Leahy’s remarks at the 2:36 Mark. He deviated a little from his prepared remarks. Instead of calling him misguided and wrong, he all but said Justice Alito was a liar...but did it in polite Senate speak.
Good.
Thus, I present the amended transcript here for you to enjoy.
Now, only six years after upholding 100 years of precedent a thin majority of the Supreme Court, made possible by President Bush’s appointment of Justice Alito, has thrown out important parts of the law and they’ve run roughshod over a long line of longstanding Court precedent. Mr. President, this is a threat to the rule of law. It overrules congressional efforts to keep powerful, moneyed interests from swamping individuals’ voices and interests.
Now in his confirmation hearing Justice Alito, I might say under oath, testified that the role of the Supreme Court is a limited role. It has to do what it’s supposed to do vigilantly, but it also has to be equally vigilant about not stepping over the bounds and invading the authority of Congress. That was then, when he was seeking confirmation. This is now. And as Justice Stevens’ dissent makes clear, the narrow majority of the Justices, including Justice Alito, substituted their own preferences for those of the duly-elected Congress, despite a hundred years of their own Supreme Court precedents.
