Posted on 01/16/2006 10:59:30 AM PST by kddid
Ted Kennedy told fellow Democrat Charles Schumer to "take the lead in the grilling of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
And the congressman from New York could parlay his prominent position on the committee into what Washington insiders say is his ultimate goal: The Senate Democratic leadership position.
On the Thursday before the confirmation hearings began, Schumer gave a speech outlining the Democrats plan for questioning Alito. A few hours earlier, Kennedy had done the same.
But Kennedys briefing "had not gone well, a report in New York Magazine reveals. "Kennedy, looking tired and haggard, said in error that the Democrats had abandoned any thought of filibustering Alito.
Schumers speech, on the other hand, was "sharp and focused, the magazine reports, reinforcing "a sense, already growing, of a generational shift of leadership taking place on the committee. When Schumer was asked if he thought he was inheriting Kennedys mantle, he said: "No, Im not. Im not as liberal as he is. But he added: "He has basically said to me, You take the lead.
During the hearings, Schumer was the shining light among Democratic interrogators, while his party mates on the committee revealed themselves as "befuddled, toothless gasbags, according to New York Magazine.
But the magazine article wasnt totally complimentary of Schumer, head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
It quoted one former Senate staffer as saying: "He has the smarts, he has the staff, he has the legal background. But hes more worried about how he looks than if hes going to win, and hes more concerned about how he sounds than if he makes his point.
No, Schumer was thrown in front of the bus, because no other Democrat would do it. Everyone knows Schumer is stupid, so no one took him seriously -- certainly not the New York voters.
"Do you Judge Alito think there is a right to free speech in the consitution?"
"I do"
"Well then how could you not then point to a right to abortion in the consitution?"
"Because the constituiton clearly states the right to free speech, there is no such language with regard to abortion it is an interpretation."
Bamm, Bang, Zoom and Chuckie Schmuckie Schumer is down for the count.
Whadda, you crazy or sumpin'? Schumer running the Senate Democrats is a Republican wet dream! Freepers' only question should be "how can we help?"
This is too good to be true!
That would be great!
Schumer would be an ideal Senate minorty leader in one sense -- because he comes from a very liberal state and isn't likely to face any serious threat from a Republican opponent. Having a party leader like Reid -- from a state that has a fairly strong GOP presence and track record -- puts Reid in the same precarious position as Daschle when it comes to holding onto his seat in the Senate.
"Er ah, Chuck, you er (hic) take over from here, OK? I'm just gonna (burp) put my head down a bit."
Chuck Schumer ping.
Doogle
Reid has thrown his re-election chances under the bus 1) By agreeing to be Dem minority leader and as such beholden to the Hard Left and 2) trusting the Dems to save him.
It's one thing to be loyal to party. It's another to be loyal to a Party content to lose every state but MASS and Cali. He'll be Daschle'd and the Dems are already signaling their intent to throw him overboard five years in advance. Reid's "loyalty" got him nothing from his own leadership.
he's worried about "how he looks" and "how he sounds".
is he kidding, he looks bad and he sounds like somebody from Brooklyn. that's who he is, does he think he looks like Brad Pitt and sounds like Charlton Heston?
Oddly, the only word that comes to mind when I hear Schumer's name is -- icky. Must be some repressed childhood memory.
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