Chairman’s Corner
In Support of Judge Samuel
Alito
If you have had a chance to watch the Senate Judiciary hearings being conducted for the confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court, you don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
The performance of the Democratic side of the table has been both appalling and occasionally amusing. The appalling part revolves around their constant attacks on a very honorable and qualified Judge. These Democratic Senators are not engaged in their “advise and consent” role to President Bush’s nomination. Rather, they are involved in a self-appointed “threat, bully and try to get the nominee to make a mistake” role. President Bush has admirably fulfilled his constitutional role in making the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito. The Democratic Senators have failed miserably in upholding their end of the constitutional bargain.
Senator Joseph Biden (D-Delaware) has complained that “the system’s kind of broken…the alternative to hearings is just a vote on the Senate floor, just go to the Senate floor and debate the nominee’s statements…”. Senator, you’re wrong. Thank God the system isn’t broken. Despite the lame efforts of you and your Democratic colleagues to break the system, it has once again held firm. The problem isn’t with the system, it is with those Democratic Senators who insist on abusing it in the course of pandering to their far left constituencies.
In watching the hearings, there are hardly any questions from the Democratic side regarding Judge Alito’s written judicial opinions (and I understand there are many) or even the hint of any fairness in asking him about any positive occurrences in his life. Rather, they dwell on a college alumni group he joined long ago. They ask questions that only satisfy their political thirst for blood and vengeance.
Frankly, it appears that the Senate Democrats have thrown in the towel. In the Justice Roberts confirmation hearings, they were absolutely dressed down by the intelligence and gravitas of the nominee. Justice Roberts flicked away their inane questions much like one flicks a fly off a shoulder. Beaten up so badly by Justice Roberts, it appears the Senate Democrats aren’t even going to try that tactic with Judge Alito. Civil discourse has been thrown out the window to be replaced by the verbal baseball bat. Fortunately, the Senate Democrats keep on hitting foul balls.
The hearings have led me to one inescapable conclusion. President Bush put forth an excellent nominee in Judge Alito. Senator Biden is absolutely correct, we should move to an up and down vote on Judge Alito. He should quickly be confirmed as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
If we ever needed proof as to why we need more Republicans in the U.S. Senate, such evidence has certainly been provided in these hearings. Election day 2006, in Michigan, can’t come soon enough.