ALITO HEARINGS TO START JANUARY 9

NRO ^ | 11/3/05 | Kathryn Jean Lopez

[smokeman]

ALITO HEARINGS begin January 9 at noon, according to Specter. Floor vote on 20th, the chairman hopes.

[mjwise]

Remember, a lot of these Senators have to travel great distances back and forth to their states

This isn't 1846, and no one's going to be riding their horses to a distant state during a recess. As if they do anything but fly home -- and that just takes days, right?

plus they use a lot of their vacation time for politicking back in the home state, and fund raising.

Ah yes, I had forgotten the true meaning of incumbency. Thank you for reminding me.

[illinoissmith]

"The Founding Fathers could have never envisioned how riddled full of ideologues and despots this body would one day become and how injurious it would then be to this nation's long-term well-being."

I think they did. They had knowledge of European history, after all, going back to the Romans and Greeks. I'd wager they knew that government attracts despots, power-freaks, ideologues, and so on.

The checks and balances and limited government power the founders built into our government were, I think, designed such that even with a legislature riddled with despots, the real world outside DC had a good shot of running basically decently over time. And I think it mostly works.

(Heck, compare it to France, where relatively unrestrained government has the power to enforce socialist policies that cause an unemployment rate of 23% for young men... just exactly the demographic you want to be puttering about with too much free time.... Yeah, that's a recipe for social stability.)

Further, I think the founding fathers envisioned that things could, despite all the checks and balances and power limitations, end up even worse. Thus the second amendment.

[counterpunch]

Let O'Connor Go Home By Christmas!

[dalight]

Really, we should start a very strong conversation about removing Arlen from his position on the Judiciary committee if he messes this up. His fellow Republican Senators should be sharing that his goose is cooked if this delay turns a difficult fight into an abysmal slug match. He shouldn't have helped the opposition in any way. This is normal for Specter, but he has to know, this line of action has terrible consequences.

[operation clinton cleanup]

That Spectre is just so "overworked". He truly is useless.

In his health, he may not be around to see this through...

[Bean Counter]

Once again, Frist has folded to the 'Rats and the RINOs. There is no reason at all not to have Judge Alito sworn in by the first of the year. I don't want to hear about how Leaky Leahy needs time to go sit in the orchard to read again...

I know the RNC is monitoring this, so Guys: Stop sending me solititations for money. Until the Republicans in Congress can act like they have a pair, you ain't getting another cent from me!!

[Delta Dawn]

How would these people survive if they had to go to work everyday?

[right-wingin_It]

I know the RNC is monitoring this, so Guys: Stop sending me solititations for money. Until the Republicans in Congress can act like they have a pair, you ain't getting another cent from me!!

Ditto...Anyone else wanna ditto?

[Peach]

LOL. It's truly sickening to hear how overworked they are. His president, who helped get him re-elected, asked him to start hearing this year, and he's too busy. Sheesh

[Delta Dawn]

I thought that was what Kilts were for...

[Peach]

They're angry they have to work tomorrow? What's so special about Friday?

[GOP-Pat]

Not delaying it so much as time for trashing Alito, but because some very important votes are coming up at the Supreme Court between now and then that Alito would probably vote diffently than O'Connor. Seems like there something as important as abortion, church and state issues. I can't remember at the moment what's coming up, but I'm pretty sure there are some votes that conservatives are very interested in.

[cgk]

I can't tell if I'm selfishly relieved that I won't have to argue politics over Thanksgiving and Christmas with the families seeing it's now delayed until January.

Nope - I'm mad. This stinks.

[Bush gal in LA]

They need time to dig up dirt on the guy. Not having found any yet, they need time to make some up!

[etradervic]

Over 2 months from now!!! Ridiculous!!!

[George W. Bush]

I believe that if Alito is confirmed before the decision is handed down and it's a 4/4 tie, excluding O'Connor's vote due to her leaving the court, then the SC can rehear the case with the newly confirmed justice. However, I believe that the rehearing is optional. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

I heard that the case will be reheard if a new justice is on the Court when the rulings are issued, probably in June.

I don't know if it matters whether O'Connor cast one of her usual swing votes or not. I thought maybe a 6-3 or better majority might make it a moot point.

Specter: the gift that keeps on giving...

[golas1964]

Mega-ditto!

[right-wingin_It]

...His fellow Republican Senators should be sharing that his goose is cooked if this delay turns a difficult fight into an abysmal slug match...

So the "horses head in the bed" thing IS on the table, right?..haha

[conservative physics]

yes the delay is a big deal because the Supreme Court hears an abortion case in late November. And we need another conservative on the court by then to make sure things go our way.

[conservative physics]

the dems are probably hoping that O'Connor's ill husband either dies or gets better and she will withdraw her resignation....