[Christine Niles,
Thursday January 12, 2006 at 3:53pm]
Third Circuit Judges Testifying for Alito
The only Democrat on the Judiciary Committee who remained on the floor to listen to the testimony of each of the Third Circuit judges for Judge Alito was Dianne Feinstein. Sen. Schumer left immediately before the first judge began, and Leahy and Kennedy followed soon thereafter. Not only does this reveal an utter disinterest in truly listening to the whole story, but the appearance of a half-empty Committee table before this esteemed group of judges shows a profound lack of respect.
Sen. Leahy returned when the testimony was over, but only to insinuate that Judge Alito would not be able to give a fair and impartial judgment on decisions decided by these judges if they were to come before him on the Supreme Court. He then refrained from asking any questions. The nerve!
Apparently in D.C., it is politics as usual.
Sen. Leahy returned when the testimony was over, but only to insinuate that Judge Alito would not be able to give a fair and impartial judgment on decisions decided by these judges if they were to come before him on the Supreme Court. He then refrained from asking any questions. The nerve!
Apparently in D.C., it is politics as usual.
Attempting to destroy a good man's reputation for the sake of political gain--and all his law clerks (liberal &conservative alike) and colleagues on the bench agree that Judge Alito is a fundamentally good man--is a soulless enterprise not worthy of the dignity of the office of Senator. Perhaps that's naive of me--so be it.
I was vice president and president of the Notre Dame Chapter of the Federalist Society. I voted for Bush the Younger both times. I think Ronald Reagan is one of the greatest presidents in history. Needless to say, I am a Republican. But if the Republican senators treated a Democratic judicial nominee half as badly as the Democrats have treated Judge Alito, I would be utterly ashamed, and angry. I don't care if you are liberal, conservative, or libertarian--sinking to such lows is wrong.
If you are Machiavellian enough to think the ends justify the means, then by all means, tar and feather a decent man. But I find it disturbing that anyone would find such treatment acceptable, simply because it's "politics".