All Intensive Purposes

I hereby resolve not to pay any attention to those who criticize the conduct of the Democratic Senators questioning Judge Alito at his confirmation hearings unless they also have something to say about the conduct of the Republican Senators. The Republicans, a majority on the committee, plainly had decided both to confirm Judge Alito before they heard him, and to abdicate their institutional interests by declining to oblige him to include substance in his answers. Faced with a nominee who will not answer questions, Democrats have spent too much time tarring him in a personal way. I do not like this, but I understand why they are doing it, and if you are going to spend much time criticizing them for playing the hand they have been dealt, you ought to spend some time criticizing the dealer.