Shrinking Schumer

More Alito shrinkage

Using MS Word to summarize Charles Schumer's (D-NY) opening statement:

Judge Alito, welcome to you, Mrs. Alito and your two children. I join my colleagues in congratulating you on your nomination to the position of Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

The same critics who called the President on the carpet for naming Harriet Miers have rolled out the red carpet for you, Judge Alito. Are you in Justice O’Connor’s mold? Most importantly, though, your burden is high because of your record.

In case after case after case, you give the impression of applying careful legal reasoning, but too many times you happen to reach most conservative result.

Will your judicial philosophy preserve these principles? In the area of executive power, Judge Alito, you have embraced and endorsed the theory of the “unitary executive.”

Your deferential and absolutist view of separation of powers raises other questions. Right now, that is an open question given your stated views.

The other judges on your court all disagreed with you. Do you still hold these cramped views of Congressional power? I sincerely hope that you will answer our questions, Judge Alito.