According to Congress, U.S. Supreme Court case law and Rhode Island’s canons of judicial ethics, a judge must bow out of hearing any case in which his or her impartiality might reasonably be questioned. The Rhode Island Canons of Judicial Conduct say that judges must avoid all impropriety and appearance of impropriety. “The test for appearance of impropriety is whether the conduct would create in reasonable minds a perception that the judge’s ability to carry out judicial responsibilities with integrity, impartiality and competence is impaired.”

Evidently, Sammie’s test for impropriety is only applicable if it doesn’t jeapordize profitability. (A moral code ((imean… lack thereof)shared by neocons worldwide).

With friends like these, who needs enemies?!!

No one contends that Alito violated an applicable proscription. The Democrats contend only that he violated a purported “promise” he made in his confirmation hearing 15 years ago that he would recuse himself during the “initial period” of his judgeship from cases involving Vanguard. No rule governing federal appellate judges required recusal.

Despite not having initially recused himself (from a three-judge panel that issued a unanimous decision), Alito did subsequently recuse himself. The appeal was reargued before a different panel, which unanimously reached the same decision as Alito’s panel. No one can claim to have been damaged by Alito’s actions.

Having found Alito’s career completely free of any ethical violations, the Democrats were reduced to fabricating the Vanguard recusal “issue.” Americans saw the Democrats’ tactic for what it was: a contemptible smear.

As a result, Alito will soon be sitting on the U.S. Supreme Court. Nice job, donkeys.

Comment by TheRef #92

b’Ref’t (of any intelligence),

Why not spend more time with people your own intellectual age…like your kids…

#59 – I understand very well what the thread purports to be about. I simply corrected what appeared to be a (very) widely held here misconception of what people think they are ranting about. When I feel the need to increase my ignorance I come here! Kinda like watching cartoons. It makes me laugh to see so many people getting so worked up based on such flimsy reasoning. Please don’t stop though! Then I’d have to join my kids watching Naruto!

Vanguard was a named defendant. While you term it as a dispute as to two different private parties other that Vanguard, it also affects whether Vanguard has the money or not. Maharaj was trying to take it out.

More facts: Alito does not own stock in Vanguard. Vanguard is not a publicly traded company. Alito owns shares in Vanguard mutual funds, which are widely-diversified portfolios.

From here:

Federal judicial ethics rules permit judges to rule on cases involving some mutual funds in which they have a stake, but not those in which shares convey an ownership interest in the fund. The Vanguard Fund describes itself as owned by the “fund’s shareholders” in its corporate literature, Flym and Maharaj argue.

Cheers,

Comment by Gus the Loving OBGYN #78

I-Triflina*s-I #3 and Byle #85

I hope you understand the nature of Gus’ post…

If your, ignorant, insignificant, powerless, trifling inbred a*ses (or your worthless progeny and kin) ever have to sue a huge corporation for some negligent act or harmful product, Alito’s going to stick his long arm of the law right up your sorry, know nothing a*ses…

He’s not for you, unless you happen to head multinational corporations, or are a member of the wealthy elitist class…

In other words, you’re celebrating the ascension of the plutocratic court, which will deleteriously affect your individual constitutional rights…

Inbred picture language versions of this message available upon request…

They seem to be a lot younger and more stupid than usual.

Comment by I-RIGHT-I #3

I-’dsaysomethingsmartbutmymouthisfullabushba*ls-I,

Other than another pathetic opportunity to declare to this forum that “you’ve won”, please explain to us EXACTLY WHAT it is you’ll have gained personally from an Alito seat on the SC?

This is accepted practice by the legal community, who’s opinion’s actually matter… unlike the dunce Think Progress.

Alito is getting confirmed. Think Progress has failed. I’m laughing at you.

Comment by RightPunch

Don’t you know you represent a small minority of radical losers? The disconnect is all yours. Tragedy is the stock and trade of the progressive as history has clearly proven. The fact that you dipshits can’t win an election should tell you something.

He’s a very smart person who probably does a good job at his current status.

I object to him going to a higher status because he has shown, by his writings & rulings, that he isn’t mainstream. He supports Executive Branch tyranny, something that even libertarian republicans now distrust (including us progressives). He’s willing to be an activist judge from the extreme right wing. He wants to overturn a womans right to the birth control of her choosing.

Now, those grounds alone are all I need to say he isn’t fit to sit on my supreme court. I don’t need reichtwingnuts to agree with me over this point. So, you all who support him, tell us why he deserves to sit.

I cannot give you a Reason WHY he should sit, given the record, A groupie would find no reason other than hes ONE of their OWN, which is the opposite of democracy at its core. Sure Mr. Alitos has his opinions, we all do.

I ask Mr Alito this.
“If you, Mr. Alito, you had not been a Part of these groups, as many have, then is it likely you would have attained the positions that you have? That is, had you stayed ‘Soverign’, would you be here today?
If a Judge judges each case on its own Merit, then wouldnt the Best judges be soverign?

It doesnt really matter, this is just TV hype anyway, they already know what they are going to vote before this even started.
WWF Congress.
Why even watch it?

He’s a very smart person who probably does a good job at his current status.

I object to him going to a higher status because he has shown, by his writings & rulings, that he isn’t mainstream. He supports Executive Branch tyranny, something that even libertarian republicans now distrust (including us progressives). He’s willing to be an activist judge from the extreme right wing. He wants to overturn a womans right to the birth control of her choosing.

Now, those grounds alone are all I need to say he isn’t fit to sit on my supreme court. I don’t need reichtwingnuts to agree with me over this point. So, you all who support him, tell us why he deserves to sit.

That’ll get us a whole lot farther than calling each other names. Mind you, I really thing that flaming liberals is why many of the reichtwingnutz come here. Their ego’s are infantile and they can feel big.

Group Thinkers for sure, yet groups expose themselves. Of course all these Think-Tanks, Falwellians, PACS are Funded by the Same ILK, or ‘Faith Based’ Dupes. The Me-Me groups of DiemoCreeps And Rethuglicans never hedge a Bet.

Ahh to be a Moderate..Isnt that eventually, where you ‘PARTY’ thinkers will be after another few Decades? Your Opinions split you, divide you, and the Herd Moves on, Grazing on the Foolish.
Bias Free and peaceful.

I do not laugh at you, but with you. I do not cry for you, but with you. I dont live for you, but cannot live without you.

Whatever shall we do? =)