October 31, 2005 -- Following Harriet Miers, who removed her name from consideration, Bush today nominated Judge Samuel Alito -- who has nineteen years experience at various judicial levels, including the federal one -- as his present choice to replace retiring U.S. Supreme Court justice, Sandra Day O'Connor, a swing vote who swung in many directions during her years on the high court.

Miers had an unclear past, as far as conservatives were concerned.  Then, her nomination flags went from doubt to danger when some liberals came out in support of her.  The motivation for these liberals to do that was both unlikely and worrisome to the American Right.  Here at Oregon Magazine, we often use that method as a guide.  If Chuck Schumer (D-NY) or Harry Reid (D-NEV) like something or someone, that idea or individual needs close and suspicious examination.  I don't know a conservative who disliked Harriet Miers personally or professionally.  They just wanted somebody who was carrying a sign that said "conservative" in BIG LETTERS.  Her sign didn't do that.

Judge Alito was attacked by Chuck Schumer and Harry Reid the instant his name was released, so is a perfect choice by Bush.  It saves me days of investigative work, in addition, since one can predict the amount of work ahead by the intensity of the liberal anger.  There is even an analog measuring system for that, like the one they use to rank earthquakes.  The Kennedy Scale, it's called.  Each level is ten times the previous mark on the scale.  A five on the Kennedy Scale is equivalent to the consumption of six martinis in four hours, and makes it unsafe for those driving near water.  Alito has caused the needle to reach notch number eight.  It's a sure sign he's a winner.

The big media morons (NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, ETC) will lose it on this one.  Noise, fireworks and volumes of leftwing talking points will explode. Then the judiciary committee hearings will show bloviating liberal senators throwing everything at Alito, including the kitchen sink.  Then the vote will take place and Alito will go to the senate floor with a one-vote majority from the committee.  More noise and bloviating.  The wringing of hands and apocalyptic warnings.  Threats of filibuster, perhaps, will fill the air. 

Then the Gang of Fourteen will feel the vitriolic wrath of the Left on one side, and the enthusiastic joy of the Right on the other, and begin to shudder from the pressure.  Democrats will, behind the scenes, count the votes and determine that they can't stop Alito -- and, should they try, anyway, will lose the veto in the senate. Eliminated long ago in the House of Representatives, it is not something the Democrat minority wants to permanently lose.  It is the only lever they have to use against democracy -- that is, the principle of the majority vote.  They will fold, claiming that they are not folding but rather being noble, and caring about America, saddened by these dark events which have splashed mud on the bright days when Democrats ran everything and created an American utopia ... blah, blah, blah.

In the end, the senate floor vote will be held, and Alito will be confirmed by anywhere from a two to six vote majority.

A one-time local socialist radio talk host and now KPAM (Portland, Oregon) news honcho says, "You wanna know Alito's views on abortion?  Ask his mother."

Somebody did.  She says he doesn't like it very much. Once, he said that a state constitution he was examining didn't say anything that would keep that state's legislature from passing a law that required wives to inform their husband if they were planning to abort his child.

Alito thinks a husband has rights in America? 

Wow!

(LL)

© 2005 Oregon Magazine