Domestic Policy

Is Alito Hearings Really A Fiasco?

January 24, 2006 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅  Print Article ⋅ Post a comment

Ready or not, here he comes. Judge Samuel Alito has dodged what many others judged could not, the Senate Judiciary Committee. However, the whole issue uncovers a very negative aspect about American government. Samuel Alito’s Supreme Court nomination was reduced to a party-line vote Tuesday. This begs the question, “If the Democrats were in charge would this make Judge Alito any more, or less, qualified?”

It is commonly said Alito is the best man for the job. However, if there were more Democrats on the committee than there are now this truism would be reversed. If a Democrat and a Republican both look at the same blade of grass, do they really see the same color lawn? The point being, “is Alito being judged on his merits or is the whole process just a song and dance?” Did all of the Democrats really find this man flawed? Furthermore, did not one Republican see any flaw in this man? How can two views of the same man be so totally different?

The partisan choice was almost inevitable, 15 of the 18 senators announced their votes before the committee’s session began. I think professional wrestling is more spontaneous than this joke of a committee process. And by the way, if they knew it would be right down party lines anyways why didn’t they save us all some money and just move on? The full Senate expects to vote within the week on whether to confirm Alito, or not. I don’t think I will hold my breadth on this one. The vote is expected to be right down party lines once again.

Many consider the Senate hearings to be akin to a heavyweight title fight. Heavy handed shots are fired as both sides go for a knockout. But in this case, one side seen a knockout artist while the other side said they seen a bum, how can this be? How can two sides of an aisle really see this far apart? Does partisan allegiance trump common sense on both sides?

ALITO VOTES:

FOR:

• Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania
• Orrin Hatch, R-Utah
• Charles Grassley, R-Iowa
• Jon Kyl, R-Arizona
• Mike DeWine, R-Ohio
• Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama
• Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina
• John Cornyn, R-Texas
• Sam Brownback, R-Kansas
• Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma

AGAINST:

• Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont
• Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts
• Joseph Biden, D-Delaware
• Herbert Kohl, D-Wisconsin
• Dianne Feinstein, D-California
• Russell Feingold, D-Wisconsin
• Charles Schumer, D-New York
• Richard Durbin, D-Illinois

ABC News: Alito Would Create Catholic Majority on Top Court

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