While recuperating from my stomach flu (or whatever the hell I had) this weekend, I read the paper as I sometimes do. So many amusing stories, so little time. Here's one I enjoyed:
Alito Distances Himself From 1985 Memos
Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito Jr. yesterday tried to tamp down criticisms of several past statements -- including his assertion that the Constitution does not protect the right to abortion -- by saying they were personal views or an advocate's work and not necessarily indications of how he might rule if confirmed, according to a key senator who quizzed him for more than an hour.
...
As for the earlier memo, the senator [Arlen Specter] said, "I asked him about the line here, 'The Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion.' And he identifies that as a personal opinion . . . and he said that his personal opinion would not be a factor in his judicial decision."
So, Mr. Alito, do you find in the Constitution language that protects a right to abort a pregnancy?
"No. I have read the text many times, examined the relevant case law, carefully analyzed arguments on both sides, and it is my studied opinion that there simply is no such right described. . . Well, that's what my 'person' brain thinks. I call him 'Sammy.' Now my 'judge' brain ('Samuel') agrees entirely with Justice Blackmun in his opinion for the Court in Roe v. Wade. Personally, I find my judge brain's reasoning rather unpersuasive. I try to silence it. But, sometimes, the voices won't stop. Quiet Samuel! Sammy will hear you! He doesn't like it when you talk about abortion rights!"
Posted by cradle at December 5, 2005 6:51 PMI've always been amazed how the more powerful the person, the less believable your excuses have to be.
I mean if I was a waiter who had written a treatise on the benefits of taking a shit in the customers food, I could reasonably be denied a job. But apparently the same standard doesn't apply to nominees to the Supreme Court.
PS w00t! First blog post ever. This is because David is cooler than you. Yes, I'm talking to you.
Posted by: Sacha Chlytor at December 7, 2005 2:21 AM