Quick commentary on Samuel Alito

With the nomination of Samuel Alito, nicknamed "Scalito," the President is demonstrating how he gave into the fringes of his conservative base.  Alito is a far-right-leaning judicial activist, who during his 15 years of experience, once ruled that a woman could not exercise her right to abort a pregnancy without the consent of her husband, even if the husband is abusive.  His ruling was swiftly overturned by the Supreme Court.  Experience alone cannot justify confirming a nominee that does not represent wholesome, mainstream American values; nor does it mean he is qualified to serve on the highest court.

Democrats in this situation must remember that since the President has lost all of his political capital, he therefore is not in a position to simply order the Senate to brush aside Alito's radicalism and confirm him.  With the fate of the Supreme Court in the balance, the Democrats must show some spine and not allow this judge to get through, at all cost.  The progressive base is watching how its party responds.

(I will have more to say on this after I take my midterms)