Posted on 01/12/2006 5:14:27 AM PST by OXENinFLA
Day 4: Hearing Resumes
This morning, Senators will question Judge Alito during a third round. They will then go into a closed session, to review the FBI background investigation on the Supreme Court nominee. Outside witnesses may be called to testify this afternoon, as well as the American Bar Association, to discuss its recommendations.
THURS., 9:00AM ET, C-SPAN
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:-) I am glad that you have such a nice boss
I hope they bring in that "steak dinner = the murder of millions of jews by nazis" guy.
That would be the icing on the cake.
In the last round, Feingold said he was troubled AND concerned. I thought, "OMG, if he gets puzzled, it will be the Full Monty of all possible dim emotions and reactions rolled into one." I am not sure I want to see what that would look like. Fortunately, he finished his questions without being overtaken by puzzlement.
Thanks :)
Me too!
Thanks Peach!
This is what Scotusblog is saying
:34: Tober says that the ABA standing committee has rated candidates for the federal bench for 50 years. They are non-partisan. They measure integrity, competence, and temerpement of a nominee. They look for exceptional qualifications.
2:32: Witnesses are Steve Tober, Marna Tucker, and John Peyton. Tober's up first.
2:30: The senators file back into the hearing room. Specter says the committee met in executive session and reviewed confidential data on Alito which was found to be "in order." Now we move on to witnesses. First up is the ABA. This year, there will be 15 Republican witnesses and 15 Dem witnesses. But the ABA witnesses are neutral.
Yes, if I understand what you mean by "get". The justice department can investigate executive branch employees, of course, but the president has the right to tell them to stop. Then they can resign, like Archibald Cox did.
Nixon was brought down by the executive justice department, because he couldn't keep firing the people in charge. It proved that good people can give us good government, but the dems used it anyway to push the independent council law.
The president can't control the executive power of the country if the congress can legislate a separate executive with executive powers that reports to them.
Note that the supreme court ruled the line-item veto unconstitutional because it gave congressional law-making power to the executive branch, contrary to the constitutional provisions. The same should have been true of the independent council law, but the judges just thought they whole idea of an independent council was so "right" that it didn't matter that it was unconstitutional.
It's easy to see the problem if you take it to extremes. If the congress can pass a law making the FEC, with law enforcement powers, which the president can't control, why can't they pass a law putting the military under control of an independent executive appointed by congress? Why not make all cabinet members appointed by congress rather than the president?
The court has, in typically activist style, decided to apply the constitution selectively based on how "fair" the outcome is -- so since it makes sense that the FEC should be outside of politics, they let congress set it up that way.
Well, I have a new theory. NOTHING should be outside politics. POLITICS is how we the people control our own fate. If we don't like what government does, we vote it out and vote in people we like. And the constitution protects the minority from government interfering with them too much because of us in the majority.
But the constitition makes no guarantees that parts of our government will be run without regard to who wins elections.
That would've been funny but they took him off the list.
Well qualified, with unanimity and one recusal (somebody who worked with him, likely). Goal is qualified and objective judiciary.
Thank you! I needed a good picture of the President to cheer me up!
I have a question:
Are the Rats allowed to present THEIR witnesses?
Not even a flea circus? :-)
:-)
I swear he's got Absolut in that water-bottle.
15 of them
ABA are assumed to be neutral. :p
That's a lovely picture of the Alito's, a great family.
Even Moby Dick couldn't be that stupid
I mean, are the Rats able to bring in people like NOW and NARAL to condemn Alito?
LOL! He's got something in there besides water.
Yes, if they want. And please let them be bonkers. LOL!
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