Alito a Charmer, Wife Reveals

FOXNews.com ^ | 10 January 2006

[Aussie Dasher]

WASHINGTON — He's a Springsteen fan, history buff and marksman. He can whip up a salmon pate, but don't ask him to bake a cake. His marriage proposal began as an offer to take dancing lessons.

These insights into Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito came from his wife, Martha, who confided in an interview that the man who has pondered weighty issues as a federal appeals judge for more than a decade has some interesting quirks.

His music tastes tend toward Beethoven and Bruce Springsteen but "I force him to listen to Scarlatti and Bach," Mrs. Alito said in a Washington Post interview published Monday. He once attended a ska festival -- that's rock music, with a touch of reggae and horns.

Lately, her husband has been reading "Civil War stuff," Mrs. Alito says. Once, he began teaching himself Greek so he could read the philosophers in their original language. He also took up juggling.

"He's a great marksman -- he can do double clays," she says, meaning he can hit two clay pigeon targets thrown simultaneously into the air before either hits the ground.

On their first date, they discussed a movie about an Asian mystic's travels through Afghanistan and his search for the meaning of life. Alito's marriage proposal began with a different sort of proposal -- "Let's go take dancing lessons."

[Ninian Dryhope]

"Springsteen sucks."

Springsteen was OK back when he first hit the air waves. I liked The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle when it came out in '73. He has not worn well, however, so I am sure Alito liked Springsteen back in the day and not the present version. Besides, Alito and Springsteen are both New Jersey boys. Just like I will always have a soft spot in my heart for fellow Michigander, Bob Seger.

[Verginius Rufus]

He likes Civil War stuff, and has tried to learn Greek. He could combine the two by reading books about the Greek Civil War.

I wonder how far he progressed in learning Greek. Plato and Aristotle are not considered particularly difficult authors.

[Aussie Dasher]

Bloody hard if you CAN'T speak Greek...

[Mojave]

Lately, her husband has been reading "Civil War stuff," Mrs. Alito says.

I wonder if All the Laws but One : Civil Liberties in Wartime, by William H. Rehnquist is in his library?

[COEXERJ145]

He's a Springsteen fan, history buff and marksman.

Well, two out of three ain't bad.

[Moonman62]

This week he's baking Lard Ass pie, with sliced Schumer on the side...

Please, a little respect. That should be Senator Lard Ass.

[Uncle Vlad]

I believe etiquette calls for him to be addressed as the Senior Lard Ass from Massachusetts.

[Uncle Vlad]

Part of me would like to see him field-strip a machine gun for the committee during the hearings, just to see the stupid looks on all their faces.

[Verginius Rufus]

Nobody today speaks ancient Greek as a native language (even if speakers of Modern Greek have a head start in learning the ancient tongue, since a lot of the vocabulary and grammar is the same or similar) so all of the ancient authors are harder than reading something in one's native language.

What I meant was (speaking from experience) a lot of other ancient Greek authors are much harder than Plato and Aristotle for someone who has studied the language.

[fish hawk]

Schumer and Kennedy: "Dead a Pair". (from an ole trap shooter)

[SortaBichy]

good grief!
lol

[Cobra64]

Part of me would like to see him field-strip a machine gun for the committee during the hearings, just to see the stupid looks on all their faces.

What is your definition of a "machine gun?"

[definitelynotaliberal]

Nobody is being disrespectful to the venerable Senator from mASSachussets. We're talking culinary skills = pies and other rarified matters. Perhaps the judge will serve Lard Ass Pie with sliced Schumer on the side.

[milagro]

Wonder if the Asian mystic is Gurdjieff (sp?)--interesting character--think he was a Sufi mystic. Not one of your run of the mill topics for discussion in the beltway, I reckon.

[milagro]

LOL!!

[rwfromkansas]

This guy sounds like a really fun, interesting person.

And into ska, too. I don't listen to it much, but it is pretty sweet music.

[Uncle Vlad]

What is your definition of a "machine gun?"

I'd want to see him use a Thompson submachine gun. The entire committee would look like they'd all just gotten a shot of Novocain.

[Cobra64]

Anyone can buy a semi-auto Thompson from Auto Rodnance. The term machine gune connotes a full automatic. Tough for a civilian to own one legally.

[absolootezer0]

considering you have to have around $30k to spend on it for starters... yeah.

[LIConFem]

"Alito a Charmer, Wife Reveals"

Good to hear, given that he'll be spending a lot of time in a room full of snakes.