Confirmation hearings
I only managed to catch a little bit of the confirmation hearings going on yesterday, but I have one observation: the Repulicans are determined to confirm Alito. When it was the Democrats’ turn, they turned the screws as much as they could, asking tough questions about recusal, Presidential powers, etc. while the Republicans threw such hardballs as, “Your name is Samual Alito, is it not?” Alito replies, “yes it is.” Republican Senator, “Thank you for your honesty, and integrity in answering such a tough question. You look tired, can we take a break for Judge Alito?”
Now, I’m paraphrasing and mocking the process, but that’s how it’s going for him, with Republicans asking simple questions that essentially answer the Democrats’ previous question in the form of, “your record stands for itself, but to answer one of the questions that was raised previously about recusing yourself from a case that involved Vanguard (a mutual fund company that he had something like $340,000 invested in). Isn’t it true Judge that if real attornies had handled the case (the plaintiff was Pro Se, self-represented) you would have recused yourself, and in fact you did so once the ruling was handed down (causing additional expense to the parties since the plaintiff had to retry the case) so really no harm no foul? (other than the plaintiff having to go through the action again)”
