ScAlito: A Courtier in King George's Court?

[kpete]

Thursday, December 29, 2005
Judge Alito and Executive Power
Sandy Levinson

So what does explain Alit's nomination, given that by any plausible account McConnell would have been a more distinguished nominee with easier prospects of confirmation? The answer, I suggest, is the belief by insiders in the Bush Administration that he would be better on the one issue they REALLY care about, which is the aggrandizement of Executive power. The events of the past two weeks, following the disclosures about literally unwarranted wiretapping and data-mining by the National Security Agency, bring into sharp focus the intent by the Administration, led by Dick Cheney, to assert almost unlimited executive powers linked to the "Commander-in-Chief" Clause of Article II of the Constitution.


Some observers are throwing around the idea of impeaching George W. Bush. For a variety of reasons, that is unlikely to happen. We are almost certainly be stuck with Bush until 2009. But we are not stuck with having to ratify the would-be-king's choice of his courtiers. Samuel Alito is undoubtedly very bright, and he is probably as pleasant a person as many of the stories make him out to be. But there is also a very high likelihood that he has been chosen to assist in the overall project of executive aggrandizement, and no senator should vote to confirm his nomination unless he or she is absolutely assured that that is not the case. The stakes are simply too high to allow any deference at all to this president (and vice-president), whose hunger for power, if tolerated, will transform us into a country that none of us should wish to live in.

http://balkin.blogspot.com/2005/12/judge-alito-and-executive-power.html
via:http://www.dailykos.com/

[rkc3]

1. But will the right grant unlimited powers to President Hillary?

[bryant69]

2. Interesting

I do think we need to challange Alito strongly; and his views on Executive Power may very well be his weak point.

Up until recently the seperation of powers might have seemed obscure or quaint; but with these new revelations we have an opportunity to show people how essentiall it is to a Democracy. Even if we can't sink Alito at least we can use the forum to show one thing wrong with the Bush Administration (well one thing that impacts a lot of other things).

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[kpete]

3. in a nutshell:

Bush's nominations to SCOTUS may appear superficially like appeasements of the religious right, but as the professor points out, under the surface, this is all about warmaking.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/29/101722/88

[hippiechick]

4. I don't understand why nobody has pointed out ...

... or if they have, I missed it ... but, in that controversial 1985 memo where he supports the Reagan Admin's aim to overturn Roe ... talking heads are letting him off the hook by saying that he took that stance simply because he was "trying to get a job".

Or in other words, HE LIED ABOUT WHAT HE TRULY STANDS FOR ? :wtf:
His understanding of the laws and the Constitution are open to reassessment depending on his audience ? Sorry, I've got BIG problems with that.

Can I lie on a job application/essay and still get a lifetime position ?

[alfredo]

5. Bush's power grab and the GOP controlledcongress's willingness

to go along could be a winning issue. We just need to frame it properly.