Posted on 11/04/2005 6:04:25 AM PST by paudio
The Democrats have declared war on President Bush's latest Supreme Court candidate, Samuel Alito, without much in the way of weapons. Only two, really: the filibuster and the power of persuasion. And the filibuster—because it seems (and is) unfair and anti-democratic—will backfire unless people are persuaded that it is saving them from something really bad.
And to make the challenge even more daunting, most of the usual tools of persuasion aren't available this time. Alito seems like a fine fellow, personally. His credentials and qualifications are beyond dispute. Unlike Robert Bork, he is not scary-looking. And another Anita Hill is too much to hope for. Those are the cheap shortcuts. All that's left is a serious argument: Alito is simply too conservative.
The Republican counterargument will be fourfold: A) He is not very conservative; B) no one knows how conservative he is, and no one is going to find out, because discussing his views in any detail would involve "prejudging" future issues before the court; C) it doesn't matter whether he is conservative—even raising the question "politicizes" what ought to be a nonpartisan search for judicial excellence; and D) sure he's conservative. Very conservative. Who won the election?
(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...
How Conservative Is "Too Conservative"?
recycling TP
How liberal is too liberal? Ruth Bader Ginsburg? Steven Breyer? John F'n Kerry? Al Gore? Yup, all too liberal.
It's not a question of degree.
You can't be a little bit pregnant, and you can't be a little bit originalist - You either are, or you're not.
The correct answer is that Alito rules on the law and does not make law. That is a good justice. Period.
Quintessential Kinsley.
Reading this makes me think that the left is preparing itself for the worst: no filibuster. If the left strongly believed a filibuster would happen, this article would be a more obvious call-to-arms and would drop all pretense (which is what it is) of objective thought.
As usual, Kinsley the Lunatic is complete divorced from reality. Sorry super twit, but there is NO such thing as "too conservative" for the Court. That is another one of this hysterically stupid argument advanced by the Left. Bush won, he picks. Dems do NOT get a veto over that. If, Mr Moron wants to argument the point, Conservatives should just tell him "Win an election Mikey, they YOU can pick". If they want to argue that Alito is "too Conservative" Conservatives should point out that any future Democrat President will get NO picks because every single one will be considered "Too Liberal".
This is really about the Democrats lining up against ANYONE the POTUS puts forth. They will never get used to being out of power.
I'm hoping they do filibuster. Even if the Republicans are too chicken $h** to go nuclear! Think about it... a delay along with "Let O'Connor retire and go home to her husband" is a powerful message to the masses... ;)
Not only that, a delay will motivate the base in 2006 like they've never seen...
Make my day! :)
When conservative desires conflict with the Constitution and you choose what you want as a conservative over what the Constitution states.
That is too conservative.
If Ginsburg ain't too liberal, then Alito ain't too conservative.
I hope it doesn't happen, but what kind of a mess would the dems be in if her husband takes a turn for the worse whilst they bray and delay?
She had been chief counsel for the ACLU when she was selected. That was no secret out of the bag. The Republicans quietly acquiesced to her nomination. Imagine if Bush had chosen the former chief counsel for the Christian Coalition? Or the NRA? I don't think the Democrats would be nearly as quiet.
Not there, yet. I do however use my dental floss two or three times.
You can never be too rich, too thin, or too conservative.
Nope, Republicans where whipped for a long time and continue to roll over easily. In their defense, it's not easy to run a two front war against the Democrats AND a Hollywood-driven media at the same time.
As bad as the agreement from the "Gang of 14" was, it helped Roberts and it will help Alito because they can't be defined as 'dangerous extremists'. The 'rats now realize that using the filibuster without the support of all these "Profiles in Moderation" will be the end of that game.
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