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And, yes, I DO take it personally: How to spin a headline
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Wednesday, January 11, 2006

How to spin a headline

you can read the whole thing for yourself... it's pretty much substance-free...


If Senate Democrats had set out to portray Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. as extreme on issues ranging from abortion to government surveillance of citizens, they ran up against an elusive target on Tuesday: Samuel A. Alito Jr. For nearly eight hours, Judge Alito was placid, monochromatic and, it seemed, mostly untouchable.

and why would that be, you might ask...? well, gee... it seems that he had some help as this editorial in the VERY SAME PAPER points out...
There have certainly been troubling aspects to this hearing, but so far they have been in Judge Alito's favor. The news that federal judges intend to testify in support of his nomination is both unusual and unfortunate, as are reports that a Republican member of the Judiciary Committee may have helped prepare Judge Alito for the hearings. So are some comments by Senator Arlen Specter, the committee chairman, who seems to be using his position to spin things Judge Alito's way.

steve clemons articulates my view, although in a somewhat subdued, steve clemons way...
Alito has been a distinguished conservative judge whose long record of decisions give a clear portrayal of his work and opinions. However, his brand of conservatism should remain in the periphery of our court system and not be allowed to ascend to the highest court in the land.

[...]

[T]he clincher is that he is committed to a vision of expansive Executive Branch power in our government at a time when the other branches sorely need to be propped up -- and need to get back in the business of curbing Executive authority. Our democracy is in fragile shape on many fronts -- and the Courts and Legislature must reassert themselves and end the de facto monarchy America has tripped into.

i've been a bit more shrill, stating baldly that i believe samuel is the most dangerous supreme court nominee in u.s. history...

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