The Gang Of 14 Weighs In
Today, the infamous Gang of 14 met on Capitol Hill to discuss Judge Alito today. Now, we all know what these fools pulled back in May by creating extra-constitutional powers for themselves that underminded the president's power to nominate people to federal offices. In that deal, those senators were willing to allow only three of the ten questioned jurists their appropriate up-and-down vote, and toss the rest of them under the bus.
When Alito was named as the new nominee, replacing the wholly-unqualified Harriet Miers, the Gang of 14 started to crack. Mike DeWine was the first to step up and state he saw no "extraordinary circumstances" in Judge Alito. Lindsey Graham was next to step forward, and yesterday on Sean Hannity's radio show, Ben Nelson admitted likewise. The cracks have formed, and if the Democrats want to try a filibuster, they're going to get a rude awakening.
But this was the statement from Sen. McCain after that meeting today, as reported by FOX News. (Hat-tip: Confirm Them)
http://www.confirmthem.com/?p=1868
“Judge Alito’s nomination has been here a week. I am, obviously, very favorably disposed toward his nomination. But to make a conclusion before one hearing is even held is probably not the way that, at least, the 14 is going to function, as far as I know.”
Excuse me? Has Sen. McCain finally lost the last of his marbles? Can he not read and see the record this man has? Has no one told him of the extensive resume the man possesses? Obviously Graham, DeWine, and Ben Nelson has seen what this mans brings to the table, and they know that the Gang of 14 won't have a leg to stand on should they decide to support a filibuster, likewise the same for the Democrats if they feel that a filibuster is warranted. If the Gang of 14 states they've found something "extraordinary" in Alito I'd love to know what it is. Since his nomination, we (Thomas, Marcie, and I) have gone back over his records and cases, and can't find a single thing. And unless the Democrats are going to attempt the "Bork" strategy, they're not going to find anything either. At least nothing that would call Judge Alito's professionalism and integrity into question.
Sen. McCain still seems to think that he is important and relevant. So do the Democrats, and Sen. McCain needs to realize three important things:
First, his siding with this gang in May seriously eroded his credibility in the realm of politics. No one likes a back-stabber, and the base knows he is one.
Second, he apparently still hasn't gotten over his defeat in the 2000 primaries, and thinks that he's pulled a fast one on the president by undermining his authority. Not a smart move to cut the legs out from underneath a president that went back to Washington in 2004 with a mandate.
Third, his constituents in Arizona aren't happy with his moves involved in that deal (otherwise he would have pulled it beofre his reelection), and they're not stupid. He won't be reelected in 2010. For that matter, he can run for president, but he won't get the nomination for 2008, nor will he win.
I see no problem with members of the Gang of 14 stepping forward to give their opinion on Judge Alito. I welcome the move because it's sending a message to the Democrats that if they do pull a filibuster, they're going to lose that power when the gang members side with Sen. Frist, and the Constitutional Option. Their statements right now is a warning to the minority party that antics--like those made two days ago in the Senate shut-down--won't be tolerated on Judge Alito.
This man is so highly qualified for the Supreme Court that he makes people like Harriet Miers look like they're still in grade school. Many people have been saying that he is a lot like Chief Justice Roberts. They're right, he is a lot like Roberts, and not just in his resume, but his judicial philosophy as well. I agree with Sen. McCain on one small point: We should wait for the hearings to make a decision one way or another (that's for the senators on the committee, but we, at the Asylum, already support this nominee completely). But Graham, DeWine, and Nelson weren't "passing judgment" on Alito. They were simply stating that they see nothing "extraordinary" about the man. Sen. McCain would be wise to clean out his ears, and keep his mouth shut. He's not the "go-to" guy in the Gang. They're to act as one, not act like an extension of one, irrelevant senator still bitter over getting his butt kicked.
Mistress Pundit
ADDENDUM: Sen. Specter announced that Judge Alito will begin his hearings in the Judiciary Committee in January. He stated that was the earliest they could proceed with the schedule they have. It's a blow to our side because O'Connor will likely remain on the court until Judge Alito is done with the committee, and confirmed by the Senate.
Today, the infamous Gang of 14 met on Capitol Hill to discuss Judge Alito today. Now, we all know what these fools pulled back in May by creating extra-constitutional powers for themselves that underminded the president's power to nominate people to federal offices. In that deal, those senators were willing to allow only three of the ten questioned jurists their appropriate up-and-down vote, and toss the rest of them under the bus.
When Alito was named as the new nominee, replacing the wholly-unqualified Harriet Miers, the Gang of 14 started to crack. Mike DeWine was the first to step up and state he saw no "extraordinary circumstances" in Judge Alito. Lindsey Graham was next to step forward, and yesterday on Sean Hannity's radio show, Ben Nelson admitted likewise. The cracks have formed, and if the Democrats want to try a filibuster, they're going to get a rude awakening.
But this was the statement from Sen. McCain after that meeting today, as reported by FOX News. (Hat-tip: Confirm Them)
http://www.confirmthem.com/?p=1868
“Judge Alito’s nomination has been here a week. I am, obviously, very favorably disposed toward his nomination. But to make a conclusion before one hearing is even held is probably not the way that, at least, the 14 is going to function, as far as I know.”
Excuse me? Has Sen. McCain finally lost the last of his marbles? Can he not read and see the record this man has? Has no one told him of the extensive resume the man possesses? Obviously Graham, DeWine, and Ben Nelson has seen what this mans brings to the table, and they know that the Gang of 14 won't have a leg to stand on should they decide to support a filibuster, likewise the same for the Democrats if they feel that a filibuster is warranted. If the Gang of 14 states they've found something "extraordinary" in Alito I'd love to know what it is. Since his nomination, we (Thomas, Marcie, and I) have gone back over his records and cases, and can't find a single thing. And unless the Democrats are going to attempt the "Bork" strategy, they're not going to find anything either. At least nothing that would call Judge Alito's professionalism and integrity into question.
Sen. McCain still seems to think that he is important and relevant. So do the Democrats, and Sen. McCain needs to realize three important things:
First, his siding with this gang in May seriously eroded his credibility in the realm of politics. No one likes a back-stabber, and the base knows he is one.
Second, he apparently still hasn't gotten over his defeat in the 2000 primaries, and thinks that he's pulled a fast one on the president by undermining his authority. Not a smart move to cut the legs out from underneath a president that went back to Washington in 2004 with a mandate.
Third, his constituents in Arizona aren't happy with his moves involved in that deal (otherwise he would have pulled it beofre his reelection), and they're not stupid. He won't be reelected in 2010. For that matter, he can run for president, but he won't get the nomination for 2008, nor will he win.
I see no problem with members of the Gang of 14 stepping forward to give their opinion on Judge Alito. I welcome the move because it's sending a message to the Democrats that if they do pull a filibuster, they're going to lose that power when the gang members side with Sen. Frist, and the Constitutional Option. Their statements right now is a warning to the minority party that antics--like those made two days ago in the Senate shut-down--won't be tolerated on Judge Alito.
This man is so highly qualified for the Supreme Court that he makes people like Harriet Miers look like they're still in grade school. Many people have been saying that he is a lot like Chief Justice Roberts. They're right, he is a lot like Roberts, and not just in his resume, but his judicial philosophy as well. I agree with Sen. McCain on one small point: We should wait for the hearings to make a decision one way or another (that's for the senators on the committee, but we, at the Asylum, already support this nominee completely). But Graham, DeWine, and Nelson weren't "passing judgment" on Alito. They were simply stating that they see nothing "extraordinary" about the man. Sen. McCain would be wise to clean out his ears, and keep his mouth shut. He's not the "go-to" guy in the Gang. They're to act as one, not act like an extension of one, irrelevant senator still bitter over getting his butt kicked.
Mistress Pundit
ADDENDUM: Sen. Specter announced that Judge Alito will begin his hearings in the Judiciary Committee in January. He stated that was the earliest they could proceed with the schedule they have. It's a blow to our side because O'Connor will likely remain on the court until Judge Alito is done with the committee, and confirmed by the Senate.
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 3:35 PM
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