My fears about Alito's appointment have subsided.

[Just Me]

I have listened to his colleagues and I no longer believe Alito is either a hack who can be manipulated by the awful, BushCo/neocon cabal or that he is a right-wing ideologue.

Actually, I now believe that the right-wing extremists are likely very unhappy because the testimony by and about Alito indicates that he will NOT overturn Roe and that he will NOT destroy the balance of powers.

Now, that's just my opinion, which has changed since merely two days ago. But, I personally feel like I can take a deep breath,...for now.

[Obamarama]

1. Wow...what drugs are you on??

Or are you just incredibly naive?

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Bwaahaa! I was going to ask that same question....

[hlthe2b]

65. and can I have some (of whatever drug you are on?)

We're all surely going to need some....:shrug:

[Nay]

68. Yeah, and can I have some?

[AX10]

3. Scalia didn't claim to be an extremist during his confirmation hearings...

and look at how well that turned out! <sarcasm off> :eyes:

[rodeodance]

4. i am convinced more than ever that Roe is dust and Jr has a crown.

that is what the last three days tells me.

[radio4progressives]

60. Roe is dust but that's the LEAST of the problem with this nominee...

it's spelled : F A S C I S T.

Fascists, Fascism, Fascista.

[FreedomAngel82]

83. It's only a part of it

It's only apart of the bigger picture. It's for the religious people to come out and put pressure to get it through.

[Pacifist Patriot]

5. Back away from the koolaid.

[havocmom]

19. We have Alert & Ignore buttons. Maybe we need Intervention button?

Perhaps with the DU server upgrades? ;)

[CrispyQ]

32. Harr! An Intervention Button

:rofl:

[Just Me]

40. Awww! You know how much I respect you all.

My opinion and intuition could be completely off, here. Nevertheless, I must say that I sincerely believe Alito isn't everything the right-wing would like him to be. He's no liberal but he's definitely no fascist. I believe he's a centrist. I really, really do. Roberts is far worse than this guy.

But, you know, none of us are fortune-tellers. We each have to trust our instincts on this. I still respect those who have a different feel/take on this guy even though I am compelled to share my own.

:hug:

[havocmom]

48. Respect you too, but think we need to get you outside for air

;)

[Just Me]

54. Ya' think I might have "cabin fever" or somethin'?

:shrug:

Really, though, you all are THE BEST!!! :7 I don't mean to cause distress to those who have very strong feelings about this guy by expressing my sense that, he's okay.

[FreedomAngel82]

84. Have you looked at his record?

Against abortion, for spying, strip searching ten year olds (when it wasn't part of the whole thing) etc.

[Just Me]

90. His WHOLE record? Yes. Yes I have.

With the exception of four cases, he decided the other thousand dead on center: DEAD ON CENTER! By the way, he did NOT decide "against abortion", "for spying", and for "strip searching" minors in those cases. He was compelled by the facts presented in each case, distinguishable from precedent. His positions were well-thought out rather than radical.

Seriously, this guy is NO WHERE NEAR the danger that Roberts is. Roberts is radical and should have been filibustered. This guy,...is NO WAY a radical. No way.

[ComerPerro]

43. LOL

[TahitiNut]

52. Ubetcha! (GREAT suggestion!)

I love it. :rofl:

[radio4progressives]

61. Yep I agree...EMERGENCY INTERVENTION NEEDED N/T

[NanceGreggs]

6. What he SAYS in his confirmation hearings ...

... and what he DOES on the bench can be VERY different things - and the RW know that.

[Just Me]

25. What changed my mind isn't what HE said as much as what others,...

,...including liberals and centrists and human rights activists who know him and have worked with him or presented cases before him have to say about the manner he handles himself as a judge.

I sincerely do not believe he is anything near another "Scalia" or "Thomas". I just don't.

Now, I understand the fear about his appointment. I told my mean-ass lawyer SO just two days ago that I am scared to death Alito would expand Bush's powers,...moreso than I fear the reversal of Roe. I no longer feel so fearful and I believe Alito will be a huge disappointment to the right-wing.

That's just my opinion after carefully listening to testimony. I'm not claiming to be right. I'm simply feeling far more at ease about Alito, much more than I did about Roberts whom I still believe a right-wing hack.

[NanceGreggs]

45. I'm not worried about the overturning of Roe-v-Wade ...

... because I don't think it's even on the radar screen of the real Republican powers-that-be, and certainly not the Neo-Cons. In fact, making abortion illegal is probably the LAST thing any of them want -- don't forget, most of these people think it's blacks and other minorities who are bringing too many 'future welfare recipients' into the world as it is.

But they have to trot it out every time they need support for one of their own -- and this week it's support for Alito -- because they know it's the BIG BUTTON that gets the Christian-Right crazed and vocal about coming to the aid of Repubs.

Once Alito is in, the abortion issue will be forgotten; it's his looking favourably on Big Business and Big Pharma the real power brokers are interested in. And once he's in, the agenda of the Christian Right will be as dead an issue as the "Gay Marriage Ban Amendment" we heard so much about during the 2004 campaign. (Never heard about that one again, did we?)

Onward Christian Soldiers, march to do the RW's bidding -- and then march yourselves out-of-sight, until they need you again.

[Just Me]

66. Oh, I completely agree about the manipulative "moral" issue re Roe.

I never believed the BushCO/neocons were ever committed to overturning that decision since they would lose that control "button" on their religiously-crazed base.

My fear was that this guy would follow the neocons' position that the president can do whatever he wants during a time of "war on terror",...including waging that war on USA soil, violating our rights and laws.

I no longer fear Alito would hand that kind of power over to those bastards. I still believe Roberts is a hack and a "ho" and WOULD allow a dictatorship,...but, I just do not believe this guy has such little regard for this country and its people.

But, hey, I'm expressing an individual opinion that could turn out to be completely wrong. I hope I'm right, though.

[ryan_cats]

93. You hit that one on the nose

You hit that one on the nose. They want the issue of abortion to trot out before elections. I don't think they even care about abortions. Just another way to divide murika.

[Eric J in MN]

85. Can you name these people and give us links to what they

said about Samuel Alito?

I want people to phone their Senators tomorrow and ask for a filibuster.

Contact info at:
www.vote-smart.org

[Just Me]

91. Go to CSPAN.

I'm sorry that I just do not have the time to collect that info for folks. However, CSPAN has pretty much all the information that I could ever provide.

[deutsey]

7. I don't think he will be manipulated by the "BushCo/neocon cabal"

because he is PART of the "BushCo/neocon cabal".

:evilfrown:

[phusion]

8. did you forget the

:sarcasm:

Or have you really been that manipulated?

[jsamuel]

9. Funny, I have kinda gone the other way the last couple of days...

His testimony shows me that he "did what he did in the 80's because he was appointed by Regan" even though he was a lawyer and owed Regan nothing in his job. He showed in his answer that he thinks that is the natural way of things. Someone gives you a boost and you pay them back.

Then he refused to say Roe was settled law.

more

more

more

Did you even watch the hearings?

[Just Me]

87. I have watched the hearings.

I do believe there is a difference between "opportunism" and "service". Did this guy take advantage of his "conservative" ties 20+ years ago? Hell, yeah! But, when a person serves in a "protected" position, which includes exposure to the most controversial aspects of life and society,...

I don't believe a person's past is necessarily a reflection of what they have become. Moreover, with respect to his "evasive" answers, that choice avoids the persecution of both sides. Think about it.

[napi21]

10. No one will know until the court convenes and he and Roberts

issue theier decisions.

I suspect the RW is thinking the same thing.

[Sammy Pepys]

11. Really? Wow. n/t

...

[SmokingJacket]

12. That's EXACTLY what they want you to think, so you won't

be angry at your congress people who vote for him.

He is VERY conservative. I think if Roe v Wade come up, he'd vote to overturn it.

[rainy]

13. I listened too and I am hoping you are right because he will

most likely be appointed. He is extremely smart and I am hoping that his intellect will make him see that the Federalist society people are wrong and they can't touch him now if his views change. He is so knowledgeable. Also, I hate to say that Randi is getting some of his statements wrong which surprises me.

[leftchick]

14. I want what you are taking

because I am making plans to split this fascist state if he is confirmed.

[madeline_con]

20. If you're driving, it might be best to wait. n/t

[leftchick]

23. if he is in

I will be out within two years. With or without my husband.

[Walt Starr]

15. You're free to hold your opinion

jhust like anybody else.

[sasha031]

16. this guy is a extremist

those lawyers that spoke in his behalf are all Nixon and Reagan appointees

just because they sold him as Elvis...

[ComerPerro]

44. Oh God, that picture is so wrong.

[spanone]

17. Roberts / Alito = Sharp Right Turn. This is the Bush Legacy. Right Here.

[AValdoux]

18. They won't overturn Roe vs Wade

It is their big draw at the polls. These appointees are about corporate & government favoritism in the courts. Roe vs Wade can stay and they will blame Bush. He can't run again. They will also probably try to blame everything that will hurt them in the polls in the next ten years on Bush. Bush's legacy will be the GOP's scapegoat for everything they screwed up. 2008 will be a completely new ticket for a reason.


AValdoux

[flpoljunkie]

21. Read this op-ed by Jonathan Turley before deciding. It is disturbing.

http://usatoday.com/ and put Jonathan Turley in the search box. The link to the excerpted article will come up.

Troubling times, a Troubling Nominee

By Jonathan Turley

The confirmation hearings for Judge Samuel Alito will focus greatly on his stated opposition to Roe v. Wade. The obsession with abortion in American politics has had an anaerobic effect on past confirmation hearings, sucking the air out of other issues. For Alito, this may have the welcomed effect of obscuring a more troubling question from his past writings and cases: Alito's extreme views of government authority over citizens' rights.

Despite my agreement with Alito on many issues, I believe that he would be a dangerous addition to the court in already dangerous times for our constitutional system. Alito's cases reveal an almost reflexive vote in favor of government, a preference based not on some overriding principle but an overriding party.

In my years as an academic and a litigator, I have rarely seen the equal of Alito's bias in favor of the government. To put it bluntly, when it comes to reviewing government abuse,Samuel Alito is an empty robe.

<>We are down to our last branch, and Alito would supply the final vote to shift the balance of power toward a president claiming the powers of a maximum leader. Alito's writings and opinions show a jurist who is willing to yield tremendous authority to the government and offer little in terms of judicial review — views repeatedly rejected not only by his appellate colleagues but also by the U.S. Supreme Court.


more... But I would argue that repealing Roe is part and parcel of Alito's views of "government authority over citizens' rights"-- in other words, the government will make you carry that child to term, and you have no say so in the matter

[AX10]

33. The shift to the right will be complete.

God be willing, along with hard work, the Dems will take back Congress and the Governorships this Fall. Still, a TON of damage will be done.

[rurallib]

22. "Unity President" doesn't scare the crap out of you?

C'mon - you got land in Canada?

[KyuzoGator]

24. I've said for a while, they WON'T overturn Roe v. Wade. They need it.

It's their rallying cry. Any time they need to whip up their idiot base, they bring up abortion. It's just too damn convenient. Fake outrage, you know?

[Just Me]

34. Yup. Why would they give up that manipulative wedge?

I don't think they ever really intended to go for that. I have been extremely worried about the expansion of executive powers, though. As a matter of fact, that has been my only pressing concern because I still believe Roberts is a "ho" and will do as he is told by the neocons. But, I no longer believe that about Alito.

[madeline_con]

36. They'd have nothing to rally 'round if overturned. n/t

[justabob]

47. except all those pesky gay people :(

but I agree that Roe won't be overturned. It will probably be mangled and twisted a bit, but it won't be overturned.

[madeline_con]

62. Which is worse, dead or gay?

What a dilemna! :sarcasm:

[calico1]

37. What will be their excuse not to overturn it

with control of all branches of government?

[KyuzoGator]

41. They will lose that control rather quickly.

And they will give Democrats an incredible campaign weapon.

[Batgirl]

26. last night, did you happen to go to sleep

next to a strange looking plant? Maybe with a large pod attached to it? And then when you woke up this morning, your mind was untroubled, your emotions strangely muffled?

They're coming for us, your know! They're already here!!!!

[notadmblnd]

27. he is nothing but an opportunist willing to say or do anything

to climb the ladder of success. What he will owe the republicans, he'll happily pay.

[Just Me]

51. I've known opportunists, right and left.

This guy has been in government his whole life. He's committed! Once in a "sheltered" position of a federal judge, he had proven himself 95% centrist IMHO.

Like I said, previously,...I understand all the fears attached to his appointment. I just don't feel so fearful anymore. I believe he will NOT overturn Roe and that he will NOT give the neocons the expanded executive powers they seek. My intinct could be totally wrong. But, I gotta' tell you, I feel verily relieved.

My intent is not to dissuade the passion of others whose instincts may very well be superior to my own. :hug:

[notadmblnd]

80. I'm not worried about roe v wade, I know it's just a wedge issue

I'm worried about giving the president the power of a King. he's right up there with John Yoo in his thinking.

I don't buy your I think he'll be ok because of the the way his pals testified about him meme. After all would you give references on a job application of people who didn't like you?

I guess it won't be long before we find out who is right about this won't we?

I truly hope you are.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

58. ...

howya been?
:hi:

[notadmblnd]

82. busy but good,

how bout yourself?

[Solly Mack]

28. Pass the duchy on the left hand side....I say pass the duchy on the left

hand side


:)

[smitty]

29. Who knows?

Sometimes people turn out different than expected. Still, I'm not overly optimistic.

[mmonk]

30. Extremists that want to get elected or appointed to something

never claim to be extreme.

[Lyle]

31. Police State

Don't forget that george will at some point require court approval to institute martial law .... and perhaps eliminate term limits. Looks like king george is here to stay....

[Johonny]

35. The only thing the hearings showed me

is that the Republican party in congress no longer exists. It's gone. It's now a tight collect of yes men who have no morals, values or interests other than those told to them. They wasted their only time they will get to question this judge kissing his butt and making excuses for him. They came off as weak frail people that have long ago lost any sense of the actual power being a senator has in this country. It was a sad sight for all to watch.

[Pastiche423]

38. Specifically, which of his "answers"

convinced you?

Maybe we were watching different confirmation hearings?

I heard no answers to the most important issues of our democracy.

P.S. What flavor did you drink?

[TruthStream_dot_org]

39. so I guess we should have expected...

him to say "yeah, abortion sucks and Ill overturn it the second I get a chance!" "Supreme Executive? Hell yeah, fuck the other branches". "Hell no I didnt want any broads, spics and negroes in my elite school! Thats why I joined CAP"

Cum on, He's giving you a hose job. His answers are coming from his mouth, but from Rove's brain.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

42. Hey "Just Me"....I think it may be JUST YOU

I have no such feeling myself.

[Quixote1818]

46. LOL!

It's funny, but I have gone just the opposite direction of Just Me. Funny!

Your post cracked me up! Thanks for the laugh!

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

49. Very welcome.

A little laughter keeps us all sane.:hi:

[Just Me]

56. That's okay. I understand others feel differently and why.

I felt extremely concerned about another appointment which could lead to further expansion of executive powers. I have been a very vocal advocate against this regime's abuses of powers and, to this day, loathe that Roberts, a total hack, is sitting as chief justice.

I just do not believe this guy, Alito, is a hack. I just don't.

It's okay that we feel differently on this. Really.

[Rainscents]

50. What the heck you been smoking?

Have you listen to any of his rulings? 86% of the times, he is against little guys!

[CoonDawg]

53. .

I'm not so concerned w/ Roe...though I would not be thrilled to see it overturned. Where I see Alito as a real problem is with his view of expaning executive authority and presidential power. Every time he was asked about this, he minimized it as it it's all just a hypothetical excersise. Nothing in the hearings convinced me that he sees the executive as subject to anyting or even that the three branches of government are intended to be co-equal.

Ern

[0007]

55. Maybe!

But I don't think so. :shrug: Alito has gotton a lot of good lip service this afternoon. From a lot of important folks.

[radio4progressives]

57. More Kool Aid drinking ... you couldn't be more wrong

but hey -- maybe you prefer the fascists state above a real democratic form of governance, then i can see how Alito would not be troubling to you.

[Just Me]

67. Yes. I could be wrong. I admit that.

I certainly reject your implication that I would EVER accept a fascist state. Apparently, you do not know me AT ALL to make such a statement.

No need to be nasty just 'cause you disagree with my opinion. Right? :smoke:

[WI_DEM]

59. I hope you are right, but time will tell

[dogday]

63. Alito against Individual Rights 84% of the time eom

[MadHound]

64. Damn, pass that bong over here,

Cause frankly I think that this is one of the most dangerous candidates we've had for the Supremem Court in years. This is a man who believes that concentrating power into the hands of the Executive Branch is a good thing. Who does indeed want to overturn Roe. Who is quite pro-corporate.

On the other hand, keep that bong to yourself. As tough as it is, I'd rather deal in the reality based world.

[Just Me]

71. No need to be insulting or accuse me of being drugged. Seriously.

Frankly, I believe the most dangerous appointment was Roberts. I'm still pissed the Dems didn't filibuster that hack.

Your assessment of Alito could turn out to be superior to my own and I urge you to act on your passion without being so dehumanizing about me and my perspective. I'm sure you are capable of such behavior as a fellow liberal,...IF you choose to be.

[long_green]

69. I have also renounced my fears about Justice Alito

He will work tirelessly to defend freedom wherever it is threatened by terror and evil. He is a Godfearing family man who places only his faith in Almighty God over his belief in the infallibility of our free Constitution as defined by the original intent of the Christian framers.

I also pledge to support my country and Our Leader in the ongoing war with Eastasia.

[Just Me]

72. Ummm,...wow.

WHAT IF,...the administration seeks to provoke a filibuster on a guy that, in reality, they have no control over BUT he does have just enough "dirt" from the past to scare the shit outta' people? :shrug:

Roberts was BY FAR the most dangerous appointment. He should have been filibustered.

This guy? :shrug: I just don't think so.

[long_green]

74. Roberts was a classic stealth nominee

Alito has a nice long paper trail with all sorts of objectionable opinions (sucking up to big business and worshipping at the altar of absolutism). Why you're not sure, I don't know.

The first post, I'm just crackin' on ya.

[Just Me]

76. That's okay. I'm used to being "cracked" on when expressing,...

,...an unpopular opinion (which is really quite rare, here, being the staunch liberal that I am).

Alito's paper trail really does NOT show absolutism, though. That trail also fails to show a significant preference for the "big guy" over the "little guy".

He's no liberal, mind you. But, he is definitely no fascist. He is way WAY closer to center than either Scalito or Thomas.

As for Roberts, that fucking hack should have been filibustered, BIG TIME!!! He is the most dangerous member on the court, to date,...even more so *gack* than Thomas!!!

[Zenlitened]

70. *snort*

http://www.dreams2.com/seinfeld/Mr%20Peterman%20-%20Poncho.mp3

:rofl:

[choie]

73. um, yeah -

it is just you

[in_cog_ni_to]

75. Oh G-d no. The man WILL overturn Roe v. Wade

the first chance he gets and I suspect the RWers will bring a case to his court ASAP after he's confirmed/IF he's confirmed..

He's a Federalist. He wants George to be King. He wants to give king George the power to do anything his little heart desires.

You are looking at the face of fascism and I'm NOT exaggerating.

The people you are hearing at the hearing are there for one reason...to LIE for the repuke party. Sounds like they're doing a good job of it.

[Just Me]

78. Well, I humbly disagree. But, you could be right.

Look, this administration is a danger to us, to our country. I know that.

I do not believe this guy is tied at the hip with this administration. To the contrary, I sincerely believe he would be our "wild card" rather than theirs.

:shrug: I know I could be wrong.

[DemGirl7]

77. Does the words Wolf in Sheep's clothing mean anything to you??

He may look and act innocent, but he's a wolf in sheep's clothing, and I don't trust him. To begin, I won't trust anybody appointed by * to a high position within the gov't, because I think we all the type of damage they can do. And if that person in question is compared to Bork, Thomas, or Scalia, then you can make a safe bet that he is probably an right wing ideologue, because those three names reek of right wing ideology.

[devilgrrl]

79. Nah! He ain't no rightwing hack!

:rofl:

[FreedomAngel82]

81. He will say ANYTHING to get through

Don't buy it.

[rman]

86. i think we want facts here rather then opinion

[adigal]

88. Did you miss his decision

on the 14 year old boy, fleeing the police after stealing $10, shot in the back of the head while climbing a fence.

Alito said that this was not excessive force. The Supreme Court disagreed.

He is seriously twisted.

[BlueIris]

89. Yeah. He's bad on all fronts. People keep ignoring the REST of his

questionable decisions. Not all of them are horrible, but because not all of them are totally fucking fascist doesn't mean he's a decent, appropriate or not completely shameful excuse for a SCOTUS nominee. I also continue to be offended at those who scoff at the idea that just because Roe itself might not be overturned by Alito, Alito's appointment won't be devastating for those trying to keep the legal system from getting any MORE unfairly misogynist as regards issues of choice. Which is DIGUSTING. Use your brains, DUers. Especially all of you fellas, particularly those with wives or daughters or a history of untreatable, serious illnesses in your family. ALITO'S CONFIRMATION WILL SUCK FOR YOU, TOO. FIGURE IT OUT and pick a senator to phone. Jesus.

[in_cog_ni_to]

94. SERIOUSLY.

:scared: Tha man scares the hell out of me.:scared:

[Mountainman]

92. Just you wait Henry Higgins, just you wait.

You will find out in the near future if you were right. I think so many people are like you. It's like saying, "it can't happen to me."

Yes it can and will happen to you because of all the people who feel like you do. It use to be called apathy way back then. I don't know how old you are but I feel you have a very rough road ahead of you while one protection after another that you feel was fixed in stone is taken away.

This man is a member of the Federalist Society as are three other SCOTUS judges. They have an agenda and by God they will have their way. They are life time appointments. You can't say, "wait a minute, I change my mind, I don't like this." Too fucking late my friend, way too fucking late.