Alito Goes to Full Senate

The Washington Post reports:

By a 10-8 party line vote with sometimes bitter partisan debate, the Senate Judiciary Committee today recommended that Samuel A. Alito Jr. be confirmed by the full Senate as associate justice of the Supreme Court.

The nomination will move to the full Senate Wednesday with a vote expected by the end of the week, according to the committee chairman, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.)...

While Democrats promised to make a fight of the Alito nomination on the floor, there are no signs now of any Republican opposition and confirmation is likely.

The partisan outcome prompted ominous-sounding comments about future nominations from both sides of the aisle.

At least one Senator (who also claims to be Solicitor General) demanded a stealth appointment:

Democrats were equally critical of the president for nominating a man they consider a polarizing force. "I wish we could have someone who has the support of all Americans," said Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.,) the committee's ranking Democrat. "There are many, many, many people in this country who would have had 90 to 100 votes in the Senate."

And no, Senator, we can't have O'Connor again - and you'd vote against her if you could. You only like her now because of that looming threat of legal stability and predictability.

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