Alito, teeth *Updated*

I'm getting ready to go to the dentist for the first time in 20 years. TWENTY. It was 1986, February if I remember correctly, and the dentist was drunk, I could smell the gin from across the room. I was 15, and no one believed me. He gouged my teeth, ignored me when I said it hurt and I vowed to not go back until I really needed to.

I know, I'm an idiot. I just never got back to the idea of going to a dentist. It simply wasn't in my head...ever. I have multiple cavities and a big ole chip out of that lower front tooth...I gotta go. So I go. I'm getting ready, though, and because I have no way to play mp3s in there reliably, I flip on the radio in the shower. The local talker plays Rush Limbaugh during the midday...oy. But what the hell...it's that or the same 5 classic rock songs, and at least he'll be telling me something about the Alito hearings.

He did.

Anyone catch Arlen Specter slapping Ted Kennedy around? Anyone catch Alito slapping Chuck Schumer down on that abortion/First Amendment question? Nicely done both times.

Kennedy was threatening to invoke some rule that, as I understand it, he doesn't have the authority to invoke, so he was repeatedly demanding that Specter do it. Specter told him, and I'm paraphrasing here, that he heard him, he's not going to allow him to continue to repeat the request, he would NOT be allowed to run these proceedings, and that Specter would consider the request. "I run this committee, Senator, and I will take it under consideration." or something very close to that. WIsh I saw the video for that. Specter is not my favorite Republican, but I enjoyed that little display.

On the Abortion/First Amendment issue, Schumer, the bloviating jackass from NY, asked outright if the Constitution protected the right to an abortion. Shrewdly, even though he knows it does NOT, Alito carefully outlined how he would go about figuring that out if the question ever came before him. He talked about first deciding the question of stare decisis, then using the typical judicial process to arrive at a decision based on the case, prior case law and the arguments put before him. A well-reasoned and perfectly acceptable answer. The short of it was he said he'd decide based on the case, which is what a judge is supposed to do.

Schumer couldn't let it go. He badgered Alito, finally asking him if the right to free speech was protected. Alito said "yes, it is." Schumer, as Rush put it, went one question too far:

"Why can't you answer the question of abortion being protected as easily as you answered that? Why can't you just say.."

Wow.

Schumer is an idiot. It's like the moron never went to law school. Alito answered him by saying that the right to free speech was protected because there is language in the constitution that prevents the right of free speech and freedom of the press from being abridged. There is no such language for abortion, so it is a matter of interpretation.

I doubt Schumer understands the answer, or how stupid both the question and the answer made him look.

When the Constitution expressly confirms a right in plain language, it doesn't take a legal genius to answer if that right is protected. You can argue all day what exactly constitutes free speech, but once you have defined it, free speech is, in no uncertain terms, a protected and enumerated right of the people and the press.

Show me the word "abortion" in the Constitution, Senator Schumer.

I don't get how we have these "leaders" in this country so ignorant of it's laws, foundations and history. I'd love to see every member of the House and Senate have to take a high-school-level history test.

Alito is so getting confirmed. I hope he's half the judge Scalia is, and Roberts appears to be.

Anyway...off to get my face drilled. At least I'll be laughing, and before they hit me with the gas. Schumer and Kennedy are always good for a chuckle. :)

*UPDATE*

Thanks to Michelle Malkin, here's some video of the Specter/Kennedy exchange. I converted it and dropped it in this Flash player for those who don't or can't use Windows media.

Posted by JimK at 01:54 PM on January 11, 2006
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