NYT: Dems Take Aggressive Tack; Alito Is Unfazed (all likely to vote "no")

[DeepModem Mom]

Democrats Take Aggressive Tack; Alito Is Unfazed
By RICHARD W. STEVENSON
and NEIL A. LEWIS
Published: January 12, 2006


WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 - Democrats tried with increasing frustration on Wednesday to elicit more specific views from Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. about abortion and other topics and sought to build a case against his nomination to the Supreme Court by raising questions about his character and consistency.

From the opening moments of the third day of hearings by the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democrats, aware that Judge Alito had made it through the first two days without significant damage to his prospects of confirmation, struck an aggressive tone.

They challenged him on elements of his record and statements during questioning on Tuesday. And they successfully pressed the panel chairman, Senator Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, to obtain records that they said might shed light on the judge's membership in a Princeton alumni group that has been characterized as opposing co-education and affirmative action....

***

The partisan volleys seemed to sail over or past Judge Alito, who politely but resolutely declined to be drawn out on abortion, executive authority and other issues. He often sat impassively as the committee members debated his qualifications and forthrightness....

***

Democrats and their aides on the committee said they were resigned to the fact that Judge Alito would win approval on the committee with its 10-member Republican majority. All eight Democrats appear likely to vote against the nomination....


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/12/politics/politicsspecial1/12confirm.html

[Trevelyan]

1. Support the Dems in the coming Filibuster - Booman Tribune has a great

Action site with letter you can copy and clickable links right to members of the Judiciary Committee but Orin Hatch isn't taking mail but got through to all of the others.
http://www.boomantribune.com/?op=displaystory;sid=2006/1/8/134922/4200
Sent this to several Senators:
Here are the links to the previous Daily Justice Diaries:

Day One - Balance of Power in Government
Day Two - Age Discrimination/FMLA
Day Three - Judicial Ethics
Day Four - Needs of the Disabled
Day Five - Roe v. Wade
Day Six - Separation of Church and State
Day Seven - Freedom of Religion
Day Eight - Old Boys Club
Day Nine - Equality Under the Law
Day Ten - Gender Discrimination
Day Eleven - Corporate Interests

Continuing Action: After the Diary for Day 12 is available, print each diary and make booklets to

hand out from December 23rd to January 9th.

[IndianaGreen]

2. Democrats should filibuster Alito's nomination

If Alito were to sit in SCOTUS he would be a supporter of unrestricted presidential power, turning Bush into an American Fuehrer.

[wordpix]

5. as if * isn't one already-this am Biden said * plans to send troops to

IRAN TOMORROW without consulting Congress

[rodeodance]

7. troops to IraN??

[kurth]

9. Would he support unrestricted power for the next DEMOCRATIC president?

Inquiring minds wanna know.

[LeftHander]

10. there won't be a NEXT democrat Prez with Alito confirmation....nt

[oneoftheboys]

3. I think they are correct with respect to the committee vote.

Still, I figure he will get all 55 Gopers and 5 Dems when the full Senate votes (60-40).

Biden is right, the hearings are useless.

[Trevelyan]

4. Sign petitions and write to Senators to vote NO to Alitoa

Call your Senators and tell them you expect them to vote NO on Alito!

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Please sign STOP ALITO PETITIONS:

http://www.usalone.com/cgi-bin/action3.cgi
http://www.usalone.com/alito.php

In the wake of even more revelations of unchecked presidential power, many are looking to our
Supreme Court as the ultimate arbiter of what a chief executive can get away with.This makes the next nomination that much more critical. Should Bush be permitted to install another vote to consolidate his power grab?

The one click form on this page will send your personal message to both your Senators, with your vote on the the question "Should Sandra Day O'Connor's Replacement be More Right Wing?" At the same time it will send your personal comments only as a letter to the editor of your nearest local daily newspaper, if that option is selected below. If you need more information to help make a decision, Click Here for Arguments.

http://www.savethecourt.org/site/c.mwK0JbNTJrF/b.1142525/k.3576/Stop_Alito/apps/ka/ct/contactcustom.asp?auid=1198339

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/webreturn/?url=/fmf1/issues/alert/?alertid=8355956
===Act Now to Block Alito!
http://petition.savethecourt.org/fwd/campaigns/savethecourt/register/fc3c4e7fd9e7c7702f2d1c855b206fc5

Below is the text of the petition you are signing - please spread the word about this effort in the Senate as widely as possible.

Dear Senators,
The Senate must reject President Bush's attempt to reward right-wing special interests by nominating Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court of the United States. Alito's record as an ideological activist would make his confirmation a threat to civil rights protections, reproductive and privacy rights, environmental protections, religious liberty, and laws safeguarding workers.

I urge you to vote not to confirm Samuel Alito to a lifetime position on the Supreme Court of the United States.

[jillan]

12. My senators are KYL and McCain - ha

I'll skip these petitions.
Especially to Kyl.:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[samhsarah]

6. they NEED to filibuster this freak eom

[gulfcoastliberal]

13. Yeap. No filibuster, no support for the dems.

If they fail to make a stand, they've proved themselves totally inept and useless. Token things like keeping ANWR out of a spending bill but alowing billions more in tax cuts while slashing social programs means they have no interest (besides the few exceptions) of standing up to the bullies. They could've shut the Senate down but were and are too cowardly. Too afraid of repuke name calling. This is the ultimate test - "the powder is bone dry" - use it. Light the fucking fuse.

[still_one]

8. that is a lie, he pretty much said that roe v wade was NOT law

Their is no ambiguity on this alito

hello all you repuke woman for choice, lets see how you deal with this, or all you repukes who were so upset when clinton lied, how an organization he bragged about being part of is now gone from his memory

The real media in this country is the internet

[nashville_brook]

11. such disconnect in mainstream media (NPR) and the hearings

listen to the hearings straight and you get a completely different picture than what is being reported. alito's coaching should be the subject of reportage -- not that his wife got weepy when hubby was being pressed about being a bigot and if you ask me...as a wife...i can totally imagine the tears had more to do with the TRUTH than the accusations.