Official Alito Hearing Thread - Day 1 – Thread 7

[Sydnie]

Thread 1
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x98574

Thread 2
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x97051#97509

Thread 3

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=97502&mesg_id=97502

Thread 4

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=97974&mesg_id=97974

Thread 5

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=98574&mesg_id=98574

Thread 6

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=99949&mesg_id=99949

~~~ Please kick the following thread for bettyellen and recommend it too. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=25890&mesg_id=25890 ~~~

[Sydnie]

1. Sessions up now

Funny how Alito's answers are longer and seem to make more sense when they are asked by repugs, huh? Oh silly me. They submit them in advance for him, don't they?

If they don't, it sure seems like it.

[CottonBear]

3. He doesn't answer any Democratic questions.

Actaully, he doesn't really answer Republican questions either but he doesn't sound shaken, rattled and rolled while he's answering...

[gkhouston]

4. I was noticing his apparent answer in thread 6 about FISA

the talking point about warrants being burdensome and time-consuming... now where have I heard that before... :freak:

Coached much, Alito?

[mrcheerful]

5. Funny how all of a sudden

he stopped stammering and stuttering. Hmmmmmmm scripted before hand?

[CottonBear]

7. Totally scripted. The RW depends upon their sheep like followers

not to notice or even consider the possibility of coaching and the use of talking points.

[Sydnie]

13. except for Grassley

Obviously Alito read Grassley's questions before Grassley did!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. Jinx!

:rofl:

[Sydnie]

6. LOL

You do it from now on. I will have to start dinner soon, ok? :hug: ;)

[CottonBear]

9. Thank you for your hard work (really!) Sydnie! n/t

[Sydnie]

15. thanks for adding to them Cottonbear.

I am much better with the snark unless I am transcribing word for word, so I appreciate the help with the actual details. I can admit my shortcomings. :rofl:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

10. I can start the next one at least... then real life will intrude again

I'm sure we can talk some kind, community minded CSPAN Junkie to take over after that! :hug:

What's for dinner?

[Sydnie]

12. Not sure yet. LOL

Something fast I think. :rofl: My son is at work and it's just my daughter and I tonight so ... super duper precedent in my house says, just two ... that's easy peasy.

[Surya Gayatri]

8. Can you hear the strained tone in his voice

when he gets a tough question? It means he's lying--the tone goes up by a quarter or half step. Sure sign of falsehood. SG

[Viva_La_Revolution]

11. falters too... like yesterday

when he spewed that "no one is above or below the law" :eyes:

[The Witch]

19. No one is below the law?

Hmmm... what the hell does that mean?

I thought equal justice was under the law... but that's just me ;-)

[jsamuel]

14. ARKANSAS DU'ERS! CONTACT MARK PRYOR, TELL HIM TO VOTE NO OR FILIBUSTER

Mark Pryor

Washington, D.C. Office
257 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[Sydnie]

16. and check out the link for bettyellen in the OP!

Thank you all, very much.

[AbbyR]

94. I've already done that, and...

I just got a call to follow up on two press releases from some right-wing group called the Family Council Action Committee. They are holding press conferences all over the state to push residents to let Lincoln and Pryor know that they want Alito confirmed. Our senators are uncommitted right now, but I'm betting they vote to approve him.

Our circulation doesn't go that far, so I won't be attending.

I don't know if the folks opposing Alito are working in this state, and if they are, I have not heard from them. Someone had better get on the ball - I work for a small paper and will write my column opposing him, but we could sure use some help in Arkansas.

[Sydnie]

17. Guess wifey doesn't work for pay huh?

Was that a jab at Abramoff? They had better watch what they ask. Could get ugly really fast!

[WinkyDink]

18. His "traditional" stance on "crime"

meant: Overturn "Miranda'.

[Strawman]

20. What a buffoon

"Do ya know what a fedrul judge makes as salry?"

"Senator Specter says ize too dumb to be on the Circuit Court but ize smart!"

[Viva_La_Revolution]

21. Conservatives can be activists too

Here I thought he was going to talk about protestors... but no.... he's bringing up activist judges again.

[The Witch]

22. Pick your favorite Alito quote of the day

so I can analyse it for Truth in Anagrams ;-)

[Surya Gayatri]

23. Jesus, who is this Sessions asshat?

Talk about a toady--"Can you live on a Chief Justice's salary?" As if he'd say "No,I must request more!" :wtf: Un-freaking-believable. SG

[Sydnie]

24. Roberts wants them to all get a raise anyway

so, he might get a 30% raise as soon as he signs on.

[Surya Gayatri]

27. Unlike the poor

minimum wage slobs whose eventual case will be thrown out of SCOTUS when it gets that far. SG

[Strawman]

26. "Does you hate France too?"

Those Red State Repugs don't like no fancy forun' law readin'!

[Surya Gayatri]

30. God forgive me,

and I mean no disrespect to our Southern brethren, but certain southern accents grate like nails on a blackboard. Some flow like honey and some grate. Sessions grates. SG

[Sydnie]

32. Did you see him coming back from the lunch break?

He went right up to Alito, kissed one of the women with him (not wifeypoo), shook siefeypoo's hand and fawned all over them. It made me want to :puke:

[Sydnie]

25. We don't care what the world thinks , we will do it our way

screw them.

[gumby]

28. Right-wing talking point.

We won't let them furiners tell US what to do. (pumps fist -- hoot, hoot, hoot)

[Sydnie]

29. poddy time again - til 5 of 5

going to go start dinner now.

[Strawman]

31. What Shumer is saying now is great

Very direct. When is it his turn?

[Surya Gayatri]

33. You said it, Strawman!

Go Chuck Schumer! :bounce:

[realFedUp]

34. Feingold up next...nt

[Surya Gayatri]

35. Get set for Feingold...

Let's hope he gives the SOB extremist a sphincter-testing run for his money. SG

[hang a left]

36. Feingold coming up

:)

[hang a left]

37. oopsie

You guys are fast.

[lavenderdiva]

42. now maybe we'll get somewhere and hear some answers...

so far Alito has been VERY good at absolutely avoiding answering any questions pointed at him. He mouths a lot and says a lot of words, but doesn't give any direct answers. I don't think Feingold is going to let him off the hook...

This oughta be good!

[LizW]

38. Specifics? Got your specifics right here.

Feingold was ready for that non-answer.

[toymachines]

43. He is gonna stay on top of this one

Alito is gonna have to squirm to bullshit this question

[gumby]

39. The Twilight Zone again.

Bush = King in the Twilight Zone.

BTW, called Feingold and asked if he is gonna let Grassley call him a liar. Told staff I was really, really, really angry over that one.

[hang a left]

40. That depends on what the definition of "is" is.

Jesus...this guy just dances.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

41. Does the Pres. have the authority to wire tap etc...

As I understand the question... blah blah... come on! get to the answer all ready!

It may come before the court.

I would have to know the specifics of the arguements made.

Feingold - That's why I'm asking you word for word (AG's answer)

[malaise]

44. Got him Feingold

you got him. The face is as red as the tie.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Can the Pres. break the law or authorize others to do so?

Pres. must follow statutes. depends on the facts of the case.

YES OR NO would be good! :mad:

[Surya Gayatri]

45. Another convoluted

run around.
"Does the President have the authority to authorize un-warranted wiretapping"--Feingold.

Blah, blah, blah--Alito "That's certainly a question that could come before the court".

Go, Russ--Sam's ass is grass!!!!!

[yurbud]

46. somebody just asked a question about torture precise enough to be useful

[LizW]

47. Folks, I've seen enough.

Is it time to blanket the Dems with calls for filibuster?

My two Senators are hopeless, but I'm going to fax or e-mail all the rest. Is it time yet?

[toymachines]

49. The time has come

Alito is a rat fink, we dont need more of them deciding our futures.

[realFedUp]

58. me too. This guy will say anything.....nt

[realFedUp]

60. he's saying he wasn't coached on his answers....yeah, right. nt

[DemonFighterLives]

48. Feingold cuts to the chase

Alito bobs and weaves!
There is your play by play

[gumby]

50. Ah! The president only has to follow and uphold

laws -- that are consistent with the constitution. HOWEVER, Alito, Scalia, Thomas and Bush get to determine which laws are 'consistent.'

Weasel words, weasel, weasel, weasel.

[CottonBear]

51. Alito = Weasel. I'm calling my Republican Senators re: fillibuster.

He absolutely refuses to give an answer, any answer. :(

[Surya Gayatri]

55. Can you believe this utter

crap? "If this question comes before the court, the court will have to make a decision", Duh! "What I meant to say was...." :grr:

[CottonBear]

74. I could have come up with that answer! n/t

[LizW]

52. Do NOT! DO NOT! LIE ABOUT WHAT YOU PRACTICED!

UN-BE-LIEVABLE.

[gkhouston]

53. if the committee ties on their vote, will Alito be passed on to the

Senate for a vote?

[realFedUp]

54. he can't remember what questions came up during practice sessions?

yeah, right.

Punch this doughboy's ticket.

[gumby]

56. OMG!

He WON'T answer ANY questions.

[Surya Gayatri]

63. Holy crap,

Feingold is making him look like the slippery slimeball he is. Beautiful!! SG

[Viva_La_Revolution]

57. He's asking who was present at the practice sessions

relating to FISA!

[The Witch]

68. and he DIDN'T ANSWER.

[The Witch]

59. Is Feingold GOING SOMEWHERE with this?

It sounds like he is. All of a sudden he's an attorney.

[LizW]

70. Yep. It's what you do to a witness who is lying to you.

Did you prepare for your testimony today?

Who helped you prepare?

Did you talk about questions like (whatever?)

What kind of answers did you discuss?

Did anyone give you any comments or feedback on your answers?

Who? What did they say?

It's a courtroom technique, and sometimes it helps expose a liar.

[The Witch]

75. I hope Feingold gets him in perjury

comes at it from a different angle and BAM

[Surya Gayatri]

71. Hot damn!

Gotta love Feingold--he looks like a Dem, he sounds like a Dem, he kicks ass! SG

[jsamuel]

61. wiggly worm squirming squirming squirming

[gumby]

62. "Nobody ever told me what to say."

That was NOT the question.

[worldgonekrazy]

64. Feingold suggesting Alito was coached by Bush Admin on wiretaps

Alito is lying his ass off. Says he was only given suggestions on "style" and not "substance" of his answers.

"I wouldn't have been receptive to that kind of advice, and I did not receive that type of advice," Alito said.

[G_j]

65. he is squrming, can't simply tell the truth n/t

[CottonBear]

66. Feingold: Did FISA come up in practice sessions?

Alito: (weasel, weasel, weasel...) FISA ...no...general area of wiretapping did come up...

Feingold: Who told you what to say?

Alito: No one has ever told me what to say. I was ...told about format of the hearing...

Feingold: Did you get feedback or comment during the practice sessions?

Alito: Only style (of answer)was suggested...not substance of answer...
no one told me on what basis th epresident was asserting...FISA...I found out on the internet...

No one in the Admin. has briefed me...(on FISA)

It would be inappropriate for anyone from NSA to (brief me) on what to say...

[The Witch]

67. The original question was "WHO BRIEFED YOU."

here he comes in for the kill.

[CottonBear]

69. He says no one ( in * admin.) told him what to say. Weasel. n/t

[gkhouston]

73. I guess they wrote it down for him? Interpretive dance? n/t

[CottonBear]

79. Who knows? His weaseliness is off the scale! n/t

[LizW]

78. He'll be sweating this.

Somebody prepared him. It's not classified, so it can be found out who was there. If they are connected to Bushco, then he's a liar.

We'll know by tomorrow, mark my words.

[CottonBear]

84. They just :advised him on substance...not on what to say." WEASEL

I hope someopne can nail his ass to the floor with this statement.

[flyarm]

72. GOOOOOOOO FEINGOLD!! HE IS BRILLIANT!! I LOVE THIS MAN!!

I FREAKING LOVE FEINGOLD!!

three cheers for his questions and his attantion to details...and his brilliance!!

fly

[worldgonekrazy]

77. If the Dems are gonna nail Alito, it will be Feingold who makes the kill

He needs to get a really scandalous soundbite out of Alito though, and I don't think the weasel will let that happen.

[The Witch]

91. He can do it if he can get Alito to talk about

his practice sessions and reveal he's gotten substantive feedback.

[Surya Gayatri]

80. Wow, this is one helluva

legal mind! Freaking brilliant! Russ Rules!! SG

[toymachines]

81. and yet all i hear from alito is whine whine whine

It is hard to listen to him, let alone get something from what he says.
I just had to whine about it. B-)

[flyarm]

82. mitchell brief under nixon alito signed.... for

absolute immunity for mitchell attorney general for nixon..for wiretapping!!

this fucker must be filabustered!!

there is no choice on this..

now this weasel is saying absolute immunity should be used sparingly..

what a fucking liar!!

this guy must be fillabustered ..and we must all call write and email the dems and demand it!!

fly

[CottonBear]

86. Whoa. Alito worked for Nixon Admin? I missed that bit. n/t

[G_j]

85. this is a signifigant moment. Russ is smoking him out

[sasha031]

87. I agree, he's smart honest and gorgeous

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[sasha031]

92. GO RUSS

[The Witch]

93. You'll have to fight off Stephi Miller.

(And me.)

[in_cog_ni_to]

107. I met him.

:P

[sasha031]

119. good for you

he is one of the best, :hi:

[gumby]

76. Anyone understand that last quack, quack, quack?

It sounded like Alito doesn't question the legality of issues based upon who is paying him.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

83. Basically yes

he was acting for a 'client' when he wrote that.

[WinkyDink]

89. Yeah, total cop-out.

Lawyers ALWAYS have clients.

I hope Joe Biden is hanging his head in shame, watching Russ.

[Surya Gayatri]

96. Now, Russ is

castigating his Repuke colleagues for saying earlier questions about recusal were a "joke". SG

[flyarm]

103. vanguard..did you put on the list of recusals vanguard...

weasles answer..i don't have the computer list so i can not answer this..

what a fucking liar!!

2+ feingold + the people

-2 weasle + bush

fly

[worldgonekrazy]

88. Fiengold asking about Vanguard now

Is calling out Republicans for trying to bury the issue.

[CottonBear]

98. Feingold is QUOTING Alito's recusal starements to committee in1996...n/t

Russ talking about letter from ABA dated Jan. 9, 2006: Letter to ABA did not mention ALito's promise to Senate Committee RE: recusals...

[CottonBear]

109. Alioto: "I don't remember...removing Vanguard from recusal list."

"List is just an aid for a judge."

Feingold: "Smith Barney and Vanguard were added to recusal list in 2003...(talking about recusal screening system) either V wasn't on list or you did not recognize V was a party in the case. You are talking about something different...it wasn't a computer glitch..."

God, his memory is bad. WEASEL.

[realFedUp]

90. delete

[in_cog_ni_to]

95. Ha! Feingold just gave it to the repukes for berating the Dems for asking

questions about ethics. "That our job." :thumbsup:

[worldgonekrazy]

101. He really called 'em out on that

It was brilliant.

[gumby]

104. Yeah, maybe he doesn't like being called a liar

by that grease-bomb Grassley.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

97. Roomie says he saw an article on Yahoo today, Alito admitted spying was

illegal!?

Did you guys hear that while I was out?

No time to go over the last 6 threads! :)

[gumby]

99. Neener, neener, neener

Alito is a LIAR, LIAR, LIAR.

[DemonFighterLives]

100. He doesn't - gulp - remember recusal notice

:gulp:

[sasha031]

102. Vanguard who

:spank:

[worldgonekrazy]

105. Feingold making Alito VERY nervous

Backing him into a corner, Alito trying to evade.

[DemonFighterLives]

110. Feingold saying why didn't you just fess up instead

of recalling all these things that seem unconvincing?
:wow:

[CottonBear]

112. He basically called him a LIAR (nicely)! Way to go Russ! n/t

[LizW]

111. Feingold was a trial lawyer, yes?

He's wonderful to watch.

[in_cog_ni_to]

114. Does Feingold know something? and just waiting to drop it?

and does Scalito know he knows something?

Feingold laying into Hatch for his bullshit excuses over the Vanguard stock. Feingold asked if he didn't think it was wrong, why did he put Vanguard on his list on recusals?

[in_cog_ni_to]

116. UGH! What was the Abramoff JOKE Graham just told?

ummm....NOTHING about Abramoff is FUNNY.

[CottonBear]

117. Bam! Wait a minute, Graham is joking about Abramoff....WTF? n/t

[0007]

Hatch to the recuse

[flyarm]

115. i hatew orin hatch...i wish i could spit at that bastard...initial service

what bullshit is that..fiengold ..no time limit on weasles recusals responsibility..

then hatch goes to the bullshit meter...initial service..wtf???????

what a dick head hatch is!

fly

[Viva_La_Revolution]

106. Thread 8 is up

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x101339

[Sydnie]

118. I was making dinner so I missed being here but

I have to say FEINGOLD ROCKED!

And Graham needs to be looked at for connection to Abramoff too!

[realFedUp]

108. I hope a legal mind picks does good analysis in media on this session.

between Feingold and Alito.

Put Feingold on the Supreme Court!

[CottonBear]

113. Orrin Hatch is asking him canned yes/no questions to try and save him

:puke: Alito is sucking Hatch's dick right now.

Russ is mentioning Alito's "after the fact justifications..." ouch! :spank: