LIVE THREAD: Day ONE - Senate debate on nomination of Samuel Alito to SCOTUS: C-span 2; 9:30 am EST

C-span

[Mayflower Sister]

I think "Harriet Miers" should be the drink word(s) of the day. ... Arlen just said it !

[ken5050]

FYI..see #152..

[MEG33]

Good article and though I would like to see this vote happen earlier..after the State of the Union will be fine..Just getting him in is the victory. I just cannot abide listening to the posturing of the dims..I may turn on Animal Planet!

[A Citizen Reporter]

"Specter thinks that Senators hold power over Supreme Court justices AFTER they are confirmed."

What did he say? After he went on a rant about televising Supreme Court proceedings, I took my attention to the Snow show.

[Cboldt]

according to Senate rules, once Frist files for cloture, he has to wait three days ...

"The following day but one" is the cloture vote, and the rule provides for 30 hours of debate (no more than that, except by unanimous consent) following passage of the motion.

[Mayflower Sister]

For the next few days, C-span 2 IS animal planet !

[rightwingintelligentsia]

I may turn on Animal Planet!

In search of more intelligent life?

[Bahbah]

I think "Harriet Miers" should be the drink word(s) of the day.

I'll second that.

[ken5050]

I concur with your analysis..but I think he brings thiem in over the weekend..to punish them..unless there is a rule, as cboldt suggests, that doesn't allow weeekend days to cout against the cloture timeline..BTW..see #152 this thread..

[MEG33]

#163 was to you..I goofed!

[Bahbah]

What Specter said was that it was important for Senators on both sides of the abortion issue to vote for him so he doesn't feel beholden to one side when he is confirmed to the bench. I am still shaking my head over that one.

[MEG33]

;)

[MEG33]

No, this will be all Senators, all the time.

[Cboldt]

Will Justice Alito be present to answer questions during the Senate hearings or will it just be constant blow-viating by the senators.

The nominee won't appear on the floor of the Senate. There is precedent (Thomas) for additional Committee hearings following sending the nomination to the full Senate. I would not be surprised if the DEMs attempt that stunt again, given their past sucess with Anita Hill. They won't get their way this time. Welcome is worn out.

[maica]

RE:

"The American people are lucky to have me there. They get two for the price of one."


+++++

Thanks for the thread, ken.

Do you find it surprising that just momentary pauses on a TV channel or radio station often reveal the core of the presentation. Is it ESP, serendipity or compulsive media-monitoring? I have often wondered about that as it seems to happen too frequently to be a random occurence. Am I putting myself in the compulsive category?

[KE]

Meg, thanks for the help with the link.

Choldt, What does ""The following day but one" is the cloture vote" mean?

Also, the other day I read the vote may be delayed due to the fact that some in the Senate are going overseas to some summit, and debating over the week-end won't fit in with their schedule. I can't find the article though.

Karen

[The_Victor]

Well this is goofy. Specter thinks that Senators hold power over Supreme Court justices AFTER they are confirmed. They have all gone insane.

Technically speaking, a justice can be impeached, emphasis on "can."

[MEG33]

I believe Sessions gently corrected him when he pointed out that SCJudges don't have to campaign and run for office.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"What Specter said was that it was important for Senators on both sides of the abortion issue to vote for him so he doesn't feel beholden to one side when he is confirmed to the bench."

That may well be Arlen's legislative philosophy, but it shows complete ignorance of the separation of powers concept.

[A Citizen Reporter]

I wouldn't exactly call Anita Hill a success.