The Saga continues: Alito v. Senate

I've had some technical trouble in trying to get blogger back up to continue chronicling the hearings, but we're back. The speech by the POTUS was excellent, be sure to try and find it online. I really appreciate that Bush is trying to connect with the American people on this issue, educating us on things from his perspective, in terms of Iraq and the GWOT, the NSA issue, economy, and others. Viva Bush.

On to the hearings. Alito is currently being drilled by Sen. Kohl once again on his comments in 1985 on abortion and Robert Bork and the things that Bork stood for that Alito appreciated or not so.

Joe Biden has already been up for his second round and the dead horses of CAP and the eithics of Vanguard were revisited. Many things have been repeated again and again today that need not be - Democrats using it for attack and wanting to trip and trap "teflon Sam" and the Republicans doing their best to give him a fair shake and allow him to explain and defend himself.

Kohl is finished and Specter is dealing with the Kennedy/CAP issue...

Alito v. Dewine

Dewine is up, having discussed ADA and is now dealing with Antitrust issues. Talking about companies selling things in bundles (using the example of a 3M case and it's scotch tape). To me, this is reminicent of Microsoft and the Internet Explorer.

3:10 - Dewine is now talking about judges legislating, due process, and search and seizure. This sounds alot like the "strip search issue" from yesterday but it has not been couched in such terms.

3:15 - Free Speech is the current issue. Stories of not being allowed to protest, not pass out bible stories, and limited on when and where to display signs on their own property. Dewine is also discussing comerical speech, and wants to know what Alito's position is.

Alito v. Fienstien

Fienstien, after applauding Alito for the Wash Post headline "Alito will keep an open mind" has launched into a line of questioning that Specter used on Roberts, questioning that deals with Roe and Casey. Her bottom line is that of "do you see the abortion issue as one settled by the courts and cannot be overturned?" Alito won't go for that, as he just said, "if settled means, don't come into my courtroom because I've made my decision and won't read your brief and hear your arguement, then I don't consider something settled" (and that, in my opnion, is how Fienstien sees things).

It is here that I am going to halt for now, as Jeff Sessions is up for questioning Alito. There are other things that need to be done.