A REASON TO LAUGH

I had to giggle this afternoon when Polk County's own right wing radio talker opened her show by slamming Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R - PA) for scheduling the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito to January. She referred to Specter as "A LIBERAL with a 'R' after his name", accusing him of caving in to the Democrats in waiting until the beginning of the new year and of being no friend to conservative Republicans.

It's clear that the hostess can't pee until she reviews the Family Research Council's talking points (Their "Washingon Watch" airs during her show, too). Anyone with half a brain would figure that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to hold hearings before the end of the year. Members will be preparing to head home during the last two weeks of this month and next for the congressional holiday recesses. With those time restraints, it would simply be inappropriate to try to rush through hearings and a vote the way that the conservative extremists would rather see.

For the nation's sake, it is important that Judge Alito's record and writings be reviewed carefully and that hearings should be done in a timely manner with as few interruptions as possible.