Comments on: Alito & The Blogs http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/ Like Kryptonite To Stupid Fri, 16 May 2008 03:44:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Bushwacked http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21059 Bushwacked Thu, 02 Feb 2006 02:02:58 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21059 Excuse my spelling, it should have been "Roe" but the point is still the same. Excuse my spelling, it should have been “Roe” but the point is still the same.

]]> By: Bushwacked http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21058 Bushwacked Thu, 02 Feb 2006 02:02:43 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21058 Personally I think the Democrats should have had the balls to stick together and filibuster, forcing the republicans to use their "dreaded" nuclear option. While the neocons are enjoying their victory for now, they may be wishing they had never put this guy on the bench. He is nowhere near the majority of the country on a lot of issues, and may do a few things to piss them off even. At least when the shit hits the fan and the country really finds out what Alito is about, i.e. overturning Row vs Wade, the Imperial Presidency, etc. etc. the democrats could say they did everything they could to stop him from getting on the bench. Personally I think the Democrats should have had the balls to stick together and filibuster, forcing the republicans to use their “dreaded” nuclear option. While the neocons are enjoying their victory for now, they may be wishing they had never put this guy on the bench. He is nowhere near the majority of the country on a lot of issues, and may do a few things to piss them off even. At least when the shit hits the fan and the country really finds out what Alito is about, i.e. overturning Row vs Wade, the Imperial Presidency, etc. etc. the democrats could say they did everything they could to stop him from getting on the bench.

]]> By: Backlash Liberal » You mean they planned to put crazies on the court all along? http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21057 Backlash Liberal » You mean they planned to put crazies on the court all along? Wed, 01 Feb 2006 05:02:50 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21057 [...] people like Alito on the court. The real tragedy is that we ve done nothing  nothing  to counteract it. This entry was posted [...] […] people like Alito on the court. The real tragedy is that we ve done nothing  nothing  to counteract it.

This entry was posted
[…]

]]> By: Ryland http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21056 Ryland Wed, 01 Feb 2006 02:01:34 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21056 "Or maybe they just don t know what they believe..." Or maybe you Republicans listen to each other too much. Democrats know what they believe. The problem is that they insist on <i>telling</i> you, in boring detail. Republicans are just the opposite - they say nothing, but they say it in quick, sexy, repetitive soundbites, so that it <i>sounds</i> like they're actually saying something important, but really aren't imparting any information at all. The phrase "Democrats are on the wrong side of history," for example, is semantically near null (how can you be on the wrong side of something that doesn't have sides?) but makes a great talking point, which is why you guys say it over and over and over. “Or maybe they just don t know what they believe…”

Or maybe you Republicans listen to each other too much.

Democrats know what they believe. The problem is that they insist on telling you, in boring detail. Republicans are just the opposite - they say nothing, but they say it in quick, sexy, repetitive soundbites, so that it sounds like they’re actually saying something important, but really aren’t imparting any information at all. The phrase “Democrats are on the wrong side of history,” for example, is semantically near null (how can you be on the wrong side of something that doesn’t have sides?) but makes a great talking point, which is why you guys say it over and over and over.

]]> By: Ryland http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21055 Ryland Wed, 01 Feb 2006 02:01:10 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21055 Meant to make a link, but forgot: <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Democrats+are+on+the+wrong+side+of+history%22" rel="nofollow">"Democrats are on the wrong side of history"</a> Meant to make a link, but forgot: “Democrats are on the wrong side of history”

]]> By: Dana http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21054 Dana Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:01:50 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21054 Marty wrote: <blockquote>Based on his qualifications alone, Alito should have been 100-0 confirmed. Based on politics, we get 58-42. </blockquote> Based on her qualifications alone, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was confirmed 96-3. Based on politics, what do you think the vote would be were the next Democratic president to nominate Justice Ginsburg's clone? To pimp my own site just a bit, <a>I think that the Democrats just cut off their own noses to spite their faces.</a> Marty wrote:

Based on his qualifications alone, Alito should have been 100-0 confirmed. Based on politics, we get 58-42.

Based on her qualifications alone, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was confirmed 96-3. Based on politics, what do you think the vote would be were the next Democratic president to nominate Justice Ginsburg’s clone?

To pimp my own site just a bit, I think that the Democrats just cut off their own noses to spite their faces.

]]> By: Dana http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21053 Dana Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:01:47 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21053 Marty wrote: <blockquote>Does it ever cross any of your minds that the confirmation of a Supreme Court justice isn t about satisfying your political aims but about whether or not the nominee can interpret the law?</blockquote> Well, it certainly crosses <i>my</i> mind, but, then again, I'm a conservative Republican. Emily Bazelon wrote about Justice Alito in <i><a>Slate</a></i>: <blockquote>He seems like a judge who dutifully follows the law.</blockquote> Miss Bazelon saw that as a <i>complaint,</i> that she feared Mr Alito wouldn't be enough of a champion of "the little guy," if the law wasn't already on the side of the little guy. Me? The idea that a judge dutifully follows the law is about the highest compliment you could give a judge. Marty wrote:

Does it ever cross any of your minds that the confirmation of a Supreme Court justice isn t about satisfying your political aims but about whether or not the nominee can interpret the law?

Well, it certainly crosses my mind, but, then again, I’m a conservative Republican.

Emily Bazelon wrote about Justice Alito in Slate:

He seems like a judge who dutifully follows the law.

Miss Bazelon saw that as a complaint, that she feared Mr Alito wouldn’t be enough of a champion of “the little guy,” if the law wasn’t already on the side of the little guy.

Me? The idea that a judge dutifully follows the law is about the highest compliment you could give a judge.

]]> By: Quaker in a Basement http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21052 Quaker in a Basement Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:01:31 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21052 <blockquote>I certainly hope that the Republicans don t act anywhere near as badly as the Democrats did this time. </blockquote> Why wouldn't they? During the administration of the last Democratic president, they were much worse.

I certainly hope that the Republicans don t act anywhere near as badly as the Democrats did this time.

Why wouldn’t they? During the administration of the last Democratic president, they were much worse.

]]> By: Marty http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21051 Marty Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:01:25 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21051 "That would be true if both sides were ably presenting their case. The Republicans are, the Dems continue to act like whipped puppies." Or maybe they just don't know what they believe... “That would be true if both sides were ably presenting their case. The Republicans are, the Dems continue to act like whipped puppies.”

Or maybe they just don’t know what they believe…

]]> By: Oliver Willis http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21050 Oliver Willis Tue, 31 Jan 2006 23:01:45 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21050 <i>isn t about satisfying your political aims but about whether or not the nominee can interpret the law</i> According to the right, there's no way to interpret law, it just "is" (except when they disagree with it). <i>it s not so much that it s  broken. It s more like the rest of America doesn t agree with you.</i> That would be true if both sides were ably presenting their case. The Republicans are, the Dems continue to act like whipped puppies. <i>I certainly hope that the Republicans don t act anywhere near as badly as the Democrats did this time.</i> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/clinton.htm" rel="nofollow">LOL.</a> isn t about satisfying your political aims but about whether or not the nominee can interpret the law
According to the right, there’s no way to interpret law, it just “is” (except when they disagree with it).

it s not so much that it s  broken. It s more like the rest of America doesn t agree with you.
That would be true if both sides were ably presenting their case. The Republicans are, the Dems continue to act like whipped puppies.

I certainly hope that the Republicans don t act anywhere near as badly as the Democrats did this time.
LOL.

]]> By: Semanticleo http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21049 Semanticleo Tue, 31 Jan 2006 19:01:51 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21049 Marty; We ain't sellin'. Unlike your crew which seems to think everything is freemarket and saleable. Marty;

We ain’t sellin’. Unlike your crew which seems to think everything is
freemarket and saleable.

]]> By: Marty http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21048 Marty Tue, 31 Jan 2006 19:01:49 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21048 And Oliver- it's not so much that it's "broken." It's more like the rest of America doesn't agree with you. Rant all you want. We ain't buyin' it. And Oliver- it’s not so much that it’s “broken.” It’s more like the rest of America doesn’t agree with you.

Rant all you want.

We ain’t buyin’ it.

]]> By: Marty http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21047 Marty Tue, 31 Jan 2006 19:01:48 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21047 Does it ever cross any of your minds that the confirmation of a Supreme Court justice isn't about satisfying your political aims but about whether or not the nominee can interpret the law? Not even Senator Kennedy could come up with coherent interpretive legal arguments to oppose the man and had to resort to ad hominum, I know what you really think BS. Based on his qualifications alone, Alito should have been 100-0 confirmed. Based on politics, we get 58-42. I hope this isn't the precedent for the future. IF Democrats ever get back in power (not likely for quite a while) and we get a Democratic President (50-50 at this point) I certainly hope that the Republicans don't act anywhere near as badly as the Democrats did this time. Does it ever cross any of your minds that the confirmation of a Supreme Court justice isn’t about satisfying your political aims but about whether or not the nominee can interpret the law?

Not even Senator Kennedy could come up with coherent interpretive legal arguments to oppose the man and had to resort to ad hominum, I know what you really think BS.

Based on his qualifications alone, Alito should have been 100-0 confirmed. Based on politics, we get 58-42.

I hope this isn’t the precedent for the future. IF Democrats ever get back in power (not likely for quite a while) and we get a Democratic President (50-50 at this point) I certainly hope that the Republicans don’t act anywhere near as badly as the Democrats did this time.

]]> By: briffy http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21046 briffy Tue, 31 Jan 2006 16:01:07 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21046 i don't understand this post. alito only got 4 democrat votes, that's the fewest from the opposition party in decades. clarence thomas got more democrat votes. what else could the democrats have done and why should they have gone to the effort since it wouldn't have made a difference anyway? i don’t understand this post. alito only got 4 democrat votes, that’s the fewest from the opposition party in decades. clarence thomas got more democrat votes. what else could the democrats have done and why should they have gone to the effort since it wouldn’t have made a difference anyway?

]]> By: Semanticleo http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21045 Semanticleo Tue, 31 Jan 2006 14:01:39 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21045 Say Any friggin' thing; Do you have a substantive comment, or are you just desperate for hits on your site? Say Any friggin’ thing;

Do you have a substantive comment, or are you just desperate for hits
on your site?

]]> By: Say Anything - North Dakota s Most Popular Political Blog » Opposition To Alito Turns Into Gay Wi http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21044 Say Anything - North Dakota s Most Popular Political Blog » Opposition To Alito Turns Into Gay Wi Tue, 31 Jan 2006 06:01:05 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21044 [...] where complained about Democrat politicians not making liberal blogs part of their  message machine.   Given the above, it is little wonder mainstream Democrats don&# [...] […] where complained about Democrat politicians not making liberal blogs part of their  message machine.   Given the above, it is little wonder mainstream Democrats don&# […]

]]> By: Semanticleo http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21043 Semanticleo Tue, 31 Jan 2006 04:01:47 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21043 .......................then again, hopefiend that I am, maybe they are saving the big one for the NSA hearings next week. …………………..then again, hopefiend that I am, maybe they are saving
the big one for the NSA hearings next week.

]]> By: elrod http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21042 elrod Tue, 31 Jan 2006 02:01:30 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21042 Reason, The problem is that that was what the 2004 election was supposed to be about. If not the Presidency itself then certainly the Senators. We shouldn't have even been in a position where have to assemble some desperate filibuster just to make a point. We should have elected people who wouldn't put a radical right winger on the court in the first place. Reason,
The problem is that that was what the 2004 election was supposed to be about. If not the Presidency itself then certainly the Senators. We shouldn’t have even been in a position where have to assemble some desperate filibuster just to make a point. We should have elected people who wouldn’t put a radical right winger on the court in the first place.

]]> By: withinreason http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21041 withinreason Tue, 31 Jan 2006 02:01:26 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21041 They did not present a clear message to America why the appointments should not take place,John Roberts just shot by them and Alito came along and instead of presenting a clear agenda from which to work they devided among themselves,and tearing into each other basically accomplished nothing. They should have made the case to America about moving this court to the radical right and how it affects the average person,and in that they could have swayed the public behind them. They did not present a clear message to America why the appointments should not take place,John Roberts just shot by them and Alito came along and instead of presenting a clear agenda from which to work they devided among themselves,and tearing into each other basically accomplished nothing. They should have made the case to America about moving this court to the radical right and how it affects the average person,and in that they could have swayed the public behind them.

]]> By: Semanticleo http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21040 Semanticleo Tue, 31 Jan 2006 02:01:02 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2006/01/30/alito-the-blogs/#comment-21040 Dead on.... They went into Alito the same way they went into Bork, and it is not the same world They didn't have a plan. They relied on their lawyerly skills to trap the man, and he was tutored too well. (Evasion is the surest path to SCOTUS. ) Then they relied on manipulating procedures as their final gambit, and a half-hearted attempt to rally the troops for the filibuster sagged and dropped to the ground like a lead zeppelin Dead on….

They went into Alito the same way they went into Bork, and it is not
the same world

They didn’t have a plan. They relied on their lawyerly skills
to trap the man, and he was tutored too well. (Evasion is the surest path
to SCOTUS. )

Then they relied on manipulating procedures as their
final gambit, and a half-hearted attempt to rally the troops for the
filibuster sagged and dropped to the ground like a lead zeppelin

]]>