What About Lindsey Graham?

by Scott Shields, Thu Jan 12, 2006 at 12:28:09 PM EST

For me, one of the most exciting moments of the Alito hearings was Senator Feingold demanding a list be made public of all the people who took part in Alito's preparations. Here was something that Alito had to answer for, factually speaking. He couldn't forget. He couldn't squirm out of it. He couldn't wave it off, saying that the issue might come up before him in court. He had to answer.

So of course I found Feingold's request even more important in the aftermath of Lindsey Graham causing Alito's wife to have a breakdown. It's a well-established fact that Graham was involved in the preparations. Some have wondered whether or not the spectacle of Alito's wife crying during the hearing was something that was rehearsed before hand, as the right-wing message machine blamed the whole thing on the mean ol' Democrats, even though it was a Republican who set her off. I can't claim to know either way.

What does bother me greatly is that Graham's name does not appear on the disclosure list of those in attendance at Alito's murder boards. Here's a graphic file of the PDF posted by Think Progress.

Am I missing something? Unless I'm wrong, this is not a full and accurate list of the people involved in preparing Alito for the hearings. And as Kos points out, disclosure of the names of those involved is a very serious subject, as it raises some real ethical questions. Here's hoping the full list -- the real full list -- is released soon.

Tags: Judges (all tags)

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15 Comments

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Keep hoping
Without Democratic politicians raising a fuss over it, it'll never happen.

What, do you think the media is going to demand accountability from a conservative?

(Sorry for the snark, but this whole event has made me far more cynical than usual.)

by LiberalFromPA 2006-01-12 12:34PM | 0 recs
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Graham on CNN
Wolf Blitzer on CNN just asked Graham whether he had been involved in teaching sessions for Alito. Graham said he had not, but also said that like other senators he had met with Alito privately to discuss issues of concern (in Graham's case, he said the main issue he wanted to discuss was the need for warrants before detaining US citizens in places like Guantanamo). But, he said, if that give and take had helped Alito in any way, he would be proud to be useful.

Not an exact quote, but that's the gist of t.

by jnfr 2006-01-12 12:49PM | 0 recs
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Actual headline
"Will Vicious Dems pay for driving Alito's wife to tears?"

Actual banner headline on FOX "News." (courtesy of Crooks and Liars.) Forget the fact that she started crying after Graham asked Alito if he was a bigot. Maybe no one noticed or will remember.

This is great, though. I haven't seen this anywhere else. If there's at least two Republican senators involved, you just know that virtually the entire Republican Judiciary Committee was in on it.

by jurassicpork 2006-01-12 01:43PM | 0 recs
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Would guess it's accurate
Not because I believe what the WH puts out, but because I don't believe there's any reason to lie on this one. Graham's dual position, if that was indeed the case, doesn't really bother me that much, to be honest. I doubt it would most voters, either.
by ColoDem 2006-01-12 01:50PM | 0 recs
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Uhh....
"Clyburn didn't do anything illegal, and there's no proof he even did anything unethical."

Isn't that what the Republicans say about Tom Delay?

I have one set of standards for every member of Congress. We ought to treat corruption in our party the same as corruption in the Republican party. Accepting money from lobbyists is simply unacceptable.

by Covin 2006-01-12 02:15PM | 0 recs
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Re: Uhh....
damn it, this is the wrong story. stupid browser.
by Covin 2006-01-12 02:16PM | 0 recs
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Rove?
Do you think slimeball Karl Rove could have been involved in some way?
by Marie Smith 2006-01-12 02:17PM | 0 recs
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I doubt....
...that Lindsay Graham rehearsed "crying" with Alito's wife.

If he DID attend the "murder boards" then it would give rise to whether his supposed heated exchange was sincere or just made to make Graham look independent, and Alito to look responsive.

by JPhurst 2006-01-12 03:11PM | 0 recs
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Re: I doubt....
I have no doubt that the heated exchange between Graham Alito was sincere. I have never seen Graham be anything but sincere.
by judykratochvil 2006-01-12 05:53PM | 0 recs
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Names
Couldn't help but notice Harriet Miers name on this list.  Granted, this falls under her perview - but wouldn't it suck to prepare someone else for "your" job?
by twomblyk 2006-01-12 03:51PM | 0 recs
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"moot court" controversey
I think it is quite poosible that Graham was only there as an observer. All the senators on the committee and in the "group of 14" met with Alito privately.

The larger problem is who is on the list. Harriet Miers. Benjamin Powell. Others that helped with the surveillance program.

by judykratochvil 2006-01-12 04:39PM | 0 recs
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What Controversy?
Attorneys in the Clinton White House Counsel's office helped his S. Ct. nominees, too, and it was the same for previous administrations. I doubt they talked about the other issues that the WH Counsel was involved in. This is a non-story & raising it has lawyers in Washinton thinking some Senate Democrats have lost sight of reality.
by SLinVA 2006-01-12 07:22PM | 0 recs
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Re: What Controversy?
The Controversey is the Harriet Miers was involved along with Benjamin Powell in the wiretap issue. If them preparing the nominee to answer questions at his nomination hearing isn't a controversey than I do not know what is a controversey.
by judykratochvil 2006-01-13 01:14PM | 0 recs
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What Really Bothers Me
is that some of these people have been involved with attempting to justify the illegal NSA wiretapping, and Alito is going to encounter them when this issue inevitably comes before the court.
by Bob H 2006-01-13 02:11AM | 0 recs
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Re: What Really Bothers Me
I agree, that was my point about the people on the list. Most were involved in the wiretap thing and will encounter Alito in court proceedings. I think the story about Graham was released as a smokescreen to get us distracted from the real who's who on the prep team.
by judykratochvil 2006-01-13 01:13PM | 0 recs

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