It's not "Mrs. Alito." It's Ms. Bomgardner.

Or are you worried the conservatives will wine wbout you being accurate?

It's not "Mrs. Alito." It's Ms. Bomgardner.

Or are you worried the conservatives will whine wbout you being accurate?

P.S. "Mrs. Alito" is Judge Alito's mother.

Just thought I'd clear that up for you.

Hesiod, what faction of Hamas do you belong to?

Hesiod, what faction of Hamas do you belong to?

What a misguided interview. Ms. Bomgardner began to cry during Senator Graham's questioning. The Senator was in fact commending judge Alito for not being a bigot. What terrible journalism. I expected more from the Washington Post.

If you can't handle 18 hours of intense questioning, then you can't handle the supreme court. I say ask as many hard-hitting questions as possible.

Actually, I think he did a good job. If it wasn't for his sniveling wife, he would have looked unflappable...just the quality you want in a supreme court judge.

I think playing the "crying card" worked well for Mrs. B. It certainly gave her husband plenty of cover.

Bottom line: either Alito was member of CAP who thinks minorities and women should be kept out of Princeton or he was merely an opportunist looking to pad his conservative resume on the cheap. Either way he comes out looking a bit scummy.

But we don't have to worry about that anymore or his wife might cry! Give me a break.

I expect more from the Senate. Was I the only one that thought the real issues were side-stepped and the whole thing is a show. What good does any of this do when majority rules and partisanship reins supreme.

you bunch of sleezey lieing sacks of stuff, i think the whole bush regime should be packed up tarred and feathered
and run out of town!! its going to take many generations to start to repair the damage that he has caused. at least two generations or hurricane katrina to blow the texas stench away from d c
thank you & good ridence

The cocooning of the liberals is no more apparent than at the WaPo. Only they would waste a column on Judge Alito's wife clothes!! Front page!! OF course, with anorexia and bulima a liberal must-have, she was obviously not going to win the Ms. Wintour sweepstakes. CAP hate Princeton for its liberal professors and the burning of the ROTC building. THis meant Judge Alito had to leave his college, Princeton, and travel to another university to fulfill his ROTC requirement. Oh, those troublesome scholarship students. Can't stand those "I love the military" type. I bet he even said the Pledge of Allegience out loud!! Of course, if he had been a black panther, a deserter, or drug addict cop killer,the democrats would have him run for congress.

Distorted sense of reality at its finest hour. Way to go Karen. One Up!

Imagine the WaPo covered the aide to Congressman Jefferson guilty verdict and his implication of the congressman in bribery. Let us compare the coverage of Tom Delay, and the congressman who shanghaied the national guard during hurricane Katrina rescues to go to his house to dig out the $90,000 he had hidden in the freezer. Climate of Corruption? WaPo blinders are the same designer label as the NY Times.

who is ted kennedy to questioning anyone's character. let's ask mary jo kopechne for comment. wait, we can't thanks to ted kennedy

dick durbin compares our soldiers at gitmo to pol pot, soviet gulags, and nazis. he tries to attack alito for joining a group only b/c alito wanted the rotc at princeton, that was the only reason. but that's not enough for people like kennedy, durbin, and schumer who attack to please the left-wing lunatics in this country

Anyone who is stupid enough to buy the Democrats lines shouldn't say anything.
How can you support people that all they do is complain, block, bloviate, and accomplish nothing, to include never, consistently, offering anything substantive to counter what the Republicans and mainstream America want to do, and are doing.
Alito is a worthy justice. Time will tell if he's conservative or liberal.

Makes me wonder how Senator Kennedy ever got elected. Much ballot box stuffing, I presume. I feel sorry for Mrs. Alito. Kennedy needs a sound thrashing. There's yet another issue. Assuming both Kennedy and Alito are Catholics, they have a lot of explaining to do in the confessional. Democrat Kennedy for his party's pro-choice (that's actually pro-death to babies)stance and stance on gays and lesbians. Republican Alito has to be pro-life, if he expects to stay in the Catholic Church. Thus he can't waffle and follow a civil law that's pro-death to babies. He has to follow his conscience.

Exactly my point. If only time will tell, why would we waste a week asking questions, that dont get answered, when the end decision is already made regardless. Its all a facade in my opinion. And If I was a woman in america these days, I would be scared.

Judge Alito will be confirmed, 57 or 58 to 43 or 42. Benator will vote to confirm, perhaps a couple other remaining conservative Democrats.

Will the courts go a little to the right? Of course they will.

Maybe one day the Democrats will again pick a candidate for president that is electable; then they'll have their chance.

The judge's wife should not be the subject of any comments. She is not a candidate for anything and did not ask to be part of the national consciousness. Please respect her privacy.

To Sol - although there are few people (outside of the Kopechne family) who respect the senior Senator from Massachusetts, I have to disagree with at least one of your points. A supreme court justice is not bound by his conscience - bad things happen when judges start doing that. Judges are bound by the law, and the primary source of law is the Constitution. Politicians have the luxury of following their consciences in creating the law. Judges don't create the law - they merely interpret it.

in america, and I already am scared. time for the babies to get their own political union to rally gainst their narcissistic moms.

Before Roe v. Wade, abortion was readily available, and it will always be. What it will come down to is whether Roe v. Wade takes away a parents right to know that there daughter is having an invasion procedure. It also means that as a society, killing a viable fetus for a reason other than the life or substantial health reasons (not mental) is wrong. The left needs to portray women as stupid idiots to make their point, and most of us are not stupid.

"Hesiod, what faction of Hamas do you belong to?"

Longarm, do you molest little girls or little boys?

Karen said: "OF course, with anorexia and bulima a liberal must-have, she was obviously not going to win the Ms. Wintour sweepstakes."

Have you seen Ann Coulter lately?

And, we don't really care all that much about the "Concerned Rightwing Alumni of Princeton."

Just Alito's lying about his association with it.

this is the best America can offer for a supreme court judge?

I am glad that Judge Alito's wife dropped some tears. I think that this event reminded the senators that they were questioning a human being with, by the way, an extremely high I.Q., not a robot. So I take my hat off to Mrs. Bomgardner; she humanized the entire process regardless of the hostility displayed by some senators.

President Bush could have nominated Mother Teresa (if she were still with us) and the Bush hating bashing left would have found many many reasons not to support her. At least Senator Spechter has the cahones to admit its political. As for Ted Kennedy, he should not be judging anyone for anything -

"let's ask" thousands of unnecessarily and stupidly dead American soldiers and Iraqi citizens "for comment. wait, we can't thanks to" Laura Bush's husband.

Attempting to sympathize with Laura Bush is like worrying about the feelings of the wife of a mass murderer. She's in the bubble with her husband. You cannot trouble her conscience. As she grows older the twinges will appear but by then a Democrat will have been elected that they can blame everything on. "Why didn't they go back into Iraq and cause a few thousand more deaths to honor the sacrifices of those my husband sent to their pointless deaths? What faction of Hamas does (INSERT DEMOCRAT'S NAME HERE) belong to?"

Judge Crater, Saddam Hussein was given 12 years to abide by the UN. He didn't, he had to go. Saddam's in custody, Uday and Qusay are taking the long eternal celestial dirtnap. When Liberals come up with ideas on how to win the war on terror, talk. Until then, shut up!! How many people did Saddam kill? Liberals need to stop politicizing the war on terror. Don't choose someone like John Kerry, who voted for the war before he voted against the funding to be your candidate. Plus, get angry with people like Harry Reid, Schumer, Hillary, and Biden who also voted for the war.

Hesiod

Don't you feel bad. No more partial birth abortions, now there will be military recuiters in law schools, your gay friends and yourself will lose cases at the Supreme Court now. Title IX will get a fair reading.You won't be able to win in court what you cant win at the ballot box.

She had a migraine. She did not just fall apart. However, I wish more people would show primal human response to the ever increasing harshness of speech and accusations that are hurled about in political blogarama media world these days.

Military Recruiters in Law Schools? Rich people will have to drive to Canada to get abortions? More scholarships for male collegiate athletes!?!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

To - Bill Baxter. Indeed, perhaps the Judge would be rendering onto Caesar, per Scriptures. However a judgeship must be an uneasy crown to wear. And must cause some tossing and turning with one's conscience. Only a sociopath, like Edward Kennedy, could completely separate civil (Caesar's) laws and the laws of conscience. It will take it's toll. Then again, I tend to lump judges, politicians and all the rest of government workers as drains on ethical society and the fundamental work ethic of an honest day's work.
TO: Whomever posted the message regarding a minority would have gone to jail, as in the case of good old Teddy Kennedy. You are quite right. And I think it's time for the government to look into Kennedy's sanity and lack of morals and ethics. The Mary Jo drowning case should be re-opened. It was shut down waaaay to quickly the first time. Does TK's state have the death penalty, by the way? 'Twould be fitting.

Judge Alito danced the dance he needed to. He refused to answer questions that would have allowed us a real, honest debate because it would have opened up the mere possibility that he would lose (more) votes. It's how the game is played now, which is a real shame. I'd rather have an open debate than what we had this week. On to the next round of procedural games... it's what it's become, and I don't think one party is to blame over the other for that.

However it took news coverage away from the war overseas. The Alito questioning is a diversion. Having been picked for a jury once, I felt sorry for the judge. He had to go through all the phony baloney of picking the jury. They told me to go home because I dared to speak out. I said the accused looked like a criminal. And from all that was said about him, he should be locked up and the key thrown away. It was a great way to get out of jury duty, anyway. :)

Did Mrs. Bush see Gentleman Sam walk out of the hearings without even acknowledging the poor Mrs. Alito?
Did Mrs. Bush watch as poor Mrs. Alito had to scurry along nine steps behind Gentleman Sam as they left the chambers?
It was VERY revealing of Gentleman Sam's true feelings about the 'roll' of a women in America today.
There is tape from C-Span IF Mrs. Bush cares to watch.

Brandon,
The purpose of the hearings, (and even the hearings themselves are not cleary defined for us in the Constitution), is not to engage in "real, honest debate". The Senators have already offered their "advice" to the President, so the only thing remaining to be done is consent to "his" choice. Unless I'm missing something, the only thing that has been brought up is Alito's conservative leanings. There's a surprise. Are we saying that our Senators have nothing better to do with their time than to berate nominees, embellish records, and repeat what they already knew prior to the hearings? What a waste of their time, and our tax dollars.
It get's worse with each passing nominee.

LongArm, Karen, JL, Conrad K, Right100, and Sol - If you missed your chance to have your asses shot off in Iraq, I hear that Bush is recruiting for a new endeavor in Iran. Get in line. We'll do what we can stateside to continue to cut taxes that fund weapons, intel, technology research, necessary armor, and veterans benefits for your families and you in case you manage to survive. In the meantime we'll spy on your parents, violating their very rights that your brothers-in-arms are dying for.

JL - Politicize war? War is politics. Wars are fought because of failed politics and failed diplomacy. Were you crying the same when Bush politicized the war in 2003 as a tool to win the election?

Sol - You must be one of those despicable libertarians. You also sound like an fundamentalist Christian, so when it comes to judging Kennedy, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" Matthew 7:1 (feel free to interpret that to fit your personal misunderstanding of the Bible). Are you advocating for the death of a U.S. senator? Tread lightly, that's treasonous talk and a federal offense.

Karen - You're right, the large majority of women aren't stupid. You're certainly making a strong case that you're in at least that minority.

Right100 - Partial birth abortions is a mischaracterization of the procedure. You should be more in favor of gay rights. With your twisted homophobic logic, if there was more gay marriage everyone would just turn gay and there would be no more unwanted pregnancies. Or in reality, you can pressure your conservative leaders to promote more effective birth control. Really, your views on social issues are so narrow...

Conrad K - I think we all know where Mother Teresa stood on a woman's right to an abortion and the blending of church/state issues, so most on the left would have enough reason there to vote against her. Count me in. Also, I don't hate Bush. I hate his 2-term policies of "start something that I can't finish" and "make promises but don't deliver".

When I heard about the judge's wife crying at her husband's hearings, I couldn't help but remember reading about old time delicate women having their vapors and smelling salts and conveniently fainting whenever their fragile sensibilities were impugned. Considering all the press this ridiculous crying episode got, it makes me wonder if American society doesn't secretly want to return to those "good old days" of strong men and totally dependent stupid women.

"I think playing the crying card worked well for Mrs. B. It certainly gave her husband plenty of cover."

Tsk, tsk. She's a human being. Do we all have to be as cynical as our elected leaders?

I do assume she was crying. And I would like to think that she has the sympathy of most of the Post readers, Democrats and Republicans alike.

Tsk, tsk.

/A Kerry-voter

Maybe Mrs. Bush should have called the survivors of Katrina who were herded into the Superdome to apologize for her mother-in-law's insensitive remarks about the "hurricane working out quite well for them." and maybe she should call Cindy sheehan to apologize for the president's decision not to meet with her. She's probably a nice person, but who really cares about what Mrs. Bush thinks or who she calls.

Maybe Mrs. Bush should have called the survivors of Katrina who were herded into the Superdome to apologize for her mother-in-law's insensitive remarks about the "hurricane working out quite well for them." and maybe she should call Cindy sheehan to apologize for the president's decision not to meet with her. She's probably a nice person, but who really cares about what Mrs. Bush thinks or who she calls.

Republican't, have you ever heard yourself? You accuse those who judge, yet your writings show you are the example of a judger. Okay, let me get this straight...so, if you are not a Christian, you can judge? If you are a Christian you are supposed to be deaf and mute? Wake up! God gave Christians a brain too. They know that when someone is guilty of murder, then they should follow the procedure of the land like everyone else. Just because the man is a politician like Kennedy and Clinton and the Media loves them both, they should not escape the justice that would befall on any other living american???

As to your views on the war, Let's see how fast you call 911 for help when a terrorist comes to your town and tries to blow up your family. Get it thorough your head, terrorists are in Iraq, because we are there. As soon as we leave, they will be in our back yard. If you think they will like you just because you are a liberal, terrorist protector (oh, please don't abuse the terrorists!!) I got news for you, they hate you just as much as they hate Bush. You don't believe me, then why do they behead journalists, who love them, just as easily as our soldiers. Oh, you forgot that?... How convenient!

If we listen to people like you, our women will stay at home, never expose their face or any part of their naked body to the sun again, get killed by their husbands whenever they think they are being disloyal to them and everyone will have to worship Ala five times a day whether they want to or not. So much for your separation of Church and State.

Republican't, if you don't like living like the previous paragraph, then support our President and our troops. They are the only ones keeping you from this future. If, however, you do like the above paragraph, then why don't you go to Iraq and join the terrorists. Let's see if they really care that you are on their side.

TO: Wakeup - Well said. Thank you.
TO: Republican't - I served in two major military campaigns. How many have you served in? And as for Teddy Kennedy, he should be investigated. He lives in a glass house and continues to throw glass. He shouldn't get by with his sociopathic tirades. The party is over for TK. Time to take off your makeup and let the American people see the loathsome ogre behind the mounds of heavy flesh. Furthermore, it is time for America to turn itself back to God. God has given us Mr. George Bush, Junior. Our army will be victorious over in the "Muddle Yeast." The stock market shall rise and peace will resound throughout the United States of America. And there will be ONE NATION UNDER GOD!!! As for the Democratic Party, like Senator Kennedy, their party is also over. They can only complain. They have no plan. Just the tirades of sore losers.

Orrin Hatch wasted every questioning period available to him by lecturing. His favorite question, which he asked over 60 times, was "Isn't that true?" He played lip service to keeping an open mind until all the testimony was in.

To the author of previous post: Thank you. You provide some evidence god has a sense of humor.

Hold on there. There are some of us that don't wish to claim Ted Kennedy as our senator. The whole grilling procedure by the unreigning, senate minority party of democrats is a very poor example of democracy at work. No wonder foreigners hate us. You could take any bunch of people at random off the streets of Boston or New York, put them in place of the senate democrats, and we'd have a quick decision. This charade is a prime example for setting term limits on federal legislators. Two terms and they're out. The Constitution had in mind normal citizens serving for a short term. Not life-long politicians. I'll have much more to say on this topic later. Everyone, have a good day. Heck, it's Saturday!

The Republicans are so smart, honest, and family loving.
The Democrats are clueless elites, with extreme views and no morals.

GIVE ME A BREAK. I have never witnessed such grandstanding and gloating as I have this week.

Hearings, you've got to be kidding me? One side was clearly patting him on the back, while the other side was kicking him.

You've all figured it out folks!

This beloved country has to get back to God. Democrats will never again have any power after their actions in this hearing. I'm glad we have a President in power who believes in God and is a family man. I'm afraid that VP Cheney may not make it through this term because of his severe health problems. He needs to cut back on the big eats. Go with salads and fruits. But not like the Democrats, which is the party of fruits. :)

The hearings were infuriating. Don't senators like Kennedy and Durbin listen to answers? Over and over again questions about Vanguard and CAP, two non-issues. The witness panels later got to the heart of the two main issues: presidential power and abortion. To my mind, Alito will NOT be influenced by his personal opinions. He will be a JUDGE and all that being a JUDGE implies - ruling on each case on its merits based on the Constitution. Certainly the people who worked with him over the years, Democratic and Republican, testified about his integrity, objectivity, and fairness. I only wish some of the senators "judging" him had more of these qualities!

Senator Kennedy is a guy who has it all. And he is throwing it all away. His father had great wealth and prestige, which he passed down to his family. Joe Sr, JFK, and RFK literally died for their country. Now we have this wasted, spoiled rich man's son: the last of the Kennedy legacy. And he's dishonoring the family name and is an embarrassment to his native state. He is the epitome of what's wrong with the congressional system. This entire fat-cat, special interest system should be thrown out and replaced by single term or no more than two-term men and women of character.

To sol: You are awesome!! Thank you for serving our country and may God bless you and your family.

To Boston Blacky: Let's not go all or nothing here. Let's just say that MOST republicans are smart, honest, and family loving and that MOST democrats are clueless elites, with extreme views and no morals. Which one are you?

Dear wakeup - I find both parties lacking. But no political party can be all things to all people. Of course, I'm smart, honest, and family-loving. :) I'm unsure if either party can offer the way, the truth, and the light in these sinister times. In this country before 911, we had been unfettered about airline security. After 911, it's as if the entire country is poised for another tragedy. So when the democrats are just "agin" everything, it tends to polarize anyone with an interest in their country. I do stand by my maxim of no career politicians. This would thwart special interests. It's hard for these monsters to grow tentacles if a politician is only around for one or two terms. So now, can you cite for me anything good for the country the democrats have done since losing the election, other than look like fools compared to the republicans. In addition, name some good things about Kennedy.

How manipulative the press and the Republicans have been over this whole issue. They are controlling what is said again and what they think people are supposed to feel. The intelligent viewers can see through it! The Republicans are cry babies. They can dish it out, but they sure can't take it!!! They start crying foul when in reality, they are the ones throwing the mud and being foul. Look at all the corruption that backs this up!

KB: You are looking at the mirror. Everything you said can be said of the Democrats. You are surrounded by corruption in the Media and in the Democratic party. Let's call an ace an ace! If someone accused you of doing something you did not do just for the mere reason of making you look bad, with no evidence just "seriousness of the charge" you would not be so dry eyed either!!!

Boston Blacky: "So now, can you cite for me anything good for the country the democrats have done since losing the election, other than look like fools compared to the republicans. In addition, name some good things about Kennedy."
NO I CAN'T

Iwas not at all surprised that Mrs. cried during the confirmation hearings. I was fascinated because I noticed from the very beginning that she was breathing extraordinarily fast. I even timed my own breathing to hers and saw that she was breathing twice as fast as I. This went on throughout the whole first day and I noticed it in the beginning of the second. I think she was wound up so tightly that a release was inevitable. While I do not blame her for being overwrought at the prospect of having the whole country pick apart her husband's career, neither do I criticize the senators for doing their jobs. They are charged with finding out everything they possibly can about anyone who will hold such a high and influential position. I think that other politicians, including Mrs. Bush, are disingenuous and divisive to use this as yet another wedge and to promote their own. We always look at the surface and nuance seems to have eluded the American press when they report on politics.

Tonight was Golden Globe awards night. Correspondingly, in order to take some of the sting out of the Supreme Court nominee show, I will suggest the following scenario. *Geena Davis as the President. *Woody Allen as Alito. *And Randy Quaid as Kennedy. And be sure to be watching for my upcoming musical, which will play on Broadway in about ten years. I should live so long! :)