Posted on 11/01/2005 4:31:48 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Democrats Push to Delay Alito Hearings Until 2006
By David Espo The Associated Press
Published: Nov 1, 2005
WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Democrats pushed on Tuesday for a 2006 date for hearings on Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, challenging President Bush's call for confirmation by year's end.
"There's no way you can do an honest hearing by the end of December, or a fair hearing," said Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
In a jab at the White House and the Senate Republican leadership, Leahy said he and the panel's chairman, Sen. Arlen Specter could likely agree on a date for confirmation hearings if left to themselves.
Specter, R-Pa., was noncommittal on timing for hearings for Alito, a judge on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. "This is a swing vote on the Supreme Court.... I don't know enough yet to say whether it's realistic by the end of the year," he said.
Alito has been involved in 1,500 or more cases or during 15 years on the appeals court, and he has authored an estimated 300 rulings.
Bush nominated Alito on Monday to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who often has cast the deciding vote on split decisions on abortion rights, affirmative action and other controversial issues. She has said she will remain on the bench until her successor is confirmed by the Senate.
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.tbo.com ...
They know they're losing.
Leahy and company wouldn't recognize a fair hearing if it slapped them in the face
Or kicked them in a lower proximity.
Good luck getting this thru after today.
We should start looking at what is on the docket of the SCOTUS. It is there we will find the reason for their recalcitrance.
no cooperation after today.
They need more time to consult with Pinch Sulzberger and the rest to work up a dirty propaganda campaign.
How come Nov. 7 was fine for Harriet Miers?
Wasn't that the whole point of this cra-p today?! Stalling everything so Alito gets pushed back to.........NEVER!?
Obstructionists. They're going to play this Bush "lied" lie for everything it's worth. Looking like complete fools they are in the process.
What Leaky Leahy means is he needs time to dig up dirt and browbeat Specter into submission.
Absolutely - this will turn out to be like that Michigan affirmative action case, on a grand scale now, where the leftist interest groups are pulling the strings behind thes scenes to delay any new confirmation until certain cases have gone through...... and charlatans like Leaky Leahy, Swimmer Kennedy, et al are most eager to do the bidding of their puppet masters.
Lock and Load that Nuclear Option boys. Stand By.
Well coming up on the 30'th(I think) is a case about abortion, but there isn't enough time to get O'conner out of there!
I guess now we'll find out if there's any GOP leadership in the Senate.
No more appeasement of the rats.
Why should the Dems bother when Specter is usually willing to slow things down even more?
"There's no way you can do an honest hearing by the end of December, or a fair hearing,"
A fair hearing is the last thing they want.
The MSM will be whipping up public opposition to Alito while the Democrats work on their 'Borking' strategy.
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