Oh, Teddy boy

I won't give you a play-by-play rundown of the second-to-last day of hearings, but I will give some of the highlights of the hearings thus far.

The hearings piqued today when Sen. Ted Kennedy (D. Massachusetts) demanded that records concerning Alito's involvement in the Concerned Alumni of Princeton be subpoenaed. In an issue of the organizations publications, it was opined that Princeton has gone downhill since admitting more African-Americans. When questioned, Alito simply responds that "I don't remember" what his involvement was. And, at the end of the day, without said documents, his involvement is inconclusive.

Alito has been criticized for not directly answering questions on his opinion on Roe v. Wade. The closest he came was when he was asked if he would keep an open mind in deciding future cases, in spite of his 1985 memo, he answered that he would. Since future cases concerning abortion are expected to be brought to the Supreme Court, if he does provide a definitive answer in these hearings, he could be forced to recuse himself from the hearings. He has also said that he believes in Stare Decisis (a legal philosophy that president decisions are to be followed by the court).

As for questions pertaining to executive power, he said that "No man [including the President] is above the law, and no man is below the law."

Alito does have some rulings that should be put under scrutiny by the committee. And that is their job, par the Constitution. And I shall reiterate, just because something is said, doesn't make it so. However, no one can predict how Alito will vote. So far he has answered the questions as openly as he could. I do have my personal concerns about the Alito nomination. However, I will not trump-up the facts for, or against Alito. They are what they are. I have read, and listened to so many political commentators in the last two days, both left and right, exaggerate, nit-pick, and just flat out lie about the proceedings, and Alito's past, that it makes me want to vomit. I do think that the records Kennedy requested are crucial to this nomination. We have one more day before it is decided if he will be passed to the full vote of the Senate. Until then, farewell and amen.

Cody Hobbs