A few comments on Alito's opening statements

But this was back in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

It was a time of turmoil at colleges and universities. And I saw some very smart people and very privileged people behaving irresponsibly. And I couldn't help making a contrast between some of the worst of what I saw on the campus and the good sense and the decency of the people back in my own community.

In other words, his "own community" was a group of nice, quiet folks who didn't concern themselves with nasty things like Vietnam and free speech and campus unrest and Watergate and just went about their lives like good little citizens. Is it me, or is that hardly reassuring?

And the members of this committee and the members of their staff, who have had the job of reviewing all of those opinions, really have my sympathy. I think that may have constituted cruel and unusual punishment.

Guffaw! Guffaw! Maybe we should let the detainees at Guantanamo read those opinions! That'd be TORTURE! guffaw snort

(Really, now - making a comment like that at this particular time and place - JUST a TAD tasteless, at the very least.)

And there is nothing that is more important for our republic than the rule of law. No person in this country, no matter how high or powerful, is above the law, and no person in this country is beneath the law.

Oh, we're going to hold you to THAT one, Mr. Alito. We're going to hold you to that. When/if you're sitting on the Court and a criminal case is brought before you involving the Preznit, you're going to get that thrown right back in your face. And you'll deserve it.