Really?? No flippin' shit.
"Bush Picks Conservative for Supreme Court."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9874588/
So, Bush chooses Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court. In the very least, it seems that Alito is qualified for the seat, which is a good thing. I've only done limited research, but he has extensive judicial experience, and an actual record that the judicial advisory committee can analyze. This is of course, in stark contrast to Miers. I've been thinking extensively about the whole Miers debacle... and how much partisan attention this vacant Supreme Court seat has been getting. It seems the battle has become less about finding a qualified person, and more about finding a secret weapon for a political agenda. On BOTH sides of the spectrum. It makes me lose what little faith I have in the process.
I understand very much that it is impossible to divorce the Supreme Court from politics, and that some of these issues go to the heart of where the Supreme Court comes down on many, many decisions. I think the litmus test of political affilliation should take a backseat to the more important issues that go to the heart of the task... is the nominee actually qualified? What type of legal reasoning does he use when analyzing cases? How does he interpret the Constitution? What weight does he give to certain lines of argument? (Such as policy, intent, etc.) What type of respect will the new justice give to the institution? Does his decisions reflect a respect for EVERY protected citizen under the constitution, regardless of political affiliation, religion, (including Christianity) race, gender, or sexual orientation? Can he exert judicial independence? THESE are the important questions. Instead of using the confirmation hearings to come to attack Alito, I'd like to see frank answers to these questions, and a decision based upon the quality of these answers. I suppose I ask for too much.
More than anything, I'm hoping that Bush's pick is put under close scrutiny... considering the validity of his other nominations, I'm hoping that Alito will receive the same intense scrutiny from the conservative party that Miers rightfully had to deal with. And I honestly hope that Alito's nomination will not hinge on the question, "Is he one of US?" and will instead hinge on whether he is a qualified individual for the task. As much as I cringe at the thought of a changing, narrowly conservative court, I cringe more at the thought of the Court being merely a puppet of the conservative right wing.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9874588/
So, Bush chooses Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court. In the very least, it seems that Alito is qualified for the seat, which is a good thing. I've only done limited research, but he has extensive judicial experience, and an actual record that the judicial advisory committee can analyze. This is of course, in stark contrast to Miers. I've been thinking extensively about the whole Miers debacle... and how much partisan attention this vacant Supreme Court seat has been getting. It seems the battle has become less about finding a qualified person, and more about finding a secret weapon for a political agenda. On BOTH sides of the spectrum. It makes me lose what little faith I have in the process.
I understand very much that it is impossible to divorce the Supreme Court from politics, and that some of these issues go to the heart of where the Supreme Court comes down on many, many decisions. I think the litmus test of political affilliation should take a backseat to the more important issues that go to the heart of the task... is the nominee actually qualified? What type of legal reasoning does he use when analyzing cases? How does he interpret the Constitution? What weight does he give to certain lines of argument? (Such as policy, intent, etc.) What type of respect will the new justice give to the institution? Does his decisions reflect a respect for EVERY protected citizen under the constitution, regardless of political affiliation, religion, (including Christianity) race, gender, or sexual orientation? Can he exert judicial independence? THESE are the important questions. Instead of using the confirmation hearings to come to attack Alito, I'd like to see frank answers to these questions, and a decision based upon the quality of these answers. I suppose I ask for too much.
More than anything, I'm hoping that Bush's pick is put under close scrutiny... considering the validity of his other nominations, I'm hoping that Alito will receive the same intense scrutiny from the conservative party that Miers rightfully had to deal with. And I honestly hope that Alito's nomination will not hinge on the question, "Is he one of US?" and will instead hinge on whether he is a qualified individual for the task. As much as I cringe at the thought of a changing, narrowly conservative court, I cringe more at the thought of the Court being merely a puppet of the conservative right wing.