Alito

Well, I was right in theory, that Harriet was a smokescreen, and had half of the short list (Luttig from the 4th Circuit).

The question becomes, what is the proper role of the Senate on this one?

The man may well be qualified (he certainly passes my "went to a better law school than I did" test, and has more than a decade on the federal appellate bench). Ideology is another issue, however. How far should the Senate, and Senate Democrats in particular, go to question a nominee's legal philosophy? What is the proper role of the Senate with regard to the advise and consent function?

Your comments are encouraged.