if they attempt to filibuster Alito's confirmation.
Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, both Judiciary Committee members, made that commitment before the confirmation began, and Sen. Olympia Snowe (news, bio, voting record), R-Maine, agreed Thursday that a filibuster would not be justified.
On Friday, two other GOP "Gang" members jumped in. Sen. Susan Collins (news, bio, voting record) "does not see a justification for and would not support a filibuster," spokeswoman Jen Burita said. Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record), R-R.I., "has said he has not seen any extraordinary circumstances," spokesman Stephen Hourahan said.
The last two ? GOP Sens. John McCain of Arizona and John Warner of Virginia ? have not commented, but one of the Democratic members of the "Gang" has.
"So far I have seen nothing during my interview with the nominee, the background materials that have been produced or through the committee process that I would consider a disqualifying issue against Judge Alito," said Sen. Ben Nelson (news, bio, voting record), D-Neb.
What a shame. The once proud Democratic party of mainstream America reduced to petty weeklong obstuctionist tactics. I guess they will one day learn to reject the radical leftwinged agenda.
Democrats trying to delay the vote now.
WASHINGTON - Democrats confirmed Friday that they will make a last-ditch attempt to slow Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito's momentum by delaying the first vote on his candidacy.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (news, bio, voting record), D-Vt., said in the waning minutes of Alito's confirmation hearing that unnamed Democrats will "exercise their rights" to put off next week's scheduled Alito vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
That vote would have been Republicans' first chance to officially endorse
President Bush's pick to replace retiring Justice
Sandra Day O'Connor. All ten GOP Judiciary Committee members have already announced their support for Alito, a 55-year-old federal appeals judge, former federal prosecutor and Reagan administration lawyer.
The White House on Friday heaped praise on Alito, with spokesman Scott McClellan saying the proceedings showed Americans a man who's "brilliant, honorable and decent, open-minded and fair."
But Democrats say they won't be ready Tuesday to vote on his nomination, since Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has called on party members to hold off making a decision until after a Wednesday meeting.
The federal government is closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
"A number of our members are going to be home for Martin Luther King events this weekend, will not be back on time on Tuesday and so they will exercise their rights" to delay the vote, Leahy said.
Sen. John Cornyn (news, bio, voting record), R-Texas, a Judiciary Committee member, said "a delay for delay's sake would be a petty, partisan move."
Most ? if not all ? of the Senate's 55 Republicans are expected to line up behind Alito.
Judiciary chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., predicted that all eight of the committee Democrats would vote against Alito, whenever the vote is held. But on the final Senate vote, "I think there will be a little deviation," he said.
The 44 Senate Democrats have been mostly silent about their intentions, although committee senators like Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Charles Schumer of New York have indicated they will oppose Alito's confirmation.
Their liberal supporters plan to work senators hard before the final vote to ensure as many of them as possible vote against Alito, who they say will be likely to swing the court to the right in replacing O'Connor. She provided decisive votes on such important issues as abortion, capital punishment and affirmative action.
During the hearing, Democrats repeatedly attacked Alito's decisions as a judge on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and his writings while a lawyer for the Reagan administration, including a 1985 statement saying the Constitution did not protect the right to an abortion. They also highlighted his membership in an organization that discouraged the admission of women and minorities at Princeton University.
"In what he said and what he failed to say, Alito confirmed our worst fears about the kind of Supreme Court justice he would be," said Wade Henderson of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.
But Democrats' chances of stopping Alito seem to get slimmer each day. The only way they can block his nomination is through a filibuster, and they would need Republican help to keep Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., from banning the tactic.
But five of the seven Republican members of the "Gang of 14" ? centrist senators who defused a Senate showdown over judicial filibusters last year by saying "extraordinary circumstances" would be needed ? already have said they will not help Democrats if they attempt to filibuster Alito's confirmation.
Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, both Judiciary Committee members, made that commitment before the confirmation began, and Sen. Olympia Snowe (news, bio, voting record), R-Maine, agreed Thursday that a filibuster would not be justified.
On Friday, two other GOP "Gang" members jumped in. Sen. Susan Collins (news, bio, voting record) "does not see a justification for and would not support a filibuster," spokeswoman Jen Burita said. Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record), R-R.I., "has said he has not seen any extraordinary circumstances," spokesman Stephen Hourahan said.
The last two ? GOP Sens. John McCain of Arizona and John Warner of Virginia ? have not commented, but one of the Democratic members of the "Gang" has.
"So far I have seen nothing during my interview with the nominee, the background materials that have been produced or through the committee process that I would consider a disqualifying issue against Judge Alito," said Sen. Ben Nelson (news, bio, voting record), D-Neb.
What a shame. The once proud Democratic party of mainstream America reduced to petty weeklong obstuctionist tactics. I guess they will one day learn to reject the radical leftwinged agenda.
Don Vito Corleone
Elite
- Feb 10, 2000
- 30,029
- 67
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Ya think? How would Zendari know that Robert Bork was "one of the most brilliant men in the country," other than reading it on Newsmax? He's a teenager with no legal training whatsoever.
I was born in late 1970.
I guess I will keep that in mind then; whenever you comment on something prior to 1969 it must be coming from theleftcoaster or Democratic Underground.
Don Vito Corleone
Elite
- Feb 10, 2000
- 30,029
- 67
- 91
Okay, then, why do you believe Robert Bork is one of the most brilliant men in the United States?
BTW, I think John Roberts is one of the most brilliant men in the United States - do you think I got that from the Democratic Underground?
What the hell is the "leftcoaster"? I've never even heard of it.
WhipperSnapper
Lifer
- Oct 30, 2004
- 11,442
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Let's just hope this guy doesn't overturn Roe v. Wade and give the government, er, Christians, the ability to stick its nose into all personal aspects of our lives. Let's hope he doesn't make America the laughing stock of the rest of the free world. Let's hope he doesn't let the nation become a primative mystic Christian theocracy, a Christian version of Iran.
So, once we no longer have a right to privacy read onto the Constitution, how long until the First Amendment is interpretted to mean "freedom to choose a religion, not freedom from having a religion"? Will the Supreme Court then sit idly by while the Christians send out the religion police to round up atheists and make sure they acknowledge the existence of a god? How long until prohibitions on obscenity are broadened so much that movies and books that offend Christians can then be censored by the government as allowed under the First Amendment.
That's what's so scary about all of this. Maybe Alito will defend individual rights, but the prospect that he might bow down to religious mythology and overturn Roe v. Wade scares the beejeezus out of me. The Constitution is open to broad interpretation, not all of them good. How long until we lose the rest of our personal freedoms?
So, once we no longer have a right to privacy read onto the Constitution, how long until the First Amendment is interpretted to mean "freedom to choose a religion, not freedom from having a religion"? Will the Supreme Court then sit idly by while the Christians send out the religion police to round up atheists and make sure they acknowledge the existence of a god? How long until prohibitions on obscenity are broadened so much that movies and books that offend Christians can then be censored by the government as allowed under the First Amendment.
That's what's so scary about all of this. Maybe Alito will defend individual rights, but the prospect that he might bow down to religious mythology and overturn Roe v. Wade scares the beejeezus out of me. The Constitution is open to broad interpretation, not all of them good. How long until we lose the rest of our personal freedoms?
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