Response from Lieberman re Alito

[Autumn Colors]

Well, more like a nonresponse from Joementum... Here it is, but the short version is that he doesn't have enough info about Alito.
----------------
Dear Mrs. Anderson,

Thank you for contacting me to express your views on the nomination of Circuit Court Judge Samuel Alito to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy to
be left by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. I appreciate your views on this serious issue, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.

Considering nominees to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court is an important responsibility entrusted by the Constitution to the United States Senate. Senators must take care to ensure that prospective appointees are not only qualified, but also capable of analyzing and applying our laws and the Constitution and deciding cases in a wise and impartial manner.

I have always taken the Senate's advice and consent role very seriously, especially when it comes to the U.S. Supreme Court; and I believe that my general desire to give the President's nominees the benefit of the doubt must be tempered by the need to maintain rigorous standards. Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life terms; barring misconduct and impeachment, once the Senate confirms them, they face few additional checks throughout their career. Each individual Senator has an obligation to make certain that he or she carefully considers each nominee and votes to confirm only if he or she believes the nominee will be able to fairly and impartially discharge their judicial duties. The courts are the ultimate guarantors of our liberties. We place our trust in them and count on smart, independent, wise judges to apply our laws within the framework of the Constitution.

The Senate has a constitutional obligation to review and, when necessary, serve as a check on the President's choices. That is what I intend to do.

I have urged the President to select a nominee who is in the mainstream of American jurisprudence, who would come to the Court without a divisive pre-determined ideological agenda and would address each case on its own merits. I do not yet know enough about Judge Alito to know whether he meets the criteria I have laid out. I take very seriously my constitutional responsibilities as a Senator to engage in a searching review and consideration of Judge Alito's fitness for this position. Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind as the Senate continues this important confirmation process.

[Straight Shooter]

1. He doesn't know if Alito meets the criteria or not?

Will someone please send a proctologist over to help Lieberman? He appears to have his head stuck.

[hang a left]

2. Sounds like he is keeping his cards close to his chest.

He sounds okay to me right now
I have urged the President to select a nominee who is in the mainstream of American jurisprudence, who would come to the Court without a divisive pre-determined ideological agenda and would address each case on its own merits.

[Radio_Lady]

5. Add to the other key democrats: Nelson (D-FL) undecided,

Byrd (D-WV) undecided. I called both their offices today in Washington, suggesting that they should adhere to their party and vote against this nomination.

Who else?

[joemurphy]

6. Byrd is a Constitutionalist

First and foremost. I don't see him voting for anyone espousing a "unitary executive" theory.

[Radio_Lady]

8. Well, the young woman I spoke with today politely told me that he

was still undecided.

We'll see. He was listed as a KEY vote by the Republicans at their web site (cited this morning on the DU).

[joemurphy]

13. The thing with Byrd is that he loves the filibuster

He's scared to death that Frist will "go nuclear" and destroy it. I'm still hoping that his love of the Constitution will trump his love of Senatorial rules. We'll see, I guess. He's important because he's one of the Gang of Fourteen that can say yea or nay to a judicial filibuster.
The issue for him will be if Alito constitutes "extraordinary circumstances" warranting a filibuster.

[Justice Is Comin]

10. Nelson is undecided???

That's not what I heard. I read that he was the only democrat who was voting to approve.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Well, it's not like Alito's as dangerous as video games.

JoeMentum has very strong views where a real threat to democracy is concerned.

[FreedomAngel82]

4. Or porn

[bliss_eternal]

11. ...or Osama Bin Laden

video star! (muffled laugh)

[Nothing Without Hope]

7. By taking this pose, he hopes to play hard-to-get for the GOPs, so

they give him respect & who knows what else, and head off attacks from the Dems, who know he's really a Bushie ringer. I think he's already decided to vote for Alito (because we know who his bosses really are), but it's still worth trying to sway him to do the right thing. Giving up even on this slimy Bush creature is not an option, the stakes with Alito are too damn high.

[mom cat]

9. They are all waiting to see how strong our reaction will be. Pour it on!

[JerseygirlCT]

12. All those words... to say absolutely nothing! nt