Alito : Two Nominee Strategies. One Worked.~

The New York Times ^ | January 31, 2006 | DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 — The week before his Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. e-mailed the text of his opening statement to the White House. It included very little about his legal thinking, dwelled at length on his family and opened with a tired and rambling joke about courtroom banter between a lawyer and a judge.

The response from the White House: "Perfect, don't change a word," according to an administration official who was granted anonymity because Judge Alito's preparation sessions were confidential.

As the last obstacles to confirmation faded away Monday, Democratic aides said their party had initially expected Judge Alito to live up to his reputation as "Scalito," suggesting a conservative firebrand in the mold of Justice Antonin Scalia. Failing to adjust to his meekness, Democratic aides admit they searched too hard for scandal in Judge Alito's past.

The White House, meanwhile, sought to take advantage of Judge Alito's low-key, almost shy demeanor to build sympathy for him. They say they succeeded beyond all expectations when Judge Alito's wife, Martha-Ann, walked out in tears from his confirmation hearings.

"Any time they are yelling, preaching, lecturing, and you are cool and calm and breathing deep, you are winning," the administration official said the White House team told Judge Alito. "What that means on television sets where the American people are watching this is, you look good and they look bad. It was the central operating premise."

Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senator Harry Reid

of Nevada, the Democratic leader, agreed. "It was a classic rope-a-dope," Mr. Manley said, referring to the boxing tactic of leaning against the ropes to let an opponent exhaust himself punching.

[bybybill]

Alito had no problem identifying the dopes

[Howlin]

Both Republican and Democratic staff members in the Senate spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from their bosses.

A$$holes.

[Howlin]

Is this the article Kennedy was waving around on the floor of the Senate today as some big "battle plan" to get Alito confirmed?

Big dang deal.

[Mo1]

Sooooooooooooo Kennedy acting like this was the WH's fault????

oooooooooooooooooooookay

[bybybill]

The dopes were the ones that came into the hearings with ropes tied around their necks.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Love to see the DemonicRats fail!

[msnimje]

How does the story end? :)

[MEG33]

Neither did those of us watching TV. Kerry calling for a filibuster from Davos was icing on the cake.

[phoenix0468]

"What that means on television sets where the American people are watching this is, you look good and they look bad. It was the central operating premise."

And let's hope many Americans were watching, and realize just how petty and vicious the Democrats are when they don't get their way. I truly hope for two things in my future before I die. The death of the Democrat Party, and the death of Islam.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

No idea, couldn't stomach watching Teddy....

[al_again]

It's great to see the Dems forming the circular firing squads even before the confirmation vote! This nomination was handled brilliantly.

[kublia khan]

I can certainly understand this doesn't teddy still have his drivers license?

[dirtboy]

"It was a classic rope-a-dope,"

In this case, the dopes wore themselves out shadow boxing against themselves.

[Ann Archy]

I would have preferred "Slug the Thug". One day SOMEONE is going to pop Biden, Durbn or Kennedy.

[Mears]

Kennedy's toast----no power left,but the lib idiots in Massachusetts will continue to vote for him.(Except me,of course)

[Gordongekko909]

Yes! It was Karl Rove's mind control device that made the Swimmer act like that! Rove had it set to eleven!

(Note: most mind-control devices have dials that go to ten. Karl Rove's goes to eleven. It's one higher.)

[jveritas]

Yet another very successful rope and dope strategy or "strategery" by President Bush! The dopes on the Left will never learn. My friends, this is a beautiful moment as the late night of Nov/2/2004.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

ROFLMAO!!

Love that picture....