MID-JANUARY COMMENTARY FROM JESSICA FLAGG [A real Democrat for Congress - NYC] --- Why"No" on Alito?

Let me give you a few reasons why. He's a member of the Federalist Society! That's Why! We don't need another ideologue on our Court (no matter how pleasant his colleagues find him and how nicely he dresses up his findings). He's a member of a group that doesn't believe in a strong federal government. It doesn't believe it is the role of the federal government to protect our air, our water, our food, our voting rights, our rights to privacy, our right to education, our right to Social Security, but does believe in the supremacy of the President above all laws passed by mere people. (While he said no one is above the law including the President, he then waffled on just what the law said and on the role on Congress and whether we needed to be bound by our international treaties ’big waffles in today's climate’ excuse the pun). He couldn't say that the Constitution guarantees a woman sovereignty over her own body or a right to personal privacy. That's why.

And although he's supposed to be so terribly bright, he couldn't remember anything about CAP even though he included it on his resume for the Reagan administration job. Come on! If he put it on his resume he did it for a reason, especially since we've been told repeatedly that he's no dummy. So he lied. And his genius not withstanding, he also had a lapse when it came to recusing himself off the Vanguard case (and he found in favor of Vanguard of course). He lied again. Maybe he's bright like GW Bush’ just stupid when it comes to inconvenient facts. Or maybe he lies like GW Bush, either way, not good enough to be a Supreme.

And maybe he really thinks women should be stripped away rights because the Constitution clearly states that all MEN are created equal, AND we know that he will work hard to interpret the Constitution literally, all his colleagues have said so, and he has done so at every chance. And while an amendment was made to declare corporations be granted rights as individuals, women have not been identified specifically as such. Convenient for misogynists (that's why we need the Equal Rights Amendment). People who decide their mission in life is to interpret anything literally, come up short in my opinion. They tend toward fascism or fundamentalism; two qualities I don't think belong in our Supreme Court, no matter how pleasantly a person may justify their disregard for the intent and spirit of the word.

I spent this much of this past week listening to and watching the Senate Judiciary hearings on Judge Alito. I was frustrated by the lack of attention given to his membership in the Federalist Society. While mentioned and acknowledged, it was passed over lightly which was mind-boggling to me. If explored as deeply as the question of Judge Alito's CAP membership it would have yielded a lot about his judicial philosophy, and would have served to illuminate his duplicitous evasion on particular questions. It also would have served to highlight some of the major philosophical differences he has with Sandra Day O'Connor and could have been used to rightly ask if he believes in the goal of our founding fathers when they tried this experiment to see if nation of laws and not of men could be set up in such a way as to allow for government of the people, by the people and for the people.

A government of self determination. He should have been asked the question about whether we want a court dominated by Federalist Society doctrine, since Justices Scalia, Thomas, and Chief Justice Roberts are all also members. And the last thing we need on the Supreme Court is a liar. His recusal and CAP mental lapses give the wrong appearance. And we keep hearing that he's no dummy. Finished. Please write to your Senators on this. Word is they haven't heard from enough of us, so they don't think we care and the mainstream media are intent on hocking this bad merchandise as though it's the best ever. Baloney ... bad for the health of democracy! Don't buy it!

PERSONAL NEWS #82
On Saturday, December 3rd, I joined Jackie, Lilit and Periantari at Café la Fortuna to play LOTRs Trivial Pursuit, nosh on food and engage in Tolkien conversation. We had such a fun time playing the game, which took us around 2 to 3 hours to complete. Jackie won and I came in second. Jackie and I knew each other already, but it was my first time meeting the other two ladies. They are more of what I term Tolkien purist. Whereas I tend to be more a fan of the films and I’ve read the trilogy about three times since mid-1980s. If we ever have another “game day” … I’ll need to speed read thru the books. Last time I read the books was before seeing “The Two Towers”, which came out in December 2002. After the game was completed, Jackie and I hung out to catch up on news, as the other two left due to other commitments.

On Sunday, December 4th, I was invited to a holiday luncheon party at Minado by Marie & Joe Allegro. [The restaurant/buffet is on East 32nd Street near Madison Avenue.] I know Joe via NYC Chapter Dept of Peace and his wife Marie is my personal trainer. A few Dept of Peace folk showed up for the party, but the majority of 50+ gathering were friends and family of Joe/Marie. Had a delightful time, but what I remember the most is the wonderful assorted buffet style of Asian food. OMG! It was absolutely delicious! I highly recommend this place to all.

Had appointments with my chiropractor and massage therapist on December 5th and 7th, due to nasty lower back troubles, which originated during Thanksgiving weekend.

On Thursday, December 8th, had an appointment with my gynecologist about some issues I’ve been having with pills I’d been taking since September. We realized they were much too strong for my sensitive system and switched to a different brand with lower dosage. Also, upon further examination, it appears the Cyst may be gone. I’m having a sonogram in February to determine if this is true or not. If it’s true … oh yeah … hurray!

We always kept in touch via phone during the last 9 to 10 years, as well as send b-day and holiday cards. And now, on December 10th, Sheila and I were going to meet up again. We’re both ex co-workers of WCP Inc and remained good friends. Sheila moved out to Seattle in mid-1996, then to Florida around 2000 and back to NJ the autumn of 2005. I do regret not visiting her out in Seattle, as I’ve heard wonderful things about that city AND its Pearl Jam mecca. Anyhow … we arranged to meet at Grand Central Station [lower level food court] for a quick bite to eat before checking out the holiday art & craft shows in Vanderbilt Hall and also Bryant Park. [We also stopped at Cosi on 42nd Street for warm liquid refreshment, as the weather was very cold and windy that day.] It was great seeing Sheila again, catching up on news/gossip and hanging out. Just like old times back in the early to mid-1990s. We parted at Port Authority were she caught a 4:30pm bus back to NJ.

THIS WEEKEND IN THE [Liberal] NEWS

BATTLEFIELD IRAQ
Terrence McNally, AlterNet
Combat veterans Sean Huze, Paul Rieckhoff and Jimmy Massey discuss the truth -- and the lies -- about the war in Iraq.
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/31053/

THE CASE AGAINST ALITO
The Editors, The Nation
It's not too late to stop the confirmation of Supreme Disaster Samuel Alito.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/31044/

HIDING BEHIND THE TROOPS
David Corn, TomPaine.com
Critical of President Bush's reasoning for sending our nation to war? According to his new rhetoric, you'reimperiling American soldiers.
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/31007/

LIFE BEFORE ROE V. WADE
Molly M. Ginty, Choice! Magazine
More than thirty years later, three people who helped provide abortions before Roe tell their stories.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/31049/

BACHELET: SI Y NO
Marc Cooper, Truthdig
The election of Socialist pediatrician Michelle Bachelet as president is good news for the people of Chile. Especially given the alternatives.
http://www.alternet.org/story/31057/

IRAQ: DECONSTRUCTING THE RECONSTRUCTION
Arianna Huffington, HuffingtonPost.com
Why does Bush still refuse to properly rebuild the country he chose to destroy?
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/31012/

THE RETURN OF BUSH'S BROWNSHIRTS
Stephen Pizzo, News for Real
The corrupt Republicans who took office on a mandate of fighting corruption have launched yet another dirty smear campaign.
http://www.alternet.org/story/30991/

DRUG TESTING GETS FAILING GRADE
Marsha Rosenbaum, AlterNet
When it comes to random student drug testing, educators and parents should proceed with extreme caution -- it may be doing more harm than good.
http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/30986/

DEBUNKING THE MYTH OF A 'LIBERAL MEDIA'
Eric Alterman, Center for American Progress
A new right wing-funded 'study' employs comically unsound criteria to rate the media.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/30949/

WHO READS IN AMERICA?
Mark Schurmann, Pacific News Service
Though many educators bemoan the decline of literacy in America, you can still find plenty of readers in the smaller corners and cracks of society.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/30641/

RACISM OR BAD BEHAVIOR?
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, AlterNet
Black students are under fire at America's schools.
http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/30995/