USA: Juridics: Alito inches forward with Dem Sen votes, subject to witchunt by far left

Judge Samuel Alito, nominated to a seat on the US Supreme Court, inched forward in endorsements by Democratic Senators today. At least half of the Democrats who voted for the previous nominee confirmed after he was named by Pres George Bush, now Chief Justice Roberts, will not join in the effort on behalf of Alito. Some Republicans are also still dragging their feet. But it now seems likely that Alito will be confirmed, that an all-out filibuster by Democrats will not proceed, altho holdouts for this strategy are calling for "some version of extended debate," as in the case of Ron Wyden (D, Oregon). But this is a ploy to gain more time, with the hope that a public uproar against Alito can still be manufactured by far-left organizations awash in money.

Bloomberg.com reports:

Two Democratic senators representing states carried by President George W. Bush said they will vote to confirm U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito Jr.

Alito picked up the support of Tim Johnson of South Dakota, who was re-elected in 2002 by 524 votes, and Robert Byrd of West Virginia. Byrd's endorsement came just days after West Virginia businessman John Raese announced plans to challenge the veteran senator in November.

With more than enough senators having declared support for Alito to ensure confirmation, Senate leaders agreed to schedule a roll-call vote on the nomination for Jan. 31. The Senate scheduled a vote the previous day to cut off debate.

While the politicization of Presidential nominations to the US Supreme Court has become excessive, it remains far superiour to what happens in Canada, where the Prime Minister appoints all new members. The previous government had set up a new mechanism to give a shadow of impartiality to the process, under former Prime Minister Paul Martin's Minister of Justice, Irwin Cotler. But the facade was transparent to knowledgeable observers. The new Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, has mentioned in the campaign how much he will be hedged in by a Court dominated by far-left ideology. It remains to be seen during his tenure, which may be rather brief before his opponents pull the plug on his government, whether Harper can make any headway in opening the Canadian hi court to a more plural approach to legislation that can put the brakes on the wild activism of the handpicked occupants now warming their fannies on the bench in question.

In a parallel development, FoxNews reports that the Senators who survive politically on this money, notably Ted Kennedy (D, Massachusetts), are still threatening filibsuter.

Massachusetts Sens. John Kerry and Edward Kennedy, along with a small number of other Senate Democrats, have threatened a filibuster to block the vote for Judge Samuel Alito's confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court .....

But a senior Democratic leadership aide told FOX News on Thursday that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and a majority of Democrats "do not support this action by Kerry and Kennedy. It is not politically advantageous for us."

Kennedy's behaviour in the Senate Judiciary Committee in interrogating Alito and haranguing him, the committee and TV viewers, has lost credibility by his antics. One could almost wish the Dems would arrange for him and his cohorts to do their thang, to witness his utter self-destruction; but the exercise has already become such a waste of time, devoted as it is to farcical posturing, that the public has largely entered into a terminal weariness. I count myself among those, therefore, who simply want the vote taken, either Yes to Alito or No to Alito. Let's get on with the next resignation, and Bush's next nominee. I think he should name Harriet Miers again this round. - Politicarp