Alito

The Senate is an embarrassment. The Alito supporters (ie, Republicans) toss softballs and work to counter any suggestions that Alito might not be perfect for the job. The Democrats lob hand grenades, some quite unfairly and in the most uncivil manner, stretching to make this moderately likable man seem like a villain, a bigot, a liar and a thief.

My take on Alito:

• Where the law is clear, he will be as good a judge as any you could ask for; where there is any gray, he will vote with Scalia and Thomas to take us back to 1950 (or even 1850)
  
• Whatever the President wants to do, including illegal surveillance, detention and possibly torture of Americans, will be alright with Alito
  
• If the Supreme Court gets to pick the President in 2008, as it did in 2000, Alito will vote Republican
  
• And he will vote to overturn Roe, first chance he gets

Frankly, I could care less about Roe. It is time that Congress and the States addressed the question anyway. But the rest of the list is really scary.

It is time for a filibuster, followed by all-out parliamentary warfare.