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November 17, 2005

How Does Sam Alito's Application Stack Up?

I
t appears that Sam Alito's (and the Administration's) explanation of the political and jurisprudential views in his 1985 job application will be ... that it was a job application. He was seeking an ideological job, we are told, and reported his views and positions accordingly.

I, for one, would like to see the job applications that others have tendered for that position, in both Republican and Democrat administrations, in order to get a sense for how ideological and partisan people typically are in responding to the question and in presenting themselves. I think that would give us some useful information about how to consider Sam Alito's self-presentation.

It may be that FOIA would bar the disclosure of other people's applications. Perhaps a reader knows the answer to that question.

Posted by Eric at November 17, 2005 3:41 PM

Comments

Completely irrelevant. Even if he was a confirmed, died in the wool, person who didn't believe in either the morality of abortion nor the legal foundation for Roe v. Wade, his personal views should not preclude him from being a justice. Political decisions are made on personal views, political candidates should be evaluated by what they personally believe. Judges are presumed to be able to put such things aside. If you don't believe that cornerstone of judicial philosophy, there is no point to even having a judicial system. If you can show me that he hasn't been able to put aside his beliefs in his position as a *Judge* or would not be able to do so, then fine. But if you are simply infering, without proof, that because he has a personal belief about abortion therefore he cannot be a judge...well, thats just irrelevent.

PS> I have a proposed solution to how political the nomination process has become on my blog, I'd encourage comments:

http://grippingreality.blogspot.com

Posted by: Ryan L at November 17, 2005 6:37 PM

I can't get this out of my head (hopefully *someone* will get it)...

SAM Alito
Lito Lito Lito

Wish I could come up with other parts that work.

To the few who know the song, you have now been infected. :)

Posted by: K at November 19, 2005 11:30 PM