Yes. It is true. In response to questioning from Sen. Sessions at today’s judicial confirmation hearings, Judge Alito said, “He would have to take the Fifth” with regard to a part of the question, invoking his right not to incriminate himself.
The tough question from Sessions that drew the assertion of Constitutional privilege: Judge, who was the better debater, you or your sister who is seated behind you and also a well-known attorney?
Then some banter. Some laughing. Yuck-yuck. Alito delivered an obviously (in my opinion) prepared line — someone actually saw us debating once. He-he.
The point here is not to say Alito has truly invoked the Fifth. Sorry for the misleading title. But the point is it is hard to watch these proceedings. There have been a number of moments that looked awfully staged. I feel like I’m watching a Bush press conference with the troops. Our government has become a circus. An absolute circus.
Do with us what you will, oh one party of control. And by the way. Where can I get my party card. And Elephant armband. And work and travel permits.
I’m watching the cold-hearted sonofagun defend strip searching children without a warrant. I’m going to be sick.
I’m like ready to surrender. I’m counting the most solid block of Conservative votes I’ve ever seen. Law is no longer what law was. Four votes everytime. I bet they vote together on 98% of the cases. A block. Scalia-Thomas-Roberts-Alito. Anytime they can knock off one other vote on any issue, they write the opinion of the court. Over and over and over again. Until coronary heart disease gives us a break. If unlucky, that could be from 2005-2035. Game fucking over. And if there is another death, retirement or incapacity. Then it is truly brave new world.
“sonofagun“=fucking asshole.
agreed.
Of course, the right-wing lunatics are claiming that the cops did have a warrant, and it was the evil librul activist judges that were wrong.
I’m thinking that these hearings are obviously staged. After the Meirs travesty, the Bush WH isn’t taking any chances.
I’ve wondered for some time if the Miers travesty wasn’t a staged diversion in order to grease the skids for Alito or someone else like him.
Oh, I don’t doubt it. It’s an old trick, one the content cartels have used more than once with copyright legislation. You introduce an original bill that’s so absurd that no-one would ever vote for it. Then you introduce your “real” bill as a “compromise”.
Only way to fight it is with principled representatives that stand for something.
Blech. I’m with you there. It’s a circus. A well rehersed circus. I watched about 5 hours yesterday and 3 hours the day before. I can’t take it anymore, I didn’t / am not watching today.
Me too.
I watch the rebroadcast on CSPAN in the wee hours.
It’s a toss up whether I’m more heart sick, furious or nauseous. The straightman, set-up questions prefacing Alito’s well spun answers are disgustingly obvious. I’m waiting for the director to yell, “Cut! Can we run that again ? I’m picking up background noise.”
.
On The Nomination Of Judge Samuel Alito To The U.S. Supreme Court
Statement by RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman – Monday, October 31, 2005
RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman on the Confirmation Hearings Samuel Alito
Tuesday, January 10th, 2006
Before joining President Bush, Mehlman was Congresswoman Kay Granger’s (TX-12) Chief of Staff and Congressman Lamar Smith’s (TX-21) Legislative Director. He practiced environmental law in Washington and assisted campaigns in Massachusetts, Ohio, Virginia, Texas, and Georgia, as well as the 1992 and 1996 presidential campaigns.
Ken Mehlman is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He is a native of Baltimore, Maryland.
###
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY