Dems off to bad start at Alito hearings

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | John O'Sullivan

[sr4402]

Several Democrats Monday, including the reliable Sen. Edward Kennedy, seemed on the verge of making an even worse tactical error. They suggested that Alito's respect for executive branch prerogatives would make him too ready to approve wiretapping and other surveillance of terrorists. That shows a deep misreading of U.S. opinion.

Not only do most polls show that a small plurality of Americans favors wiretapping as a tool against terrorism, but even those against do not consider it a wildly extreme position. When the Democrats campaign against Alito on those grounds, they reinforce the public view of themselves as weak on national security.

Unfortunately for the Democrats, they cannot restrain their own partisanship. They know the stakes are high. If Alito is confirmed, the Democrats will finally lose their majority on the Supreme Court that for 50 years has allowed liberals to legislate from the bench on everything from racial preferences to the detention of terrorists

[sr4402]

Are the Dems going over the deep end?

[GaltMeister]

Poke 'em with sticks till they get mean or go crazy.

[manglor]

They've long since jumped off the deep end and landed head first on a sunken log.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

They have been for a while now. Surprising that some of the MSM types are beginning to pick up on it.

[An Old Marine]

both Democrats and Republicans would learn a valuable democratic lesson: If they want to change the world, they will have to run for Congress.

Sums up my views rather nicely. IF this is truely a country of, by, and for the people then let our representatives decide the laws not appointed judges.

[LIConFem]

"Unfortunately for the Democrats, they cannot restrain their own partisanship. "

Unfortunately??? Watching the dems lose their minds (not to mention elections) is better than anything you'll find on TV or coming out of Hollywood.

[angkor]

The unions were the only thing that linked them to reality from 1945 to 1990. With the decline of the unions the Rats have become completely disconnected from normal Americans (even Democrats). No leadership, no common cause, no direction.

[JRios1968]

If When Alito is confirmed, the Democrats will finally lose their majority on the Supreme Court that for 50 years has allowed liberals to legislate from the bench on everything from racial preferences to the detention of terrorists...

Fixed it for accuracy...and really, would this outcome be such a bad thing for the Nation?

Also,

Are the Dems going over the deep end?

Np, the Dims have jumped the shark this week...again.

[Wolfstar]

They've long since jumped off the deep end and landed head first on a sunken log.

Yeah. Among the first public signs of this phenomenon was when Ted Kennedy drove a car off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, killed a woman, whined about it on TV, and the Dems in Massachusetts couldn't return him to the senate fast enough.

[UB355]

Teddy's coming up next in the hearing. The only half hour I'll sit through. Should be amusing.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

The unions were the only thing that linked them to reality from 1945 to 1990. With the decline of the unions the Rats have become completely disconnected from normal Americans (even Democrats). No leadership, no common cause, no direction.

All that it is true, and yet, as we've witnessed in the last two elections, nearly half the population still votes for dems. Some of it (maybe most of it) is from habit. Others are swayed by the mainstream media. The final component consists of those who vote their pocketbook, looking for handouts from the achievers in society.

[skinkinthegrass]

If Alito is confirmed, the Democrats will finally lose their majority on the Supreme Court that for 50 years has allowed liberals to legislate from the bench on everything...

Well, thats something...,the truth.

[San Jacinto]

...the reliable Sen. Edward Kennedy

What the heck does he mean by that?

I suppose in a literal sense, it is absolutely true. Lifeguard would be the most reliable Senator to spout whacked-out, hate filled rants on the senate floor, and to be drunk while doing it. He would be the most reliable to assault a woman or to abandon one in a drowning pool. You could sure rely upon the Lifeguard to spearhead most any hate-America campaign to come down the pike or to raise taxes on workers while avoiding them himself, but I don't think that was what the author was getting at.

I don't have any idea what he was trying to say.

[TXBSAFH]

I wonder it they sobered up Jabba the senator.

[Irene Adler]

"The unions were the only thing that linked them to reality from 1945 to 1990. With the decline of the unions the Rats have become completely disconnected from normal Americans (even Democrats)."

Interesting insight.

[HolgerDansk]

Wait, I thought the Trib was the Conservative paper in Chicago, and the Sun was Liberal. Did I miss something?

[popdonnelly]

The Dems are merely reflecting the concerns of their leftist constituents. Their constituents' views don't match those of the majority of Americans.

[Yardstick]

Interesting insight.

I agree. It's patriotic blue-collar populism versus subversive Volvo-driving socialism. These days the Democrats seem have less of the former and more of the latter.

[SkyPilot]

Their desperation makes them imprudent. Instead of rooting their arguments in what the public believes, they base them on their own passionate political commitments. They consistently misread public opinion as a result.

[jjmcgo]

Yeah, the last 40 years. Hi, Rip Van Winkle.