LIVE THREAD:Senate vote to confirm Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court;(UPDATE: Alito Confirmed 58-42)

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[ken5050]

Good morning, all.

Join us today for the final victory lap, the vote to "confirm Samuel Alito, of New Jersey, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court."

It's all over except the final vote tally.

Lots of surprises yesterday at the HUGE vote to impose cloture, so perhaps there are still some surprise votes to come?

[small voice in the wilderness]

Reid DOES know that to be minority leader doesn't mean he always has to be deeply saddened or troubled, doesn't he?

[dutch52]

"executive power".He should ask clinton about Elian gonzales!

[kimmie7]

Oh my, that is good!

[OXENinFLA]

Why do the dems always mention "THE STRIP SEARCH OF A 10 YEAR OLD GIRL" like they're somehow telling everyone something new that no one knew?

[maica]

Reid is saying about Alito decisions "Government wins, you lose."

Are the democrats now officially and openly anti-government? No wonder they do not believe in fair elections - the one man one vote kind.

[ChadGore]

Dingy lies continues . . .

"profound threats"
"I worry"
"disturbing views"

[LisaFab]

The Searchlight is on, but no one is home.

Classic!

[Cboldt]

Ahh, poor old Harriet. All the fault of those big bad radical conservative bloggers - oops- that would be US!! Congratulations Freepers ...

Freepers agains Miers, aka "the dark side", were a distinct minority.

[Dead Corpse]

Anyone counting how many times Harry is using the word "distrubing"? Could be a freakin' drinkin' game at this point...

[Cyber Ninja]

The Dems sure like talking about strip-searching 10yo girls.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Dingy must really have a thing for Harriet!

Well,

Democrats on the the Senate Judiciary Committee reacted cautiously to Miers' nomination, but they did not immediately oppose it.

In a written statement Leahy said, "It is too early to reach any firm judgment about such an important nomination," noting Miers long ties to President Bush. "It is important to know whether she would enter this key post with the judicial independence necessary when the Supreme Court considers isues of interest to this Administration."

"My first reaction is a simple one: It could have been a lot worst," Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, one of the Demcrats on the committee, said. "... The president has not sent us a nominee that we've rejected already."

Schumer continued, "There's hope that Harriet Miers is a mainstream nominee. ... Given the fact that the extreme wing of the president's party was demanding someone of fealty to their views, this is a good first day in the process that begins to fill the seat of Sandra Day O'Connor."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, another Democratic committee member and its only woman, said she was happy that a woman was nominated to replace the outgoing O'Connor but wanted to know more about Miers' views on privacy and other issues.

"This new justice will be critical in the balance with respect to rulings on congressional authority, as well as a woman's right to privacy, environmental protections, and many other aspects of constitutional law in the United States," Feinstein said.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, was complimentary of Miers. He raised Miers' name during a September 22 breakfast meeting with the president in which Sens. Frist, Specter, Leahy and he discussed possible candidates with the president, Reid spokeman Jim Manley said. Reid believes Miers would bring a "fresh perspective" to the court, Manley said.

"I like Harriet Miers," Reid said in a statement. "As White House counsel, she has worked with me in a courteous and professional manner. I am also impressed with the fact that she was a trailblazer for women as managing partner of a major Dallas law firm and as the first woman president of the Texas Bar Association."

[Howlin]

I know.....we should make a list of the buzzwords, or have we done that already?

imperialistic presidency is one!

shooting a boy in the back

and my personal favorite --

finding out what you read at the library

[Chuck54]

Harry just brought up the fleeing african american boy who was shot......Yeah and that probably saved many robber's lives.

Tells you right quick to not run from a Memphis policeman. I lived there for 15 years and robbery was rampant.

[prairiebreeze]

Landrieu and Rockefeller are the only two "undeclared".

rolling eyes...

[angkor]

Reid is a hick and should really be back in the barn with a pitchfork rather than reading a canned speech from his more-educated staff.

[eeevil conservative]

to play to their base in efforts to raise funds......

Dean spent it all.....

we need to pay them for campaigning appearantly.....

[Steve_Seattle]

Is Reid actually suggesting that Alito will somehow ban birth control?

[steveegg]

Can the moderator remove the picture?

They've already done that. Now only if they could clean up C-SPAM2 and get Dingy Harry off of there,....

[Halls]

What the heck? Chafee is voting no? WHY????