IT'S ALITO!

No fooling around by Bush on this one. Alito is a proven conservative and originalist who should satisfy even the most discriminating on the right. The left on the other hand is already screaming potential filibuster. I say bring it on, this fights overdo.....long overdo.

WASHINGTON Oct 31, 2005 — President Bush to nominate Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, The Associated Press has learned, choosing a long-time federal judge embraced by
judicial conservatives to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Bush plans to announce the nomination at 8 a.m. EST, the officials said.
The choice likely will mend a rift in the Republican Party caused by his failed nomination of Harriet Miers.

Excellent pick Mr. President! We here at Opinipundit have expected this since Friday.

Mark Levin on Alito....

Things to Know About Alito. Sam Alito has spent his entire professional career defending the Constitution. The president and Alito deserve our strong support. It is clear the media this morning are urging Democrats to fight this nomination, not that they need that much encouragement. We are already hearing the usual superficial analyses about how Judge Alito will vote on specific issues, and so forth. We must be prepared to explain and defend our judicial philosophy, and contrast it with the left's lawlessness.

I have known Judge Alito for two decades. We served together in the Meese Justice Department, where he worked in the Solicitor General's Office and was considered the sharpest of Charles Fried's assistants. He is every bit as smart and personable as Chief Justice John Roberts. He is an expert on constitutional law. And he obviously has a longer judicial record, so his judicial philosophy is well-known. Judge Alito is soft-spoken. He is his own man (efforts in the media this morning to paint him as "Scalia-lite" or "Scalito" are intended to fire-up the leftwing base). If he is not qualified to serve on the Supreme Court, then no conservative is qualified.

It's a terrific day to be a conservative! For really comprehensive background and reax, go see Michelle Malkin, her roundup is excellent.

If you wanna have a little fun, head over to Kos or the DU, lot's of dementia and bloodletting.

Update: In seeking to marshal opposition to Alito, Kyra Phillips at CNN actually went so far to cite the wife of a former clerk to Sandra Day O'Connor who, apparently felt Pres. Bush should have appointed a woman or Hispanic. As to why Phillips thought the views of the spouse of a former clerk to O'Connor are deserving of attention.......we will never know. I've got news for you Kyra, so does O'Connor's father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate albeit for different reasons. H/T GLGB