Why must we be a nation that coddles?

I am not one for discussing national politics, mostly because I'm such an indecisive person and there are very few issues on which I have a rock solid, no-one's-going-to-ever-change-my-mind opnion. Thus, it's fairly easy for someone to sway me to at least consider the other side of an issue (I would have been terrible on a debate team), nevermind the fact that politics, in general, leave me disillusioned and frstrated. I'd much rather talk about other things, like music, movies, or anything that doesn't involve getting people so fired up they flail their arms and spit while they're making their point.

I have, however, been paying some attention to the hearings for Supreme Court nominee Alito. At least, I listen as long as I can before my eyes start to glaze over. Thank goodness for NPR's highlights! Anyway, this whole confirmation process is yet another reason for both Republicans and Democrats to get all fired up either for or against Alito, and while I hate the childish bickering, the strategic game-playing, and the finger pointing the seems to always go on between the R's and the D's, I think the hearings are 100% necessary and completely justified.

This morning as I was listening to the 'Today Show' and then listening to NPR on the way to work, newcasters kept talking about yesterday's scene, when Alito's wife left the hearing in tears. There were several comments flying around about this incident; most of them pointed to the D's "tough line of questioning" and whether or not it was necessary. What? This man is about to be confirmed (and yes, I think he will be confirmed) to the nation's highest court, you know, the one who sets the precedent for so many issues that affect millions of people--and once he's confirmed, he's there for life, and people wonder if it's necessary to question him about his honesty, his ethics, his beliefs, his integrity, and yes, about why his beliefs have changed over the past twenty years? Of course the questions should be tough, and yes, maybe even offensive to Alito.

Why? Because I don't know him. I'd never heard of him before he was nominated, and neither had any other average American. I want to know about discrepancies, and I want to know how his appointment could affect my life. I think I'd be more upset if elected officials, those who were voted into office by Americans and entrusted to carry on on our behalf, weren't asking tough questions.

I'm not saying the R's and D's don't have their own agendas--of course they do. It's such a game: the D's are doing their best to discredit Alito on several points, while the R's are doing their best to make the D's look like they're over-zealously gunning for Alito. I do think the D's are starting to beat a dead horse on some issues, but to keep apologizing to Alito--as the R's are doing--for the tough questions about his opinions and his integrity, etc....it's not like the man is going to break if he's challenged. For god's sake, he's a Supreme Court nominee; I hope he can withstand that kind of scrutiny.

I do feel for his wife. It must be difficult to listen, hour after hour, as your husband's character is attacked. She loves him, she believes in him, and I could very well be just as upset if it was me sitting there with the boyfriend in the hot seat, and it has to be one of the most stressful situations she's ever been in. But I hope she understands that many of us don't know her husband like she does, and while I don't necessarily think our elected officials are doing a stellar job of it, they are the ones I'm trusting to get as much information about Alito as possible. Not to mention, I think Alito's held up pretty well under so much scrutiny and he's handled most, if not all, of the questions with an even-temper and dignity (of course, he is dodging some key issues, but that's a totally separate post, and I'm all politicked-out). So please, Congressmen, he doesn't need to be handled with kid gloves.