Final Thoughts onm the Preparation Controversey

18 January 2006

I have written a few times about the controversey surrounding Sen. Lindsey Graham and the ethics allegations being made by others in cyberspace about his 5 January meeting with Judge Alito in advance of the hearings. Graham admits that he had a private meeting with the nominee in order to discuss wiretaps and executive power. If the meeting functioed as a "prep session" that does not make a bit of difference because any one of the 18 senators on the Judiciary committee could have met with the nominee privately again.

These private meetings between the nominee and senators are standard procedure in aiding the decision making. Anything that helps a senator make a decision regarding their vote on a nominee, especially for the Supreme Court, short of attending a "murder board," is acceptable. Written questions, private meetings, anything along that line. The reason Graham took the extra time was not about advantage he is a pivotal vote and influential member of the "Group of 14," which will ultimately decide weather there will be a filibuster.

We need to let our Senators have some lattitude in performance of their duties. It is always to question when we see something we do not like or are uncomfortable with, however, our questioning nature should not take the form of an allegation about the conduct.