It's interesting to watch the Senate Judicial Committee hearings and then hear commentary about them from the pundits and pushers of political agendas.
Let me start by saying a watched the whole damn first day on C-Span and didn't watch the second - and, yes, it was pretty boring. I saw a pretty polite questioning of a man up for a pretty big job promotion. Mostly of the Democrats asked some questions and blah blahed a bit. Then the Republicans mostly lobbed up softball questions and blah blahed a bit - most of it for the benefit of the cameras and directed at the Democrats.
What's been mostly missing is the kind of questioning posed by Russ Feingold. He just kept asking the same thing until he got an answer. He was never disrespectful, but he kept asking. During the whole day I watched, there were maybe a few truly probing questions posed to Alito. I found that bothersome, but I couldn't help but appreciate that over all the committee was respectful of each other and Alito.
Anyway, hearing conservative talk radio later in the evening, it seemed like a whole different set of hearings than I had seen. Obviously, most of these people hadn't even watched the hearings. It was spin this and that and had no relation at all to what actually happened. The need for some to politicize the whole process is beyond me. Oh well, I guess that's just how some people like to roll.
My take on Alito is that he is a qualified candidate. He's far more pro-big business and far too supportive of an overly powerful executive branch than I would like to see, but I don't believe that where he fits on the political spectrum is really a reason to not give him the nod. I'm not comfortable with his seeming anti-abortion views, but as long as he's able to objectively look at laws that's okay with me.
There's more to see and hear, but I think it's all gone pretty well for him. He seems pretty intelligent and hasn't shown himself to be an ass.
I would like to hear actual tough questioning from both sides, but I don't think that will happen. This guy is applying for a job that will allow him affect the fabric of society far more than any President - any nominee for such a job should be hammered and scrutinized and going easy on them is really just a disservice to the American people.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Judge this...
Posted by Shawn at 12:47 PM
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8 comments:
"I would like to hear actual tough questioning from both sides, but I don't think that will happen."
Agreed. And not just tough - legitimate.
When Roberts was up things were just as bad. The Republicans were even more embarassing than the Democrats were unfair.
"Mr. Roberts, why don't you tell
us about the great volunteer work
you've done lately?"
I long for a day when Congressional committees are more interested in the issues before them than pleasing their "base constituency". For one side to get panned for "grilling" the candidate and the other to lob softball questions at a guy they want on the court solely because he's conservative is totally irresponsible.
But then again, who do we have to blame but ourselves. We elected these clowns, we don't pay attention to the goings on of politics and government, and we allow the media to spoon feed us crap on a platter they call news. I mean the collective "We" btw...
OMG! You watch CSPAN? Here in Canada we have CPAC. I thought I was the only person who was enough of a political geek to actually stop channel surfing once and a while when I hit this station.
Good points all around. Are you a journalist? Ha ha. It is scary for me to think that this guy could be the undoing of Roe vs. Wade.
However, I have to agree that he seems intelligent and reasonable. He seems like he may actually base his judgements on factual evidence and the merit of the arguement presented and be able to set aside his personal or professional interests.
Let's all hope, 'cause he is starting to look like a shoe in.
If Russ Feingold weren't anti-gun, I'd really like the guy. He was the only one with the balls to stand up against the PATRIOT act in the beginning.
I don't have a strong opinion on Alito. Very cool of you to watch C-SPAN.
Yeah, I don't know why the modern day Republicans are such *ss kissers. wish one of them would ask some serious questions. That's embarassing, especially since I consider myself Right-wing. But then again, most Republicans aren't true conservatives.
Its not going to happen. Biden like to talk a lot but doesn't say very much.
We = fucked.
what gives you guys the idea that he will look at the laws objectively once he is elected?
I'm not doubting what you guys say, you obviously are more up to day about this guy than me.
I don't particularly agree with him on some things, but he seems qualified. I've been most swayed by the solid grade report he was given by the American Bar Association.
I do wish there was more real questioning. It's a job interview for for a position for life and no one even asked him why he wanted the job or why he should get it instead of someone else. Just my opinion, but it seems there is tougher questioning during a McDonald's job interview.
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