Posted on 10/31/2005 9:40:56 AM PST by Constitutionalist Conservative
The left has gone to DefCon 4 on the news of Samuel Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court. Here's a sampling of what's burning up the fax machines at major media organizations.
MoveOn.org press release:
Alito Fails Basic Test: Sides with Powerful Special Interests against Ordinary Americans; President Opts to Divide Nation in Time of Crisis for Administration; History of Decisions against Workers, Women, Minorities, People with DisabilitiesNARAL Pro-Choice America press release:
"Instead of unifying the country, President Bush has chosen the path of confrontation," said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro- Choice America. "Sandra Day O'Connor has been the Court's swing Justice, casting the deciding votes over the years to protect women's reproductive freedom. Alito's confirmation could shift the Court in a direction that threatens to eviscerate the core protections for women’s freedom guaranteed by Roe v. Wade, or overturn the landmark decision altogether."Alliance for Justice press release:
Alliance for Justice opposes the nomination of Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Samuel Alito to the United States Supreme Court. "Influential segments of the radical right torpedoed the nomination of Harriet Miers because she didn't have a proven record of being a 'movement' conservative, dedicated to carrying out their political agenda on the bench. The right is now giddy about the nomination of Samuel Alito - undoubtedly because he has such a record. If confirmed to the pivotal O'Connor seat, Judge Alito would fundamentally change the balance of the Supreme Court, tipping it in a direction that could jeopardize our most cherished rights and freedoms," stated Nan Aron, president of Alliance for Justice.Aron continues to propagate the left's obfuscation of what "judicial restraint" actually means—namely, fealty to the plain wording of the Constitution. If fealty requires striking down acts of Congress, that's not judicial activism."The president and the right claim to value judicial restraint. Yet Judge Alito has not demonstrated such restraint," noted Aron.
[...]"With Judge Alito, President Bush has sought to appease the radical right and fuel a revolution on the Supreme Court," said Aron. The National Law Journal reported that lawyers believe that Judge Alito is "much more of an ideologue than most of his colleagues." A prominent legal observer, who strongly supported John Roberts' nomination, has similarly called Judge Alito a "conservative activist" and asserts that his "lack of deference to Congress is unsettling."
"While it's clear Judge Alito possesses a keen intellect, it is equally clear the president selected him for his backward- looking judicial philosophy. The Supreme Court is not a place for 'movement' judges of any kind. Supreme Court Justices do not rule for a narrow segment of the population, but for all of us. It is truly disheartening that President Bush thinks otherwise. Instead of going to the Senate for advice and consent, President Bush chose to go to the right wing, injecting divisiveness and controversy into a situation that calls for unity. We call on Democrats and Republicans alike to reject this nomination," concluded Aron.
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence press release:
How could it have gone in any other direction, from a White House that just gave blanket immunity to the gun industry, which refuses to bar terrorists from buying guns, that broke a campaign promise and put Uzis and AK-47s back on America's city streets, and insisted that records of gun purchases be destroyed before the sun sets on them twice?Maybe, just maybe, Alito just thinks that Congress has no constitutional business regulating firearms. Doesn't necessarily mean that he favors legal machine guns.It had to be a Supreme Court pick that favors legal machine guns.
I am posting Sen Specter's comments to all these threads as I don't have a link and think people should know what the head of the Judiciary Committee has to say.
From RNC Email:
SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R-PA) ON
JUDGE SAMUEL A. ALITO, JR.
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA): "I've known Judge Alito through the better part of two decades. He sits on the Court Of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which includes my state of Pennsylvania. He brings to this nomination a very distinguished record: was in the Solicitor General's Office, was U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. He has been on the federal bench now for 15 years. We are in the process of assembling his opinions. It is estimated that he has been involved in about 3,500 cases, has some 300 opinions which he has written. So that we have a very good idea as to his approach to jurisprudence." (Sen. Arlen Specter, Press Conference, 10/31/05)
"Maybe, just maybe, Alito just thinks that Congress has no constitutional business regulating firearms."
Tsk tsk! Don't weigh the Enlightened Lefties down with logic or reason. Meanie.
Specter knows that he has to play nice and appear in support of Alito or his chairmanship is going to end.
That reads more like a reading of his bio then anything else: A non statement statement.
All the right people are mad. ;)
I've already written several times today that Specter is the key now, especially after conservatives have completely abandoned the original Constitution's intent that the President's nominees be given an up-or-down vote. If Specter decides to even mildly oppose this nominee, he's toast.
I know DefCon 4 has a nice ring to it, but in reality it's not very exciting. In fact, it's the second lowest level of readiness. We went to DefCon 3 right after 9/11 and we may still be there. Not sure. We did reach DefCon 2 during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
DEFCON 1 : Maximum force readiness.
DEFCON 2 : Increased force readiness (less than maximum).
DEFCON 3 : Increased force readiness.
DEFCON 4 : Peacetime; Increased intelligence; Strengthened security measures.
DEFCON 5 : Peacetime.
Dude, you don't even have to wink. His opposition informs us of a great deal about him, all good!
Bush wouldn't have nominated Alito if Specter wasn't on board.
If even one GOP'er on the Jud. Cte is opposed to him (assuming the Dems are united against him), he's finished.
Specter and Alito locked horns in the early 1990's over the proposed closure of a military shipyard in Philadelphia. Alito argued in favor of the process, so as to protect the integrity and impartiality of the base closing initiative. Specter argued that the process had been rigged.
All the liberals are mad, and all conservatives are happy. Could this fight be any more perfect?
All is right with the world.....
Noticeably so.
I'll hound you if you keep pushing that without the counter-argument.
There is a difference between a President pulling his own nomination based on pressure from his friends; and the Senate refusing to give a decision up or down on a nomination that the President and his supporters advance through the process.
There is no hypocracy in objecting to the latter while engaging in the former.
As the day goes on, Alito looks better and better. We are known for the company we keep, and the enemies we make.
Oh, Boy! We're all gonna get machine guns!! (God, liberals are idiots!)
Oh everything is right with the world. Instead of having Bush supporters upset about Bush's pick, we now have the looney left up in arms. Things are as they should be again.
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