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marfknox
SFN Die Hard

USA
3739 Posts

Posted - 01/08/2006 :  13:01:13  Show Profile  Visit marfknox's Homepage  Send marfknox an AOL message Send marfknox a Private Message
I keep getting emails from MoveOn and other liberal activist orgs about stopping the Alito nomination, but the more I read about the guy, the more I think liberal groups don't have a leg to stand on in regards to claiming he's unqualified for the Supreme Court or that it is somehow unethical for the Republicans to replace O'Conner with a clearly more conservative judge. Alito is qualified and thus far seems to have kept his nose clean.

Pains me to say it, but the majority of American voters foolishly voted Republicans into office (While the other half didn't even bother voting). If Dems were in office, I'd be wanting them to nominate liberal-leaning judges, so it is hypocritical for me to expect any less from Republicans.

Thoughts?

"Too much certainty and clarity could lead to cruel intolerance" -Karen Armstrong

Check out my art store: http://www.marfknox.etsy.com

beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard

USA
3834 Posts

Posted - 01/08/2006 :  14:36:14   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send beskeptigal a Private Message
I am one who didn't object to Roberts other than to wonder why he gets to be chief instead of promoting from within. And, I'm sorry moveon wasted their political capital so to speak on Roberts because they need it more now.

I have seen many reasons to reject Alito. Watch the hearings. Then decide. He has a record of some very outrageous rulings that should concern Republicans as well as Democrats. Maybe with a few Republicans deserting their very leaky ship we'll see some of them concerned as well.

Of course if the pro-lifers push the guy through, we could all lose.
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marfknox
SFN Die Hard

USA
3739 Posts

Posted - 01/08/2006 :  17:52:56   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit marfknox's Homepage  Send marfknox an AOL message Send marfknox a Private Message
He has a record of some very outrageous rulings that should concern Republicans as well as Democrats.

Could you give some examples of these? Are you focussing primarily on anti-abortion stuff? It does upset me that the (fairly effective) stategy of pro-lifers lately has been to simply limit access to abortion rather than fight Roe. One Alito rulilng that really bothered me was a minority vote in favor of spousal notification for abortions. Those sort of laws strike me as so insane considering the number of battered wives. It also hit a personal note with me since I have a close friend who was a battered wife and who got an secret abortion while married to that psycho. If she lived in a state where that wasn't possible, I don't know what she would have done. I cringe to even think of it.

"Too much certainty and clarity could lead to cruel intolerance" -Karen Armstrong

Check out my art store: http://www.marfknox.etsy.com

Edited by - marfknox on 01/08/2006 17:53:28
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Dave W.
Info Junkie

USA
26022 Posts

Posted - 01/08/2006 :  20:43:35   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Dave W.'s Homepage Send Dave W. a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by beskeptigal

I am one who didn't object to Roberts other than to wonder why he gets to be chief instead of promoting from within.
Off topic, but that decision was simply whether to have two confirmation hearings or three. To give anyone Chief Justice spot requires confirmation hearings. So, to have elevated one of the other justices would have meant two hearings: one for the promotion, and one to fill the vacant justice seat left behind after the promotion. And the the third hearing would have been to replace O'Connor.

Since only two hearings would be needed to fill the Chief Justice spot and O'Connor's seat from outside SCOTUS, and the administration expected nasty hearings and ugliness, two hearings were a much more pleasant option than three.

- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too.
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Dude
SFN Die Hard

USA
6891 Posts

Posted - 01/08/2006 :  21:58:06   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send Dude a Private Message
quote:
I am one who didn't object to Roberts other than to wonder why he gets to be chief instead of promoting from within.


Not all chief justices are chosen from the sitting court. I'm sure a brief internet search could provide the exact number of chief justices and who they were prior to being chief justice.


Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing, than he who believes what is wrong.
-- Thomas Jefferson

"god :: the last refuge of a man with no answers and no argument." - G. Carlin

Hope, n.
The handmaiden of desperation; the opiate of despair; the illegible signpost on the road to perdition. ~~ da filth
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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard

USA
3834 Posts

Posted - 01/09/2006 :  01:21:25   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send beskeptigal a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by marfknox

He has a record of some very outrageous rulings that should concern Republicans as well as Democrats.

Could you give some examples of these? Are you focussing primarily on anti-abortion stuff? It does upset me that the (fairly effective) stategy of pro-lifers lately has been to simply limit access to abortion rather than fight Roe. One Alito rulilng that really bothered me was a minority vote in favor of spousal notification for abortions. Those sort of laws strike me as so insane considering the number of battered wives. It also hit a personal note with me since I have a close friend who was a battered wife and who got an secret abortion while married to that psycho. If she lived in a state where that wasn't possible, I don't know what she would have done. I cringe to even think of it.

Trying to not list the more radical opinion sites here are a few with specific comments on Alito's rulings.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4982737

http://www.uua.org/news/2005/051212_alito/memo.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/02/AR2005110202724.html

http://www.nad.org/site/pp.asp?c=foINKQMBF&b=1315599

I got the impression from listening to CSPAN that Alito's rulings often lean in favor of religion in government, on the side of more governmental powers vs individual rights, more big business as usual and less for worker rights. I think women's rights groups oppose him for cause, not merely for leaning toward abortion restrictions and an anti-anything Bush stand.

BTW, on anti-abortion, I'm not sure the Republican leaders really want to lose their big get out the vote propaganda tool but I could be wrong. I think Alito would increase restrictions but not necessarily overturn Roe outright.
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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard

USA
3834 Posts

Posted - 01/11/2006 :  05:00:30   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send beskeptigal a Private Message
Wimpy Democrats. They're just gonna let this guy through.

Here's a guy who joined the ROTC during the Vietnam war days, he had animosity toward free speech then, he's shown that he doesn't recognize discrimination against women or minorities, he viewed the cops searching people who were standing outside of a house as OK because the cops thought the druggie in the house might have hid his drugs on them, he was a member of a group that wanted to kick women out of Princeton and claims now not to remember anything about that, he compared a woman having to notify her husband of an abortion was about the same as a child having to notify their parents of one....

The Republicans must have had their talking points judging from the speeches they gave. They whined on about this and that when this and that hadn't come up. Seems to me they did the same thing in the Robert's hearings.
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filthy
SFN Die Hard

USA
14408 Posts

Posted - 01/11/2006 :  12:49:47   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send filthy a Private Message
The rude Pundit says it far better than I could:
quote:
Democrats Are Pussies and They're Getting Fucked:
The Rude Pundit's not nearly as old as Sammy Alito, but he remembers the day a couple of hot Socialist college girls walked into the university newspaper office and asked to talk to whoever would listen about subscribing to The Militant, the Socialist Workers Party newspaper. So the Rude Pundit and a male friend went out for drinks with the hot Socialist college girls, who were touring regional universities to drum up business for the Socialists. At the end of an evening of teasing, pleasing, and free love, the Rude Pundit, who not only flirted with socialists, but with socialism, gladly signed up for a few months of The Militant. Someone told the Rude Pundit that simply subscribing to the newspaper assured the Rude Pundit a file with the FBI - it was the late Reagan era. Which the Rude Pundit took as a badge of honor (and probably wasn't true). After the months were up, the Rude Pundit had moved on to The Nation and mainstream liberalism, and, well, the memory of the evening dimmed when the re-subscribing bill came in the mail.

The point here ain't that the Rude Pundit was blown into socialism. The point is that if someone asked him why he signed up for The Militant, he'd fucking remember it and remember why he did it. So when Sammy Alito says of the Concerned Alumni of Princeton that he has "no specific recollection of that organization," but then says why he may have joined it, he's a fuckin' weasel at best, a craven liar at worst. In fact, why not follow up with, "Well, Judgey, since you have no recollection of the CAP, a racist, sexist organization, might it be possible that you have no recollection of other groups you may have belonged to? Like the KKK? Or the White Aryan Resistance? You are a skinhead, Judge Alito. What about forgotten events? Like that ecstasy-fueled evening where you drove into Philadelphia and pissed on the Liberty Bell after jacking off on Independence Hall, screaming, 'Hey, Sam Adams, here's your beer back'? I mean, c'mon, who'd recollect that?"

I thank God, Darwin, or Who/What-The-Hell-Ever that I am not a Democrat! I'd be ashamed to be associated with such a pack of spineless and worthless poltroons as is currently in the Senate.

But did we expect anything else, considering their track record of cowering and sniveling and groveling before Republican bullying? From his past writings, decisions, dissents, and 'memory lapses' (yeah, right! If the bastard's memory is that bad, he has no business in any judicial position and should probably seek treatment for Alzheimer's, if I've spelled that right), Alito is a sitting duck for a No vote, yet they appear not even interested in asking the pertinant questions. Are they frightened that the other side of the aisle might become a little miffed and scold them? It certainly appears so.

We ask for the best and the brightest, and they give us a partisan asshole. Yeah, he's in like Flynn, unless someone grows a pair with hair on them.

How I wish a third party worthy of consideration would come along -- no Snake, sorry; while I think the world of you, I hate the fucking Libertarians as well. And I ain't all that fond of the Greens either, comes to that.




"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)

"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres


"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude

Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,

and Crypto-Communist!

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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie

USA
4826 Posts

Posted - 01/11/2006 :  13:07:25   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Valiant Dancer's Homepage Send Valiant Dancer a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by marfknox

I keep getting emails from MoveOn and other liberal activist orgs about stopping the Alito nomination, but the more I read about the guy, the more I think liberal groups don't have a leg to stand on in regards to claiming he's unqualified for the Supreme Court or that it is somehow unethical for the Republicans to replace O'Conner with a clearly more conservative judge. Alito is qualified and thus far seems to have kept his nose clean.

Pains me to say it, but the majority of American voters foolishly voted Republicans into office (While the other half didn't even bother voting). If Dems were in office, I'd be wanting them to nominate liberal-leaning judges, so it is hypocritical for me to expect any less from Republicans.

Thoughts?



I have a severe problem with this guy due to his stances on Constitutional protections. Amongst other opinions, he felt that the government would be within it's rights to strip search a child for an airport screening. Likewise, he seemed ambivalent towards the Bush administration's obtaining wire taps on domestic phones without obtaining a FISA warrant ever.

Cthulhu/Asmodeus when you're tired of voting for the lesser of two evils

Brother Cutlass of Reasoned Discussion
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H. Humbert
SFN Die Hard

USA
4574 Posts

Posted - 01/11/2006 :  15:44:38   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send H. Humbert a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by filthy
How I wish a third party worthy of consideration would come along -- no Snake, sorry; while I think the world of you, I hate the fucking Libertarians as well. And I ain't all that fond of the Greens either, comes to that.
Let's start a new party. We can call it "The Party of Reason." It will be comprised mostly of skeptics, intellectuals, and scientists. Our mascot will be an owl.


"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true." --Demosthenes

"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool." --Richard P. Feynman

"Face facts with dignity." --found inside a fortune cookie
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marfknox
SFN Die Hard

USA
3739 Posts

Posted - 01/11/2006 :  17:13:38   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit marfknox's Homepage  Send marfknox an AOL message Send marfknox a Private Message
Let's start a new party. We can call it "The Party of Reason." It will be comprised mostly of skeptics, intellectuals, and scientists. Our mascot will be an owl.

Yes, and then all seven of us can gather in front of the White House in our sweat pants and darwin-fish T-shirts and stick our tongues out at Mr. Bush. That'll show 'em.

"Too much certainty and clarity could lead to cruel intolerance" -Karen Armstrong

Check out my art store: http://www.marfknox.etsy.com

Edited by - marfknox on 01/11/2006 17:13:59
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H. Humbert
SFN Die Hard

USA
4574 Posts

Posted - 01/11/2006 :  17:25:07   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send H. Humbert a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by marfknox
Yes, and then all seven of us can gather in front of the White House in our sweat pants and darwin-fish T-shirts and stick our tongues out at Mr. Bush. That'll show 'em.

Right, because no one but a handful of freaks is concerned about basing political policies on sound science, protecting civil liberties, or in maintaining the separation of church and state. I think you underestimate the potential of such a party. (And over-estimate the number of people who wear sweat pants.)


"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true." --Demosthenes

"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool." --Richard P. Feynman

"Face facts with dignity." --found inside a fortune cookie
Edited by - H. Humbert on 01/11/2006 17:45:47
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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard

USA
3834 Posts

Posted - 01/12/2006 :  02:11:37   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send beskeptigal a Private Message
The Dems got at least a little more ballsy today. I missed the Kennedy Spector exchange except the tail end. I await the reruns.
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filthy
SFN Die Hard

USA
14408 Posts

Posted - 01/12/2006 :  03:24:14   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send filthy a Private Message
Yeah, so much so that, according to the loathsome Drudge, it reduced poor Mrs. Alito to tears....

Oh, wait, the lady started blubbering during one of Lindsey Graham's (R-SC) blathers in defense of her husband -- why do I feel less than sympathetic?

There is a conjecture out there that her waterworks and departure were staged. Don't know the truth of that.

The Democrats should have hung this clown out to dry on day one. Instead we have the likes of Joe Biden (D-Useless) running his moronic mouth for some 20 minutes without asking a single question.

I usually wear bib overalls -- would sweat pants be better, even though they have fewer pockets? Either way, I'd doubtless be a "fashion god" at the White House protests.




"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)

"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres


"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude

Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,

and Crypto-Communist!

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Snake
SFN Addict

USA
2511 Posts

Posted - 01/12/2006 :  13:16:41   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Snake's Homepage  Send Snake an ICQ Message  Send Snake a Yahoo! Message Send Snake a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by beskeptigal

Wimpy Democrats. They're just gonna let this guy through.

Here's a guy who joined the ROTC during the Vietnam war days,


Excuse me but what does that have to do with anything? Unless you know why he did and would that matter anyway? Perhaps some of your other statements about him might have 'some' relevance, but bringing up issues that don't is not credible.
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Dave W.
Info Junkie

USA
26022 Posts

Posted - 01/12/2006 :  13:36:24   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Dave W.'s Homepage Send Dave W. a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by H. Humbert

Let's start a new party. We can call it "The Party of Reason."
I tried to get Kil interested in running for President as a member of the yet-to-be-formed Critical Thought Party in 2008, but he didn't seem particularly enthused, even after I agreed to be his speechwriter.

- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too.
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