I just wanted to post a dairy pertaining to
some comments I made yesterday. Below the fold is the rhetorical case against Judge Alito that joan reports, Adam B, and I came up with (and I thank them very much for their help):
So where will a Justice Alito take our journey of human dignity? With ever-increasing threats to liberty and the protections of human dignity, a Justice Alito expand liberty and the protections of human dignity, or will he restrict them? Will he have the courage to do the unpopular? Will a Justice Alito be able to see injustice, and search to provide constitutional relief for those seeking justice, or will he be indifferent to injustice?
Sadly, based on Judge Alito's record, we are left to conclude the following: that in light of ever-increasing threats to human dignity, a Justice Alito would restrict the protections of human dignity; that Judge Alito's approach to the law, while plausible, places an insurmountable burden of proof on the people who seek relief from injustice; that he affords individuals niggardly rights, and lets injustices stand unrectified.
We deserve a nominee who has a greater sense of justice. Judge Alito lacks the sense of justice we expect in a Supreme Court nominee.
We should ask questions pertaining to this rhetorical case. I posted some questions I have for Judge Alito here (links to links involved). Again, remember the old Adam B quote: If you want to kill a snake, you don't poke it in 20 different places -- you chop off its head. This mechanical "I disagree with the nominee's jurisprudence on issues A, B, C, D, ..., the nominee holds extreme views on issues X, Y, Z, ..., the nominee won't provide information on issues AA, AB, AC, ..., and I therefore will vote 'no'" isn't going to cut it. Stay focused on the case at hand.
Please feel free to alter the case against Judge Alito if you desire and post any questions you have for Judge Alito if you wish. Remember, Senate staff reads this, so please act mature and serious. Thank you.