Republicans Were Masters In the Race to Paint Alito

Washington Post ^

[Republican Red]

A long read but quite interesting on the backroom dealings with the Alito nomination. Some of the more interesting tidbits:

Reid mentioned that Alito would be the fifth Roman Catholic on the court.

Leahy greeted the nominee effusively in Italian. "I don't speak Italian," responded an unsmiling Alito. (I wonder if Leahy greets Condi Rice with an ebonics phrase?)

One 25-minute meeting, with Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee (R.I.), a key Republican moderate, took place on the Capitol steps at Chafee's insistence so they could both be looking and pointing at the Supreme Court when they spoke.

With the fight all but lost, Democrats had one last weapon -- a filibuster. But in the Democratic caucus, senators were uncomfortable with the idea. "It's bad politically," Schumer, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said at one meeting.

Sen. John F. Kerry's calculus was different. As a potential candidate for president, the Massachusetts Democrat needed to shore up his liberal support and planned to announce his intentions after flying back from a day's visit to an economic conference in Davos, Switzerland. But when the news was leaked to CNN, he was ridiculed by Republicans for calling for a filibuster from a ski resort.

[EagleUSA]

The socialists just keep whining like the losers they are. Their pathetic and ugly attempts to block the Alito confirmation are solid testimony to their corrupt agenda to manipulate the SCOTUS into a liberal machine to destroy individual rights and our Constitution.

[Vaquero]

Hey Leahy..... no capiche Italiano.

Unlike other ethnic minorities that entered this country, the Italian people who became Americans wanted their children to do everything AMERICAN.....

[SoFloFreeper]

Perhaps, just perhaps, Alito was a highly qualified candidate.

Whenever the liberals lose, they always try to make it about mere "marketing" and "image"...they can't stand to think they're wrong on the issues.

[Semi Civil Servant]

But in the end, Senate Democrats and their allies never succeeded in convincing Americans that Alito was the threat to their rights that critics said he was.

Perhaps the main reason is that Alito isn't any such threat. The Dems' lies and bluster didn't have the ring of truth. And as a result of the Dems over the top moral and intellectual meltdown, no Republican President ever should feel the need to nominate a "stealth" candidate. A well qualified conservative judge will be confirmed, as long as Republicans hold the Senate.

[RoseofTexas]

"announce his intentions after flying back from a day's visit to an economic conference in Davos, Switzerland. But when the news was leaked to CNN, he was ridiculed by Republicans for calling for a filibuster from a ski resort."

I see the mediaWHORES TRYING so hard to spin and justify the jerk's where abouts!! BULL*HIT! The scum was at a ski resort...period! Ain't it wonderful it backfired on the little weasel! OBTW, did you know he was a Vietnam Veteran? LOL!

[BerniesFriend]

OBTW, did you know he was a Vietnam Veteran?

Does he ever mention it? or is he very shy and humble about his military service??

[music is math]

Leahy greeted the nominee effusively in Italian. "I don't speak Italian," responded an unsmiling Alito.

He doesn't speak Italian? Weird. He spent time studying in Italy:

So he spent time in Italy, and wrote a thesis - you'd guess, in Italian, since its name is in Italian - but he doesn't speak Italian. Maybe he forgot how to speak it?

[Atlas Sneezed]

Or maybe he found a fun way to get the better of Leahy.

[music is math]

Good point, maybe he thought Leahy was being patronising. Strikes me as unnecessary though.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

For Kennedy, the fight against Alito was more personal than political. On Jan. 16, he had made a Martin Luther King Jr. Day appearance at Faneuil Hall in Boston and was given a standing ovation from a largely black crowd after being introduced as having "been fighting for us all week."

VERY INTERESTING article.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

He doesn't speak Italian? Weird. He spent time studying in Italy?

You can't believe anything Leahy says.

[PeskyOne]

One 25-minute meeting, with Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee (R.I.), a key Republican moderate, took place on the Capitol steps at Chafee's insistence so they could both be looking and pointing at the Supreme Court when they spoke.

I'm sure Judge Alito appreciated standing in the cold while Chafee staged a theatrical scene. Wonder where Chafee looks when he registers as a Republican and casts his votes with the liberal Democrats? Maybe he should pose kneeling on the steps of the National Cathedral while he prays for forgiveness for being dishonest when he says he's a Republican.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Thanks to your helpful graphic I see that he was in Italy during the summer of 1971. At the same time I had just completed three years of studying Spanish in high school. I don't speak Spanish either..........

[RoseofTexas]

Yeah, REAL shy!...LOL!

[ken5050]

I posted this yesterday, but it is worth repeating..

On C-span's coverage before the SOTU, they intereviewed a reporter who was inside Statuary Hall. She mentioned that a few minutes earlier, right in front of her, Alito and Kerry had crossed paths..Alito looke up and away, ignored Kerry, and walked right past him..

[L98Fiero]

"At the same time I had just completed three years of studying Spanish in high school. I don't speak Spanish either.........."

I took 3 years in high-school as well. I know a little Spanish but I don't claim to speak the language.

[Pietro]

"Maybe he forgot how to speak it?"

Or maybe he didn't feel like pandering to that smug bastage.

[music is math]

I agree. He probably didn't want to act friendly to some guy who wasn't going to vote for him.

[Mannaggia l'America]

Leahy greeted the nominee effusively in Italian. "I don't speak Italian," responded an unsmiling Alito.

Alito probably turned away and said "stugots".