This headline is pretty hacktacular even for Drudge:
The headline states:
“ALITO WIFE LEAVES HEARING IN TEARS AFTER DEM ATTACK” and links to this Drudge write-up:
Judge Samuel A. Alito’s wife Martha left the confirmation hearing room in tears this evening, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) apologized to the Judge’s family for the behavior of his fellow committee members during the course of the last three days.
Sen. Graham said: “Judge Alito, I am sorry that you’ve had to go through this. I am sorry that your family has had to sit here and listen to this.”
Democrats on the Judiciary Committee have attacked Judge Samuel A. Alito over his membership in Concerned Alumni of Princeton and his involvement in the Vanguard case.
One senior Republican in the hearing room said of the situation: “After three full days of attacks against her husband’s character, Mrs. Alito had enough. Democrat behavior during this hearing has not only been wrong, it’s been embarrassing. Ted Kennedy is nothing but a bully.”
I don’t like Kennedy. At all. I think Schumer is a grandstanding fool and a pompous ass. I think Patrick Leahy is as partisan as they get, and not to be trusted. But only the most patently dishonest person on the planet would claim that Mrs. Alito left after a Democratic attack. She left after REPUBLICAN Sen. Lindsey Graham was basically praising Alito, defending him and reciting some of the things that have been said about Alito.
But it was not a withering attack from Democrats which unsettled Mrs. Alito. Not at all.
I am so sick and tired of everyone just lying about every-damned-thing.
*** Update ***
Yes, I understand that the events of the day may have finally taken their toll on Mrs. Alito. But she did not break down after a withering attack- she started crying during Sen. Graham’s defense of her husband. Drudge is simply lying.
And that Drudge picture of Feinstein is, to my recollection, out of place. Feinstein, to my knowledge, never raised her voice, was the model of politeness, and even praised Alito for his equanimity. Did she ask some feisty questions? Yes. Did she ask (IMHO) some dumb questions? yes. But she was never vicious or mean that I remember. I did not see all of the testimony, but from what I did see, she was perfectly well-behaved.
*** Update ***
The NY Times describes how events occurred:
On Wednesday, more than eight hours after the hearing was called to order, Mrs. Alito began to weep when a supportive senator, Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, was questioning her husband, who was seated a few feet in front of her.
Mr. Graham was making the point that criticisms of Judge Alito’s integrity were unfair, and he chose to do so by posing mock-accusatory questions intended to demonstrate how implausible the claims were.
Judge Alito had explained his failure to recuse himself from a case involving a mutual fund in which he had an interest because of an oversight and said that the issue was of no consequence to his holdings.
“I am baffled as to why you would make a conscious decision in this situation not to recuse yourself,” Mr. Graham demanded. “Do you have an explanation?”
“There’s no reason why I would make such a conscious decision,” Judge Alito replied. “I had nothing whatsoever to gain by participating in this case, and nobody has suggested that I did.”
When Mr. Graham asked him in the same fashion, “Are you really a closet bigot?” – because of his membership in a Princeton alumni group that opposed the university’s affirmative action program – Judge Alito said he was “not any kind of bigot,” to which Mr. Graham agreed.
At that point, Mrs. Alito began to sniffle audibly. She hurried to a corner of the hearing room, then went into an anteroom, where she sobbed for a few minutes. She later returned to the hearing room.
That is how I saw it unfold, too.
A response to the Opinion Journal and Wizbangblog here.
DJ
Nothing new for Drudge. He’s had the Kennedy picture up for two days and added the Feinstein, Schumer and Mrs. Alito pictures one at a time with a more Weekly World News-ish headline each time. Sadly, I know people who treat his site like CNN.com
Slide
I agree 100%. I’m so sick of all the partisan bullshit. How can we ever expect to get anything done in this country anymore if we don’t even try to have a semblence of honesty anymore. Our government is completely dysfunctional. To watch the posturing senators (on both side) during these hearings had one effect on me. It depressed me beyond words. Is this how the Roman empire fell?
the talking dog
Bad (cough, cough) theatre (cough, cough)… on all sides, including, might I add, the infinitely-less-smooth-than-John-Roberts Samuel Alito. He justs gives that creepy vibe of every nerdy kid that thought he was infinitely smarter than everyone around them. Whatever.
Maybe whoever suggested doing away with the charade of these hearings had a good idea. Just put a paper record together, and take it, leave it, fillibuster it, or whatever… maybe limit questions to 15 minutes per senator, including any gratuitous speeches the senators might want to give… That should be enough. Hell, 15 minutes of Joe Biden is more than any human being should be subjected to.
We all know who Alito is, and what his positions are on everything. Take it, leave it, or filibuster it. The hearings aren’t going to add to the equation, though they may take an awful lot from it.
As to Mrs. A… she looks a little like Harriet Miers, no?
Steve
The thing is, we latch onto these moments of political theater as though they are the actual turning points of history, as opposed to focusing on the issues that matter.
Remember the debate that Gore lost because he kept sighing? Or the time Bush’s dad looked at his watch? Or the “you’re no Jack Kennedy” moment. These are the things that stick with us years later. Substantive things, like W saying he didn’t believe in nation building, who remembers that?
I expect this moment will be remembered as a key event and I expect it will help Alito get confirmed. And years down the road, much of the electorate will be like “did we really confirm this guy because his wife cried?”
And I guarantee you, on that day, that the same media personalities who play up these soap opera episodes will be shaking their heads in disappointment at the American people and how they can be so silly to focus on meaningless little events like these.
Eural
You know the honesty thing is a good point. I have conservative friends who support Bush and Alito on one issue – abortion. If they stand for many rural, southern Republicans (and I think they do) then thats the issue. Alito should say “here’s my honest take on Roe v. Wade” and then the Senate should vote and let the voters decide if they took the proper action. The majority wins until the other side changes people’s minds. Its strange how neat democracy is when everyone (R’s and D’s) stop lying, talking in code and looking the other way when we all know what’s going on.
Rob
Why is it that compared to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Alito’s gonads look like shrunken raisins?
She was asked and was pretty clear about her view on privacy and a woman’s right to choose.
He says don’t look at what I’ve said in the past, and I will have an open mind.
Clarity vs. obfuscation.
However my real problem with him is he appears to give the government in general and the executive branch in particular a blank check.
All libertarians should be having heart attacks over this guy.
The Disenfranchised Voter
Well, Rob, I can’t speak for us all, but this libertarian is on the brink of insanity b/c of the fear that this totalitarian will be confirmed.
Otto Man
Well, that’s what Stormy claimed in the other thread. Indignantly.
But she’s pretty patently dishonest, so I guess that fits.
The Disenfranchised Voter
On another note, I want to thank you John for taking Drudge, and the rest of the dishonest bastards on this issue, to task.
SoCalJustice
Even this lie:
Paul Wartenberg
It would be nice, wouldn’t it, to make lying and exaggeration against the law? Not just in terms of libel or slander laws, which almost noone uses anymore, but a law just flat out saying there’s no 1st amendment protection for lying, dissembling, half-truths, opinions-stated-as-facts, and all other such nonsense that has choked the national dialogue.
And I do want something like that applied equally, to shut up the Kennedys and the Drudges and the Rushes and the Frankens and all the other goddamn puffed-up talking heads. Get real jobs, you bastards, blowing hot air only works in the steel mills!
Pooh
With all the shit that has been shovelled between this, the ‘bi-partisanship’ of the Abramoff thing, and the NSA thing, I’m 3/4 of the way to saying fuckemall and just going all snark all day.
neil
Yikes, it can be embarassing to be left off the talking points list.
KCinDC
Can we pass a law banning nominees spouses, children, parents, and other family members, and pets, from confirmation hearings? I’m sick of seeing them and having the media focus on them and their reactions. They have nothing to do with whether the person should be confirmed.
srv
Perhaps she sheds a last tear for The Republic…
SoCalJustice
That’s another lie. He’s a lot more than just a bully.
Pooh
But KC, Roberts’ kid was teh cute
Steve
John may think that this post clears him of the charge of being a bought-and-paid-for shill for the right-wingers at Pajamas Media, but we still see right through you. Next week will be all Cindy Sheehan, all the time!
Sojourner
It appears that Mrs. Alito has a problem. I wonder if Alito’s view that women are incapable of making their own decisions is related to this?
Wickedpinto
I can’t believe people are willing to crap on this woman claiming that it was political theatre (which it was, on grahams part) Maybe she just loves her husband and was suddenly struck by the fact that her husband was in essence called a biggot and woman hater all day by the dems. Graham was tasteless in prostrating himself, digging that into Alito again.
A lot of people, in stressful situations are able to hold their emotions until the situation comes to an end. When Graham started to apologize, and so crudely condensced insinuations into statements of fact, she felt safe cuz her husband had an ally, and she finaly reviewed the events of the day. It might have been an extreme reaction, but I don’t doubt it’s honesty. If it was theater, then she would have started crying during teddy’s drunken mumbling.
CaseyL
The Alito hearings are farcical for what they reveal about the GOP.
Alito’s been thoroughly coached to avoid saying outright what everyone knows: he’ll overturn Roe the first chance he gets, and he’ll uphold any power-grab Bush takes.
Why are Alito and the GOP being so damned disingenuous about an agenda everyone knows they’ve got? They’ve been yelling for Roe to be overturned since forever, and they’ve been pushing for absolute power for Bush since he took office.
It’s not as if being out, loud and proud, about it will cost them any votes – in the Senate, or in the country at large. At this point, GOP supporters will put up with anything and still vote GOP, since no matter what Bush et al. get up to, they can reassure themselves “Democrats would be worse.”
So why not just be honest, and get it over with?
Paddy O'Shea
Stunning findings in the new Pew Poll. Read fast before Cranky Cole deletes them.
Democrats favored on the handling of Iraq 41% to 27%
Bush Approval 38%. So much for all that impugning the patriotism of those who do not subscribe to his remote world view.
http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=217129&cat=World
John Cole
DougJ- Your Paddy gig is tiresome.
ppGaz
Well, I was tied up (not literally, to the chagrin of some here, I’m sure) all afternoon and missed the proceedings.
There I am Unalterably Opposed, to whatever the question is, and that’s final.
ppGaz
Sorry … therefore
rilkefan
Not to stick up for the idiotic Drudge, but is
clearly true? Presumably Mrs. Alito wouldn’t have cried if the Democrats had been all sweetness and light.
Anyway, it’s good excuse for this quote:
Doug
It’s a prisoner’s dilemma. If neither side shovels shit, we all win a little. If one side shovels shit and the other doesn’t, the shit shovelers win big and the good guys lose big. If both sides shovel shit, we all lose a little.
I’m sure others will disagree, but I view the Republicans as having shoveled shit longer and harder than the Democrats (pretty much every Clinton ‘scandal’ comes to mind), so I’d think it’s up to them to stop first. Mr. Cole calling bullshit on Mr. Drudge is a nice step in the right direction.
ppGaz
Laugh line of the day. Good work.
Paddy O'Shea
John: You know, this really puzzles me. Why is it you think that I am this DougJ fellow? And who exactly is DougJ anyway? By my count he is suspected of being about 25% of the people posting on this site.
Of course, perhaps you are DougJ, which would mean that many of the conversations taking place here are really you talking to yourself.
In which case let me suggest Yahoo Personals. Lotsa lonely babes on there, big guy.
And I really can’t understand how you can feel that findings showing the American people would prefer Democrats handle Iraq over Republicans by a nearly 2 to 1 margin is not interesting.
It certainly can’t be any less interesting than Matt Drudge.
Sojourner
I like Paddy’s polls. Keep up the good work!
John, is it possible that you don’t like his polls because they are contrary to your political persuasion?
Krista
As I mentioned on a previous thread, she’s the spouse of a public figure. She’s going to have to develop a thicker skin, kids.
The Other Steve
Thank you for some Balance.
jaime
“her husband was in essence called a biggot and woman hater”
Either Alito is a liar or a bigot concerning CAP. I listened to NPR today and someone came out in defense of CAP forcefully and intelligently although they used a “what if Hillary–” hypothesis that made me wretch. If Sammy is against Roe v. Wade, just say so. Be a proud conservative. If you were a part of CAP say so and be proud. Let the evil liberal Senators know how wrong they are about such a fine upstanding organization. But there’s nothing but shucking and jiving on his part and it just wreaks of him having something to hide.
Ginsburg didn’t deny her liberal leanings. If the country is conservative and liberals are just America hating persona non grata, then why all the obfuscation? Be a damn conservative and proud of it.
Paddy O'Shea
Sojourner: Glad you like the polls. Unfortunately John does not and he deletes most of them, the big grouch. I think that I must hold the record for most deletes on Balloon Juice.
Oh, and most open threads listing me as the reason.
Krista
Sojourner – I love what you said on that other thread.
Torturing the innocent – cool.
Killing a shitload of Iraqi civilians – also cool.
Killing a shitload of American soldiers for a war based on misdirection and exaggeration – hey, it happens.
Making Mrs. Alito cry? You are SCUM!
Sojourner
Well, I will continue to look for them and hope I find them before John deletes them.
Sojourner
It’s been a while since I’ve laughed this hard. I guess I should publicly express my gratitude to Stormy. She’s a hoot.
Krista
Martha Alito, you’re no Tammy Faye.
Leave the public crying to those who do it best.
Hekebolos
To heck with the obfuscation on the abortion issue. We can all expect that out of someone who wants do something that the majority of the population actually disapproves of.
No, what worries me about Alito is the fact that he’s a pure-bred Hobbesian royalist.
If the religious right really wants to get rid of abortion, though, they should stop trying to force through judges onto the Supreme Court by equivocating and denying their unpopular position, and actually go for a constitutional amendment on the issue.
Slide
What I dont’ get is that the conservatives are always telling us the country is consersative. They highlight bush’s election as vindication of conservative ideas. They tell us liberals are irrelevant. They tell us that we “just dont’ get it” at every opportunity. Then why, I ask, does Alito run away from his conservativism? Why not tell us what we already know that he will overturn Roe at the first opportunity? Why not tell us he doesn’t like minorities and women in his precious Princeton University? Why does he run away from forthrightly saying he supports an Imperial presidency as all of his writings and memos clearly show? Why does he, and his Republican tutors, find it more palatable to mislead Americans about their conservative beliefs than to tell us what they truly believe? Why are they so ashamed?
Jonesy
Wickedpinto has it right, except I would put the blame more on Graham for askng the question so explicitly than on Democrats. They may have beat the CAP issue to death, but they never asked him explicitly whether he was a “BIGOT” or not. What an idiot Graham is, you don’t ask that of anyone even if you don’t mean it.
Denise H.
I sent a version of this to CBS evening news:
I had to respond to your pandering to Sen. Graham’s melodramatic foolishness at the questioning of Alito. Are you kidding me? Alito was an attorney and I would hope he has the emotional stability to withstand adversarial questions and that his family members have the guts to handle the fact that if confirmed, he will need a bodyguard like the rest of the Supreme Court justices. This man who is supposedly intelligent, says he can’t remember being part of a controversial alumni organization he listed on a job application in 1985. Seems a bit disingenuous to me, as intelligence and memory are highly correlated. I am 41. If at 55 my memory is so poor I cannot recall facts about personal group memberships and the group’s activities I joined 20 years earlier, I would be considered a candidate for early onset Alzheimers.
Poor Alito has to deal with tough questions. Will anyone be crying for the rest of us when he throws out the separation of powers? I doubt it.
qazplm
I’m a bit confused by all of this. This is an organization, CAP, he clearly joined. It’s an organization that over a decade later he still remembered and valued enough to place on a resume. That means he considered it something that would engender positive emotions in those who would hire him. You don’t just put random things on your resume. That means he must have had some inkling of what they stood for. I’m not making any real leaps with any of this thus far. But now, even though for almost a decade and a half he remembered being a member quite easily, he can’t remember ANYTHING about the organization? Not one thing? And no one finds that just a bit…well lying?
an american
Hmmm…you think during the Clinton impeachment hearings if a Democrat senator apologized to Hillary causing her to tear up, the Republicans would have felt ashamed immediately dropping their opposition?
Terry
John, with this post you have demonstrated that you have evolved into a complete and perfect asshole. I hope you die a very painful death!
wallace
The Democrats have been attacking Alito for three days straight. His wife’s crying in fact came after those attacks.
Thus, this must be one of the most idiotic blog posts ever written.
Ancient Purple
To justify their agenda.
The fact is that America is “right of center.” By how much? is the question, but I know that Pat Robertson, Robert Bork, and Orrin Hatch are not representative of middle America. By the same token, I have no doubts that Ted Kennedy, Al Franken, and Michael Moore are not representative of middle America either.
America, as a whole, is right of center. It does progress, but well behind our Canadian and European friends.
Then again, the movie that is still bringing in the biggest per-screen average and is doing quite well in Omaha, Lubbock, Des Moines, El Paso, Savannah, and Salt Lake City: Brokeback Mountain.
John Cole
XOXOX
Not sure what set you off about this post, or why it makes me an asshole, but sheesh.
Mona
John I’ll call foul when the GOP or the right commits one, but Drudge’s presentation is essentially accurate. I suppose one could say that Mrs. Clarence Thomas was reduced to trembling and weeping only by her husband’s powerful, angry speech in defense of himself, but everybody understood that it was the fact that he even had to make that speech, and cover the terriroty he did, that made her cry. IOW, it was the Demnocrats who tried to lynch the man with a “sexual hareassment” indictment that were the ultimate source of Mrs. Thomas’s anguish.
So too, it was the drumbeat of allegations that Sam Alito is a bigot that caused Mrs. Alito’s distress, and she lost it when Sen. Graham then felt the need to apologize for this crap and to assure Judge Alito that his good name would survive these smears.
Barbar
I’m a bit confused by all of this. This is an organization, CAP, he clearly joined. It’s an organization that over a decade later he still remembered and valued enough to place on a resume. That means he considered it something that would engender positive emotions in those who would hire him. You don’t just put random things on your resume. That means he must have had some inkling of what they stood for. I’m not making any real leaps with any of this thus far. But now, even though for almost a decade and a half he remembered being a member quite easily, he can’t remember ANYTHING about the organization? Not one thing? And no one finds that just a bit…well lying?
Stop it. You’re going to make Mrs. Alito cry.
maybee
Where’s the lie, John? If you are saying it’s true the events of the day had worn on her (and they would have worn on me, had that been the man I love), then it is true she broke down AFTER the attack. If you’re making a case for incorrect semantics- it does NOT say she broke down during a Dem attack. After (and most likely due to) is completely true.
Anyway, I don’t see a lie. Sensationalism, perhaps. But I’m shocked, shocked to see Drudge sensationalize.
John Cole
Fake, but accurate?
Drudge’s headline makes it seem like Ted Kennedy or someone stood up and launched into a tirade so blistering that mrs. Alito just couldn’t take it and broke down in tears. That just isn’t the case.
And believe me, I have chronicled some of the bullshit the Democrats said during the hearings.
ppGaz
I can’t tell if any posts to this thread are real, or spoofs.
That cinches it. DougJ is Mrs. Alito.
William Dipini Jr.
Where’s the lie, John? If you are saying it’s true the events of the day had worn on her (and they would have worn on me, had that been the man I love), then it is true she broke down AFTER the attack. If you’re making a case for incorrect semantics- it does NOT say she broke down during a Dem attack. After (and most likely due to) is completely true.—maybee.
I utterly concur.
So, John, where is it?
Adigal
I am heartsick over what is happening in front of my eyes. Our system of checks and balances is being taken away by a man who was not even elected president the first time. And I was a republican at the time, but his lies and actions, and the party’s complete and total acceptance of his lies and actions, made me leave the party.
I believe I now live in a dictatorship in which the president can go around the FISA law, go around the judiciary set up for this, and spy on me. And this Alito – he will support these moves. He never saw a powerful company or person he did not love. And our Congress – they either are drunk with power, so they won’t oppose Bush, or they are powerless or weak. Take your pick – they all have let us down.
Ancient Purple
I didn’t know that Judge Alito was such a milquetoast that he couldn’t defend himself against the “drumbeat of allegations” he faced.
Whew! I feel better already knowing someone like that is going to be on the SCOTUS.
Taylor
You must be kidding me. Drudge was 100% correct. Kennedy and Schumer are nothing more than attack dogs. One just so happend to drive off a bridge drunk and kill a innocent woman. Having waited 10+ hours to call for help. What a bunch of loosers.
The Other Steve
In the case of Thomas, his wife probably broke into tears when it became clear that the whole world now knew about his infidelities.
For, as it turned out, the accusations from Anita Hill were accurate.
Phil Martin
What galls me about this for Republicans is the whole Vanguard thing.
Let’s face it – with Bush-Harken, then Enron, then various Halliburton overruns with poor supervision, then the billions that disappeared down an unaccountable wormhole in the first few months of the Iraq occupation, then Frists stock follies, and now the Abramoff scandals – wouldn’t it be about time for the Republicans to be the ones saying “you told us you would recuse yourself before any Vanguard cases while you owned shares. You failed to do so. We can’t accept any further impropriety to sully what the Republican Party stands for.”
Instead, it’s just one more “move along, nothing to see here…”. And with each one of those, the credibility hole that the Republican Party will someday have to climb out of grows deeper than anything Jim Wright and Tip O’Neill could have ginned up on their worst night on the town.
The Other Steve
BTW, if I’m understanding the latest argument from the Republicans…
Apparently Alito never belonged to CAP. He simply lied on his resume to Ed Meese.
Paddy O'Shea
ppGaz observes: “I can’t tell if any of the posts to this thread are real, or spoofs.”
That’s frightening!
What if they’re real?
urban pirate
Holy hell,
Found a righty site that allows comments, and surprisingly you don’t all sound like Michelle Malkin.
Thanks. Honestly I have been losing hope that everyone on “your side” was just gobbling up more and more of this constant bullshit. (I see a few defend blindly, but not most, thankfully)
Let’s stop the lying, the talking points, the code words, and the obfuscation and get on track here, together. I think we all see that we’re fucked if we don’t.
Nelson Muntz
So what are you going to do about this, republican butt boy? When do you decide the republican’s have gone too far, even for your already goatse’d ass?
HH
However, what a wire service used by countless organizations worldwide reports isn’t such a big deal, apparently.
John Cole
The lie is that she did not leave the attack because of a Democratic attack, she left because she was moved to tears, for whatever reason, during Lindsey Graham’s praising speech of her husband.
Did she leave after a Democratic attack? Wel, sure, TECHNICALLY. But using that logic, Drudge’s headline might as well have been “ALITO WIFE LEAVES HEARING IN TEARS AFTER BREAKFAST,” because even though it was after lunch, it was still technically after fucking breakfast.
HH
Nice to see that Ollie still posts all the inane drivel floating through his head, no matter how pointless, just for the sake of bashing a Bushie, these days…
ppGaz
Even more frightening!
maybee
I disagree, and I base my disagreement on human experience (and my own girlie crying history).
I can put up with almost anything that makes me mad or sad until someone notices that I’m upset or trying not to cry. Bad news from the Doctor? I can keep it together until the nurse comes in to give me a sympathetic hug.
An argument with a friend? I can keep it together until another friend comes in to ask if I’m ok.
I’ve had more friends, as I’ve cast them a sympathetic glance when their eyes are welling with tears say, “Ignore me! Don’t me nice to me!” because that’s what lets loose the dam.
She didn’t start crying ‘for whatever reason’. She started crying because she saw her husband getting painted as something she believes him not to be, by a powerful Senator, in front of the world. And she held it together until someone apologized to her for the unfair treatment.
It isn’t a technicality. The attacks made her sad, and led to her crying.
ppGaz
So here we are in the middle of the worst government in the history of the country, and we’re discussing what made Mrs. Alito cry.
You know, this is a great country.
ppGaz
Mrs. Alito cried because she plucked a nose hair.
Any suggestion to the contrary is just piffle.
Paddy O'Shea
ppGaz: Well, I think I can allay those fears.
Not only are none of the posts real, but they are done in a way that most of the people making them don’t know it.
editor
“ALITO WIFE LEAVES HEARING IN TEARS AFTER BREAKFAST,”
That’s hilarious.
…actually, “Tears After Breakfast” would be a good name for a rock band…
Paddy O'Shea
Nose hair?
My guess was gas.
Paddy O'Shea
Nose hair?
My guess was gas. She feared farting, and the thought of damaging her husband’s career in that way caused her to sob.
dude
Quite a bit of semantics parsing going on here John. So if Drudge said Alito’s wife left in tears after Senator Graham came to her husbands defense after blistering Democratic Attacks you would have been okay with it?
I don’t see it. It’s basically the same thing, just shorter. Or are you saying that the headline should read…
Alito wife brought to tears of joy after Grahams defense of husband? That could have been technically “accurate” but false.
maybee
A great country because most people are able to discuss more than one issue in the course of a day.
But I say here we are watching Mrs. Alito cry because the Dems can’t get themselves together enough to win an election.
eileen from OH
Well, this is just the frosting on the cake. I am SO pissed at the Dems on the committee for not doing their homework and harping ad nauseum on the Vanguard thing and the CAP thing and yes, even on the Roe vs Wade thing (which they KNEW they weren’t gonna get an answer to.) These hearings are theater and they spent the entire time either bloviating or repeating each others’ points, always preceding them with a “I’m concerned about the same thing that (insert other Dem name here)and let me repeat what they said” instead of having a bloody strategy. As in, each of ’em bone up on an issue and nail it. It’s not like they didn’t have enough advance time to learn how to go after this guy effectively.
Y’know what – people watching aren’t impressed by what Alito wrote on his resume 35 years ago or a screw-up that he admitted to. They figure they’ve changed, he probably has too. Instead of getting to the heart of where he is NOW they pull the same old stuff, over and over and over and over again. Yeah, use it as a jumping off point but then relate it to now – ESPECIALLY the Executive Privilege crap, which is (at least to me) the singular most important issue right now and the one that resonates with a lot of people.
I listened or watched almost all of the past three days and they not only didn’t make the case for a filibuster but they looked like a bunch of freshmen trying out for the debating team.
Graham knew it was theater and took advantage of it shamelessly and dishonestly. But it’s not like the opposition was prepared.
Call me one disgusted Dem.
eileen from OH
Sock Puppet
The fact that Alito’s wife left in tears is in fact unfortunate.
I don’t think anyone here can be proud of that fact. But to blame one party or another for her tears us besides the fact.
The fact is she cried. And as such should have been handed a hankie.
Stormy70
The New York Times know what happened today. {Shock}
Pooh
Urban Pirate, calling this place a “righty site” might be a bit much. I have no idea what to call most of the people here. Except nuts. Well, except for Krista. She is non-nuts. DougJ, also non-nuts. More crazy like a fox…
At risk of getting large rocks hurled at me, anyone else wondering what Darrell ‘thought’ of the hearings?
srv
Congrats John, you made frontpage on Kos.
zeke L
that’s right, she started her little drama routine during the gentleman from south carolina’s, um, question.
by an extraordinary co-incidence, the same gentleman was at the white house helping the nominee with the “murder board” session to rehearse for the hearings. personally i don’t have any problem with graham coaching the nominee. the “advice” part of “advice and consent” i figure.
but that coincidence, plus the fact that mama alito just happens to be sitting in the spot where she’s always visible in the camera, well, it’s all just a little bit too cozy for a big national media event like this.
and it all goes down right before the evening news on the east coast.
little bit too late for her to get in on this year’s oscars, though.
Ancient Purple
So when Alito votes to overturn Roe v. Wade, none of us can picket outside the Supreme Court building with signs calling Alito four-letter words and other caustic verbage.
Why?
Because the attacks will make Mrs. Alito sad and that will lead to her crying.
Ancient Purple
I resent that. I am not nuts. I am off-kilter and a danger to no one but myself.
Please note this for future reference.
Thank you.
maybee
Go ahead, knock yourself out. Those four-letter word and caustic verbage protests have done really well for the Dems lately.
You know, I haven’t noticed anyone trying to pass a law making it illegal to make Mrs. Alito cry.
A little decency and respect is all anyone is asking, so they don’t make it impossible to get good people to serve the public. After all, anyone qualified to be a Supreme has the talent to make more money with less heartache elsewhere. The Dems will be nominating judges again someday; I think they will want their nominees treated intelligently and respectfully as well.
DaveC
Teh right leaning MSM did not let us see the video of Clarence Thomas teabagging Alito, so we don’t know exactly what made her upset.
DaveC
In the case of Thomas, his wife probably broke into tears when it became clear that the whole world now knew about his infidelities.
For, as it turned out, the accusations from Anita Hill were accurate.
Thank goodness it is against the law to say dirty jokes or bawdy comments to women at work, otherwise I would do that from time to time.
DaveC
Am I right in thinking that Thomas got married AFTER the incidents that Anita Hill described? If so,how could that be infidelity?
Ancient Purple
I never mentioned that. I specifically responded to your line about the “attacks” were bad because they made Mrs. Alito cry.
I am sorry you think it is an attack to subject a person who wants a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land to grueling scrutiny, but I don’t. I want to know why Alito can tell you minute details about cases he dealt with as a judge and a prosecutor 20 years ago, but has no recollection about joining an organization that only want white men to be allowed at Princeton.
Alito is not that much older than I am and I can tell you that I remember every single organization I belonged to in college and grad school. I am not ashamed of my membership in any of them because their is nothing to be ashamed about.
I have grave doubts about the honesty of anyone who says they don’t remember being a member of such a vile and disgusting organization at CAP. Either that or he pumped his resume to get a job.
At my place of business, you get fired for that.
DaveC
I have grave doubts about the decency of Ruth Bader Ginsberg because of the nasty people she supported as aa member of the ACLU.
But of course if the ACLU supports a, let’s say far right wing group, marching in Skokie, it is all about freedom of expression, but other people can’t be allowed to express themselves, and if you are in any way associated with that, it is beyond the pale.
D. Mason
This has got to be a joke right? I mean, these “hearings” have been a dog and pony show for decades but when did our legislative process become a soap opera? Who cares why she cried or even that she cried atall? I was of the impression that she came to support her husband while he was scrutinized as a nominee for the Supreme Court of this nation, instead she decided to make a spectacle. It would be one thing if this “story” became a 30 second blurb at the end of some spinmeisters monologue but these crocodile tears will undoubtedly cast a shadow over the entire confirmation process for Sam Alito, that’s pretty sad if you ask me.
I’m about as conservative as they come (real conservative not right wing extremist) but I reject the idea that the democrats should be scorned for trying to get a few answers out of this disingenuous nominee. Members of both parties walked into these hearings with their minds made up, from day one. The righteous indignation of the Republicans might not be so transparent if they didn’t pull this tired rabbit out of their hats every time the Democrats do what everyone knows the Democrats will do.
Give me a break. It’s bad enough that the media and the government treats us all like were a bunch of snot nosed fourth graders, you don’t all have to act like it.
Pooh
Ancient, are you really Charlie Weis? and if so, this
Could not be more true.
The Other Steve
Honestly, as much as the rightwing are trying to pawn this story off… I’m fairly convinced that Lindsey Graham coached Alito’s wife to start balling at said particular moment. It’s certainly changed the debate, has it not?
Definately a setup. Probably was cutting an onion while she was sitting there.
Pathetic
The Other Steve
You probably are. I should have said their lurid life of porn and pubic hairs on cans of coke.
Still don’t get it. I don’t think anything he did was necessarily illegal. Just kind of disgusting. But like this CAP thing, Conservatives are afraid of their own shadows, so they’re lashing out at Ted Kennedy because Alito mentioned a bad organization.
Kimmitt
Um, impropriety is precisely what the Republican Party stands for. Power above all.
maybee
That’s funny, because I never said that. I said they attacks made Mrs. Alito cry.
I then said decency and respect is a better policy. I stand by that.
No, I think good honest grueling scrutiny is desirable. I think trying to paint someone as a bigot because of what someone else said is a cheap shot. All of these Senators have groups with whom they’ve associated whose words they don’t want to have to own. Kennedy included.
It always seems like such a good idea to go for character assasination when it is your own side doing it. But I think the Dems would be better served to find a way to connect with NEW voters, not make the move on crowd just cheer louder.
Pooh
Am I the only one that thinks the CAP thing is only a big deal because Alito’s “I can’t recall” defense strains credibility? The non-denial denial makes it seem like there is something to hide, even though I suspect that there isn’t.
Perry Como
Ask the Senator that may have coached him.
Slide
When exactly was it when the entire right wingnuttia brigade turned into complete girly wimps? “you made her cry” boooooo hoooooo…. terrorists are coming…. booooo hoooo… take my liberties… protect me…. I’m so afraid….. booooo hooooo… bad bad democrats said bad things…. boooo hooooo…
the party of Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Ann Colter, Mike Savage, Pat Robertson, et al are all upset because the Dems asked some hard questions? Lol… ok. What a bunch of phoney posturing hypocrits.
Paul L.
The Dems asked some hard questions. Hee,Hee
They just postured and ignored Alito’s answers.
The Dems show how lightweight they are by reading the questions from sheets of paper provided by their staffs and Alito with no notes easily answers their questions.
Ivan Pope
This is how the Washington Post has it:
She left during an exchange in which Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), an Alito supporter, played devil’s advocate by summarizing the Democrats’ attacks. He asked Alito, “Are you really a closet bigot?”
“I’m not any kind of bigot. I’m not,” Alito said.
Graham told Alito he believed him because of “the way you have lived your life and the way you and your wife are raising your children” and, referring to the Democrats’ criticisms, said, “I am sorry that your family has had to sit here and listen to this.” At that point, Martha Alito rose and left her front-row chair immediately behind her husband, returning about an hour later.
Slide
you know you are right, the Republicans were really the ones asking penetrating and insightful questions. They really demonstrated their deep intellectual understanding of the issues facing the Supreme Court today. I especially thought this penetrating question by Senator Hatch exemplified the high level of Republican questioning:
ahhhh… no lightweight Senator Hatch.
SmilingPolitely
The Dems shouldn’t have been so opposition-like. They should have asked questions that everyone can get behind.
For instance:
“What’s your favorite color?”
“If you were stranded on a desert island, what DVDs would you take with you?”
“Which Beetle was your favorite?”
Krista
Hah…I fooled another one.
Don Myers
Ya got that right, Steve. Not just political theater, but really bad political theater.
Abby Hoffman throwing dollar bills onto the floor of the New York Stock exchange—now THAT was good political theater!
chopper
well, mrs. alito was brought to tears. what a manufactured controversy.
seriously, i know people who work 12 hourts a day at sh1tty jobs, day in and day out, just to pay their or their kids’ medical bills, rent etc. you know what they cry about? not being able to feed themselves. or pay the gas bill.
and this broad turns on the waterworks because her husband is being asked some tough questions in an interview for a high-profile job, which practically every person interested in law DREAMS of someday having, which pays what, 180k a year? boo fscking hoo. grow a skin, lady.
might as well bust out cryin cause your limo picked you up 15 minutes late.
The Disenfranchised Voter
All of the Republican responses in this thread that say the Dems made her cry are a testament to one of two things. Either the majority of Republicans are extremely dishonest or extremely delsuional. Those are the two choices.
Take your pick people.
The Disenfranchised Voter
*delusional
Sojourner
Corruption, torture, lies. Nope. Only a crying Alito is enough to get Stormy to push aside the bottle and turn off the tv.
Truly, truly twisted.
Sock Puppet
I remember the time Dave C cried. It was just after Clarence Thomas told him that his love for him had ended.
Dave sobbed softly, only stopping to briefly ask, “Why, Clarence? Why?”
True to form, Clarence sadi nothing.
Sock Puppet
Disenfranchised Voter: I wouldn’t say that the Republicans here are liars per se. While they most certainly do lie, and they lie often, I’m not sure that they are aware of what exactly it is they are saying.
Kind of like George W. Bush and Iraq. If he didn’t understand the issues he was attempting to talk about, can we really say that this lost cause is his fault?
In this way they are almost child-like. That is if you can imagine a child of nearly 300 pounds who has to be hosed off once a week because otherwise the stench would become unbearable.
I like to refer to them as “Twinkie Monsters.”
Ancient Purple
Then they have to take the heat for it. As I stated in a previous thread, there is not a single person on this planet that would believe me if I said, “I joined the Neo-Nazis only because they were raising money to give presents for the hospitalized children this Christmas. I don’t endorse what they believe in and I had no clue they were so extreme.”
Not a single person.
But Alito can’t remember belonging to this clown club and we are supposed to just ignore it because Mrs. Alito was tearing up in the background.
Wonderful.
The Disenfranchised Voter
So I take it you agree with the delusional option.
Personally, I think it is a little bit of both–with an emphasis on the delusional side.
Stormy70
The Dems look like cold-hearted idiots this morning. Oh, wait. That is every morning. When you have liberal kook Katie Couric asking if the Dems have gone too far, then you have gone too far.
This was politically stupid, stupid, stupid.
Paddy O'Shea
Katie Couric liberal?
Stormy needs to return to the planet someday and get a closer look at things at how things are around here.
Paul L.
Nice deflection. You stated that the Dems asked some hard questions. When I call you on it. You switch to the Republicans instead of defending the Dems. I never claimed that the Republicans were asking insightful questions.
As for Republican nonsense, I did love snarling Arlen’s B.S. about Casey v. Planned Parenthood. being a super precedent.
JR @ RightFaith
I think it’s important to state the obvious: Mrs. Alito Loves Her Husband
ppGaz
So, the Republicans have had their bloggable theatrical moment, and this process is now drawing to a close. If Kennedy’s “opposition” is all the Dems have, confirmation is in the bag.
This thread should now be remodeled and turned into a children’s playground, with perhaps a memorial plaque off to one side, mentioning it’s original purpose and the great historic discussion that took place here.
Krista
Yippee for her. No reason to go any easier on Alito, though. This is a man who will be making decisions that will affect the life of every American. He SHOULD be put through the wringer. Find out exactly where he stands on everything, and how likely it is to affect his judicial decision-making. I can understand Mrs. Alito tearing up under the strain, but it just annoys me that Repubs are going to use this to paint Dems as a bunch of Snidely Whiplashes, tying Little Nell Alito to the train tracks. And the Dems will cave and go easy on him, and if he does turn out to be ruled by ideology, it’ll be too damned late to do anything about it.
Anne
Never having been here before, I have to say I appreciate some honesty regardless of political affiliation. Some of the posts here are a breath of fresh air.
If one uses the “Mrs. Hill cried because her husband did thus and such” it’s entirely possible Mrs. Alito cried because her husband appears to be affiliated with a group that’s fairly misogynistic. That would make me cry.
But for all any of us knows she cried for no particular reason, just the sheer stress of the proceedings, remembering a beautiful Christmas card, or thinking about how many hours it was until dinner.
So I appreciate your attempt to point out the unfairness of Drudge et al trying to spin one woman’s emotion into a political talking point.
We need to all stop being chidren and start some serious, open discussions on the direction of our country. Because frankly, it’s sliding while we play games.
ppGaz
Time for Kennedy to retire. He appears to be about a notch short of drooling on his papers, a caricature of a senator at this point.
I vote that he become a commentator on the Rose Parade broadcasts beginning with the 2007 parade.
ppGaz
Please change my “it’s” to “its” upthread. This mistake is one of my pet peeves and I don’t want to go down in history as having made it here without a correction.
Lines
Can we please get a Miers’ type blog going for Martha Alito? I loved the Harriet Miers blog, and after this whole sordid theatrical line of bullshit from the Right, she deserves nothing less.
Screw the Right. Dishonesty is not a trademark, its a way of life for them.
Sock Puppet
A Martha Alito blog is a splendid idea. I nominate “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” for the theme song.
ppGaz
I suggest Gene Pitney’s “Town Without Pity”.
In fact, an audio file of that song should play when you call up this thread.
flaime
Drudge is a purtid scumbag. That said, I don’t know what else anyone expected from these hearings? Bush has nominated a candidate who would be fit in all other ways, except that he is incapable of placing limits on presidential power. Bush is trying to push the limits of presidential power to their utmost at this time. These hearings were bound to be far more acrimonious than any previously. And Alito will be a terrible Justice when the Republican party keeps getting authoritarian fools elected president.
adigal
I have a question for the conservatives among you. Bush says those who oppose him are giving comfort to the enemy. That, to me, is a signal that we are treasonous. Hannity, Limbaugh, Savage, and many of those on freerepublic call us “traitors,” and “enemies.” So – what do you all want to do with us? Do you just want to shut us up? Or maybe arrest us and try us for treason?? Do you want to put us in jail? Or maybe camps, like the ones Michelle Malkin wants. You see, I would like to know what you would like to do to us so I can protect my kids from you. And I would like some honesty. Because I get the feeling from your rhetoric you would like to execute or imprison every person who is “endangering” you out in Utah by protesting this president. And you scare the hell out of me because I don’t know if it is just empty rhetoric, or if you really value your physical safety that much that you will kill me to keep it. And if you are just talking, you had better stop it, because we are taking your rhetoric seriously.
ppGaz
This is a concept they have never understood. I hope for their sakes that we don’t have to show them what it might mean someday. Let me be blunt: I won’t be governed by a bunch of police-state thugs, no matter what their excuses are. Period. And I’m hardly alone. There are consequences to declaring “war” on half of your own country, and these idiots may just find out what those are one of these days.
DaveC
So – what do you all want to do with us? Do you just want to shut us up? Or maybe arrest us and try us for treason?? Do you want to put us in jail?
What “we” want is to point at you and express our disdain, something along the lines of
Drudge is a purtid scumbag
By the way, Sock Puppet, I don’t know Justice Thomas, have never met him, Justice Thomas is a good man, it was a long time ago, and Justice Thomas has surprisingly soft hands.
ppGaz
Heh, funny, but it’s his surprisingly soft brain that worries me.
The Other Steve
I’ve heard reports that Mrs. Alito had onions in her handbag, and when Senator Graham nodded that was her cue to sniff and start balling.
From now on, I agree. Democrats should only ask the kinds of questions they ask on Entertainment Weekly.
Darrell
Exactly right. This is what happened with Mrs. Alito. John Cole gets all indignant when anyone questions his motives and principles, yet this is precisely what he does himself right here:
Cal Gal
The Other Steve said that the Republican position on CAP is “Apparently Alito never belonged to CAP. He simply lied on his resume to Ed Meese.”
This gets to the heart of the matter.
I wish there were one former prosecutor on the Democratic side who knew a good opening when s/he saw one.
Alito has basically said he lied to get a job. Well, this is a job interview. If he lied to get a job before, why should we believe he is telling the truth now when he’s being interviewed for the best job a lawyer can get?
Why hasn’t any Democratic Senator, to my knowledge, asked him the simple question, “Well, Judge Alito, if you didn’t know anything about CAP, why did you put it on your resume? What made you think that it would be helpful in getting a job in a Republican administration? Do you have any memory at all about filling out that resume?”
I read one Republican decrying all the hooplah about CAP by saying it reminded him of that heinous question, “Are you now or have you ever been a Communist?” Well, that question might not have been so outrageous asked of someone who put “Communist Party Member” on their resume.
Darrell
We’re taking your side’s rhetoric seriously too
ppGaz
You, of course, never do.
ppGaz
I hereby move that Darrell be banned from this site.
For this:
If there is anyone here who thinks that the linked material represents anyone’s “side” around this place, let him step forward and explain himself.
Otherwise, Darrell, you STFU and get out of here. I’m not putting up with that kind of crap from you.
justpete
Wasn’t she grinning about 45 seconds before she began crying? If so, I don’t think that would exclude the possibility that she was distressed over the questioning of her husband, but remember how republicans treated Clinton discussing something sad and tearing up? Because he was smiling shortly before it was proof that he was a fake.
Darrell
Too funny. You won’t put up with it ppg? Well then, that settles it. ‘Reality based community’ my ass
The Disenfranchised Voter
Darrell you’re a fuckface. Not one single person on this blog has ever, EVER, said the type of shit you just linked to.
Plently of you fuckers, including yourself, have called us traitors, or accused us of giving aid to the enemy.
Fuck you Darrell.
The Disenfranchised Voter
Ding Ding Ding. We have a winner!
Nicely done.
ppGaz
Nope. It gets taken down, or you do.
There is no poster to this site whose “side” is represented by the material you linked.
If you have evidence to the contrary, present it.
Darrell
Actually, Clinton * really was * phony and insincere. Remember the video of Clinton laughing at Ron Brown’s funeral, then after seeing that cameras were on him, suddenly turning on a dime to wipe a fake tear off his face. All part of his “I feel your pain” phoniness
Darrell
The deep thinkers of the left. Bitter and stupid as ever
ppGaz
Just to let everyone know, I am writing to John and requesting that Darrell’s offensive post be taken down.
Darrell
How’s that request coming along ppgaz?
John Cole
Everyone behave. Damnit, I have grading to do.
Pete Bogs
I like Kennedy and Schumer… they have gonads… the minority need never act weak…
Pete Bogs
There’s a scene in A Clockwork Orange in which a reformed Alex returns home to find his room rented by a guy called “Joe.” Not wanting to lose the room, Joe goes on and on about what a bad boy Alex was, and how he doesn’t deserve such good parents. As Alex’s mother begins to cry, Joe says, “Now look what YOU’VE gone and done to your mother.”
Replace “GOP” with “JOE” and you’ve got the same scenario that played out with Alito’s wife yesterday.
http://blogdebogs.blogspot.com/2006/01/niceties-not-necessary.html
Krista
Darrell, that was seriously uncalled for. None of us on this site share the sentiments expressed by that link, and it’s very insulting of you to insinuate that. You’ve long since proven yourself able to rile and infuriate your adversaries just by being your argumentative self. There was no need to haul out something so ugly and hateful.
Darrell
Yeah? well I guess you missed the fact that I was responding to a poster who had just asserted that those on the right all believe that anyone who disagrees with Bush are ‘traitors’. And given the smears that so many of the left have made on our military on this thread guilty of “systematic torture”, all the “WP is a chemical weapon” lies, etc.. make it seem that a number of this site do share the sentiments expressed by that link
Your outrage, as usual Krista, runs only in one direction
ppGaz
That’s bull, Darrell. Many of us supported John’s position on the WP topic, including me.
The “traitor” charge is legitimate coming from our side, and if you wanted to do something constructive, you could shoot that down instead of inflaming it with something vile like you did today.
Darrell
Correction: Not on “this thread”, but on other BJ threads
Darrell
ppgaz, if you were more honest, you would admit that although you did support John’s position on the WP, you were about the only one or two on your side who did. It was not “many”
Krista
Darrell – I don’t know why I even try with you. You really seem to have no shame.
You’re responsible for your own actions and behaviour, you know. If someone verbally slaps you in the face, you can call them on that without deciding that an appropriate response would be a 2×4 to the groin.
Just because you feel that an adversary is being low, there’s nothing forcing you to sink even lower. My outrage is at your tactics, not your philosophies. But, I’ll leave you to it, as you’ve consistently shown that you consider yourself to be above reproach and infallible. To borrow a page from your tactics book, all righties are arrogant and self-delusional. It’s just how you are.
Now, can you please, possiby consider the idea that your style of arguing creates more issues than it resolves? Please?
Darrell
Krista, it’s ‘your side’ which is swinging the 2×4’s. Note the “fuckface” and similar insults which come immediately from your side. But like I said, your outrage runs only in 1 direction. How honest of your
Martha Deane
As for Mrs. Alito’s emotional departure from her husband’s hearing on January 11, let it be recorded that it was perfectly staged to elicit sympathy for her and her husband’s cause. It was just another false and dishonest tactic so symptomatic of the Republican regime.
Krista
Oh yes, that’s right, Darrell. I forgot your tactic of calling everybody who disagrees with you “dishonest”. You do really overuse that, you know?
If it makes you feel better, I’ll speak up the next time I see someone calling you nasty names, okay? But don’t expect me to defend your viewpoints/tactics if I disagree with them. And it really wouldn’t hurt you to, once in awhile, not contribute to the escalation of the argument. It’s not wimpy to turn the other cheek, or to keep cool in the face of provocation.
Honestly. :)
ppGaz
And how many people on any side have voiced support for the disgusting thing you posted earlier and tried to hang on us?
justpete
Darrell, you’re just affirming what I said. You’re assuming several things, including Clinton seeing the camera, and concluding he was a fake. What’s the difference between Clinton and Mrs. Alito? Do you think that you might be wrong about Clinton? Do you think that it is possible, given the variety of circumstances, including her grin shortly before crying, her position on camera, the timing, the Drudge angle, etcetera, that Mrs. Alito is not genuinely crying?
Seriously, what would have made her cry?
DANEgerus
I hardly think Mrs Alito broke down in reaction to a defense of her husband.
I think over-analysis of the event ignores the emotional component of Mrs Alito’s vulnerability to the rather childish antics of the (D)emocrats.
We hardened bloggers are bemused… Mrs Alito must be exhausted emotionally.
Joshua Chamberlain
You’re slipping, man. Slipping
The Disenfranchised Voter
I agreed with John’s thoughts on the matter as well.
mark-o
It’s been a while since I visited this blog, I used to read it regularly. Now, in a short 5-minute visit, I’ve absorbed enough whininess to last me another year. Peace.
The Disenfranchised Voter
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass.
Sojourner
Hmmm. The Repubs impeach the president for lying under oath but it’s okay for a SC nominee to lie under oath when testifying for a lifetime appointment.
Ya gotta love those Repub ethics!
Sojourner
This coming from the lead cheerleader for the torture squad.
Good one, Stormy! ROFLMAO.
Serious question: How many people died as a result of the Alito hearings?
Sammy Alito
So let’s follow the argument here. Mrs. Alito left while Lindsey Graham was apologizing for the Democratic attack on her husband. That attack had taken place before she left. Therefore it is a lie to say she left after the attack. We must admit, we find this Angry Left logic difficult to fathom.
TIM
give it up, losers…
BIRDZILLA
Time for these jackasses to get branded right in their rear ends branded with a swatika or hammer and sycle
The Disenfranchised Voter
Ahhh more disingeniousness from the rapid right!
Sure she left while Graham apologized, but she started to CRY when Graham asked if Alito was a closet bigot. It was a Faux attack by Graham, but an attack never the less.
As John said, sure Drudge’s headline is technically correct but so would the headlind “Mr.Alito leaves in tears after Arlen Specter’s opening statements”.
Drudge’s headline was misleading, dishonest, and a disgrace.
Niels Jackson
Disingenuous Voter:
Yes, Alito’s wife started to cry at that precise moment in time. But it’s obvious what Graham was doing: Lobbing a softball question that was intended to mean something like this: “Democratic Senators have been insinuating all day that you’re a closet bigot. You’re not, are you?”
As Hugh Hewitt aptly points out, this was as if a friend had had a very hard day, and then burst into tears when asked, “Are you alright?” It is far more untruthful to suggest that the question itself made her cry, and far more honest to say that she was really crying because of the other events that day.
So too, no one in their right mind doubts that Alito’s wife was upset because of the hours upon hours of Democratic sleazy attacks and insinuations.
The Disenfranchised Voter
But the Dem Senators were not insinuating that.
In Graham’s wacked out world (and yours too obviously), he thinks the Dems were accusing Alito of being a bigot. His belief is false. What Graham doesn’t understand is that you don’t have to be a bigot to have prejudices. The Dems were pointing out that Alito’s past and his record as a judge shows that he has a high bar set when it comes to determining whether a case constitutes discrimination or not.
And that is something worth looking at.
Vito in Milwaukee
I need to read Ann Coulter’s book HOW TO TALK TO A LIBERAL — If you must, before I can make sense of any of this!
uber
Oh, c’mon. I think many are just a wee bit upset that the breaking down of Alito’s wife just highlighted the obnoxiousness of the democratic line of questioning, which we all already knew (even if some of us approve).
The bullies made his wife cry. Oh big news there. Get over it already, I’m sure she has.
Were I in your shoes I’d just be thankful that the democrats failed to get many to give enough of a damn to actually watch these procedings because the way it has been handled has merely backfired (something else that’s not exactly new).
Sojourner
Save you time and money and do what Coulter does. Just make shit up.
Shelly
Actually, I think Kennedy made her cry. He’s the only guy I know that can drive a woman to tears but can’t drive her across a bridge.