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The lunch break is over, which means it is time for the seemingly endless parade of witnesses, who will, in some measure or another, praise or assail the ability of Judge Alito. In many ways, this is better theater than what we've seen before, because unlike the committee members who have spelled out over four days just where they stand, these people are relative unknowns.
They may come in with an idea of what they want to say, but they could say or do something completely unexpected, so I'll be listening.
During lunch most of the working press go for the typical order-in salads, soups and sandwiches (things that they can scarf down quickly). We're used to eating at our desks, standing up and or in transit, so this is nothing new. Today I'll opt for a salad with roasted chicken, Odwalla Blueberry B Monster and Chex Mix for a snack. And for those of you keeping score at home, I've only had one cup of coffee so far today (down from my usual three by now).
For most committee members the choice is hot lunch (prime rib is popular downstairs in the cafeteria), although many just grab a sandwich and get back to the business at hand. But not everyone gets a true lunch break. Leaders on both sides of the aisle use part of their lunch break to "spin" their view of how the hearings are going. Standing before a blue partition and surrounded by fellow party members, senators tell a pool camera ("pool" means one camera to serve all the networks -- as in "pooling" resources) why the nominee has or hasn't been up to par and why the hearings are going well/poorly.
Today, pro and anti Alito groups have appeared before the pool camera which is located in the hallway just outside of Hart 216.
Were it not for the HMI television lights this would be a dark, bland hallway, complete with its wingtip, crushed airport style carpet.
In one instance, a group of about two dozen former Alito law clerks stopped by to voice their support for the nominee. Susan Sullivan who clerked for Alito is 1990, belongs to the ACLU, backs gay marriage, supports Planned Parenthood and Judge Alito.
"I understand the committee members want this to be sexy and controversial, but honestly I'm disappointed that this has become more of a chess game than a true measure of his ability and qualifications," she said.
Sullivan, who was born in Hampshire, England and graduated from Rutgers Law School says she's confident the judge will be confirmed and serve honorably on the high court.
And given how the hearings have gone so far she may be right.
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Emotional Hangover
I was just amazed this morning 01/12/06 when Sen Charles Schumer D-NY just had to have extra time for question (30 Min) this time for additional questions. His pretense was that country need this important information so that they could make up their mind about Judge Alito. After all the questions and answers, Sen. Schumer read the text from his prepared - prejudged decesion as a closing statement. In other words he did not wait for the facts in the matter, before he made his decision. Would you like to have Sen. Schumer for your Judge. Bad enough that he is responable for giving advice and concent on the nomatation.
Dwight Smith (Sent Jan 12, 2006 4:23:51 PM)
Perhaps the most interesting thing about this hearing was to see how much Kennedy lost in stature.
Steve S Pella Iowa (Sent Jan 12, 2006 4:07:57 PM)
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