BREAKING: Specter Stonewalls on Concerned Alumni of Princeton Docs
BREAKING: Specter Stonewalls on Concerned Alumni of Princeton Docs
Just now, Sen. Kennedy requested that Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter issue a subpoena to the Library of Congress for documents related to the right-wing group Concerned Alumni of Princeton, of which Alito was a member. The documents contain “clipping files, background information, correspondence and memoranda, financial records, fund-raising material, lists of supporters, minutes of meetings, issues and other items.” The documents are critical because Alito now claims he can’t remember anything about his involvement with the group.
Specter refused to rule on the request, claiming it’s the first time the request had even been made. Actually, Sen. Kennedy sent a letter on December 22 making the request:
It is likely that a formal request for access directly from you on behalf of the Committee would be received with more cooperation than the CRS has received so far, and we urge you to make such a request as soon as possible.
The letter was also reported widely by the Associated Press.
When Kennedy noted that he had sent the letter, Specter replied that there is a big difference between “sending” a letter and someone “receiving” it. He then banged his gavel loudly.
UPDATE: Sen. Kennedy just introduced Specter’s reply to his December 22 letter into the record. So there is proof that Specter did get the letter.
UPDATE II — VIDEO: We’ve got the video of the heated exchange. Watch it in Quicktime streaming here.
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It was a pretty hot conversation. I want to see the docs now, for sure.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:03 pmI don’t think Specter stonewalled. He was trying to save face, though.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:04 pmI hate to post again, but Grassly and Hatch are f*cking stooges. What a joke.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:07 pmTotally! Bring ‘em On!
Why is that these right wing judges all belonged to some nutjob group in college and then try to deny it later?
He was really proud of it back in ‘85! Not so proud now that America won’t stand for that kind of bigotry!
January 11th, 2006 at 1:08 pmThese documents seem on the surface to be a trivial matter…There must be something to them… it never surprises me when the “bombshell” lies in something that seems to be of little importance…I look for a big fight from all sides over these documents…
January 11th, 2006 at 1:08 pmWow, I wonder if that bitch slap left a red hand print on Specters face. Which also begs the question, did specter turn the other cheek, like Jesus would have?
January 11th, 2006 at 1:08 pmI missed it, Spudge! Damn! I’m not near a radio!
January 11th, 2006 at 1:11 pmJust goes to show how absolutely fair Arlen has been all along doesn’t it. Impeach the bastards while we still have a country left.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:11 pmArlen’s website is currently down….that asshole is trying to hide information on a known/acting racist and misogynist so that he can put his PARTY BEFORE COUNTRY in charge of the most powerfuk court in the land. UNBELIEVABLE!
January 11th, 2006 at 1:14 pmcorrection….’powerful’….sorry about the spelling…I am bit pissed off.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:15 pmJudd,
We need the video of Kennedy laying the smack down with Specters reply. I know this stuff is going on as I type and I don’t mean to rush you, but please please please post that video as well. This CAP stuff is HUGE!!!!
Thanks.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:22 pma little off topic, but regarding these “hearings”:
why is everyone focusing on abortion when that was part of how the dems lost recent elections…why is not the primal focus on: Alito telling Congress that he would not sit in on Vanguard cases, then after the fact, sitting on those very cases and not denying it, but trying to justify it and rationalize it…he lied, he went back on his word to congress, and he doesn’t see a problem with it…as a direct result, how can he be trusted to sit on the highest court, NEXT NOMINEE
January 11th, 2006 at 1:24 pmSo at worst, Alito is a lying bigot. At best, he is an opportunistic resume padder!!
January 11th, 2006 at 1:24 pmTo be fair, Kennedy introduced the response by Spector’s staff, not by Spector himself. It’s entirely possible that the chairman is clueless about what’s going on in his office (and probably senile to boot), and not necessarily a liar.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:28 pmDutchess,
I guess lying and resume padding is just to inconsequential, with this current administration leading countries into fake wars, and presidents (and govoners) ignoring laws since they are in a top post, what’s a little fluff to a resume, many people have done it (though they never ran for public office or appointment)
here are some stats from Congress (not including resume fluff):
36 have been accused of spousal abuse
January 11th, 2006 at 1:33 pm7 have been arrested for fraud
19 have been accused of writing bad checks
117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
3 have done time for assault
71, repeat 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
8 have been arrested for shoplifting
21 currently are defendants in lawsuits. and
84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year
Looks like the left’s witch hunt is backfiring. Wake me when Alito is on the Court and Ginsburg kicks off.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:34 pmGrassly and Hatch are f*cking stooges
Call it typecasting, but IMO they’re two of the more likely candidates for Ned Beatty’s role in the remake of Deliverance. They’ll have to beat Cheney and Rove first, however, and that won’t be easy.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:34 pmOoh, did you “bang your gavel,” luv? Cheeky!
January 11th, 2006 at 1:34 pmGood grief, what’s the POINT of being “fair,” saying Spector may not be a liar??? I honestly can’t believe this.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:36 pmOnly a liberal could get this excited over a hearing where all parties know going in how each member will vote. You people need a life. Try getting out a little more.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:36 pm#18 – does it make you feel better to say things like that. The only people taking it from behind will be you folks when Bush get two more Court appointments with a GOP senate. Then, you really will be squealing.!!!
January 11th, 2006 at 1:38 pmrc,
Considering that you are posting here or even care what we think, points the finger right back at you. You get a life and get out more.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:39 pmThe process has really broken down when Specter can say, “Well, I’m the chairman and I do what I want! So nah nah nah.”
January 11th, 2006 at 1:45 pmSmack dat azz, SPUDGE!!! I guess rc didn’t learn from the azz whoopin’ that Arlen just received???
Hahahahahahahaha
January 11th, 2006 at 1:46 pmSpudge_boy
I realize that “Kennedy laying the smack down with Specters reply” is possibly the highlight of your life and you probably will have an erection over it the rest of the week, but I was just pointing out that this entire process is a joke. Try saying it with me: Justice Samuel Alito. Justice Samuel Alito. Hope you get used to it.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:47 pmDid Alito LIE? That is a valid question. He is under oath. No one likes lying under oath – RIGHT?
Did he LIE? There is now evidence that he may have. Of COURSE that is important, and obviously would constitute “extraordinary circumstances” if demonstrated. And of COURSE the Committee must fully explore it.
Thank you, Senator Kennedy.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:47 pmChris in Az. Is this laundry list your provide an attempt to excuse Specter’s stonewalling, or Alito’s duplicity?
Isn’t this duplicity and stonewalling lay right at the heart of what has corroded the Republican party? Isn’t Alito’s duplicity the very essense of “Rove/Dubya-ism?”
“If you can’t get that job, lie and lie bigger if necessary, pad your resume’, obfuscate, plagurize, don’t worry our guys will cover for you!”
Alito does not deserve to be on the court if the bigs have to stonewall and hide this man’s past, period!
Reject if possible, filibuster if necessary.
America deserves better.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:48 pmGrassly and Hatch are f*cking stooges
In the popular political venacular, they are Constitutional “girly men.” But then the conservative political movement in the USA was for the Constitution before they were against it.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:51 pmBoilerman,
January 11th, 2006 at 1:53 pmYes this country deserves much better, my point is that resume padding will never get any play with the culture of corruption is so deep and wide spread, resume padding won’t get you any time in the pen, these guys examing alito are the real crooks, they have done the real time, and probably have the tattoos to prove it….my point earlier was to make the GOP say they are supporting a liar who goes back on his word, and lies to congress not someone “whose personal beliefs in abortion are not reflected on the bench since he has never regulated from the bench” (which is bullshit, but harder to prove)
That comment by Chris in AZ about Congress members and crimes is an on-going canard.
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/congress.htm
January 11th, 2006 at 1:53 pmAt least Sen. Specter didn’t gavel, get up and leave like that clown, Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Sen. Specter allowed Sen. Kennedy to sprinkle a little baby powder on his hand before he smacked Specter across the face.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:54 pmYou people are morons. Specter is your only hope of derailing me. If you piss on him, he’ll clearly side wiht the GOP and confirm me to the Court.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:00 pmSen. Specter as a young lawyer helped to cover-up the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, when he worked for the Warren Commission, so there is bad blood between him and Sen. Ted Kennedy!
As for Judge Alito: Specter will do everything he can to help him and hide important documents as well!
The Confirmation Hearing is just a SHAM anyways!
January 11th, 2006 at 2:00 pmChris – Re moral turpitude in congress: http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/congress.htm
January 11th, 2006 at 2:01 pmAny good lawyer knows what’s in evidence before it’s introduced. Can’t wait till the Sh** hits the fan!
January 11th, 2006 at 2:02 pmApparently this C.A.P. group is anti-women, anti-black/minorities, and was proudly so twenty years ago. I doubt Alito could have “forgotten” everything about the club. Specter’s reaction only makes the point more important.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:06 pmCheck the LATimes today for a CAP expert who was going to provide information on Thursday (character depositions).
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-dujack11jan11,0,746540.story
Ouch. Seemed to me as a once bad kid who tried to get out from under the accusations of moritfied parents when my deeds were plainly discovered, Mr. Spector just leapt and turned red as if someone had mentioned ” back-and-to-the-left” , another subject he’s a bit sensitive about .
Spector doesn’t want those boxes spread out on the table since the Judge who owns them wants them controlled away from prying partisans …this means there is a black and white newspaper clipping of Alito laughing drunk in front of 4 nude guys with hitler ’stashes on , making Zeig Heil salutes in front of a confederate flag.
I certainly don’t Know there is , but neither does Spector Know there isn’t. He isn’t going to agree to anything that might torpedo Bush’s regent, and certainly not load the tubes for Kennedy on live CSPAN…Politicians don’t you know ?
January 11th, 2006 at 2:07 pmHe better have a damn good reason why not to allow the vote and Kennedy will be back untill they do . Problem is the Dems are outnumbered in the vote and even the mod Repugs , which there aren’t any, don’t want that New England Commie to see in those boxes .It will be a heckuva scrap , untill Graham spends the night going through the boxes and nods to Spector they are ’safe’ and don’t have any naz-o-frat pics to embarras anyone.
Alito lied under oath yesterday. He said he recused himself in the Vanguard case. He didn’t.
Alito is a LIAR!
January 11th, 2006 at 2:07 pmonce alito gets confirmed, because the bastard is going to sneak through, mark my words, we will debating with the trolls why presidents need term limits…some future troll talking points:
January 11th, 2006 at 2:08 pm1. Bush needs more time to push his agenda
2. no one can keep america as safe as Bush
3. if we want to keep receiving tax cuts, vote for Bush in 08
4. Iraq is almost won and to change a war time president during a war will send the wrong message to terrorist
5. if Clinton could, he would have ran a third term
6. Congress gave me the authorization to run for 3rd term when they let me go to war
#16 chris from arizona–
Now how many of those criminals have been put in jail…they are domestic terrorists and should therefore be immediately arrested by capitol police and sent on a rendition flight to Abu gharaib..immediately
vote libertarian—outlaw the IRS
January 11th, 2006 at 2:10 pmpathetic…you can’t oppose him using any rational or germane issues so you have to resort to brief, two-decades-old sentences Alito wrote about three-decades-old events and tut-tutting about “inconsistencies”.
But by all means…more stridency, please. Mr. and Mrs. Middle Americans can almost hear you…just a little louder with the cries of “LIAR!” or “RACIST!” and I’m sure they’ll be convinced.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:12 pmthanks all, I have read the article, and will definately discuss this with who passed on the bogus congress info
January 11th, 2006 at 2:13 pmCan’t remember- Can’t recall,– Just wondering what else he can’t seem to remember. “Bring em on, LOL”
January 11th, 2006 at 2:15 pmAs a possible clarification, the term ‘Concerned’ in some cases represents the phrase ‘KKK,’ as in ‘Concerned Citizen’s Council’ (CCC = KKK), which itself was previously the ‘White Citizen’s Council.’
Specter is facing the narrow gate. He hasn’t got much time left to get right with the Lord. Lying in service to a coup is NOT the right stuff.
Covering up for racism is NOT the right stuff.
We don’t have the votes for impeachment, but we do have the power of scandal. Bush Must Resign.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:15 pmWhat I don’t get is why the CAP file at the Library of Congress requires a subpoena? Can’t Kennedy just send a staffer over to get them? The purpose of the LoC is supposed to be to provide a research resource for Congress, and these aren’t classified documents (unless Bush has suddenly declared them so).
January 11th, 2006 at 2:16 pmWhile interesting, I don’t get something fundamental:
Why does Kennedy have to ask Specter to ask the Library of Congress for documents?
Anybody can ask the Library of Congress for documents, as far as I am aware. Can’t Kennedy just get them himself, read them, then say “look at this”?
January 11th, 2006 at 2:16 pm“vote libertarian—outlaw the IRS”
Oh, yeah, that fairy dust is the solution. Number of libertarians in federal power? ZERO. Possibility of outlawing the IRS? ZERO.
You’re batting a thousand.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:18 pmOne thing that makes me cringe when I read or hear it is when someone says “the Iraq War”. People, WE ARE NOT AT WAR! There is no Declaration of WAR from Congress. We are fighting a conflict and we invaded a country, but we are not at WAR. Not leagally at least.
It’s like the “War on Terror”, “War on Drugs”, “War on (you fill in the blank)”.
Please stop saying we are at WAR. This one word only muddies the water and lends support to Bush. I wish we could get the media to stop using the damn word as well. The Administration uses this one word to claim that they have WARTIME powers and that the constitution gives him the authority. By removing this one word, we can KILL his claim that he has WARTIME powers. One last time, WE ARE NOT AT WAR!
January 11th, 2006 at 2:18 pmChris in AZ:
Exactly correct. As AMERICAblog mentioned , just admit you want single party rule and a rump parliament under King. Just admit it.
The trolls do all the time by minimizing and justifying abuses of power and baffling misreading of staute. ( John Yoo…oh , yoo-hoo!) the end result of which is Single Party Dominance free of Electoral Meddling. Why else would they support total power of the executive if they had any intention of suffering under it under Hillary or Biden or ..heh , Dean…? Hmmm? They can only support total watpower executive if , as Geobble said ” …Have no intention of returning power in the manner we aquired it ”
Other wise , they’d be putting Bush in the dock themselves for so gracelessly endangering the agenda.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:18 pmHey IraqVet,
I so want to see the second video of Specter getting the smack down. I want to see the look on his face and hear the reaction.
Let’s see, why would Arlen Specter not want to read a letter from a ranking Senator and a fellow member of the House Judicary Committee? Because they don’t want those documents brought into these hearings.
Oops, too late.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:20 pm#43 tomaig – Vanguard Recusal = Lie
Lying under oath sure was a big deal when a guy named Clinton was accussed of it…
Who’s shrill now?
January 11th, 2006 at 2:20 pmWhy is something in 1984 such a big deal here? When the Swift Boaters came out against Kerry, wasn’t the rallying cry something about the past is not the present? There’s an awful lot of doublespeak and hypocrisy here from both sides dragging up events of more than 20 years ago. I know 20 years ago I did some dumb stuff that I’m not proud of, and I know damn well there are things I did 20 years ago that I don’t remember at all.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:21 pmwhy do you trolls even come here? You try to put us down and act like you bitch slapped us but really….your ego’s and lives are so pathetic that you have to come her to publically mental masturbate? Sad, that is really sad.
Chris from AZ – if Clinton could have run for a 3rd term, he’d have won so that it wouldn’t have mattered that Florida was stolen by the “honorable” republican party with the help of the Supreme Court.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:21 pmDamn! Specter just got served. :)
January 11th, 2006 at 2:22 pm“once alito gets confirmed, because the bastard is going to sneak through, mark my words, we will debating with the trolls why presidents need term limits”
You’re right, Chris. The 22nd Amendment is TOAST.
As with most coups, they don’t leave power except when FORCED to.
• Read the Conyers Report (’Constitution in Crisis’), which documents fourteen major federal crimes by the Bushoviks.
The wheels are coming off the Clown Bus.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:22 pmthat IS funny. tomaig is now upset that someone is “Swift Boating”….ha ha. Where were you in 2004? Voting for the dickhead in chief I’ll bet. & your honor is where?
January 11th, 2006 at 2:24 pm“I did 20 years ago that I don’t remember at all.” –Libertarian
You aren’t applying for a lifetime appointment to our highest court. It’s a slightly higher bar than remembering to go to the Stop & Shop for more beer.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:25 pmbtw – alioto won’t become a SCOTUS.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:25 pmKennedy already knows what’s in the Library Of Congress records, (refer to #37)He’s doing what’s called,
January 11th, 2006 at 2:26 pm“Grandstanding”
What’s with the personal attacks? I asked a valid question. Why belabor something that happened before some of you were even born? It’s ridiculous to attack this man’s past, but then cover up the drunken murderer Kennedy’s past, or the idiot Bush’s military past. Both sides are hypocrites here, and I just want to move on. Maybe if the Senators would ask some questions, I could see Alito’s answers. Right now I watch 20 minutes of Senators (right and left) mumble through a prepared statement with no questions and then get 2 or 3 minutes of Alito’s reply before they launch back in again, either defending or attacking him. I just want some damn questions asked and answered. I don’t want political rhetoric from either side.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:26 pmWow, I’d hate to play Ted Kennedy at Texas Hold ‘Em. To sit there while Specter grandstanded about not having received a letter, and not challenge him immediately was very adroitly played. Man, that makes Specter look like an idiot. Gotta love it. Could this be the first chink in the armor?
January 11th, 2006 at 2:27 pmA.Scott,
January 11th, 2006 at 2:31 pmA very astute way of putting what I was trying to get at…this appointment is the last step, all the pieces have fallen in place…granted they have gotten a little gruff along the way (which is to be expected) they have not been close to being stopped, regardless of:
treason = outing plame, lying to get invoilved in the iraq conflict (a nod to removebush), and possibly being involved in the 9/11 attacks
incompetence = most staffing positions are based on aligence, not aptitude
lying = in most arguments made to support their actions, as well as in thier recollection of past events
despite all of these BLATANT acts, they are still going forward with gutting the democracy and creating a dictatorship not opened to dissent, truth/facts, or any of the other foundations this country was built on…and those who complained, you guessed it: wackos and terrorist sympathizers, down is up, bad is good, and 1984 came 20 years later (a close guess though)
Sign the petition to stop the confirmation of Alito, and more.
Yeah … because confirmation is by citizen popular vote now?
January 11th, 2006 at 2:33 pmI AM BACK — the herpes is clear and my hiney is shiney. Come over here you big green gorilla and make my cheeks whistle again. You are so pretty. DEAN in ‘08!!!!
January 11th, 2006 at 2:34 pmHere’s a question to ask at the START of the hearings:
Judge, at what age do you think one becomes responsible for his/her actions so that they become part of his/her permanent record of life-events that he/she must then be responsible for?
I think the dems need to change the way they operate in these hearings…..they could make opening statements if they wished but should leave the questioning up to their legal counsel….someone who could probe and pick with much better precision than the senators do.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:34 pm“WE ARE NOT AT WAR!” –RemoveBush
The word game isn’t going to save us. We are at war, as we were at war in Vietnam. There is no other word for it, though I prefer to say the ‘illegal Iraq invasion.’
However, this is one of the laws the Bush WHIG has violated (the War Powers Act):
The balance is here: http://wiretap.area.com/Gopher/Gov/warpower.act
The power of Congress to restrain the Executive has never been solidified, though this law, and the clear intent of the Constitution, makes runaway executives illegal. But just changing a word is not going to solve this problem.
Justice Alito will surely side with the unconstitutionality of the War Powers Act. It would be great if he wasn’t given the chance, but regrettably this too will be poked in our collective eye.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:35 pm[...] to Kennedy’s request to subpoena Concerned Alumni of Princeton documents, as soon as Kennedy returns to the hearings. 2:34 pm | Comment (0) [...]
January 11th, 2006 at 2:36 pmEveryone Remember, Bush could not pull off these activities by himself. We have to get every possible Republican out of office. We have to!!
They are all in this together and their primary goal is power and control. We don’t stand a chance and our children certainly won’t have a chance in life if we stand back and let this continue.
Specter is just another lying spec in the wheel. They will lie, cheat and steal to maintain their control and destruction.
My hat’s off to Senator Kennedy for standing up against the Bush rogues once again. He stood before the Senate and told of being in the room when the admin and others were planning a war and that Iraq did not have WMD’s. They called him a liar and tried to intimidate him into silence.
He is one of the very few who has the balls to stand up to them. Wonder why?
January 11th, 2006 at 2:36 pmThis is why I always give to every cause Ted Kennedy ask me to, this is why he always has my total support, always. He is the only one with balls.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:37 pmAn earlier post beat me to it. As a staffer for the Warren Commission Arlen Spector invented the “magic bullet theory” to buttress the official story that Oswald fired three shots and was the lone gunman in the JFK assassination.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:37 pmAny way we can get a copy of Specter’s reply letter? I’m just hoping it wasn’t a form letter that his office sent back automatically. This will only remain interesting if it has content that show Specter actually read (then ignored) Kennedy’s letter.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:37 pmWE ARE NOT AT WAR! There is no Declaration of WAR from Congress.
Please see Vietnam War, Korean War … not “formally” declared either but certainly “wars”.
It’s like the “War on Terrorâ€, “War on Drugsâ€, “War on (you fill in the blank)â€.
No … it’s like Vietnam war.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:37 pmCould we get a link to the record of Specter’s response letter?
January 11th, 2006 at 2:39 pmI know 20 years ago I did some dumb stuff that I’m not proud of,
Comment by Libertarian — January 11, 2006 @ 2:21 pm
Then you disavow it, stating your new position clearly and without pussyfooting around the issue.
and I know damn well there are things I did 20 years ago that I don’t remember at all.
It’s a whole different problem when you have documents to remind you of the things you did. Again, if you have changed your mind just say so.
The questions asked by the Senators to Alito are relevant in that Alito has not stated any change of opinion since he wrote those documents. He might not remember specifics, but you can be sure he remembers the overall content, as well as the political leanings of Concerned Alumni of Princeton. Your defence is bogus.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:39 pmI had never heard of CAP till these hearings, I dont know what good a subpoena would do, but as long as the Senator feels he desires one, and it is within the scope of the commitees pervue, then by all means.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:39 pmIt is relevent for advise & consent because Cap is referenced in a “job application”. It is a paradox to me when the nominee can recall case law over decades yet, cant recall this, so…if he cant remeber, and inquiring minds (who have authorty to issue a subpoena0 want to know….?
You’re right, Chris. The 22nd Amendment is TOAST.
This belief seems to be of the “tinfoil hat” variety … where in the world did you conjure that from?
January 11th, 2006 at 2:40 pmOh! The sadist in me wonders how the “most qualified” person in the country for the Supreme Court, Harriet Meirs, would have fared in these hearings.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:40 pm“cover up the drunken murderer Kennedy’s past,”
Even if Kennedy had ever been brought to court, it is clear that his actions on that night were not murder but manslaughter. Laura Bush is also guilty of manslaughter.
Bush has MURDERED tens of thousands of innocent people, including a great number of children. But racists don’t care about their lives.
Neither of the manslaughter issues is pertinent to the current discussion, and yet you introduce them, while WHINING about personal attacks.
Hilarious.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:42 pmno “Libertarian ” , the outcry wasn’t ever about the past staying in the past . The outcry re Swifites is that it was a pack of lies , propelled by a professional deceiver and Kerry Investigator under Nixon who eats feces for breakfast. ( Nixon , you will remember , was a criminal who brought disgrace to the White House)
Nothing the swiftboaters said was true , and what they lied about actually in truth made Kerry look far more solid in the eyes of those who didn’t care in the first place . You’re a hot air spewing dupe. Unfit for Duty written by Islamofascity Looneytune published by Bob Novaks Son!Nothing partisan here !
More stormtroops blaring against self interest in favor of state power .
January 11th, 2006 at 2:42 pm#43, do you mean the scant 34% of “Mr. & Mrs. Middle Americans” that think Alito should be confirmed? Because, I believe the last poll taken indicated a majority of Americans would oppose Alito’s confirmation if he overturns Roe (which he most certainly would … let’s not be coy about it). We’re not “crying” anything that most Americans don’t already know.
“Inconsistencies”? “Two Decades Old” sentences? I’m sure you weren’t dismissing the SwiftBoaters with the same kind of derision that you’re using now … you’re the one with the “inconsistencies” here. If Alito is lying then the American public and Congress have the right – no, the duty – to find out. This is a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land, for God’s sake.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:43 pmThen you disavow it, stating your new position clearly and without pussyfooting around the issue.
Are you watching … he said he didn’t remember being an active member of the group (but that his membership likely stemmed from his desire to protect ROTC on campus) and then he said that he does NOT adhere to the groups philosophys as stated by Senator Kennedy (the racist, sexist comments).
January 11th, 2006 at 2:43 pmThis CAP thing is rather interesting but yeally it will not stop A-lie-TO. he gave himself so much wiggle room that even if they were to find something that was untowrd as to his replies the Repubs would still vote for him by saying oh that was just the irrespnsible behaviour of youth and the reason Alie To couldn’t remember any of it was because he was so ashamed of his behaviour that he didn’t want his mommy to find out!
Sorry to say this but A-lie-to is going to pass and sit unless the dems do a filibuster and with Quisling LIEberman and popinjay Biden sculking around the halls of the Senate we really have no chance to stop this fiasco of an appointment but rather we should start preparing for the next election so that this won’t happen again. Remember the Right have been preparing for this day for thirty plus years and their machine is running on all pistons right now!
January 11th, 2006 at 2:44 pm“You’re right, Chris. The 22nd Amendment is TOAST.
This belief seems to be of the “tinfoil hat†variety” –Giacomo
I know, I know, the people who cling to this ‘tinfoil’ slur haven’t yet figured out that this is a COUP. It really is quite amazing how resilient people’s illusions are.
The constitutionality of the 22nd Amendment can be overruled by a packed SCOTUS in ten minutes. ESPECIALLY during ‘time of war.’
Don’t kid yourself, is my advice. FIGHT!
January 11th, 2006 at 2:48 pm“we should start preparing for the next election”
If you aren’t already preparing NOW for a legal election in your state, you WON’T HAVE ONE.
Thirty states lost their recount rights in 1999. What is the status of YOUR state’s right to recount?
You may not realize it, but you have NO STATUTORY RIGHT to vote for president.
Blaming the Dems for not having enough votes to stop a nominee to the Court after the vote-fraud is not productive. What you need to work on is REPUBLICAN PATRIOTS who don’t want their country fully converted into a Duchy.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:53 pm#
WE ARE NOT AT WAR! There is no Declaration of WAR from Congress.
Please see Vietnam War, Korean War … not “formally†declared either but certainly “warsâ€.
It’s like the “War on Terrorâ€, “War on Drugsâ€, “War on (you fill in the blank)â€.
No … it’s like Vietnam war.
Comment by Giacomo — January 11, 2006 @ 2:37 pm
You do realize that we did not start these or invade the country? We assisted the opposing party. Yes it was a WAR, but we were aiding and assisting. We did not START THESE WARS. We STARTED THIS CONFLICT.
Your points are baseless… You need to really consider going back to school, but this is how smart the Republican part really is. This is the reason our country is on the verge of being taken over by other countries and Americans being put into a Sadam type leadership.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:53 pmI asked a valid question. Why belabor something that happened before some of you were even born? It’s ridiculous to attack this man’s past, but then cover up the drunken murderer Kennedy’s past, or the idiot Bush’s military past.
Comment by Libertarian #62
Liberache,
Kennedy isn’t the SC nominee, and you should’ve asked that lame a*s question BEFORE you voted for that Al Cracka sombich Bushiva…
People are the sum total of their past experiences sh*thead…
Play pu*sy here you get f**ked…
Now run along and play with your stupid a*sed inbred siblimgs!
January 11th, 2006 at 2:54 pmAgain with the personal attacks. Jeez. I just asked a question. Calm down. Everything doesn’t have to drip with vitriol. I just want to hear what the next SCOTUS Justice has to say. I hate to break it to you, but short of an actual nailed down confession that he hates blacks and women, he’ll probably be confirmed. The GOP is threatening the nuclear option, and I’m scared they’re serious this time.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:54 pmI’m getting a paranoid ‘flash’ here–what if the Dems whip up a frenzy about Alito and CAP and ‘draw the line’ that they can’t possibly let a vote happen until there’s full disclosure of the documents–and then the documents are a dud? That’s the kind of trap Rove&Co seem too-deviously able to concoct. The Dems would then look foolish, Alito will look wrongly abused. The momentum would swing towards confirmation. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is meant to shift discussion away from Vanguard, etc., or some unknown skeleton.
But then again, whatever else you might say about him, I don’t think Kennedy is one to fall for such a trap–my guess is, an organization like CAP is not so secret that it can only be known from those documents. I’m gonna cross my fingers and hope Kennedy knows what he’s going after and gets it before those documents are some how shrouded by an ‘executive priviledge’ of one sort or another.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:55 pm“No … it’s like Vietnam war.”– Giacomo
Yeah, but don’t ignore the War Powers Resolution, which was passed in order to stop Vietnams from happening.
The WPR is law. the Bush WHIG is ignoring it.
Any historical view which doesn’t observe the changes in law since those instances is faulty.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:55 pmTo stepehn: I actually think you may be wrong regarding the importance of CAP to this process. Everything I have ever heard about CAP suggests that it published a whole lot of really sexist, racist, elitist material and espoused an awful lot of views that most Americans would find repugnant. If much of this gets aired, and especially if Alito can be even a little more closely tied to it (notice he’s still not actually denying greater involvement, just saying he can’t recall it and that if he was more involved he thinks he would remember), it’s going to turn off a lot of people who didn’t have much feeling on this. Still not a huge impact in terms of the actual shift, but I think there are a handful of Republicans who might think twice about overturning a filibuster to install on the Supreme Court a man many of their constituents think is a big old racist and sexist? It may not be much, but it won’t take much to do it. But I do agree it’ll take a filibuster. And Dems need to have the nerve to pull the trigger.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:56 pm#88 Then you must have been beaten and sworn at as a child. The foul language doesn’t help you get your point across.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:56 pmAlito IS a liar, tomegg. But you chimpylovers don’t care. You support crooks.
Kennedy didn’t get the LoC docs because they’re private papers and the owner must give permission.
Dubya is a NAZI.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:56 pm#
WE ARE NOT AT WAR! There is no Declaration of WAR from Congress.
Please see Vietnam War, Korean War … not “formally†declared either but certainly “warsâ€.
It’s like the “War on Terrorâ€, “War on Drugsâ€, “War on (you fill in the blank)â€.
No … it’s like Vietnam war.
Comment by Giacomo — January 11, 2006 @ 2:37 pm
You realize that these Wars were not started by us and we were particiapants in them ONLY. We were there to assist the side we felt would take the country into a positive direction.
Unlike the Iraq Conflict, where we invaded and started. These are completely different cases and are not even closely related. You really need to go back to school and learn a few things, but then again this is the mentality of the Republicans.
Try to base your comments on factual information. Yes these two conflicts were wars, but they were wars that we went into to aid or assist. Geeze.
January 11th, 2006 at 2:57 pmRight on Ted,
Kick ‘em in their empty sacs…
These inbred, Bushba*lickinscumotheearth Republiscum rubber stamps should ALL be hanged for treason…
They hate American democracy, freedom, diversity and decency…
They long for a totalitarian state run by a single god-like dictator Bushiva and his plutocratic cronies…
The people have to rise up and smite these sick, racist, hypocritical, animal fu*king traitors…
January 11th, 2006 at 2:59 pmI hate to break it to you, but short of an actual nailed down confession that he hates blacks and women, he’ll probably be confirmed.
Comment by Libertarian #89
Liberace,
You inbred pus sac, you know da*n full well that even with a full declaration of his racist leanings complete with photos of his having attended a lynching that ratbast*rd would be confirmed by the racist, right wing, Al cracka bushites (whom YOU helped vote into office)…
You’re playing games , and nobody’s buying it…
We can smell you pig fu*king inbred traitors through our monitors…
January 11th, 2006 at 3:05 pmWhat you need to work on is REPUBLICAN PATRIOTS who don’t want their country fully converted into a Duchy.
Comment by Paul in LA #86
Where in the he*l are you going to find any?
January 11th, 2006 at 3:08 pmDoes anyone remember that Spector came up with the magic bullet theory as a counsel for the Warren Commision? He covered up Ted’s brother’s death.
January 11th, 2006 at 3:08 pmDo people here actually like the tone big papa uses? It’s not exactly a constructive conversation since it’s peppered with useless dogma and personal attacks. It really makes you out to be extremist and intolerant. If the Democrats are just as extremist and intolerant as the Republicans, I guess I just won’t vote any more.
Yes, I voted for Bush, and I regret it every day now.
January 11th, 2006 at 3:10 pmLibertarian
January 11th, 2006 at 3:12 pmIf the Repugs can threaten the nuclear option every time a vote comes up, the filibuster is effectively dead already. Don’t you think it’s time to get your head out of your ass?
Don’t you think it’s time to get your head out of your ass?
Comment by purvis ames — January 11, 2006 @ 3:12 pm
What’s that personal attack all about? I was just saying Alito was going to be confirmed one way or the other. Didn’t say I agreed with it, but I haven’t heard the man speak enough to decide for myself.
January 11th, 2006 at 3:15 pmLibertarian,
January 11th, 2006 at 3:15 pmmaybe if you were beaten and cursed at, you’d have some basis in reality
Teddy is the damn man! Damn did he make Specter look silly. Oh and I love how Specter is now blaming it on his Chief of Staff. Didn’t Specter have this same problem a few months ago when he claimed that an appropriation earmark didn’t include money for a Japanese garden for the CDC, and then he had to admit on the floor that it actually did!
January 11th, 2006 at 3:16 pmIf the Democrats are just as extremist and intolerant as the Republicans, I guess I just won’t vote any more.
Comment by Libertarian #101
Liberache,
Thanks, and tell your kin…
January 11th, 2006 at 3:17 pmChris in AZ,
January 11th, 2006 at 3:18 pmJeez, are you always this violent? You don’t do the world any good if all you do is threaten violence.
103 , U mean while wiggling in a bit of falseity about swiftboating falsity? Don’t try and get all reasonable After your bullshit was detected. Stop employing it . And stop playing foil when you have no clue what you believe.
January 11th, 2006 at 3:20 pm#83
Giacomo,
Are you watching? Alito was responsible for getting the ROTC kicked off of the Princeton campus.
Who is anti-military now?
January 11th, 2006 at 3:20 pmbig papa,
January 11th, 2006 at 3:21 pmSo you’d rather I don’t vote than vote for Democrats? I’ve shifted view points fairly extremely since last election to the point where the centrist Democrats look to maybe get my votes.
A.Scott,
January 11th, 2006 at 3:23 pmI didn’t wiggle in falsity of the swift boat. I merely asked the question why the past is so important now and it wasn’t for Kerry.
You know, if Alito actually had changed his opinions about being in CAP, he could just say so. After all, Robert Byrd has lived down his youthful connection to the Klan (right-winger claims to the contrary) and no one assumes he still holds those views. But by obfuscating and semi-lying, trying not to have to answer for his past, Alito makes it seem that much worse. The guilty flee where no man pursueth, says the Bible.
If he once had views that he no longer holds, he should say so. If he doesn’t say so, it’s likely he still holds those views, at least to some degree. The same goes for his views on abortion. He was against Roe v. Wade, and now won’t say, so, yes, he’s still against it.
Ed
January 11th, 2006 at 3:23 pmLibertarian,
January 11th, 2006 at 3:24 pmNo, I am not, and I am not your parents or was I threatening you…you grew up with a rosy red childhood and that’s their fault you have no basis in reality…me, I got caught stealing money as a little kid for the ice cream man, and I got whooped, I got caught sneaking out a few years later, and once again, out came the broom stick…I wouldn’t say I was abused, but I won’t sit and wonder why everyone doesn’t get along
Ed,
January 11th, 2006 at 3:25 pmGood points there.
he said he didn’t remember being an active member of the group (but that his membership likely stemmed from his desire to protect ROTC on campus)
Comment by Giacomo — January 11, 2006 @ 2:43 pm
That reply is disingenuous -if he can’t remember being a member, he cannot put forth a reason of why he might have joined.
Again, when it comes to group with strong views such as the Concerned Alumni of Princeton, I find it very hard to believe Alito does not remember being a member. Let alone an active member (specially since he mentioned the CAP in his job application).
This is as ridiculous as it would be Alito claiming not to remember being a Princeton graduate because it happened over 30 years ago.
and then he said that he does NOT adhere to the groups philosophys as stated by Senator Kennedy (the racist, sexist comments).
True. He did say he didn’t agree with the views expressed in those documents. But fact remains he is still “proud of his efforts to outlaw the use of racial quotas and abortion.”
Having said all that, this is why I usually don’t post comments in any thread about Alito: I have the eery feeling he will be confirmed no matter what.
January 11th, 2006 at 3:25 pmChris in AZ,
January 11th, 2006 at 3:27 pmI wasn’t suggesting everyone get along, but the hate speech coming from big papa was excessive. And why do you assume I grew up with a rosy red childhood?
I think the hole thing smells of RECTAL CRANIAL INVERSION another words they all have their heads up their asses anyway.!
January 11th, 2006 at 3:28 pmHow can anyone trust anything that Specter says… Lets take a step back in history.
There was a young man who came up with a well known “theory” called the Magic Bullet Theory. That one bullet could inflict SEVEN wounds and still be completely intact. Who was this young man who was trying to sell the biggest lie in history??? OH YES it was Mr. Specter himself.
So you want to talk about stacking the deck to make sure your Supreme court nominees get in, put Arlen Specter at the helm of the hearings. If he can sell a Magic Bullet, maybe you can pick up the Golden Gate for a song…
January 11th, 2006 at 3:29 pmSo Specter bold faced lied about the letter! I don’t believe a thing that comes out of the mouths of conservatives. Kennedy and the American people have a right to see what is in those documents, especially when it comes to a nominee to a life time appointment!
January 11th, 2006 at 3:31 pmEd Drone,
I might agree with you regarding Byrd living down his past connections to the Klan, but EVERY time both the extreme rightwing media (FOX, CNN, MSNBC) and frequently the “less extreme rightwing” media (ABC, NBC, CBS) mention his name they append “former KKK member”. How has he lived it down? Just the same way that Ted Kennedy has lived down Chappaquiddick and Bill Clinton has lived down his hummer.
The wingnuts never let you live it down…being the party of Godly forgiveness and all.
January 11th, 2006 at 3:31 pmAlito is GOING to be CONFIRMED and there is not a thing you communistic, pacifistic, atheistic, elitist wimps, wussies and whiners can do to stop it! While its perhaps sinful of me of me to gloat, I can’t help but LOVE watching radical lefties spin themseleves into an aimless frenzy to nowhere! God forgive me. Shouldnt you at least wait until Roe, Bollinger and Lawrenece v. Texas are “aborted” (e.g., reversed and consigned to the you go postal? LOL
January 11th, 2006 at 3:41 pmmike – I hope that Alito is not nominated, but if he is then you do realize that your rights as well are going away?
One day you will be driving your car and the cops will pull you over, drag you out, search your car, and beat you with their night sticks before letting you go. You won’t have any recorse to the abuse, so what will you do then?
This senerio is not a fantasy if Alito is confirmed.
January 11th, 2006 at 3:48 pmI imagine those files over at the Congressional Library will be thoroughly scrubbed before they are delivered to the Judiciary Committee.
January 11th, 2006 at 3:49 pmLib,
The past is important. The difference with the Swiftboat and Alito is with Kerry there were truths dabbled and then twisted into an attack on a mand that served our country in war and peace and then made him out to be anti-American. Basically they used slander to reach an objective. That is using the past in the wrong way and that is the offensive part. As far as Alito is concerned his past is important because he will be sitting on the SCOTUS for life. His past affiliations, decisions, actions all need to be looked at carefully. I don’t see where you get the idea that a liberal wouldn’t think the past is important in both cases. One is important because it tippifies the use of slander by the Repugs as a ways and means and the second is important because it deals with the future of the US.
January 11th, 2006 at 3:51 pmYes, Mike, Alito probably will be confirmed. And the United States citizens will pay with some of the liberties that they now enjoy. Do you love watching the U.S. go down the tubes because of that lying bastard bush? Can’t you see what is happening to this country? It appears that people like you are closed-minded. Now I wonder why I went to Vietnam all those years ago. I bet you support the Iraq war. Are you a chickenhawk?
January 11th, 2006 at 3:52 pmmike, you’re a silly boy. You have NO CLUE how serious the situation is, as long as you can drink your beers watch your football and play your video games and they keep piping Rush Limbaugh into your empty head….everything will be fine. Go back to sleep, we’ll wake you when the nightmare is over.
January 11th, 2006 at 3:53 pmCNN has a great picture of Specter walking past Kennedy. Of course, CNN is so stupid as to suggest that it’s not clear who is telling the truth. Ah CNN – it is clear. Specter lied.
January 11th, 2006 at 3:55 pmKENNEDY: CAP publishes a magazine called Prospect. There was an article way back in 1983 that says
bLacks, hispanics and asians are demanding jobs…hickup
FEINSTEIN: Finish the last line.
KENNEDY: Hickup…the last line…and homosexuals demand the right to bear children…hickup
FEINSTEIN: Finish the last line!
KENNEDY: What? Oh, the last line.
FEINSTEIN: Here comes the good part. The last line. About the women.
KENNEDY: Oh yes. The women. Judge Alito. Does Princeton have hot women.
Senator Biden says they do and he would be very concerned if his son didn’t take interest in them.
FEINSTEIN. The last line!!!!
KENNEDY: If the senator will let me just…
FEINSTEIN: Yes, I will…
(LAUGHTER)
FEINSTEIN: No, And now here come women.
KENNEDY: Where?
KENNEDY: Can I get two more minutes from my friend from…
(LAUGHTER)
Just to continue along. I apologize, Judge. Did you read this article?
ALITO: Senator, I’ve never read that maga…
KENNEDY: Well, could you think of any context that they could be…
ALITO: Hard to imagine. If that’s what anybody was endorsing, I disagree with all of that. I would
never endorse it. I never have endorsed it. Had I thought that that’s what this organization stood
for I would never associate myself with it in any way.
KENNEDY: We need a soopeener into these magazines articles that you haven’t read!!! Now Senator
Feinstein, where are the…hickup…women?
January 11th, 2006 at 3:56 pmWASHINGTON, D.C. — The conservative alumni group Concerned Alumni of Princeton (CAP) has been the subject of criticism in recent weeks, but yesterday the University itself also came under scrutiny.
Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.), who grilled Samuel Alito ‘72 about his CAP membership, also said that he “wasn’t a big Princeton fan.”
“I didn’t even like Princeton,” he said, to laughter from the gallery. “I mean, I really didn’t like Princeton. I was an Irish Catholic kid who thought it had not changed like you concluded it had,” referring to Alito’s earlier statement that Princeton had changed its traditional ways before he enrolled.
But Biden had nothing but praise for the University in a 2004 speech at the Wilson School.
“It’s an honor to be here,” he told the audience. “It would have been an even greater honor to have come here.”
Biden also said yesterday: “One of my real dilemmas is I have two kids who went to Ivy League schools. I’m not sure my Grandfather Finnegan will ever forgive me for allowing that to happen.”
But in his speech at Princeton, he said, “I have three children who have mercifully all finally completed undergraduate and graduate school. And I tried to get all three of them to apply here.”
He went on to recall how he tried to convince them to attend Princeton, but because they didn’t, he’s “counting on his grandchildren.”
January 11th, 2006 at 4:01 pmFinally a joke that Bushie could understand….
If you used brain cells to think of that they should be executed by an over indulgence of alcohol..
January 11th, 2006 at 4:01 pmLibertarian,
You seem to want answers about Alito, but if you are actually expecting this hearing to tell you anything then you are barking up the wrong tree.
Alito hasn’t and won’t answer anything. Roberts didn’t do it and the media acted like he was some sort of god for his posturing and dodging. If you get to the end of the hearings and Alito says anything that you can firmly and confidently say how he will vote, I would love to hear it.
Alito won’t give cut and dried answers to the questions we all feel are necessary to judge him. That is the problem. He should be fillibustered because he refuses to share any honest insights about how he will perform his job.
If Alito were honest he would say, ‘I will vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.’ (or the opposite in the unlikely case he would truly follow precedent) Or when asked about Bush’s NSA spying he should say, ‘Based on what I have seen I don’t think Bush did anything wrong and here’s why.’ He knows how he will vote, especially on Roe. And if he doesn’t then he is truly corrupt because it will be apparent that he is waiting for instructions on how to vote for Bush, the GOP, or CAP or whoever.
I am embarrassed to even respond to you because you are obviously a troll if you are commenting on blogs with this kind of ‘reasoned’ questioning based on what you already know is a farce.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:03 pmPortraying Ted Kennedy as a lush is as fair as portraying Bush as a coke-snorting draft dodger. Fair enough, I’ll make that trade anyday. How does it feel to be a slave to President cokehead? So few brain cells for the Shrub, so much time.
Ted Kennedy proved something to me today. There are Democrats that are tired of spineless complicity and the lying sleazeballs on the right. He showed us today how democracy is supposed to work. Way to go Ted, keep the heat on these fuc*tards.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:03 pmYeah Ted showed us how democracy really works on July 18, 1969. Way to go Ted!!!
January 11th, 2006 at 4:08 pmHmmm…covering up a drunk driving fatality in ‘69 vs. desiring the continued oppression of all American minorities and women in ‘85…
I think Alito is the worst case…Ted Kennedy could have and can be voted out at six-year intervals. Racist Alito will hold that black robe until we pry it out of his cold, dead hands.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:11 pmAnd your shi*-for-brains President showed us how courage works when he checked “do not send” to Vietnam on his TANG application, yet supported that war and now sends other brave young Americans to fight in his fraudulent war. A real man of courage George W. Bush is, never willing to back up his phony swagger with actual deeds. He’s a loathesome human being.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:12 pmI attended Princeton University in the 1980’s and I remember CAP very well. Princeton, though a beautiful campus, is not the warmest place for people of color. And it is very hard to forget those that made your stay there that much tougher. I remember one specific quote from CAP that stil reverberates to this day. When minority students inquired about CAP, upper classmen always defined them as the group that says “the only black thing at Princeton should be the squirrels.” There are only two places in the world with black squirrels, the Black Forest in Germany and Princeton University. Alito must have been very proud of such statements since he assisted in securing funds to get such a message out. I was fortunate enough to graduate but know of many minority students who thought such an atmosphere wasn’t conducive to a positive college enivronment, and they left.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:15 pmCovering up a drunk driving fatality in ‘69? First, Ted was 37 in 1969 and second he was the driver. So typical.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:17 pmEd – why a troll, really? I was linked here from another website and wanted to enter the discussion with reasoning. I do see that these hearings are a farce, but I blame the Dems for that too because they don’t ask pointed direct questions. “Will you vote to overturn Roe?” I haven’t heard that. I’ve heard, “What is your opinion on the precedent set by Roe?” “Do you intend to uphold precedent?”
Straight questions require straight answers. If he dodges a straight question, he can be held to the fire for refusing to answer.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:18 pmWhat’s the issue with CAP? No one even knows what CAP’s original intent was….the statements that it opposed women, gays, and minorities entrance into Princeton is hardly grounded in any real evidence.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:18 pmBesides, why do Democrats care so much about public officials with shady college histories. That didn’t stop them from voting Gregoire governor of Washington, despite her leadership of a supposedly “White-only Christian-only” sorority. Of course, not too much cristicism of her past was heard by the public, because “people can change”……right?
dlet,
January 11th, 2006 at 4:20 pmCan you not move past things you thought in the past? Not saying Alito has or will, but do you doubt that anyone could?
Suckah – CAP is not the only issue, but seems to be the issue at the moment. I susspect that they are using CAP to show a trend. I also suspect that they will next move to the Vangard issue, where Alito told Congress that if any cases came before him he would recuse himself. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. These issues are the reason for the concern. This guy has a HISTORY of saying one thing and doing another. This is the problem.
Besides, when I apply for a new job I have to go through a job interview. These questions can, and often are, very difficult. They are questions that I must answer directly to, and if I don’t then guess what I probably wont get the job. Why is it that a government official is better than me or you, or anyone?
January 11th, 2006 at 4:23 pmSpecter was modeling his behavior on his hero, the ever-gracious, ever-collegial, ever-temperate Ted Stevens. Who can forget, among all his other outbursts as a Senator, the way he gaveled Sen. Cantwell out of order when she had the nerve to suggest that the oil company excutives be put under oath in their Senate testimony. He wouldn’t even let her call for a vote on the question. And then, guess what: the oil exec’s lied through their teeth.
Specter is a shill for the administration, just as are all the other Repug’s, and if anyone actually thinks his show hearings on the president’s warrantless surveillance program will be anything other than that, I’ve got a war in Iraq I’d like to sell you.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:25 pmComments have ruined the blogoshere. A blog should be a soapbox, uninterrupted by heckling crowds.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:26 pmTed Kennedy…what a joke…what a complete waste of space.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:26 pm#136:
I know of at least two other places with black squirrels: Geneva, NY and a park in another upstate NY town whose name I forget.
Not that it detracts from your point.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:27 pmLib,
If you’ll remember from the Roberts fiasco, they tried that direct approach and the bastard dodged by giving some BS about not being able to give an answer about possible pending cases. So now they have to go at it from the angle of respecting precedent.
In the end, I think the the question was simple and straightforward. ‘What is your opinion of the precendent set by Roe?’ His simple answer could be, ‘This case was wrongly decided.’ He could even be somewhat devious without being a complete ass and say, ‘This case was wrongly decided though I won’t say with certainty that I would vote to allow states to ban abortion. It would depend on the facts of the case presented.’ Ok, he would be a complete ass for saying it, but it would be more honest that the dodging he is doing.
He (and Roberts before him) won’t say anything damaging so that the Dems can say he is ‘on the record’ as being out of the mainstream. Instead they will have to fillibuster either on the fact that his whole life and work prior to his nomination was out of the mainstream or based on his obfuscations. Neither one plays well in today’s media and neither one will likely draw Republicans away from consigning the fillibuster to dustbin of history.
Bush’s nominees have truly left our system of government in a sad, tattered state.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:30 pmBeing a conservative and being a down right racists are two different things. What is Alito? CAP will expose a lot about his thought process. CAP was not only intent on keeping minority students out of Princeton but intent on getting rid of the ones that were already attending. The irony here is that I recall going to Princeton High School to tutor minority students. The teachers gave me a list full of Italian surnames. When I asked why such a list was made available, the administrators stated that Italians at Princeton were considered minorities, mainly because traditional minorities like Blacks, Latinos or Native Americans existed in very limited numbers at this school. So since Alito attended Princeton University and since he is of Iatalian descent, he was considered a disadvantaged minority. I bet he doesn’t even know this.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:32 pm#145
Don’t mention that to any conservative alumni from Princeton, they are so proud of their squirrels!
January 11th, 2006 at 4:34 pmMixtli,
I grew up in Texas in the 70’s and 80’s and I can’t believe that Princeton was such a hotbed of unadulterated racism and sexism then.
I can’t imagine how deceived you must have felt after the initial adulation of being accepted to what is considered a top-notch institution.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:35 pmI meant to add that such racism and sexism was generally the stuff of the unwashed rednecks or stories of the corporate boardrooms in Texas when I was growing up. Most people generally seemed to hold such views only in private and generally looked down on people who openly expressed them.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:38 pmIf you watch the CNN clip it ends right before Kennedy introduces Specter’s letter into the record. It’s shameful, and it gives the impression that Kennedy is somehow disingenuous. And their “developing story” says nothing about it either. Some “liberal” media we have here. It’s all a big joke.
Libertarian – of course, people can change their minds over time (in fact, that’s one of Bush’s biggest problems, the inability to change his mind over time). But Alito is not saying he’s changed his mind or has disavowed what he said in the past. He’s prevaricating, trying to play both sides, and really saying nothing in the process, saying “I don’t remember being in the group but if I was this is why”. That is very shady and he can’t have it both ways. I think it’s entirely appropriate for Kennedy to hammer this issue until it gets resolved, one way or the other. If Alito is untruthful about this seemingly minor issue, how can he be believed on any other?
January 11th, 2006 at 4:44 pmEd,
Talk about culture shock! It was my first trip on a plane and my first trip on a train. Nobody ever came up directly to me and taunted me with racial slurs, they chose to ignore me instead. I guess among the “elite” if you don’t exist you don’t have to deal with such trivial matters. Don’t get me wrong, there were some great people at Princeton, professors, students, administrators and staff. But I quickly learned that subtle racism is probably more harmful – you can’t fight back, at least not right away. I’ve got to give credit to CAP however, they weren’t subtle at all. Their office was located right down the main gates of the University. They certainly did tarnish any accolades that came along with being and Ivy Leaguer. Having to constantly prove yourself because of your skin color isn’t exactly the college experience I was hoping for.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:46 pmWho wants to GoogleBomb Specter? I hate to beat on a guy who’s got cancer, but this is beyond the pale.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:46 pmHere’s what I just emailed him:
January 11th, 2006 at 4:48 pm
I AM BACK — the herpes is clear and my hiney is shiney. Come over here you big green gorilla and make my cheeks whistle again. You are so pretty. DEAN in ‘08!!!!
January 11th, 2006 at 4:48 pmWhat I don’t understand is why, if one is proudly “pro-life”, one doesn’t just state that belief. Certainly those who are “pro-choice” have no problem with it. Could it be because once the statement is made the nomination would be dead in the water (70% of Americans say they would not support Alito’s confirmation if they knew he would overturn Roe). So dishonesty and deceit rules the day … he never actually comes out against Roe and our elected officials (the ones that haven’t already made up their minds to confirm him no matter what) have to try to infer what he will do on the bench. It’s disingenuous and an insult to the American public.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:51 pmHey 54, the rallying cry about the swift boat liars is that it was all lies! It was a Karl Rove operation, and he got that little creep who has been hating on Kerry for 30 years to lead it. Nothing, repeat nothing, was true. I still don’t know why Kerry didn’t sue for slander – even public figures can sue over outright lies.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:52 pmMixtli,
The evil in men’s hearts is more damaging than the evil that passes through their lips. Or something like that.
I hope that Princeton has changed somewhat. For everytime I think this country is making progress on race and gender we get people like Bush and Alito who make it clear that they want to keep rich white men in power at all costs.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:53 pmHasn’t the NYT already looked over these docs and determined that Alito’s presence was pretty much nonexistant?
January 11th, 2006 at 4:56 pmThis from CNN:
I almost put my foot through the TV when I heard Grassley say this. Who are “they”? His fellow committee members (who just happen to be Democrat)? How partisan can you get? And yet the Republicans are the ones screaming partisanship. And why are the Democrats the only ones doing the “tough questioning”? It’s a total lovefest and it’s absolutely disgraceful to see this kind of behavior. If anyone senators are being undignified it is the Republicans.
January 11th, 2006 at 4:59 pmEd,
January 11th, 2006 at 5:00 pmI grew up in NJ. Princeton is still a white institution, at least as I visited it. It’s one reason I didn’t apply there.
Wow, look at all the trolls. Obviously, Think Progress is doing everything right, because right-wing extremists feel the need to rush here and try to monkey-wrench the daily multiple exposes of Republican corruption.
I wonder how many of these America-hating right-wing traitors are employed by the RNC?
January 11th, 2006 at 5:01 pmWhat is the obsession with trolls? I feel like I’m 17 again and playing D&D.
January 11th, 2006 at 5:03 pmAlito is a nice man but his ideas are shit.
January 11th, 2006 at 5:24 pmEgotist posting bait=Troll.
January 11th, 2006 at 5:24 pmA REAL AMERICAN looks to be the next I-RIGHT-I or Mighty Aphrodite.
This site tells more about black squirrels than anyone need toknow. They seem to be fairly common.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/set/squirrels2.html
As for Arlen Specter, I recall the slap job he engineered so competently on Anita Hill. Not a fella I’d want in my house.
January 11th, 2006 at 5:26 pmThey stole two elections, lied about a war, lied about corrupt lobbyist, allowed a major city to be destroyed.
And on and on….
Fascists lie and cheat and steal and kill. That’s why we call them fascists. Bush is a dictator. Never elected, just installed by his corporate military buddies.
The Democrats will roll over and play dead like they have the past because they are funded and supported by the same corrupt corporate military.
January 11th, 2006 at 5:29 pmAll so we have have the amusememnts of consumer life and so heteros can keep breeding and shopping in their little bubble.
God damn the pusher man.
January 11th, 2006 at 5:31 pm[...] Kennedy and ;eftist sycophants are calling this group “racist” and “sexist” and are implying that Alito, if he was a member of it, is those same things. [...]
January 11th, 2006 at 5:40 pmHey Arlen. Either your eyes are open or they are closed. Which is it? You’re the chair of the committee. Committee members shouldn’t have to ask for the full record. It’s your job to see to it that they don’t have to ask. Why didn’t you secure these documents for the benefit of the others on the committee before the deliberations began. That’s what Committee Chairs are supposed to do — serve the members. All the members.
January 11th, 2006 at 5:43 pmmichael moore is a fat slob, and the definition of ugly american. sucks to suck liberal wacko’s
January 11th, 2006 at 5:53 pmatleast alito never commited murder unlike someone we know….um um ted kennedy or was an active member in the klan……robert kkk byrd. alito is looking like a choir boy compared to the fat drunk from massachusetts.
January 11th, 2006 at 6:01 pmwell we got 114 now to impeach Blair we need 200 gonna be here soon …the link in the chain is gonna break …How you americans getting on with bush impeached …can i track progress anywhere like this link
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=29437&SESSION=875
January 11th, 2006 at 6:07 pmKennedy sounds like a robot in the vid. Ha.
January 11th, 2006 at 6:09 pmFunny how Arlen forgot his law school lesson that when a letter is mailed and there is some proof to that effect, there is a rebuttable presumption that the letter was delivered. Of course, saying you never received the letter after responding to it is just plain stupid.
January 11th, 2006 at 6:34 pmAnyone want to respond to my comment in #159? Why is Kennedy going after records that have already been examined?
January 11th, 2006 at 6:41 pmYou have to remember that Arlen Specter is slime incarnate. He is deeply ingrained with the corrupt power elite since he bought in on the Kennedy assasination cover up and brewed up that ridiculous “magic bullet” theory. He is dirty as they come and sneakier then most.
His “act” is only to hide the republicans as much as possible from exposure, and to obfuscate the possible source of “real” facts.
January 11th, 2006 at 6:41 pmbeanbagg wrote: alito is looking like a choir boy compared to the fat drunk from massachusetts.
But our cokehead, drunk-driving president bush is a-okay, right? What a bunch of jokers.
January 11th, 2006 at 6:49 pmAlitos answers are extremely weak and just seems to be stumbling over his past. This man is certainly not a good choice for the Justice of the Supreme Court. The United States is sinking and if Alito is voted in, the US will sink faster.
January 11th, 2006 at 7:06 pmThis man was nominated to SCOTUS for one reason: to complete the PNAC coup; install an Imperial Presidency and disband Congress (if not literally, effectively) . . . as it is they’re a bunch of dickless wimp know-nothings.
They are enabling the complete destruction of the Republic.
Enjoy your tyrrany, sheeple. Baaa baa
January 11th, 2006 at 7:16 pmI’ve shifted view points fairly extremely since last election to the point where the centrist Democrats look to maybe get my votes.
Comment by Libertarian #110
Liberache,
You obviously have no clue how despicable you are…
You (and every other dipsh*t,inbred, racist, republiscum pustule) who voted for Bushiva are accessories to the fact in the mass murder and maiming of hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis, Afghans and Americans…
You are beneath my contempt, and because you’ve had a sudden change of heart will NOT absolve you (or yours)…
Your karma is shot, and there is a curse upon all your homes and families…
God is great!
January 11th, 2006 at 7:30 pmmichael moore is a fat slob, and the definition of ugly american. sucks to suck liberal wacko’s
Comment by beanbagg #171
beandipsh*t,
You aren’t fit to kiss Michael moore”s admittedly fat a*s…
You are a piece of dried dogsh*t missed by the pooper scooper that was your father’s condum…
January 11th, 2006 at 7:34 pmWow, man… Your system of government blows. If I was Kennedy, I would have punched that lying sack of shit.
Single Bullet theory my ass.. Specter is a dickhole.
January 11th, 2006 at 7:41 pmWhy does it not surprise me that Alito being yet another Reagan leftover…..to use the “reagan defense”
aka, I don’t remember.
Yeah right, I don’t remember being in a racist & sexist secret organization while in princeton.
January 11th, 2006 at 7:54 pmI did like the part where Lindsay Graham asked Alito if he was a closet bigot. Alito’s wife should get an Oscar for her tantrum after that.
January 11th, 2006 at 7:56 pm#57
Thanks for mentioning John conyer. He’s the energizer bunny…he just keeps keeping on. Unfortunate;u for us, he’s not noticed except as a gadfly to be shooed away. The guy has guts.
We live in the boonies and recieve a skewed idea (via our media) about what the rest of the country is thinking. The little we know is frightening. We think about 73% of the country are “sheeple.” They have no idea what’s going on. Even our kids think we’re radicals and they have become very patronizing toward us. Too sad!!
January 11th, 2006 at 8:04 pmJanuary 11th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
[...] I say that because it became quite clear today that Sen. Specter was lying when he said that he never received Sen. Kennedy’s letter on the subject of Scalito’s involvement with CAP. [...]
January 11th, 2006 at 8:25 pmMaybe you whiny liberals might want to read todays entire congressional session before you form an opinion. But, I guess reading is too hard for you “liberal intellectuals”.
So that you can learn for yourself how to find things, why not just go to the washington posts website? Every word, including Teddy “chappaquiddick” Kennedy huffy tirade is there. Now go to your corner and read.
January 11th, 2006 at 8:27 pm137: You’re factually incorrect. He got out of the car and she drove off into unfamiliar territory. Thus the tragedy.
155: huh?
I used to like Specter until this episode. No big surprise tho. After all, he is a Republican.
January 11th, 2006 at 8:39 pmPS. Jeff – so are you. Now, for the salient question: did Specter receive the letter or not. That’s the one this thread addresses.
January 11th, 2006 at 8:40 pmHmm, Jeff, I LISTENED to it and Specter was nothing but a whiny little worm, offended that someone is demanding something of the Chairman of the Committee. He was arrogant and petty. And now he FORGOT he had a conversation with his CoS about the letter. He is old but he isn’t Reagan. Nice try, but Pubbie spin doesn’t cut it.
January 11th, 2006 at 8:48 pmI had respect for Arlen Specter, but now I know he’s a bold-faced liar. Even moderate Republicans like him need to be taken down.
January 11th, 2006 at 9:25 pm“did specter turn the other cheek, like Jesus would have?”
Well, Specter is Jewish, so…
January 11th, 2006 at 10:13 pmY’know, it’s getting hard to tell the trolls from the non-trolls about now. Arguing with an idiot yields two idiots. How’z about we just talk among ourselves and let the trolls have a nice wank-a-thon among themselves?
January 11th, 2006 at 10:14 pmAt first when I heard the news about Mrs. Alito crying at the conclusion of the hearings today, I was merely upset for her. It must be difficult to hear your husband attacked as hers has on ethical grounds, with several Senators more than implying that perhaps he is a racist. But the more I reflect on what has transpired, my mood has turned even angrier. I am fed up with the Democratic party and its leadership, and I have had ENOUGH of the underlying assumption that conservatives are all just racists at heart. A good man has had his character maliciously impugned in order that tinfoil hat-wearing moonbats can be assuaged by the lords of their political party.
Edward Kennedy is a sad, pathetic old man. He represents the very worst of all of American politics. The privileged son of an anti-Semetic, bootlegging, womanizing jerk, he has the gumption to even remotely impugn any element of Alito’s character? This same man who left a woman to drown while he got away free to booze away the rest of his life is now sitting on high in the Senate chamber to accuse Samuel Alito of being a racist for his half-hearted participation in a student group over 30 years ago. If it weren’t so infuriating it would almost be funny. But it’s not. It’s disgusting and shameful.
Does any Democrat on the judiciary committee truly believe that Samuel Alito is a racist? I would wager that deep down they absolutely know he is not a racist, but in their sick and desperate attempt to take down this man by any means at their disposal to appease the rav ing lunatics that now makeup an ever-growing proportion of their party, they will smear him. It is absolutely sickening to see that sanctimonious vermin representing my EX- home state of New York to pontificate as he does, to pretend to be somehow morally and intellectually superior to the man he is questioning.
I have had enough of this. This farce is not about constitutional principles, not in the least. At first I accepted that, knowing full well that this was not a serious attempt to grapple with Alito’s qualifications and philosophy. But it has become a sick sideshow all for the glorification of people who aren’t worthy to lick Samuel Alito’s shoes
January 11th, 2006 at 10:51 pmI mean no disrespect to anyone who voted for Bush and his cabinet, for anyone who sees a few good things about him and his administration, and I promise (to try) not to call any a “troll” or a “repugnican”…
January 11th, 2006 at 10:55 pmbut any reasonable American cannot possibly miss the missteps, prevarications, mistakes, oh, hell, let’s call them what they are, the lies this administration has told.
January 11th, 2006 at 10:55 pmI also hate to seem like an idealist, or a historical revisionist, but I damned sure am old enough to remember better times than these…
January 11th, 2006 at 10:56 pmAnd I seem to remember men who woke up and dressed to go to work and lead, not lie. Not all of them, for sure, but more than now, Dems and Repubs alike.
January 11th, 2006 at 10:57 pmWhat the f*ck’s a patriotic American gotta do? Move to Canada? New Zealand?
January 11th, 2006 at 10:57 pmAlito is on the payroll and a kool-aid junkie, too. Period. Wear your condoms, boys, or prepare to head overseas for an abortion if your sister gets raped.
January 11th, 2006 at 11:00 pmThis is Bush’s America for three more years and Alito is his personal pick for the next thirty. Do the math.
>Did Alito LIE? That is a valid question.
>He is under oath. No one likes lying
>under oath – RIGHT?
It’s perfectly OK…unless, of course, it’s a lie about a consensual bj…
January 11th, 2006 at 11:03 pmTo quote Sinclair Lewis in this most precious moment in time.. “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
January 11th, 2006 at 11:03 pmflag…. cross….
Quite profound.
January 11th, 2006 at 11:05 pmI can’t believe people are actually defending the Swift Boat Veterans for Recovered Memory Therapy.
January 12th, 2006 at 12:19 amPOWERFUK(ing)COURT INDEED!
Mike Politik
You got it right the first time, and, it’s exactly what they intend…
POWERFUKing the entire country one legal challenge at a time.
January 12th, 2006 at 12:20 amBeing a current Princeton student myself, I know plenty of moderate, levelheaded Republicans, as well as the excessive fringe ones, who praise, admire, and rationalize the kind of organization that Alito enthusiastically joined. Knowing this, anybody who would willingly enter into an organization like CAP is not a Republican, but an extremist. Thus, I’m inclined to say that Alito is either lying, or an incredibly naive human being. In either case, he’s not someone who should be on the nation’s highest court. His role in CAP and the Reagan administration as more of an opportunist that anything else; this is the kind of behavior that has characterized the Bush administration, as well as Washington as of late. In other words, it’s unfortunate, but barring an effective filibuster, he’ll be approved and will fit right in with all the other corrupt, self-serving officials (on the right and left) in Washington.
January 12th, 2006 at 12:53 amI for one am frightened that Specter only became pouty, instead of directly answering Kennedy the way an official in his vital position should have. As a political moderate from Pennsylvania, I’m disappointed, but then again, perhaps his role in the Warren Commission has taught him the value of pretending that certain things don’t exist.
Finally, (thanks for putting up with the long post) while I don’t pretend to know the motivation for the quote used in comment no. 204, I will say that we need to be good students of history to participate and help the US (once again, whether on the left or right) by understanding that the religion and patriotism of good people has been exploited before, all in the name of concentrating power in the hands of men who serve no moral standard, but rather their own gain, irrespective of ideology.
[...] Think Progress – BREAKING: Specter Stonewalls on Concerned Alumni of Princeton Docs [...]
January 12th, 2006 at 1:51 amTodays’ hearing’s melodrama is a page right out of Turd Blossom’s bag of tricks.
Back when I was at UT, he was the chief political operative for then governor Bill Clements (founder of Texas Instruments).
One day when the governor was having a really shitty time trying to cram the Right Wing agenda down the press’ throat, Rove then quickly calls a press conference and announces that his office had been bugged, and he had called the police and it was a horrible thing that his office had been bugged. It MUST have been the Democrats…
The police found that Rove did the bugging! and it was all meant to divert the press’ attention for the rest of the day and they gave up on Clement’s story.
These people are ALL such slimy pieces of shit!
January 12th, 2006 at 2:19 amAlito has done everything he can to get to where he is …kissed all the right asses. Unfortunately, we allow this to happen. We don’t use the right standards and probably never will. I’m glad that Kennedy has brought this to light but it probably won’t have an impact. This nominee should have been a woman (Not a nanny of course) – could have white or Latino or black or a mix – but should have been a woman. We’ll have only one woman on this court again, one of nine. I don’t think abortion should be the issue that it is either…but only a woman can identify closely to issues such as job discrimination via gender etc. And I’ve had some women in my life that have taught me a few things (mother,sister, wife) for example -why shouldn’t I have a high regard for their rights.
January 12th, 2006 at 4:28 amKennedy’s sphincter was tighter than a rubber band ready to break. He’s lost his balls. He should give up his eternal incumbancy to a Dem with the cajones to charge without fear.
January 12th, 2006 at 5:39 amI want to know if she cried when he did not excuse himself from the vanguard case where he has holdings in the deal….. Mrs. Alito shoulda cried then.
January 12th, 2006 at 5:41 amAfter the fireworks between Kennedy and Specter over the CAP archive documents, Alito looked rather “uncomfortable”. Watch him a the next Senator is “asking him questions”, if you can call them questions; how his jaw is set, he’s staring off, not listening, his eyes go into a slow and deliberate closing of the lids, as if to be saying to himself, “boy, I’m screwed”
January 12th, 2006 at 6:22 am“Try saying it with me: Justice Samuel Alito. Justice Samuel Alhito. Hope you get used to it. ”
Try saying it with me: The Corporation owns you, The Corporation owns you, The Corporation owns you. Hope you get used to it.
January 12th, 2006 at 7:24 amHow low can the Democrats go?
The irony of Ted Kennedy pontificating on morality escapes the Democrats’ limited relativist intelligence.
Ted Kennedy, who was expelled from Harvard for cheating, who murdered Mary Jo Kopechne and who raped countless women but was never held accountable due to his corrupt family connections, is the Democrats’ Grand Inquisitor.
Then we have Joe Biden, the plagiarist.
And of course we have the Democrats’ elder statesman in the Senate, Robert Byrd, former Grand Kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan.
You are amoral. You hate life. Your party is a joke. You will always lose. Get used to it.
January 12th, 2006 at 7:55 amIf Mr. Alito was in fact a member of this CAP organization, his attempts to downplay his involvement amount to
“Well, I was in the back of the crowd, I didn’t really know if they were actually hanging that black man for any specific crime, but like I said, I was in the back of the crowd…”
The views of Concerned Alumni of Princeton, by and large, or at least that of their outspoken leaders, are well documented and patently prejudiced, bigoted, and racist.
What did he do? join the club just to say he was a member, not attend any of it’s meetings or events, and then flaunt it on a resume? Certainly not as bad as enabling racists by complicit solidaity, but wholly disingenuous and a mark of someone who shies from “putting in the hours.”
Then again, if appointed, he could backfire on your pachyderm asses, just like Stevens and Rehnquist, rest his soul.
Regardless, I’m not willing to see my congresscritters take that chance. They know full well my opinion on Alito, or at least one of their secretaries does, or their wastebin does. I’ve done my research on LN and in UCF’s library, but who are any of you jackbooted folks on the internet to care about something so trivial as recorded facts?
Anyway, battery’s gettin’ low, gotta run and get the charger. You all play nice now.
January 12th, 2006 at 8:11 amBush will almost certainly be filling another slot on the Supreme Court before he leaves office.
Either Stevens or Ginsburg will not finish out Bush’s term.
Bush should add insult to injury: he should nominate Bork.
January 12th, 2006 at 8:20 amLook, y’all, I’m getting really tired of continually having to remind you of something…
!!!BUSH WON!!!
January 12th, 2006 at 8:48 am!!!UP OR DOWN VOTE!!!
(yawn, rinse, repeat)
You are amoral. You hate life. Your party is a joke. You will always lose. Get used to it.
Comment by malik #215
malcontent,
Given the current state of affairs with Mr. Abramoff, the sorry history of your gods (Bushiva and L’il Dick) as well as various plutocrats on your side of the fence republiscums have no great claim to morality or integrity…
Because of your support for the criminal Bushite junta, you and your inbred brethren are suborners of mass murder, corruption, cowardice, profiteering, racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and treason…
So why should anybody take anything you (or your inbred kind) say to heart…
Thank God Ted Kennedy and the Democrats believe in- and are executing their duties as proscribed by- the Constitution of the (currently) dis’United States of America, rather than genuflecting and prostrating themselves before a racist, pig fu*ker like Scandalito…
And that crying act by his wife? Way over the top as theatrics go…
If you had a modicum of intelligence, (which for the record none of you scurvy inbred Bushites have), you would realize that given the character flaws, unflattering histories, and utter incompetence your president and Party have exhibited thus far they have NO BUSINESS making lifetime appointments to ANY governmental posts, let alone one as vital as a SC justice!
January 12th, 2006 at 8:54 amBush should add insult to injury: he should nominate Bork.
Comment by malik 3217
I agree…
Then they should outlaw freedom and democracy…
Bring back slavery…
…and let’s get this Civil War on…
You sick Al-Cracka bastich…
January 12th, 2006 at 8:56 amvote libertarian—outlaw the IRS
Comment by truth seeker #41
A Grover Nordquist disciple…
hmmm
They should’ve cleaned that sh*t off of you before they sent you…
January 12th, 2006 at 9:00 am!!!BUSH WON!!!
!!!UP OR DOWN VOTE!!!
(yawn, rinse, repeat)
Comment by XyYu #218
Question is XYZ, what did YOU win?
Take your time, I know it’s a difficult question…
Get off the pig first….
January 12th, 2006 at 9:02 am“What did he do? join the club just to say he was a member, not attend any of it’s meetings or events, and then flaunt it on a resume?”– Just because you don’t go to AA meetings, doesn’t mean you aren’t an alcoholic.
January 12th, 2006 at 10:12 amIs it just me,or does any one else see what I’m seeing in this side show of these Senators? This is not the first appointment hearing that I have ever watched. The Democratic Senators are doing their job in asking hard questions of Judge Allito. I have a question about the Republican Senators. Either they ramble on in what is a great example of rebuttal,trying to defend any and all attacks (their word, not mine) on the Democratic’s questions put to Judge Allito, or just sit there and praise Judge Allito and all his great work. My question is this, who is paying for every Republic Senator’s attorney fees, for defending Judge Allito, instead of finding out if Judge Allito, through questioning is the right person for the Supreme Court? The obvious answer is the taxpayers, so let’s hope when these Republic Senators are up for re-election that they are defeated at the polls. What they are doing is wrong, and is not the voice of the people that voted them in. It is so obvious how these Republican Senators are going to vote for Judge Allito. When is this corruption going to end?
January 12th, 2006 at 10:26 amComment by big papa, #219
The Democrats are necessarily undemocratic because their agenda – whatever that may be at any moment – does not reflect America in 2005.
A political philosophy consisting almost exclusively of unconditional and uncompromising support for killing babies does not resonate with the majority of Americans.
Democrats’ unceasing vitriol at Bush and Republicans does not substitute for an affirmative political agenda.
You are amoral. You hate life. Your party is a joke. You will always lose. Get used to it.
January 12th, 2006 at 10:37 amCan you remember what clubs or organizations that you joined in high school? Me too! And I don’t believe in abortion for my family or loved ones. I also don’t believe his, can’t remember answer. And I certainly do hate being lied too!!
January 12th, 2006 at 11:00 amYou are some pissed off liberals. I viewed the exchange between Kennedy and Spector differently. Kennedy, rather than following committee ettiquette, tried desperately to take over the hearings with the stunt in order to appease you kooks. That way you think he’s actually doing something, because he knows the Alito nomination is a lock.
You all are pathetic.
January 12th, 2006 at 11:23 am#222 Clever. That is about it though.
January 12th, 2006 at 11:25 amNow we learn that Ted Kennedy is the liar.
Before the hearings began, Kennedy knew that the CAP documents were provided to the New York Times weeks ago. Kennedy knew the CAP documents made no mention of Alito. Kennedy knew these facts before his tantrum yesterday. Kennedy’s antics were a ruse, a charade.
Ted Kennedy is a cheater, a murderer, a serial rapist, an alcoholic and a liar. With Ted Kennedy sitting on the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Democrats have zero credibility on all questions implicating morality, integrity or professionalism.
Would you leave your wife or daughter alone in a room with Ted Kennedy?
January 12th, 2006 at 11:55 amA political philosophy consisting almost exclusively of unconditional and uncompromising support for killing babies does not resonate with the majority of Americans.
Democrats’ unceasing vitriol at Bush and Republicans does not substitute for an affirmative political agenda.
Comment by malik #225
malignant,
obviously killing babies DOES resonate with YOUR right wing, inbred, yeast infected, syphillis brained crowd…
How else do you explain your support for SHOCK and AWE in Iraq?
What about how you turn your noses up at and your backs on the over 40 millin Americans (many of them poor fetuses, infants and toddlers) who have NO HEALTHCARE…
DON’T ABORT ‘EM, BUT DON’T SUPPORT ‘EM!
You slimy inbred hypocrites should be boiled in oil…(Venezuelan)
As for the political agenda of Dems, you inbreds know what Dems stand for but are too busy with Bushiva’sbal*s in your mouths to be able to either articulate, or digest it…
January 12th, 2006 at 12:17 pmComment by big papa, #230
Big Bozo,
Americans don’t know the Democrats’ political agenda because the Democrats have not articulated an affirmative political agenda since Bush came into office.
The Democratic agenda has consisted of attacks against Republican domestic initiatives, thinly veiled glee at every American military death in Iraq, and thinly veiled hope for another 9/11. There have been no significant Democratic policy initiatives since 2000.
In sum, Democrats wish for anything that would damage Bush and the Republicans – including military defeat in Iraq and renewed terrorist attacks on American soil.
The American people are no fools. That’s why the majority of Americans do not trust Democrats on national security. Well done, donkeys.
You are amoral. You hate life. Your party is a joke. You will always lose. Get used to it.
January 12th, 2006 at 1:09 pmComment by big papa, #230
Big Bozo,
No health care? Get a job or don’t get sick.
“Don’t Support ‘Em” is right. I have no obligation to support them. They have no right to be supported. I am busy supporting myself. They should support themselves.
The Democrats are so gung-ho about Darwinism. I believe in Social Darwinism.
No free lunch. You don’t work; you don’t eat.
January 12th, 2006 at 1:19 pmI AM BACK — the herpes is clear and my hiney is shiney. Come over here you big green gorilla and make my cheeks whistle again. You are so pretty. DEAN in ‘08!!!! Kiss me —I am a liberal.
January 12th, 2006 at 1:19 pmBend over then, Kennedy.
I’ll show you how “broad-minded” a Republican can be.
January 12th, 2006 at 1:25 pmshut up Malik and make love to me again!
January 12th, 2006 at 1:26 pmNow that’s what I call bipartisanship.
Cheers.
January 12th, 2006 at 1:31 pmall you wacko liberals think the goverment owes you everything. its not the job of the government to give you health care, and financially support you.
January 12th, 2006 at 1:42 pmbeanbagg,
When liberals say “the government owes” someone something, they are saying prodictive citizens’ income should be diverted to support unproductive citizens and non-citizens.
As a taxpayer, I have no gripe with paying a portion of my income to provide a subsistence for American citizens who – owing to objective physiological or psychological pathologies – cannot work. But these unfortunate people do not represent the majority of people supported by the sizable portion of my paycheck that is withheld.
The majority are malingerers who should get nothing.
January 12th, 2006 at 2:19 pmTed Kennedy is a Joke, Biden is a Joke, Schumar is an unfunny Joke.
Alito will be confirmed.
Get over it.
January 12th, 2006 at 2:27 pmif i read this thread correctly, apponting alito to the court is all that stands between us and complete fascism “cops dragging us from our cars for no reason and beating us”. as if there are secret armies of cops just ready to start this, but cant, because they lack 1 crucial vote on the SCOTUS. christ almighty, what a bunch of hyperventilating morons. Do you ever listen to your selves? is it any wonder you cant win an election? you can’t even formulate a reasonable argument. go back and drink some more koolaid. idiots. why dont you read the thoughtful assessments of his democratic law clerks who have been in a position to observe what kind of a judge he has been: ie, a pretty damn good one who rules on facts and not based on political agenda.
January 12th, 2006 at 2:55 pmWell Gardener, aside from the “hyperventilating” conspiracy theorists out there, there are others who simply believe that Alito is going to be one of the longest lasting examples of the corruption that has occurred in this era, and I think credit’s due to those who know enough to get upset about it, rather than just say that the critics are insane, and that Alito’s qualified.
That he’s talented in the capacities that a supreme court justice is taleneted I don’t doubt, what I doubt is Alito’s sincerity with regard to addressing CAP, or his reasons for previously stating that the Constitution does not protect abortion rights.
In fact, it’s this nonchalant, almost mocking tone that will allow further political turmoil to gradually creep over this country. If you claim that critics of Alito or his appointment are just excessive alarmists, you’re kidding yourself, and you will be one of the many American citizens complicit in the degradation and downfall of our country.
January 12th, 2006 at 8:03 pmOh, and with regard to comment 238–I would much rather that my tax money go to the “maligners” who are poor/unemployed/etc., than the maligners you implicitly support through your statements that have been involved in the Abramoff scandal, funding/supporting the War in Iraq, supporting the downscaling of funding for student loans or medicare bills that contain costs incosistencies and benefit select drug corporations.
Even if they will never help themselves, it is far better to agree to help the beggars than to help the murderers and thieves.
January 12th, 2006 at 8:09 pmShawn,
Come back down to earth: the money withheld from my paycheck does not “implictly support” Abramoff; it directly supports countless malingerers who choose to remain on the dole rather than working at unskilled jobs for marginally higher income. This may make logical sense from the malingerer’s perspective, but it makes no sense to me if it is financed with expropriations from the product of my labor.
If you and your fellow travellers wish to hand over one-quarter to one-third of your paycheck to lazy bastards that refuse to worki, be my guest.
I subscribe to a different philosophy: no free lunch. If you can work and you don’t work, then you don’t eat.
January 12th, 2006 at 9:38 pmI find this approach to life empowering in an egalitarian manner and respectful of everyone’s time on earth and labor.
Malik,
I’d rather hand over my money (and votes) to support Social Security, and yes, welfare. I’d rather see to it that the US Government spend its effort and my money on programs that can make street crime a less attractive option, instead of having the government staffed by individuals who serve as a rubber stamp for a divisive supreme court nominee who either lied or is suprisingly naive about his membership in an organization that even Senator Frist criticized.
Furthermore, if you wish to refer to welfare, as simplified as it is, as a “free lunch”, I suggest examining the lives of those who subsist on welfare. Second, if you wish to classify yourself as egalitarian and “respectful of everyone’s time on earth and labor”, your support of Alito would be puzzling, given his record on worker’s rights, and on the claims of individuals vs corporations (and don’t even dare dismiss these claims as frivolous “hot coffee” cases, as they are anything but).
January 12th, 2006 at 9:58 pmShawn,
Please spare me the bullshit. I have been practicing law for almost 17 years.
What the Democrats threw out into the public sphere insults the common sense of every American, not just attorneys for whom the Democrats’ transparent tactics are at best a bad joke.
I will be more specific. A comparison of appeal outcomes by percentage, without more, does not evidence or even suggest bias. The critical question is how many cases did Alito get wrong, regardless of the outcome. Alito’s 15 years on the bench were all as a federal appellate judge in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. With very few exceptions, federal appeals are decided by a panel of three judges.
How exactly do you decide which Third Circuit decisions to attribute to Alito? Do you count only the appeals in which Alito wrote the decision for a unanimous panel? Do you count only the appeals in which Alito was the sole dissenter? Which ones do you count and why?
And once you have attributed a decision to Alito, the only measure of whether Alito got it wrong is if it was later reversed or overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court – and only if the Supreme Court relied on a refutation of Alito’s reasoning or result.
One needn’t be an attorney to recognize that a mere comparison of appeal outcomes by percentage, without more, can only serve to mislead. The tactic is more than dishonest; it’s downright sleazy.
January 12th, 2006 at 11:16 pmI wasn’t referring to that, and it seems arbitrary to me to say that the Supreme court would then be the one correct standard by which to judge Alito’s opinions. The court itself can change according to the political preferences of those that have been responsible for the appointing. Furthermore, I wasn’t even citing outcomes or the percentages used by senators, as I recognize (and without 17 years of law experience, no less) that numbers and statistics are easily manipulated by the crooks on both sides of the isle.
I was referring to his particular reasoning on a number of cases, not what “Democrats threw” out into the public sphere. So before you temperamentally attempt to lord professional expertise over those you discuss this with, don’t assume the other’s sources. Rather than being constrained by cookie-cutter media reports, I’ve read some of his dissenting opinions–and do not refer “right” or “wrong” in terms of legal circumstances that do not relate to issues of moral significance.
With that said, I think if what you refer to are dishonest tactics, the same can be said of the Republicans who for the most part have failed to ask Alito any trying, substantive questions.
January 13th, 2006 at 12:27 amAlito could well be a ’stealth’ candidate for Supreme Court. He claims to only have a tangential involvement with CAP because of their mutual support for ROTC. This is a ruse!
Obviously, Pro-ROTC is not what CAP was known for, nor is this what Ed Meese’s InJustice’s department was primarily concerned with either in 1985…
According to Alito’s college roommate, his Vietnam draft lottery number made it almost inevitable that he’d be drafted. It was at that point that Alito joined the ROTC, which he didn’t even mention in his college yearbook. What is mentioned in Alito’s yearbook, however, is an expectation that he’d ‘warm a bench on the Supreme Court.’
The founder of CAP, Rusher, donated his archives to the Library of Congress, whose collection it seems tautological that a Senator should have access to. I assume that Rusher got a nice tax write off for his donation (at public expense) and that the public has paid for those records to be catalogued and archived, and now we are paying for not knowing if Alito lied about having nothing to do with this group that his friend and classmate co-founded.
January 13th, 2006 at 2:38 amSpecter should know something about the negative ramifications of being involved with coverups. He cut his chops as a junior staffer on the Warren Commission, where he premiered the magic bullet theory. The spectre of mystery still shrouds the firing of JFK, partially thanks to Specter. It is a cruel irony that he’s banging the gavel on JFK’s younger brother, Ted, when he tries to open the record on Alito’s perhaps elitist and bigoted college days roots.
January 13th, 2006 at 2:44 amEnzo,
What are you suggesting is being covered up?
What is the worst it can be, Enzo?
Can it be worse than Senator Robert Byrd’s illusrious past as a Grand Kleagle (an officer) of the Ku Klux Klan in West Virginia during a time when that KKK branch was lynching black men?
Can it be worse than Ted Kennedy leaving Mary Jo Kopechne to drown in the car that he drunkenly driven into the water?
And while we’re discussing cover-ups, how about Ted Kennedy not reporting his drunken accident that killed Ms. Kopechne until 11 hours after the fact because he spent those hours with attorneys strategizing his defense?
When a reptile like Ted Kennedy pontificates to anyone, one can only laugh.
January 13th, 2006 at 5:19 amI am looking for the quote or words Specter had with Kennedy to let him know he was fully aware of his views, He reminded Kennedy that he-Specter-was still in charge of this meeting and that Specter was tired of hearing Kennedy’s repeated statements–during Alito Hearings? Where can I find that–think it happened either 10-13- of Jan 06–PLEASE HELP
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