Posted on 10/31/2005 5:13:05 AM PST by Hadean
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid issued the following statement regarding the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the United States Supreme Court.
"The nomination of Judge Alito requires an especially long hard look by the Senate because of what happened last week to Harriet Miers. Conservative activists forced Miers to withdraw from consideration for this same Supreme Court seat because she was not radical enough for them. Now the Senate needs to find out if the man replacing Miers is too radical for the American people.
"I am disappointed in this choice for several reasons. First, unlike previous nominations, this one was not the product of consultation with Senate Democrats. Last Friday, Senator Leahy and I wrote to President Bush urging him to work with us to find a consensus nominee. The President has rejected that approach.
"Second, this appointment ignores the value of diverse backgrounds and perspectives on the Supreme Court. The President has chosen a man to replace Sandra Day O’Connor, one of only two women on the Court. For the third time, he has declined to make history by nominating the first Hispanic to the Court. And he has chosen yet another federal appellate judge to join a court that already has eight justices with that narrow background. President Bush would leave the Supreme Court looking less like America and more like an old boys club.
"Justice O’Connor has been the deciding vote in key cases protecting individual rights and freedoms on a narrowly divided Court. The stakes in selecting her replacement are high.
"I look forward to meeting Judge Alito and learning why those who want to pack the Court with judicial activists are so much more enthusiastic about him than they were about Harriet Miers.”
Actually, if you wanted to be technically correct, you'd have noted that these are the United States (plural).
states, yes
individual, no
That's strange. I thought conservative WERE Americans. What a jerk.
Hey Reid......it's called "being in the minority". Deal with it, Sparky.
I hope everyone on this thread is correct, but I don't understand. The Repub Senate (gang of 14) caved before. Why will we win this fight exactly?
After the grotesque nonsense Reid spewed yesterday, the fact he hates the Alito pick makes it all the more sweet.
Two things intereesting about this to me:
1) Harry seems to be pining for Gonzales.
2) Harry has adopted the Daschle'ism "disappointed."
("Denny Crane: Gun Control? For Communists. She's a liberal. Can't hunt.")
I am disappointed in this choice for several reasons. First, unlike previous nominations, this one was not the product of consultation with Senate Democrats. Last Friday, Senator Leahy and I wrote to President Bush urging him to work with us to find a consensus nominee. The President has rejected that approach.
THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT!!!
"Last Friday, Senator Leahy and I wrote to President Bush urging him to work with us to find a consensus nominee. "
What? Dingy Harry..is President Bush no longer taking your calls? LMAO..they had to WRITE to him? This speaks volumes. I bet Bush doesn't have weekly breakfasts with these minority "leaders" any longer.
LMAO! I LOVE IT>..we so need a good positive pick-me-up and this is it.
Nam Vet
I still think Arlen Specter is the key -- even though he wasn't in the Gang of 14. Specter has had enormous influence in the past on SCOTUS nominations -- he killed the Bork Nomination but saved Thomas. Alito is a former Philly prosecutor, like him, and they are both Philly boys. That kind of thing counts for a lot -- it shouldn't, but it does.
IMHO Specter will push this nomination HARD behind the scenes and help keep our side unified to the point that Reid and friends will know we have the votes to pull the "nucular" trigger if necessary.
Reid Borked Estrada!
"Reid" is a shortened version of "REal IDiot".
Harry Reid, you are the weakest link.
("Denny Crane: Gun Control? For Communists. She's a liberal. Can't hunt.")
"Reid 'diappointed' over Alito pick."
In and of itself, this makes me feel pretty good about Alito.
Really want to stick to the argument that Byers, Souter, Ginzberg, Kennedy and Stevens are examples of the "best, most qualified person"?
My copy of the Constitution seems to have left that Amendment off. Can you please point out to me where the criteria that require "the best most qualified person" be picked?
Yeah, well, at least you're not deeply saddened, Harry.
You're disappointed, Harry? Aw, that's too bad! What are you going to do about it?
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