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The Alito Effect

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Supreme Court
Posted on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 05:03:33 PM EST
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People For the American Way reminds us what not stopping the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the Court has done so far:

Understanding the Alito Effect PFAW Experts Ready to Discuss the Supreme Court’s Dangerous Lurch to the Far Right

Since George W. Bush’s two nominees to the Supreme Court have taken their places on the bench, the Court has veered sharply to the right, with a series of crucial cases being decided by identical 5-4 majorities. These cases reveal a troubling future for Americans’ rights and liberties. For example, just this term:

· In Carhart v. Gonzales, the Court upheld a federal law banning an abortion procedure without any exception to protect a woman’s health,

· In Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., the Court severely limited the ability of victims of pay discrimination under Title VII to obtain compensation for the discrimination, ruling that employers couldn’t be held accountable for discrimination that occurred outside the 180-day charging period.

· In Bowles v. Russell the Court held that a person who trusted and relied on an order from a federal district court judge giving him 17 days to file a legal appeal was nonetheless prohibited from appealing because the judge had given him the wrong deadline -- overturning prior rulings under which it could have allowed the person to appeal because of the "unique circumstances" of the case.

· In Hein v. Freedom from Religion Foundation, the Court held that taxpayers cannot bring a lawsuit challenging Executive Branch spending as an unconstitutional promotion of religion when the expenditures have been made out of general appropriations to the Executive Branch.

And consider what further damage is to come.

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    The Alito Effect | 10 comments (10 topical)

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    What's that funky sound ... that whirring ... (5.00 / 3) (#10)
    by Ellie on Tue Jun 26, 2007 at 07:57:58 AM EST
    Oh look, the earth's still spinning despite the Repugs using the leverage of a filibuster against the Dems recently.

    That Nukular Option they threatened to use against the Dems on the SCOATUS nominees worked, even though Dems had law and procedure on their side to get compliance from the WH, Alito and Roberts on promised documents and answers.

    Dems did show signs of life in shushing down groups who WERE out in front with more than a mouse-peep of objection to the stonewalling. That's how we knew they still had a pulse.

    If ONE more Dem weenie gets in my face about how I have to work double extra hard to get a Demoprez in the WH because SCOTUS is at stake, I swear I'm personally going to perform an abortion on him (or as close as one can do one on a man.)

    It's why I voted for Bush... (1.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Slado on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 08:59:02 PM EST
    and while I'll never regret it.  

    That's the one thing Kerry's campaign got right.  Voting for president matters because it effects who gets on the bench.

    Viva la Bush

    We could have stopped him (none / 0) (#1)
    by andgarden on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 05:22:30 PM EST
    Congressional Democrats are near-worthless.

    There were a lot of high expectations (none / 0) (#2)
    by Edger on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 05:41:24 PM EST
    and dreams back in 2005 about the changes a Democratic win in the 2006 midterms might usher in.

    One example in a letter to Salon November 11, 2005:

    The Dems win back the House in 2006. The Senate is out of reach, so the Dems just pick up a couple of seats there, reaching 49 or 50 (leaving the Cons in the majority with their vote from Cheney). Without the Senate, the Dems can't be held accountable for the legislation that is so badly needed to raise revenues somewhere to pay for the Bush binge - the Cons will have to raise taxes, and Dubya will have to sign the hike. Meanwhile, the Dems in the House use their subpoena power to investigate all the horrid scandals of the past 6 years. Half of the administration and all the Cons who have sold their souls to Jack Abramoff et al end up in the slammer. 2008 is a rout. The Dems get a huge majority in the House and the Senate, and of course the White House.

    See where this dream is headed? Alito is impeached. Scalia is impeached.

    Reality has a liberal bias, but I guess Reid and friends set the bar too high...

    On the Other Hand... (none / 0) (#3)
    by jarober on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 06:38:58 PM EST
    At least Alito seems to be able to read the First Amendment and understand the words.  Unlike, say, McCain, Feingold, and the liberals on the bench.

    Too bad about the challenge he has of (none / 0) (#7)
    by Edger on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 08:05:35 PM EST
    stringing the words in the 1st together and grasping the concepts and spirit behind them.

    Parent
    impeachment (none / 0) (#4)
    by bronco214 on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 06:40:36 PM EST
    Because Roberts told Congress that he would follow previous rulings and has now voted to overturn such rulings, can he be impeached?

    Impeached? (none / 0) (#5)
    by jarober on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 07:37:07 PM EST
    Sure, The Senate could do that.  I suspect it would be an exercise in futility, but impeachment is more a political matter than a legal one.

    Go ahead, call and ask them to do that.

    How quickly they forget. (none / 0) (#6)
    by Edger on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 07:55:19 PM EST
    Must be something in the koolaid. Or the BBQ was contaminated with BSE or something.
    In his very first Supreme Court decision Justice Samuel Alito [...] betrayed everyone who supported him. In a 6-3 vote Justice Alito sided not with Justices Roberts, Scalia and Thomas but with the Court's liberals to stay the execution of a man convicted of kidnapping and murder. How can we believe Justice Alito is Pro-Life if he votes with David Souter to save the life of a murderer?
    ...
    Was he so desperate to be on the Court that he would send deliberately misleading signals and imply anything just to get confirmed? Was he not telling the truth when he said he was not a judicial activist...?

    And if it turns out that Justice Alito is opposed to the death penalty, then one has to ask, How can he call himself a Christian? Clearly, the death penalty was put on Earth by God and to oppose it is to oppose God's will. Throughout its history the Church has supported the death penalty and used it quite effectively. In fact, if Rome didn't have a death penalty there would be no Christianity.

    Impeach Justice Alito

    Impeach? That's funny - I always thought his first name was Sam.

    Has anyone catalogued all the lies told... (none / 0) (#8)
    by tbetz on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 08:12:49 PM EST
    ... by Alito and Roberts during their testimonies to Congress?  

    I'm talking about the lies they told in EVERY confirmation hearing, both for the Federal bench and for the Supreme Court.

    Telling lies to Congress is a Federal felony.

    Felonious behavior is grounds for impeachment.

    Madame Speaker, we can put impeachment back on the table in 2009, can't we?

    The Alito Effect | 10 comments (10 topical)

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