Every time this collective of Democratic douchebags hit the air, the Republican party gains voters.
I say put 'em on TV every day.

"Bumbling" is too kind. Mendacious is more like it.

Feinstein, Schumer, Kennedy, Biden. All assholes all the time, yet entertaining assholes at that.

Should'nt Teddy be a convicted felon?

Is a DUI a felony? What about doing coke? Or spying on Americans without a warrant? Which is more important?

I thought conservatives were supposed to be tough. I would sure hope someone who joined a sexist/racist organization would have to explain himself. (Instead, he doesn't recall) But hey, if she can't take the hearings, just wait until he makes court decisions. Brutal.

DUI is not a felony in most places(unless a death or injury is involved).
got any proof on the coke?
whether the NSA work is illegal has not been established.

"I would sure hope someone who joined a sexist/racist organization would have to explain himself."

you mean like Senator Ted "Dunk 'Em" Kennedy's membership in The Owl Club at Harvard that refused entry to women until it was forced to in the mid-80's?

oops, forgot a part:

DUI is not a felony in most places(unless a death or injury is involved-care to ask Ms. Kopechne's family about their daughter's death?

jp2, may I suggest you take that crap somewhere you can meet and converse on a more even intellectual basis.

The dKos Kids has just the thread for those of your ilk, they believe Alitos' wife staged her tears.

You should fit right in.. enjoy your stay.

Had to look at the KOS thread on "staged tears". It is sad to see how these folks dissect the video frame by frame like it was the Zapruder film. Shows what hatred, paranoia and too much free time will produce. Sick, sick, sick.

For all we know, she was literally bored to tears. I know I would be if I had to listen to the blather of Senators (whether positive or negative). I'd rather have the hairs on my legs plucked out one by one than to listen to some of these guys go on.

Isn't this one of the coercion techniques used by the CIA?

Senators who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

I would sure hope someone who joined a sexist/racist organization would have to explain himself

I don't know what you think Senator Byrd has to do with any of this.

- MikeB

This fiasco has become something like a fraternity hazing.

If I was the one sitting behind my husband, listening to these bloviating bags of wind, I would be hard-pressed to contain myself. I would leap over the table and personally let these senators know exactly what I think of them and their questions/comments/opinions/imaginations.

You know how a wild animal turns extra viscious when backed into a corner. Watching the hearings reminds me of that. The Dems are looking everywhere for something, anything to keep this man from the Supreme Court. They are scared, and grasping at straws.

"you mean like Senator Ted "Dunk 'Em" Kennedy's membership in The Owl Club at Harvard that refused entry to women until it was forced to in the mid-80's?"

"I don't know what you think Senator Byrd has to do with any of this."

Yes and yes. They should also have to explain why they were involved in such activities. Although, I think we all know they both have. And do their records show that they have ruled against women and minorities? Isn't that what's really the issue here? But hey, as long as you can point the finger at someone else and not have to actually answer a question... We all know it's indefensible, and you just proved it.

Listen, if you have to stoop to linking to a false story on the Drudge report, you are way beyond listening to reason. Another sorry point would be linking to a Kos thread, which if you read, has about 15 people who support a crackpot theory. But hey, anything to get yourself ahead. I don't think you would accept any of the bile on FR or LGF as facts. (Actually, you might)

Perhaps the next time McCain wants to question Rumsfeld about torture, Mrs. Rumsfeld should sit in the front row quietly weeping. That will teach that mean Senator McCain to ask tough questions. What an excellent way to make policy!

This politics of personal destruction is not a new concept and neither is the sole province of the Democrats.

I think the Republican party used it quite aggressively on Bill Clinton while he was in office. And really it does back a long way.

Being from the middle of the road, I see what the Democrats are doing, but really it's just posturing. Alito will be confirmed. This "grilling" will fade out of the public consciousness and the political wheels will continue to turn in Washington.
The Republicans have done the same thing in the past.

later,
Random

Here's what I conclude is Feinstein's ongoing "contribution":

"All abortion, all the time. Abortion. More abortion. Unless it's abortion, in which case, it's abortion and more of it. Abortion, abortion, abortion, and detention and military force."

So far, she's raised little issues otherwise and seems to be using her air time to promote dis-ease among the population. No wonder she's wearing black.

Sam Alito is a very, very mature person and an excellently tempered intelligent mind. His wife was undoubtedly crying because past a certain point of tolerance and forebearing, hearing someone express consideration and empathy rocked her composure. I don't blame her.

And, actually, I found it quite touching that she cried. I would have, too, under the very same circumstances.

Biden, Kennedy, Schumer, Feinstein, Durbin, particularly, have come across as dimwitted, blustery and partisan to the point of incredulity. It's a sad statement about the Senate, at least as to this group of Senators.

jp2,

And do their records show that they have ruled against women and minorities? Isn't that what's really the issue here?

So why do you bring up Alito's membership in CAP and ignore Kennedy's worse membership? Alito has a long record that shows how he rules on cases. That's what's relevant.

When you have steeled yourself to maintain your composure in a very adverse situation, and sat through hearing very unpleasant and insulting things, it can be emotionally overwhelming to hear someone express sympathy or empathy. That's the whole basis for why bad-cop/good-cop is an effective technique.

I'm just guessing that Mrs. Alito is not a hardened criminal and has not had much experience with the bad-cop/good-cop paradigm, so she was not effective in concealing her emotions when someone actually was nice to her husband, and then to her.

If Alito wasn't a hard core conservative before, thanks to Teddy & Co. he will be.
Perhaps JP2 has forgotten how the Kennedy Clan fixed Teddy's DUI homicide case not to mention a little rape case in Palm Beach along with his nephew. bye the way, how was the original family fortune made?
War profiteering, stock market swindles, rum running and not to mention sweetheart government land deals by the family patriarch who by the way was among other things a Nazi sympathizer and a very good friend ( along with sons Jack and Robert) of Joe McCarthy. I'll take Teddy & The Kennedy's seriously when they give up all their money to a worthwhile charity. Typical sanctimonious left wing Democrats. 100% pure bullshit. But no doubt they have good intentions,mean well and their hearts are pure.

"Should'nt Teddy be a convicted felon?"

Ha! Ha! Ha! I never get tired of that one about Chappaquiddick!!!

I mean, No conservative would ever be that dumb!!

CC, did you even read your links? What part of "conviction on charges of second-degree manslaughter, speeding, running a stop sign and reckless driving" didn't you understand?

What CC003 seems to overlook is that Janklow was convicted and is going to jail albeit if it is to my mind not enough time.
Laura Bush was a teenager when she ran a light. Teddy was 37 years old and a US Senator who by the way waited more than twelve hours before calling the police, while consulting family and lawyers.
Only a lefty would dumb enough to make such false comparisons. Perhaps if the Chappaquiddick inquest was ever unsealed it would shed some more light on the matter.

Hey - doesn't it give you guys any clue as to what level you've sunk to that our political discourse has devolved to pointing out the latest "gotcha" crime/insult from the other side while ignoring or twisting your side's scandals so "they don't mean anything" or its "the other partisan hacks over-reacting"? What happened to actually standing up for ideals and decency? At one time Republicans and Democrats used to believe in something - now its just a bunch of hacks slapping each other on the back over the current lie du jour. (BTW, I posted a similiar remark at a liberal site and got slammed there - ironically in much the same manner and language as on conservative blogs - so save your effort. Just think about it.)

Eural,

It's called escalation. Politics and war work the same way in this regard. In war, if one combatant introduces tactics that win battles, then all other combatants must adopt or surpass those tactics if they want to win battles. In politics, if one party introduces tactics that win elections, then all other parties must adopt or surpass those tactics if they want to win elections. The parties are just responding to voters, so in order to change the tactics politicians use, you have to change how voters respond to those tactics. Let me know when you figure out how to do that.

I'm on it! (Let you know when I figure something out - don't hold your breath though!)

Where will all the Alito cheerleaders be when:

-their favorite blog gets swept up in a govt investigation?

-those that aren't religious realize that the RR really does want control of the US Govt

-when the US Govt determines that blogging and certain rhetoric can have a negative effect on the economy and US troops

Where did all those "small govt" republican people go to?

Either, they are drunk with power...
...or else they're drunk with power...

...because they certainly aren't in control...

...of the govt or of themselves.

Who is guilty of McCarthism NOW?

The same Democratic Party that still tells horror stories about McCarthy is essentially behaving in the same vein.

Bush is on firm legal ground with regard to "spying on Americans without a warrant." Perhaps the scandal hunters should cease kissing the NY Times collective ass and do some, oh, research?

50 U.S.C. 1802(a) § 1802. Electronic surveillance authorization without court order; certification by Attorney General; reports to Congressional committees; transmittal under seal; duties and compensation of communication common carrier; applications; jurisdiction of court

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the President, through the Attorney General, may authorize electronic surveillance without a court order under this subchapter to acquire foreign intelligence information for periods of up to one year if the Attorney General certifies in writing under oath that—

(A) the electronic surveillance is solely directed at—

(i) the acquisition of the contents of communications transmitted by means of communications used exclusively between or among foreign powers, as defined in section 1801 (a)(1), (2), or (3) of this title; or

(ii) the acquisition of technical intelligence, other than the spoken communications of individuals, from property or premises under the open and exclusive control of a foreign power, as defined in section 1801 (a)(1), (2), or (3) of this title;

50 U.S.C. 1801
(a) “Foreign power” means—

(1) a foreign government or any component thereof, whether or not recognized by the United States;
(2) a faction of a foreign nation or nations, not substantially composed of United States persons;
(3) an entity that is openly acknowledged by a foreign government or governments to be directed and controlled by such foreign government or governments;
(4) a group engaged in international terrorism or activities in preparation therefor;
(5) a foreign-based political organization, not substantially composed of United States persons; or
(6) an entity that is directed and controlled by a foreign government or governments.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode50/usc_sec_50_00001802----000-.html

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode50/usc_sec_50_00001801----000-.html