Dave,

While this is sort of interesting, I'm not entirely sure what it has to do with Alito's ability to Judge a case. What it sounds like to me is that he had a "nut" working for him.

I'm not entirely sure what conclusions (if any) can be drawn about Judge Alito from this factoid.

Peace,
Scott.

I don't think the point is to apply his past to his ability to judge a case (much in the same way that other facts about his past may not bear on his judicial philosophy or legal reasoning).

BUT, that does not make these facts irrelevant; in fact they help shape public opinion as to who these nominees and judges are (otherwise, papers like the Times wouldn't run these lengthy profiles).

The incident is "interesting" to the extent that it contributes to an understanding of Alito the person and esp. to the extent that it represents, from what little I know of Alito, the only demonstrated link between him and South Asians.

For a greater appreciation for the interest in these "extra-legal" facts, visit: http://underneaththeirrobes.blogs.com, one of the most popular sites in the blogosphere.

As regards to Alito's ability to judge, New Hersey motel case is a good example. In that case, his fellow judges have severely admonished his judgement. This is a clear evidence about how he will rule in civil rights case. The more I read about him, the more I think he is Scalia-like (not Scalia-lite).

Typo. It is New Jersey Motel Case.

Krish, I agree. This article should give us all cause for concern: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/02/AR2005110202724.html

Mr. Sidhu,

Very, very, interesting! I am not, sadly, too surprised, and I fear to where this nation, and naturally, the world entire is headed. If “conservative” policy-makers become any more powerful, the world will no longer laugh off comparisons between the governments of Hitler, Stalin, and Bush II: really! I mean really! When “our” most powerful leaders say that other nations shall dearly pay if they mistreat our prisoners, and yet we openly declare “our” right to treat other nation’s prisoners in any fashion we choose, in hideous ways that are in direct opposition to “our” very Constitution, well then, it would seem, literally, we have then become that which “we” condemn; is this not in itself THE definition of tyranny (and the ultimate in hypocrisy)? When we burn bodies and yell atrocious taunts to “our” enemies, have not then we ourselves become the enemy? “We” have become a law only to the ourselves, accountable to no others, and coupled with the military might to eradicate any and all naysayers, dangerous waters lay before us, and our dives are becoming ever more convoluted. . .

There was a popular music video in the 80s saying “the future looks so bright I gotta wear shades,” with the image of a nuclear blast in the horizon.

Our prayers are no longer being answered people, we have to do more than simply look unto the heavens hoping for salvation, WE must save ourselves people, because obviously, the people ruling us are only helping themselves to “our” money, and to “our” freedom, and most appallingly, to our very children for THEIR damned wars. . .

Ok, ok, I have vented (yet I am still so terribly sad inside. . .)

I was trying to locate “Matter of Extradition of Singh, 123 F.R.D. 140 (D.N.J. 1988),” and to little avail, what does that darn FRD stand for? Federal something Docket, or???

Yet, more importantly, I did a quick read on the Sikhs at, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism, and, well, wow! I have no problem with “their” religion, it seems pretty cool to me actually, but, then again, just doing a quick read at wikipedia, is woefully inadequate for any deep understanding. Are there yet significant problems between the Sikhs and differing sects of Hinduism, I see there were some very tragic events in the 70s and 80s? I also see that the Sikhs are situated in a most contentious area, and again, I have only a vague understanding of the clashes between the mainstream Hindis and Sikhs. . .

Damned western nations carving up the world for the last few centuries!!! Gosh, makes me just, aarrrgggghhhhh! I have to believe we would have all, regardless of race, ethnicity, and religion, been just as stupid as us western nations have been for these last few centuries. . .

Well, I think I am going to shut up. I do not want to ever offend anybody here. I am just one striving to understand. I hope all is well and getting better always. . .

Love, peace, and contentment I wish to us all; thank you.

Craig,

I was sweating a little bit reading your ranting (oops, venting), and trying to make some sense of it. Well, alas, why bother, you're only a gentle Western/American boy, like me, trying to preach a good message here at Intent. Thank god for Deepak and co. for creating this opportunity. We have become a large, extended family!

We are a family who can behave in like manner as siblings in any regular family: argue, disagree, throw a tantrum, pout, sneer, apologise, make up, laugh, hug, kiss, cry, empathize, sympathize. etc, etc.

Craig, my good blog buddy, out of curiosity, have you ever traveled to the mystic land of India?

Love,

Rog.

Roger,

Regrettably, no, I have never been to India. Honestly, I have not even been out of the Continental United States (I know, I know; life sucks then I die. . .).

I am just a city boy who despises capitalism with a passion, and yet I am smart enough to praise the Lord I was not born an HIV-positive African baby who dies w/i the year.

Which only fuels my anger towrds this, "our" very nation, America. I just don't see how we can have billionaires, and multi-millionaires, and then want to "corner the market" on morality as well.

Living in a world where money, oil, and land are more important than human life, quite frankly, perplexes the hell out of me. . .

peace Rog, my brother

Hi Craig,

You gotta get over hating your own country so much. If you actually believe everything you say about the old US of A, than you really have an inflated opinion of America and its importance in the world.

It is frankly impossible to blame America and capitalism for everything...well, not impossible, you've done that. I can't believe that you can look around your country and your government and not see SOMETHING good about it. Honestly...if you really believe that America is as bad as you say, then you have as much of an inflated opinion of this country as the Republicans do.

You write clearly and with thought, so it's not that you're not intelligent. You mentioned that you have not travelled the world. I suspect that you are young and don't really have much of a point of reference when it comes to the world. I am not young and have done quite a bit of travelling...there are worse places than the United States; I know your thinking, America made it that way...but no my friend...they were lousy places before anyone thought of America.

Calm down and appreciate your country a bit and you will enjoy the rest of the world all the more.

Peace,
Scott.

Scott,

FYI,

If memory serves me right, Craig is not exactly a spring chicken. He is closing in on 40 years, 38 plus to be precise. Craig is not alone, there are millions of people like him in America.

Craig also claims to be a student.

Peace,

Cherry.

P.S. How do I know this? Just click on the blue letters of his name.

Hello Scott,

Actually, I am quite old, almost 40. But, I suppose my point of reference came from being involved for most of my life within the halls of this land’s justice, and naturally, penitentiaries; you know, I was born several years too early for the Roe effect to have saved society from my “evilness.” I know, I should just go to Scandinavia or something, but this government will not allow me to leave, just as the Northern countries probably would not want me anyway.

I even did all I could to appeal to the powers that be so I could at least go kill people (as if I really could), legally, for mighty America, yet, “they” just do not seem too eager to put a gun in my hands. The good thing is, is, if it were not for people like me, then “we” could not build more prisons, and give our former soldiers a job.

It is all good brother, it is all good.

Peace Scott

Craig,

Now that you have offered this info on your past (which I think you should not have done), are you at liberty to say what it is that you spent time in the pen for?

Peace,

Rog.

I also am not sure what this tells us about Alito. He had the case reheard--that is good. He had a lady working for him faking death threats against herself--bizarre.
Is Alito honest? Does he have integrity? Is he on a power trip? Will he abuse his authority? I cannot tell from this strange soap opera scenario.

Craig,

I hope someday you have a positive experience with capitalism....maybe you already have, but don't realize it. Do you love the internet and the blogosphere? Wouldn't be here without capitalism. Do you enjoy drinking cheap milk and having cheap eggs and produce?? Wouldn't be here without capitalism. No lines to get food....capitalism. It's not a perfect system by any means, but by far it's proven to be the best.

Starving babies in Africa...is not the fault of America. Could America do more to help? Quite possibly, but we didn't cause it....Scott is right, the places that are 'bad' in this world were bad before our 200 year existence. Does this release us from our responsibility to help? Not at all, but it's quite one thing to examine our policies in the light of 'how much are we doing?' And it's quite another thing to simply say 'we're rotten and all trouble in the world comes from this place'!

The American dream is alive and well. Why else would there be so many immigrants? Why do Asians come here and become millionaires in 5 years?? Because they're selfish and mean and bad?? No, because they see enormous opportunity! It's here buddy, for all of us. Inequities? Of course!! In every system there are inequities. There must be constant vigilance to assure equal opportunity, but it sure as hell beats penalizing one man for his hard work and education, just to make him equal with his less fortunate brother. One school of thought seeks to lift up the unfortunate, the other school of thought seeks to tear down the achiever...I'd rather lift up than tear down.

Not quite sure what all this has to do with Alito, but here we go!! As for him, I'm delighted....Krish...here's to you babe..."Scalia-like"!!! I'm lovin' it!!!

Craig, I wouldn't answer that question if I were you. It's none of his damn business nor mine nor Scott's nor anyone else's for that matter. Today is a new day...what we do now is what counts! Sounds like you've had it tough, but hang in there...look for the sunshine...it's always there if you look hard enough!!

I'd better get my kids ready for bed. "Mama" has been away all week for a Seminar, so Mr. Mom is about frazzled!!!

Craig have a good evening!! All the rest of you too!!

norm

PS. Ron don't go off on me because I only mentioned Asians and not all others...I'm still not prejudiced!! I was just making an example.

Roger,

Not that this is the proper forum, and you are right, I typed b4 I thought. Now that I have opened this can of worms, I will lay it down as succinctly as possible, and then I think perhaps I should not blog here anymore.

I really think Dr. Chopra is a wonderful, wise, and kind man, and I most definitely do not want to bring any negative energies to this wonderful web site. This is a nice place, and I think mayhap I have overstepped my bounds. Anyway, here goes real quick.

Alcoholic by age 11, juvenile delinquent very next year, and a family name (father and uncle being “career” criminals) that did anything but endeared me to the local powers that be. I lived up to my heritage, I hated “the man,” and I dutifully carried on “my” peoples war against the cops. I lost. Drunken and drugged thievery was the game, stealing just to do something illegal, it became part of the high. Being illegal became apart of the high. Probation, violation, jail, probation, violation, jail, get drunk, get high, get into trouble. I thought it was natural, I thought that that was what I was supposed to do.

Then in my later 20s came the coke, and that was it, my abuses reached even greater heights. Then, finally, just a few years ago, after getting out of prison in 2000 (again thievery), I finally woke up, and sobered up; death or the rest of my life in prison being my ONLY two other options left in life. I am not crying about it, I made the choice to be a drunk by the age of 11, I made the choice to mindlessly steal, and I made the choice to continue abusing drugs and alcohol. Why do not I now become a drug and alcohol counselor, or social worker, or some other such nonsense, because I am not going to lie to MY people out there on the streets dying. There is no hope to give them, not in face of where “our” (America’s) priorities truly lie. Your money is where your heart is, and our money is on building weapons and more prisons. So I comfort them where I can, and I occasionally relapse (playing with fire), when the hopelessness overwhelms me, and I await reunion with our Creator.

Peace Roger, and I truly, truly mean that. Peace my friend.

(P.S., Norm thank you for your very kind and encouraging words, really, they have uplifted me spirits immensely, thank you!!!)

Um...just a wild, wild guess...but Craig you are not related to Marek are you? I just happen to notice some slight similarities in your syntax. Great story though!!!

Craig - I'm so sorry to hear your story. Sometimes it helps to move far, far away. I wonder if you tried that.

And I don't think you can say that you made a choice to drink at 11. Here's where I agree with you for once. The social set up is such that some kids are doomed to fall into such traps. And this whole prison thing is totally overboard. There's no other country in the world which parallels the US in this - well perhaps Mao and Stalin outdid them here. If you did the same things in the Netherlands they would look at it from a totally different perspective.

Anyway, I think you should stick around this blog for a while. I too worry sometimes that I am bringing negative vibes. But then it's up to this site to draw good energy and to exude it too. It takes all types to make this world.

Norm,

No worries, Buddy!

Freedom of speech is a protected right guaranteed by the US Constitution, my good pal. You are free to express your opinion (within reason) just like anyone else in these great United States; and just like you are free to criticize anyone else's opinion (within reason). That's one of the pillars of strength of this wonderful nation.

Here is what the First Amendment guarantees
(verbatim): "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances."

So, what's it like to play the role of Mr. Mom?

Makes you appreciate mom all the more, hah!

Good night, Norm.

Craig,

I appreciate your honesty. As much as your past has been painful, it does afford you the opportunity to make a difference with people in similar situations. All of us can use adversity in our lives to help others.

As far as making a "choice" at 11 to drink...I would agree with others here and say that the "choice" was made for you by conditioning and pain.

My personal belief is that we choose the life that we live before incarnating. Our choice is made based upon how much spiritual growth we want to experience during our lifetime. I think you have chosen a hard road but heroic road as you wanted to grow substantially.

Good luck and much love to you.
Scott.

We americans that slam our country, aren't slamming the country at large; just the system that we have let run amock. What, is everyone else supposed to complain and we should just lie in ignorance or silence? I gotta laugh that you hear both sides of the story. Americans are arrogant and single minded, but when we join in the international discussion about what is wrong, we should just go ahead and leave America if we don't like it. B.S. We already have Rush Limbaugh if we want to act like ALL politicians aren't trying to sink us.

DISSATISFACTION. How fast would your PC be if people were just satisfied with 5 1/4 floppies running on 2M of memory? We wouldn't have this opporunity to agree/disagree here today.

We know that this is a great land - it has brought many great things to this planet. But I don't think we're here to talk about what is great and dandy. We're here problem solving & you can't problem solve without acknowledging problems. Are you going to own it or sit in denial until the cancer is everywhere. This is why many of my posts are regarding dealing with the local cesspool instead of simply complaining about ill stuff abroad.

Our ( all? ) political system has been hijacked by the world's richest people. These people run the corporations ( Cheney & Haliburton, Rumsfeld was a Drug Co CEO, Bush: Oil,Bullets,Bombs ) that usurp power from the people via lobbying and flat out bribery. These corporations are in bed with the military, and in some cases are arguably THE military(Lockheed/Martin)(who sell their technology to hostile countries - WWII Japan was killing us with our own products ). Those people that corporations support, usually win and they are eternally indebted. Now the people are then essentially cut-off from the political system. Corporations ( an entity that wouldn't exist without people ) have more rights than the people themselves and can take their land if they wish.

Us bitchers, simply acknowledge this is the case and then can point to the numerous realities that have come out of the situtation WE HAVE LET OURSELVES GET INTO DUE TO COMPLACENCY OF EVERYDAY LIFE. Sticking your head in a hole does nothing but exasperate the problem. Furthermore, most people are in denial of this and so they filter out all data that leads them to the obvious answer. Cockroaches scatter when the light is placed on them. I feel that is all we are doing here. 9-11 has never been revealed for what it is b/c not enough people are shining their lights on it. Thus, I feel we have embravened the perpetrators and they will do it again and again ( OKC bombing, WTC bombing, Waco, Liousianna levees, HARRP, it goes on and on - government involvement & inconsistencies of the official stories have been documented time and again ) until FEMA is in full effect ALL the time under martial law.
- - -
RE: Louisianna ( BlackElectorate.com )
..that it was New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin himself, who told Minister Farrakhan that there was a 25-foot crater underneath the levee near the Ninth Ward...
- - -
As far as Craig goes, whose law did he break anyway? DeLay can break the very laws he endorses and can get away clean. Smoking the same dope in 4 different places will give you 4 different results. If God exists everywhere, how can you judge someone for breaking a localized law? It is simply localized insanity. Does going to jail make you any more of a criminal. Bush still endorses DeLay who carved Texas up to get more Reps in play; who illegally sent law enforcement officials to seek out Dems that were exercising their rights to not form a quorum.

The problems we Americans bitch about on this blog aren't only in our country, we are simply acknowledging them as our own. Capitalism is not checked by morality - ANYWHERE. It compartamentalises resources and the benefits those resources create. The idea of owning land is pretty rediculous when we all show up here wearing nothing but afterbirth. Socialism sounds great and probably even works when the machine that facilitates it isn't sick and corrupted - but tell me where this is the case.

Relating this to the actual topic...this is just another CASE IN POINT of how sick and un-equitable America's injustice system really is. There is absolutely no consistency in judgements unless you analyze it from a money/power perspective.

So I'll leave saying this:
I don't feel we can outline worldwide problems without including America. ( it is on this planet right? ) Is it not hypocritical to tell other people from other countries that their system is completed shitted out without saying 'Hey we're F'd up toooooooo! LET'S GO FIX IT ALL!!!!!!!'
This planet is our house - it's time for housecleaning.

Namaste to ALL of you.

Hi Sikind,

Nice post. But please work on the grammar. Your spelling is very, very poor.

Some examples: 1) americans; 2) Amock; 3) compartamentalises.

Correction: Americans, Amok, and compartmentalizes.

Cheers,

Debby.

Sikind: okay.

Scott.

Craig,

I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic circumstances of your early childhood years and of the difficult adolescent and young adult years. Surely, you cannot be faulted for getting into all the prohibited stuff (like the consumption of alcohol) when you were only 11 years old.

Your parents let you down and it's a crying shame. Millions of children all over the world are similarly negelected, mistreated and abused. Some do not cope well when they become adults; while others fair much better.

You must be applauded for trying to rebuild your life and picking up the pieces. Father Time has a certain way of healing all (or most) wounds, though some scars do serve as a constant reminder of the past.

But we here at blogville are your friends and will offer you whatever help possible to assist you unto the road ahead. Please don't get down on yourself, and please continue to contribute to this site and not just fade away into loneliness and oblivion.

Thank you friend,

Love, peace & respect,

Ron Saywack.