| UPDATE: It's 2 o'clock and JK isn't speaking. Harry Reid is. So maybe Menendez is on schedule after all.
UPDATE: It's 2:24, it seems Reid has a filibuster of his own. One about Bush's SOTU, and not about Alito at all. Come on, Harry. Bring on the Jersey guys!
UPDATE: It's 2:25, Lautenberg is rising against Samuel Alito.
UPDATE: 2:27: Lautenberg praises Justice O'connor. "It is critical we replace [her] with someone who shares her" open mindedness. Alito does not do that.
UPDATE: 2:30, Alito "always lines up against the little guy", "seldome sides with employees" against big business, against victims of discrimination, and routinely defers to officials in authority.
UPDATE: 2:32, Alito will make it more difficult for families. "It appears almost certain."
UPDATE: 2:34, "of course the right to choose is settled law", telling moment when Alito disagreed. He intents to overturn Roe v. Wade. "We don't want to turn our back on women's rights. - It's a night mare I don't want to risk having happenned."
UPDATE, 2:35, New Jersey is the site of the most battles of the Revolutionary War. "America doesn't want a king or imperial government. Neither does New Jersey." Quotes George Washington about separation of powers. Bush administration believes it can spy on citizens without a warrant. Americans in colonial times would "rise up".
UPDATE, 2:38, Alito, a young man, could serve for 3 decades or more. He's "good, decent and not bigoted". But Lautenberg will vote no.
2:39, inscription on Lautenberg Courthouse in Newark. "The true measure of democracy is it's dispensation of justice." Lautenberg wrote it.
2:40, Menendez rises to speak on the nomination of Samuel Alito. Takes honor that he is a New Jerseyan. Son of immigrants. Story close to his own heart. "HOme state pride is not a sufficient reason for supporting a Supreme Court nominee. It's not where you come from that matters, but where you will take the nation."
2:42, "Competence and intellect is the very least we should expect. This is about the Supreme Court, with power to revisit and reverse it's own decisions."
2:44, "President Bush has asserted power to torture and wiretap detainees and citizens. Over 200 years ago, founding gathers created three distinct branches. Independent judiciary is the only thing that protects us from
"The bias Alito has shown in favor of Bush..." Man, Menendez talks fast. It's good stuff but not conducive to live blogging.
2:48, Alito has voted against Congressional authority in several cases.
2:49, Alito excuses actions taken by the executive branch that take away the rights of individuals.
"Judge Alito did nothing to distance himself from these positions."
"I believe our next Supreme Court Justice must be a check and balance against" broad executive powers.
2:53, Civil rights, privacy, right to choose. Alito's against them.
2:54, Menendez is just rocking out!
2:55, If Alito's view was the law of the land, no person of color would be able to pursue discrimination charges.
2:56, If Alito's view was the law of the land, no disabled person would be able to seek accomodations.
2:57, "Equal justice... equal justice... under the law."
2:58, It is not enought to come from New Jersey. Justice is a force that should level the playing field between the powerful and the individual.
2:59, "In good conscience, I cannot support his nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States. I yield the floor." |
