Some people say that the defining moment of Sammy "The Goose" Alito's hearings came when Senator Lindsey Graham, ready, willing and able to mock the Democrats he was so eager to get in bed with to portray himself as a moderate, caused his wife to cry. I happen to agree. That one moment will likely be what causes Samuel Alito to be confirmed. And this could very well undermine the very Republic.
Some people say that the defining moment of Sammy "The Goose" Alito's hearings came when Senator Lindsey Graham, ready, willing and to mock the Democrats he was so eager to get in bed with to portray himself as a moderate, caused his wife to cry. I happen to agree. That one moment will likely be what causes Samuel Alito to be confirmed. And this could very well undermine the very Republic.
As per the norm for the Mainstream Media, this was immediately picked up and pinned promptly on the Democratic Senators exercising their Constitution given obligation to thoroughly vet Bush's Supreme Court pick. (For the record. Advise and consent, Govenor Bush, doesn't mean "Sit down, shut up, and rubber stamp".) They were immediately painted as the villains, the media shouting that they made this poor woman cry.
BOO FRICKING HOO.
First of all, chances are more likely then not that Mrs. Alito's tears were nothing less of a Republican play at getting sympathy for a nominee that is rightfully viewed with skepticism by the majority of Americans, whom see him for what he is: An anti-choice, anti-minority bigot who would give President Bush what amounts to a blank check to do whatever the hell he pleases. There is no denial that her tears are what most likely will lead to his confirmation. Until that moment, his odds were roughly 40-60 against. Now they're, in my opinion, 75-25 for. We can still win, but Mrs. Alito made things a whole lot more difficult. Some media whores for the Bush White House are spinning this, saying if the whole ordeal were scripted, she wouldn't have walked out so composed and calmly and rather sit there to allow the cameras to focus on her. I say the manner in which she dealt with the situation increased the drama of the hearings, having a more profound affect then just sitting there would have done.
Think about it. Which has more dramatic effect? "Oh my, Mrs. Alito is crying." or "Oh my, Mrs. Alito just ran out crying." It's rather obvious, do you not believe?
When it comes to Rovian politics, there is no coincidence. Everything is carefully choreographed. All the littlest details planned out. So why not choreograph Mrs. Alito's actions as well? I find it extremely difficult to believe that something so beneficial came about solely by coincidence. Her tears made the headlines, forcing out potentially damaging ones about Alito's anti-abortion screeds in the 80's, his membership in an anti-woman, anti-minority group, and his remarks about how wonderful Robert Bork was. It effectively shoved aside all questions about Alito's fitness to serve on the highest court of the land. Alito gained everything, and lost jack shit.
A coincidence? I think not.
Even if her tears were, in fact, genuine, it still begs the question of why was she not properly prepared for these hearings. Much of the material was nothing new. And the Democratic Senators had every right to ask him about his membership in his various bigotted organizations. Could it have been shock as she heard the truth about her husband's past? Or perhaps she was just ill prepared for just how grueling the hearings would be. Either way, the right wing extremists win. And our Republic suffers yet another, possibly fatal, wound.
Mrs. Alito, if her tears were genuine, should have known better. If she couldn't stand the heat, she should never gone into the kitchen. She should have known what to expect from these hearings. And if she wasn't made fully aware, it was most likely so purposely to achieve the maximum effect. If her tears were truly genuine, she played right into Bush's hands. She was used as a pawn. A human shield to deflect questions America has every right to know the answers to.
But if her tears were fake, as I honestly believe they were, and Bush ascends to utter control, she should go down as one of the greatest traitors this country has ever known. She should be known as the woman who helped dismantle our Democracy.
I know I sound heartless. Unfortunately, this sort of thing requires the setting aside of emotions. And when one does just that, I believe logic will lead them to the same conclusion as me.