The WaPo does a good job painting the right as religious wackos and calls the left as they vociferously opine with zero knowledge behind their statements.
Do not be surprised if, at some point during next week's confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, a trumpet blast is sounded in the hearing room, winged angels descend, and Democrats on the Judiciary Committee turn into pillars of salt.
This undoubtedly would be the wish of the Rev. Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council. He held a news conference outside the Hart Office Building yesterday to announce that he would "consecrate Room 216 Hart" -- the hearing room -- in hopes of having, in the sacred words of Fox News, "a fair and balanced hearing." |
Will Ted Kennedy be there? He'd probably use the Democrats turned to pillars or salt as licks before pouring a few rounds of tequila shooters... sacred Fox News? Bleh. All the clergy wants is their nominee getting a fair shake. It's not like he's the annointed one or the second coming of The Golden Child. He's just a nominee people. Take a deep breath. It will be OK. Some humerous jabs there, but now for the real nutjobs...
[...] The day began at 9 a.m. with a gathering of groups, including Law Students Against Alito. An hour later at the National Press Club, a group of Women Against Alito crashed a meeting of Women for Alito and heckled the participants with chants of "Women will die!" While that fracas ensued, a group of Law Professors Against Alito was meeting down the hall. At noon at the press club, political consultants behind the Swift Boat campaign against John F. Kerry wheeled out the African Americans for Alito.
Pat Robertson set the tone for the week when he said on Tuesday God had told him that Alito would be confirmed and another justice -- a liberal! -- will retire this year. "The president is going to strengthen, and Alito is going to get confirmed," Robertson prophesied, provoking the liberal Americans United group to wonder if Robertson "is confusing his wish-list for God's will." |
Women will die? Only if he goes on another hooker killing spree... Don't you love how the chants have zero factual basis? It's just vile slander. Then there's the right's resident dimbulb, Robertson. Someone must have accidentally let him out of his cage. He claims God speaks to. 'Nuff said. But then we are blessed when Kennedy decides to try to come up with something profound on Alito... and fails miserably.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), hosting a morning roundtable with reporters, had nothing nice to say about Alito. "We here in the United States are not going to stand for monarchial tyranny," he said, protesting Alito's support for "unfettered, unlimited power of the executive." He faulted Alito for belonging to a group that was "anti-black and also anti-women." Kennedy wondered if "the average person is going to be able to get a fair shake" under Alito.
Briefly, Kennedy rewrote the outcome of the 1964 election. "This nominee was influenced by the Goldwater presidency," he said. "The Goldwater battles of those times were the battles against the civil rights laws." Only then did Kennedy acknowledge that "Judge Alito at that time was 14 years old."
A questioner pointed out that Kennedy sounded like a sure bet against Alito. "I haven't reached a final conclusion," the senator demurred. |
BWAHAHAHAHA! Ah, yes... We can always get a good laugh from the venerable (hic) Senator from Massachusetts... Sure he hasn't made up his mind. Unless Alito starts turning water to wine at the confirmation hearings, he's dead to Kennedy. Now for Schumer...
Next up: Schumer, who gave an afternoon speech to the liberal Center for American Progress. Schumer argued that Alito articulated "a radical theory of executive power" under which "we couldn't have a 9/11 commission." He further mentioned the judge's "extreme views" and said one of his arguments "can't be taken seriously by any serious person." The senator judged that Alito "is in worse shape today than the day he was nominated."
So is that a "no" vote? "No," Schumer said. "We want to hear his views." |
The logic there must be so deep and unfathomable that it's nonexistant. Alito's so extreme that he can't be taken seriously, but Schumer wants to hear his views before making up his mind. Ooookaaaay.
This ought to make for an interesting confirmation. |
