SCOTUS nominee Samuel Alito has a track record and many people are concerned about his written opinions concerning abortion, privacy, and discrimination. Oregon Live has some suggestions for questions for the Senate committee:
Senators should ask Alito about his philosophy on privacy and precedent, and his views on presidential war powers. They should ask about some of his more disturbing votes, such as his vote to uphold a demeaning strip search of a innocent woman and her 10-year-old daughter. They should also study his anti-abortion opinions -- particularly his vote to uphold a state law that said married women can't get abortions without telling their husbands first.
O'Connor herself rejected this lower-court ruling on spousal notification, calling it "repugnant to our present understanding of marriage and of the rights secured by the Constitution. Women do not lose their constitutionally protected liberty when they marry."
O'Connor added, "The Constitution protects all individuals, male or female, married or unmarried, from the abuse of government power. . "
And...
The GOP said they want an up or down vote on the Alito nomination. Funny, they didn't say that with Harriet Miers. I found it amusing that Sen. Bill Frist, currently under investigation for insider trading, was the escort for Alito yesterday.
From Cantonrep.com ---"Sen. Trent Lott mused last week, “In a month, who will remember Harriet Miers?” Sure enough, four days after Miers withdrew her nomination to the Supreme Court, the name on everyone’s lips is Samuel Alito Jr.'
*KARL ROVE
Former Ambassador Joe Wilson said Karl Rove should be fired: "And I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I don't believe Mr. Rove should be permitted to resign. I believe that this is a firing offense," Wilson said at a speech to the National Press Club, two blocks from the White House. "To be so cavalier in the handling of the secrets of this great nation really is an abuse of the public trust."
*DAVID ADDINGTON
David Addington has been named Vice President Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff has an interesting history in the White House.
From Mother Jones we have the following: As the Washington Post's Dana Milbank described him in October 2004, "Where there has been controversy over the past four years, there has often been Addington. He was a principal author of the White House memo justifying torture of terrorism suspects. He was a prime advocate of arguments supporting the holding of terrorism suspects without access to courts. Addington also led the fight with Congress and environmentalists over access to information about corporations that advised the White House on energy policy? Colleagues say Addington stands out for his devotion to secrecy in an administration noted for its confidentiality."
By the way, David Addington is named in Scooter Libby's indictment (link below).
*SCOOTER
If you need to see the full indictment on Scooter Libby, you can view it at The Office of the Special Counsel.
*PAUL HACKETT vs. MIKE DEWINE
The Wall Street Journal has the latest Battleground States Poll. In the poll, if the election for U.S. Senate were held today, Hackett would win by 8.3% pts.
