Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Voted Out of Committee
Judge Sam Alito has been voted out of the committee and on to the full Senate along party lines--10 to 8. All the Democrats voted against him. For a comparison, Chief Justice Roberts was voted out 13-5, so three Democrats broke ranks (Kohl, Feingold and Leahy). We're not hearing any real talk of filibuster nor any real reason to believe that any Republican will defect (even the really squishy ones like Lincoln Chafee and the ladies from Maine) but even if they do defect (along with Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ted Stevens (R-AK) who have also not publicly committed their vote), all other Republicans and Ben Nelson (D-NE) have said they'll vote for Alito and that makes 51--so it still looks like confirmation.
If Justice Stevens or Ginsberg quits or dies, I imagine things will get even worse though.
If Justice Stevens or Ginsberg quits or dies, I imagine things will get even worse though.
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 4:40 PM 
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Roger,
I went to school w/ Lincoln Chaffee's brother, though I didn't know him well as he was a few years olderthan I am. On Saturday, a young man from RI, who attends the same insanely liberal institution as my children, helped me schlep my eldest's possessions into the 5th story tower room of a building built in 1861. An interesting kid. His mother is the education columnist for Providence's largest newspaper. He had to go to private schol his senior year as his guidance counselor advised there was no way he could take the classes he wanted/needed and pass as his mother had terminally annoyed his prospective teachers. Nice kid. 1/2 the men's diving team. A big Linclon Chaffee fan.
Lincoln Chaffee is a Republican senator from a state in which Democrats are in majority--by a lot. He represents his constituents who share many of his values if not his party affliation. To me that doesn't make him "squishy." I mean isn't that the important thing? To represent your constituents? Or is it more important to to toe the party line to make life more comfortable for millionaires which seems to be the strongest plank in the Republican party platform. This is of course, why, after 5 years of Mr. Bush we have smaller government; a decreasing deficit; a more secure border; and a foreign policy that instills respect for our nation that has everything to do w/ our democratic values as opposed to our military prowess.
We things begin to slide and fall, I would rather be standing by Lincoln Chaffee than any of those lockjaw ideologues you sometimes admire.
The senate would function better if there were more Lincoln Chaffees. Be careful about whom you call names. It's late for me so I am letting you off easy.
As for Judge Alito, I confess I haven't read the opinion, so I will rely on you to explain his reasoning regarding why the congress does not have the authority to regulate the sale of machine guns. I mean machine guns are not at all inimical to public welfare are they? Quick. List 5 reasons to own a machine if you are living in the U.S. Stemming the flow of illegal immigration does not count as one.
The overwhelming majority of Americans view themselves as centrists. If either Justice Stevens or Justice Ginsberg retires or dies, what is likely to get worse is the Supreme Court more so than the process of conformation. You may thank the Republicans for that though Roger as since assuming the majority, they and their leader have done more to polarize politics and take civility of of government than the Democrats ever did.
Never send to know why some people are willing to dance the Kozachok when guys like Tom Delay get their comeuppance.
Oh yeah. The 2 most conservative members of the current Sc are Justices Scalia and Thomas, true?
I shall avoid a discussion of the latter's respect for stare decesis, and merely pose the following question: When was the last time the late CJ Rhenquist., a conservative's conservative, allowed either to write an opinion
of any importance?
I went to school w/ Lincoln Chaffee's brother, though I didn't know him well as he was a few years olderthan I am. On Saturday, a young man from RI, who attends the same insanely liberal institution as my children, helped me schlep my eldest's possessions into the 5th story tower room of a building built in 1861. An interesting kid. His mother is the education columnist for Providence's largest newspaper. He had to go to private schol his senior year as his guidance counselor advised there was no way he could take the classes he wanted/needed and pass as his mother had terminally annoyed his prospective teachers. Nice kid. 1/2 the men's diving team. A big Linclon Chaffee fan.
Lincoln Chaffee is a Republican senator from a state in which Democrats are in majority--by a lot. He represents his constituents who share many of his values if not his party affliation. To me that doesn't make him "squishy." I mean isn't that the important thing? To represent your constituents? Or is it more important to to toe the party line to make life more comfortable for millionaires which seems to be the strongest plank in the Republican party platform. This is of course, why, after 5 years of Mr. Bush we have smaller government; a decreasing deficit; a more secure border; and a foreign policy that instills respect for our nation that has everything to do w/ our democratic values as opposed to our military prowess.
We things begin to slide and fall, I would rather be standing by Lincoln Chaffee than any of those lockjaw ideologues you sometimes admire.
The senate would function better if there were more Lincoln Chaffees. Be careful about whom you call names. It's late for me so I am letting you off easy.
As for Judge Alito, I confess I haven't read the opinion, so I will rely on you to explain his reasoning regarding why the congress does not have the authority to regulate the sale of machine guns. I mean machine guns are not at all inimical to public welfare are they? Quick. List 5 reasons to own a machine if you are living in the U.S. Stemming the flow of illegal immigration does not count as one.
The overwhelming majority of Americans view themselves as centrists. If either Justice Stevens or Justice Ginsberg retires or dies, what is likely to get worse is the Supreme Court more so than the process of conformation. You may thank the Republicans for that though Roger as since assuming the majority, they and their leader have done more to polarize politics and take civility of of government than the Democrats ever did.
Never send to know why some people are willing to dance the Kozachok when guys like Tom Delay get their comeuppance.
Oh yeah. The 2 most conservative members of the current Sc are Justices Scalia and Thomas, true?
I shall avoid a discussion of the latter's respect for stare decesis, and merely pose the following question: When was the last time the late CJ Rhenquist., a conservative's conservative, allowed either to write an opinion
of any importance?
# posted by 
: 9:39 PM
: 9:39 PM
I'm aware of the pressures on Chaffee in the blue state of RI, still there are things you have to support to call yourself a Republican and Chaffee doesn't. I really hope he loses in the primary.
The general welfare clause is not sufficient for the Congress to pass acts on. They have to rely on the Commerce clause. They passed legislation about wife beaters. The Supremes knocked it down asking what does that have to do with commerce? The Congress passed a bill--no guns within 1,000 feet of a school. Supremes said unconstitutional, what does that have to do with commerce? Alito, in his dissent said about the intrastate transfer of a gun, if that law has any precedent, what does that sort of transfer have to do with commerce? It's a good question. As to the advantages of having a full auto machine gun. They are cool. Your ability to protect yourself against zombie hordes goes up a few notches. They are a great investment--there are only 70,000 legally transferable full auto guns in the US, no more coming due to an '86 law, and the price by demand has gone up and up. Your understanding of military history increases. Your neighbors dog quits crapping in your yard after the first warning burst.
I think the conservatives on the Court are the clear thinkers. I don't think we'll agree on that. You will agree that even though Ginsberg is as center left as Alito is center right, the Republicans were gentlemen and sane in her confirmation. The confirmation process is what's getting worse. I think the Democrats are the invective hurling hostile source of the current sorry state of politics. I'm sure you disagree. I can show your leadership's quotes that support my view. You have any quotes from Republican leadership that supports yours? Thanks for a great comment.
The general welfare clause is not sufficient for the Congress to pass acts on. They have to rely on the Commerce clause. They passed legislation about wife beaters. The Supremes knocked it down asking what does that have to do with commerce? The Congress passed a bill--no guns within 1,000 feet of a school. Supremes said unconstitutional, what does that have to do with commerce? Alito, in his dissent said about the intrastate transfer of a gun, if that law has any precedent, what does that sort of transfer have to do with commerce? It's a good question. As to the advantages of having a full auto machine gun. They are cool. Your ability to protect yourself against zombie hordes goes up a few notches. They are a great investment--there are only 70,000 legally transferable full auto guns in the US, no more coming due to an '86 law, and the price by demand has gone up and up. Your understanding of military history increases. Your neighbors dog quits crapping in your yard after the first warning burst.
I think the conservatives on the Court are the clear thinkers. I don't think we'll agree on that. You will agree that even though Ginsberg is as center left as Alito is center right, the Republicans were gentlemen and sane in her confirmation. The confirmation process is what's getting worse. I think the Democrats are the invective hurling hostile source of the current sorry state of politics. I'm sure you disagree. I can show your leadership's quotes that support my view. You have any quotes from Republican leadership that supports yours? Thanks for a great comment.
Rog,
Read my response to Ms. Byrd that you posted today.
As you are aware, I was east last weekend and on my father's desk I spotted a holiday card that was a family photo which depicted about 20 people. The photagrapher must have used a wide angle lens or a Panaflex camera or something. It was a portrait of the family of my mother's college classmate, Emily Molino. She was married to the late James H. Scheuer who died on September 1, 2005. Mr. Sheuer was a Democrat from NY who served 13 terms in Congree between 1964 and 1992.
After his retirement, my father spoke to him @ a VC reunion, probably in 1996. My father continues to attend these even after my mother's death.
My father expressed his sentiment to Jim Scheuer that he was sorry that Jim had chosen not to run again. Mr. Scheuer advised my father that the lack of civility in Congress was a primary motivating factor. He said it used to be that you could have a knockdown drag out fight on the floor w/ a political opponent and afterward go for a drink, or have dinner w/ your wives. He cited the rise of rabid ideologues as the source of the decline of thoise types of practices.
Wherein lies the blame? Well, it takes two to tango, but when it comes to spewing invective, I still award the virtual spittoon to the Republicans. Whether it started in 1994 or merely became worse, I do not know. Certainly, the current head of the Republican party has done little, if anything, to promote civility and bipartisonship. Many Democrats who supported him in his piece de la resistance legislation, No Child Left Behind, were rewarded by the president actively campaigning in their home states to unseat them. Sorry, but I don't think this is OK.
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Read my response to Ms. Byrd that you posted today.
As you are aware, I was east last weekend and on my father's desk I spotted a holiday card that was a family photo which depicted about 20 people. The photagrapher must have used a wide angle lens or a Panaflex camera or something. It was a portrait of the family of my mother's college classmate, Emily Molino. She was married to the late James H. Scheuer who died on September 1, 2005. Mr. Sheuer was a Democrat from NY who served 13 terms in Congree between 1964 and 1992.
After his retirement, my father spoke to him @ a VC reunion, probably in 1996. My father continues to attend these even after my mother's death.
My father expressed his sentiment to Jim Scheuer that he was sorry that Jim had chosen not to run again. Mr. Scheuer advised my father that the lack of civility in Congress was a primary motivating factor. He said it used to be that you could have a knockdown drag out fight on the floor w/ a political opponent and afterward go for a drink, or have dinner w/ your wives. He cited the rise of rabid ideologues as the source of the decline of thoise types of practices.
Wherein lies the blame? Well, it takes two to tango, but when it comes to spewing invective, I still award the virtual spittoon to the Republicans. Whether it started in 1994 or merely became worse, I do not know. Certainly, the current head of the Republican party has done little, if anything, to promote civility and bipartisonship. Many Democrats who supported him in his piece de la resistance legislation, No Child Left Behind, were rewarded by the president actively campaigning in their home states to unseat them. Sorry, but I don't think this is OK.
# posted by : 9:59 AM
: 9:59 AM << Home
