Alito nomination looks like certainty to me at this time.

[Clarkie1]

Sadly.

I am 99.99% certain he will be confirmed. This is the result of choices Americans made when they elected 55 Republican senators and G.W. Bush.

Actions do have consequences, but it's too bad so few Americans knew the consequences. For most Americans, I'm afraid the supreme court and the influence the President and Senate have on makeup of the court is given scant consideration in the voting booth.

[EST]

1. OK

So what's the next move?

[applegrove]

3. We prepare ourselves. Kennedy is the in the middle. The MSM will

be forced to cover Abramoff. We win in 2006. Dems then can do investigations of many things in Bush's time. Then we win in 2008. And put moderates & Liberals on the court.

Take a deep breath.

[EST]

5. Um, there is no promise of any opening on the court

(on the radical con side) since butch put fairly young guys on. There will be four radical clerics on there, with the only immediate option being to increase the number of associate justices-at one time there were twelve.
Thomas is an absolute joke, however, even though he is a dumbass, his power is pretty heavy.

[applegrove]

6. Well - Kennedy or Ginsberg could leave and be replaced by some

moderate/liberal who is 40. It matters.

[EST]

7. Well, yes, but Kennedy and Ginsberg are already

dependably liberal. How would that make a difference?

[applegrove]

8. In twenty years it might make a difference. And gosh only knows

how Roberts would feel if the Dems won in 2006, held senate investigations into many of the Bush WH fiascos, and willfull and illegal things came up. Some may resign. It could happen! I mean this whole neocon thing came up like a dirty secret from the 1960s and has not had to face daylight & reality until today. 2006 is the most important thing. But - sure - I'll be sad if he get's away with not answering questions. Especially since Ted Kennedy made the issues all so clear. And there is documentation hiding.

I'm waiting for the NAACP to question Alito. I heard somewhere that they had standing.

[EST]

11. I hope that happens.

Unfortunately, I don't expect to be here in twenty years (ain't looking likely)
The democratic leaders have never, and probably never will, been willing to hold anyone accountable, especially after the crisis has subsided. (Witness Ford's pardoning Nixon-that should have started a shooting riot/ the refusal to impeach Reagan-they said two impeachments in one century might bring the republic down)
The dem powers that be have almost as dirty hands as the thugs and they don't want the exposure.

[applegrove]

12. No they don't. They govern. They don't "let things happen" like not

enough armour.

If Dems win in 2006 - for sure there would be investigations. And for sure Bush would be innocent. We know for sure his handlers tell him what to think. So they would have protected him. There is not way Bush is going down. But in 2006, if some investigation can happen into campaign gerymandering or transparency laws could be enacted - that would be great for democracy.

[EST]

13. Ah, the idealism of the young...

I envy you. :toast:

[applegrove]

14. I was born with way too much. It is a miracle I still have any optimism.

But I do. I just do.

[EST]

17. Wallow in it.

There is entirely enough cynicism around. Moderation is for monks. Live life in great big bites.

[applegrove]

19. Oh my life is huge for me. That is what it is about.

[Erika]

2. Alito will have all the respect that Thomas enjoys

which is none. May Specter and the rest of his ilk know the part they played in turning this country into the land of the corrupt and the home of the rich.

[applegrove]

4. That what it looked like on The Daily Show. But doesn't the NAACP

have a chance to question him? Where did I hear that. The guy on TDS said "barring any surprises".

[EFerrari]

9. I have no confidence that Bush was elected, even once. n/t

[Jamison]

10. I'm afraid of what will happen if he is confirmed.

- Abortion and contraceptives will become illegal.
- More rights and liberties will be taken from us to keep us safe from "terra"
- Instead of "Government for the people by the people" it will be "Government for the corporations by the corporations."

[WindRavenX]

15. it sucks for me and people of my generation

We're young and are going to have to deal with this shit for the rest of our lives.

christ, what if BC is somehow made illegal in my lifetime? Is that such a farfetched thought...? :scared:

[EST]

18. Look at what wonderful opportunities you have

to make it better. The craziness that is your inheritance was nurtured in the belly of a constant threat of nuclear annihilation. The nuclear standoff with the USSR in the early sixties, over Cuba, was every bit as heart-in-the-throat choking as is the threat from the people that the US has fucked over for the last three hundred years, who are now pretty pissed and wanting some revenge.
Those under thirty have the chance to create world peace. Please don't blow it like my generation did.

[tritsofme]

16. The pro-Roe majority on the Court still exists

despite Alito's nomination.

Souter, Kennedy, Stevens, Ginsberg, and Breyer will vote to uphold Roe.

If Bush appoints anyone else, it becomes very dangerous.

[Neecy]

20. uh, no it doesn't

Kennedy is a reliable pro-life vote.

[tritsofme]

21. Kennedy upheld Roe in Casey

He might capitulate on some restrictions, but he can be considered a pro-Roe justice.