Comments on: Alito

By: progressive constructionist

progressive constructionist — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 15:27:04 +0000

Listen, all the talk about Alito’s brilliance and qualifications are rhetoric. Of course a nominee for the Supreme Court would be qualified. But the fact that he is a right wing extremist can’t be more blatant. And all this jazz about a judge ‘not having an agenda’? Honestly, who believes that? The closest we had to a non-agenda justice was Sandra Day O’ Connor. Here’s something all truly concerned Americans should do now: Please, please call your senators now, and keep calling, to voice you opposition to Alito.

By: TheGoodReverend

TheGoodReverend — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 00:29:38 +0000

The note about Fatin is misleading at best and wrong at worst. Fatin was actually denied her asylum claim because, as Alito reasoned, she was not persecuted because she merely found the dress restrictions “offensive” and was not willing to die for her beliefs.

By: mike liveright

mike liveright — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 20:00:05 +0000

Objective Measures?

I think we all agree that he is a conservative and probably an originist/textualist. The question is can we (or they) come up with some OBJECTIVE measures.

On first guess he has decided 500 cases in the last 10+ years. Both Us and They can pick and choose a few of these that support our bias.

On the other hand, I'd like a full listing of all the cases that were decided, which and how many were split, minority, overturned, etc., which were pro/anti law, which were pro/anti Federal vs. State law, etc. Similarly: how can we OBJECTIVELY measure his positions relative to specific axis, e.g. Make vs. Judge the law, Corporations vs Individuals, Government vs Freedom, etc. and what axies are of interest?

By: Metallifan

Metallifan — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 16:48:56 +0000

Wow, good call! Alito was nominated just today.

By: John Elias

John Elias — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 07:36:35 +0000

The Sheridan link and citation are to the vacated panel decision. You want this.

By: Peter G

Peter G — Sat, 29 Oct 2005 01:01:59 +0000

Sam Alito is highly qualified. Has always been conservative (I’ve known him since law school), but is intellectually honest and turns square corners. Brilliant and impeccably fair. Nevertheless, Tom, I just can’t see two male Italian-Americans from New Jersey on the Court at the same time. No matter how little the President weighs the diversity factor, isn’t that really unlikely? Wouldn’t Alito also make it five Catholics and two Jews out of the Nine? Is that really a good bet, or do you really think religion doesn’t matter?

TG responds: Yeah, I just kind of think all that stuff is out the window now. They tried a demographic appointment, and they will now move on. Just my 2 cents.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 19:38:01 +0000

Madprofessah: The conservative base certainly would oppose Mahoney precisely because she argued for affirmative action, so Bush can’t nominate her without alienating his base.

By: madprofessah

madprofessah — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 15:29:13 +0000

What about Maureen Mahoney? She is described as the "female John Roberts" by the AP. She argued (and won) the University of Michigan Law School case Grutter.

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 15:06:28 +0000

Where does Alito stand on Executive Power? I suspect that is the only issue Bush really cares about, and I doubt he will nominate anyone who hasn’t proven their willingness to crown him king.