Posted on 10/31/2005 4:34:41 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
October 31, 2005 - 08:01.
When Bill Clinton nominated ACLU general counsel Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court, what are the odds that, in the very first sentence of its report, the Today show described Ginsburg as "liberal"? Roughly the same as the Saints winning this year's Super Bowl, perhaps?
Yet this is how Katie Couric opened Today this morning: "Breaking news: President Bush is nominating conservative judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court."
Matt Lauer got into the spirit, adding Alito "is so consistently conservative he has been called 'Scalito,'" i.e., in the mold of Justice Antonin Scalia.
Tim Russert then weighed in, expressing skepticism that Alito could get 60-65 Senate votes. Russert did acknowledge that Ted Kennedy praised Alito when he was nominated to the Appeals Court, but explained that that was 15 years ago and Kennedy will will make a distinction now that Alito is being nominated to the Supreme Court.
Couric then interviewed law prof Jonathan Turley, with Katie describing Turley as having been "absolutely brutal" in his initial comments on Harriet Miers' nomination, having called her "an amazingly bad choice."
Turley predicted a melee over Alito: "I think it's going to get pretty sporty around here. There's a lot in Alito's background that is going to coalesce Democratic groups."
Turley foresaw Alito as being to join the Court's "hard right. There will be no one to the right of Sam Alito on this court," he observed.
"Not even Scalia?" asked a shocked Couric.
"So no smooth sailing for the confirmation hearings?" asked Katie. "I think the Democrats are going to come out of the dugout on this one," predicted Turley
Katie inquired whether in picking Alito "ideology trumped gender?"
"No one on the conservative base can be unhappy with Alito. The question is whether they can weather this storm," answered Turley.
Today Show/NewsBusters ping.
He was confirmed 99-0 by the Senate...so NOW the Dems are gonna filabuster him?...NO way..FYI..Lautenberg just endorsed him..
Coalesce like a putrid, lying liberal puss.
Interesting, hopeful, info. Thanks for passing along.
Matt Lauer: Alito "is so consistently conservative he has been called 'Scalito,'" i.e., in the mold of Justice Antonin Scalia.
You guys are saying "conservative" as if its a bad thing . . .
Ouch! Tell us how you really feel ;-)
Katie, Matt & Tim forgot to mention............HE'S CATHOLIC (GASP!)! Now, there could be FIVE CATHOLICS on the Supreme Court!
Really? I think that bodes quite well for the nomination. McCain says that the gang of 14 will get together in the next day or so to take the pulse of those whom he feels are the REALLY important people in this matter. What an ego.
Thank you for your service! It allows the rest of us to watch E.D. Hill, but still know what the enemy is doing.
Why are Conservative Protestant Southerners verboten on SCOTUS?
****
Hmmm.
They apparently think it is. They don't realize they're just providing free, positive advertising!
Roll Tide!
I'll tell you what is schocking about this. The perky, chunky, katie, is paid to open her mouth, and number two, that anyone with a lick of sense bothers to listen.
Katie's busy fellating Joseph Wilson at the moment. What a softball tournament! LOL.
This is the kind of nominee I've been waiting for. The Democrats want a fight then "bring em on"!
My bad..It was an OLD quote, from his 1990 confirmation....need more coffee...sorry
Please, let's not go there. Alito is a conservative's conservative. We should be thrilled at his nomination, regardless of his religion.
What time does Jumpin' Joe come on? Will his appearance be overshadowed by the 8 am announcement by the president?
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