I listened to part of the hearings this morning...I don't quite understand what the Dems are playing at. Ted Kennedy made a single possibly significant point about the Vanguard business. Then he went on and on and on... Judge Alito said things that pleased me very much. He IS conservative, no doubt, but he articulates a clear and appropriate judicial philosophy. I HOPE my beloved party has the good sense to pick its battles and NOT filibuster Judge Alito.
Nosborne, He seemed quite clear in his remarks. I am not sure where Leahy was going either. It seemed as though he was stumbling all over the place. I do hope my party ( Democrats) dont filabuster this one.
Senator Feinstein of California just finished her first set of questions. She sounded smart and very, very well prepared. She focused on Judge Alito's earlier opinions in dissent where he called for really severe limitations on Congressional power vis-a-vis the states and the President. This is a potentially deadly attack. Judge Alito's (correct, IMHO) opinion that Congress has no power to criminalize the mere possession of a machine gun would apply with equal force to criminalizing the mere possession of everything from cocaine to child porngraphy to freon-12. That CANNOT be popular with Senators on either side of the aisle. No one has raised this concern, yet, but someone certainly WILL. Senator Feinstein also talked about Judge Alito's apparent (though I think misunderstood) belief that the President can be granted or possesses through his office, the right to wiretap at will. That won't go down well with Republicans OR Democrats.
Charles, What struck me quite forceably was that the Democratic Senators (with the notable exception of Feinstein-I want to move to California so she can be MY Senator ) questioned Judge Alito as if he were being considered for a LEGISLATIVE job: "What would be your opion of THIS and how would would rule about THAT?" and he kept answering them like a Judge, "I'd have to hear the arguments in the specific case; I can't commit to any particular ruling in advance..." It's like they were speaking different languages, which, I suppose, they were. The GOP Senators didn't do much questioning; their "questions" sounded more like boot licking than inquiry. Note, please, that Feinstein said later that Judge Alito should be confirmed because, although she herself doesn't agree with him, he's fully qualified. Anyway, he'll do fine for the country but I predict that the Religious Right will be disappointed in him.