Glum Democrats Can't See Halting Bush on Courts

The New York Times ^ | 1/15/06 | ADAM NAGOURNEY, RICHARD W. STEVENSON and NEIL A. LEWIS

[LdSentinal]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 - Disheartened by the administration's success with the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr., Democratic leaders say that President Bush is putting an enduring conservative ideological imprint on the nation's judiciary, and that they see little hope of holding off the tide without winning back control of the Senate or the White House.

In interviews, Democrats said the lesson of the Alito hearings was that this White House could put on the bench almost any qualified candidate, even one whom Democrats consider to be ideologically out of step with the country.

That conclusion amounts to a repudiation of a central part of a strategy Senate Democrats settled on years ago in a private retreat where they discussed how to fight a Bush White House effort to recast the judiciary: to argue against otherwise qualified candidates by saying they would take the courts too far to the right.

Even though Democrats thought from the beginning that they had little hope of defeating the nomination, they were dismayed that a nominee with such clear conservative views - in particular a written record of opposition to abortion rights - appeared to be stirring little opposition.

Republicans say that Mr. Bush, in making conservative judicial choices, has been doing precisely what he said he would do in both of his presidential campaigns. Indeed, they say, his re-election, and the election of a Republican Congress, meant that the choices reflected the views of much of the American public.

[de Buillion]

Amen. I predict at least one more.

[paul51]

If Pres Bush gets a couple more, the past election will prove to be truly historical in significance. Ant any future nominees will be very right because the dims can't stop them and the WH knows that.

[Paleo Conservative]

I saw some Dim propaganda today that mentioned that 7 out of the 9 justices were put on the Supreme Court by Republicans.

Only three were confirmed by a Republican Senate. This is only the second Supreme Court vacancy since the Republicans took control of the Senate after the 1994 elections. Not a single justice retired from the court during the last six years of the Clinton administration or the first term of W.

[McGavin999]

Kennedy is going to become more conservative. I really do believe he will fall more on the right side of issues with Roberts and Alito joining the court.

[IrishRainy]

Once again, it literally takes THREE people to write this tripe...

Tough job, isn't it?

[goldstategop]

If Samuel Alito were ideologically out of step with the country, you'd see a chorus of outrage from Americans. Let's recall that Bush was forced to withdraw Harriet Miers because she was NOT conservative enough. Its the Democrats and the liberal kooks who are ideologically out of step with the country. And they know it but are in denial.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[de Buillion]

"I'd prefer to see Janice Rogers Brown in there, but it would be fun to see Ken Starr nominated. That would put the Dems on suicide watch. "

It would REALLY twist their panties if John Cornyn got a nomination. ACU= 100%.

[Nam Vet]

All I can say is that I hope Dubya has the chance to replace 2 leftists before his time is up. Ruth 'Buzzie' Ginzberg sure looks like she's ready.

Nam Vet

[VeniVidiVici]

Only the two Clinton appointed justices are Dems.

Sure, I know it's true, it's just that the 7 out of 9 line is repeated often with no qualifying statement for the masses that at least 4 out of 9 vote liberal consistantly.

[pepsionice]

My guess is that both Ginsburg and Stevens will try to last out this adminstration. Stevens may have health problems that prevent him from successful. This adminstration has learned alot of lessons and I think they are absolutely prepared for the next episode. For the democrats...unless they can win a majority in the senate...they can't shape any future in US history.

[Seadog Bytes]

This is GREAT!  
(Musing... How about a 'deflated Kennedy'... like a big ol' beachball gone flat?)

[okie01]

Leahy said to Specter, that he was his second choice for chairman of the committee, implying that he was the first.

So, Leahy respects Specter more than he respects Joe Biden?

Interesting...

[1066AD]

But he at least understands their problem in its most basic form !

.. stunned at the realization that the pictures of a weeping Mrs. Alito were being broadcast across the nation - as opposed to, for example, images of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, pressing Judge Alito about his membership in an alumni club that resisted affirmative action efforts.

BS. Then how about TedK's continuing "Owls" membership.

[ThomasPaine2000]

Politics?? Comity??
Who knows..

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

So Harriet Meiers will get another chance?

Who wants her? I'm glad she's gone!

[hsalaw]

"George Bush won the election," said Representative Rahm Emanuel, an Illinois Democrat. "If you don't like it, you better win elections."

A dem with sense? Where the heck did he come from?

[hsalaw]

And by late fall Ginsburg and Stevens will be retiring.

Hope you're right. I hate to wish ill on anyone, but Stevens has to be at least 85, and I've heard Ginsburg isn't well. They may try to tough it out for three more years, though.

[JudgemAll]

so far the hearings have reached the level of virtual torture and interrogation... all the while they claim Allito supports Bush on torture at Guantanamo.

I've never seen a judge questioned so much, it's as if they want him to break in public. When Kennedy is tired, Biden pedophiles takes on, then another feminist US exploiting pedophile walks on etc...

Meanwhile Allito stands like a corner stone under a barrage.

[Free Dominoes]

What makes you think either one will retire this year?