You know, Whitehouse is becoming quite the Mensch on Judiciary! For the last year and more, he's been forthright, articulate and pretty aggressive in trying to drag his Committee and Caucus colleagues along to show some spine regarding Republicans and the aggrandisement of the Executive -- regardless of who's been in the White House. Good for him!

I, too, was impressed by Senator Whitehouse's opening statement. Gauntlet well thrown!

Is it too early to place him at the head of the line of succession to the Crown of Eloquence precariously residing atop the snowy pate of the senior Senator from West Virginia?

That was outstanding! I went to college and lived in Rhode Island for four years, and Whitehouse's performance makes me proud to have had an association with his state.

I wonder if Roberts is capable of recognizing how activist he has become.

*sigh* If only all our Senators were as eloquent as Sen. Whitehouse...

Too bad the media will ignore every word of it. After all, Jeff Sessions has "concerns" about Sotomayor's "prejudices" that are far more important!

Senator Whitehouse is also an excellent questioner of witnesses, something most senators are not.

I've been extremely impressed by Sen. Whitehouse since he came into the Senate. His background is also impressive. I think he'd make a fine U.S. Attorney General in particular. The man's legal and ethical instincts are seemingly flawless. He has a first-rate mind and one of the few spines in the Democratic party. We need many more like him.

And what he forgot to point out, as the Corporate/Repiglican Media has dutifully ignored, is the overturning by the Roberts court OF THE EXISTING PRECEDENT AND LAW that gave all citizens a right TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY PRESENT when being questioned by law enforcement !! That's right the Roberts court OVERTURNED this right. How many of you know about this ? And, if not, why not ?

All I can say is, "Brilliant!!"

Now, if only that got some decent air time on the MSM and in the major "news" papers. Yeah, I know--wishful thinking.

Jeff Sessions has "concerns" about Sotomayor's "prejudices" that are far more important!

Yes, Senator Sessions is concerned that she won't act like an upper-class Southern Gentleman who has absolutely no empathy for anyone who is not identical to himself. My sympathy to Senator Sessions and the rest of the bigot brigade.

Now if he'd only mentioned Ricci. That was a classic case of "judicial activism" on the part of the Roberts court.

It is so refreshing to hear someone call out conservative judicial activism. The damage that Roberts and Alito will do to constitutional rights, seperation of powers, consumer protection and a host of other issues will be Bush's last middle-finger to the country.

Wow. That was a pleasure to read.

Thanks.

Now if he'd only mentioned Ricci. That was a classic case of "judicial activism" on the part of the Roberts court.

No, you save that in the event that Ricci testifies.

sheldon is at least a clown with a backbone in the us senate clown car. and i have noticed that when he gets a chance -- the rarity of those moments in the big shoes, red noses and funny hair rituals of that chamber makes one want to weep ceaselessly -- ol' shel can part the clouds and let the sunlight in better than most...

Whitehouse is no clown, he's actually one of the good ones. Besides, the US Senate clown car is full to overflowing with the GOP Senators.

I remember that Whitehouse was the third or fourth choice to run in 2006 after several bigger names declined to challenge Lincoln Chaffee. I am very glad that they did so.

I've been impressed with Sen. Whitehouse every time I've heard him speak, have never been disappointed. I hope he'll have many, many more years in the US Senate. The country needs him!

Here in teenytiny RI, we don't have a whole lot of which to be proud. Especially not among our politicians, who's venality on a per capita basis (if not in pure quantity) outdoes even Louisiana and Chicago.

So it does this old liberal's heart good to see and hear Whitehouse's statement. Thanks, senator!

It is so hard to even imagine being a chief justice AND having your ass handed to you in such a concise manner.

Yes to Senator Whitehouse and (most) of the comments above. The only improvement would have been to add a Churchillan flourish to one sentence: "Some strikes. [Pause] Some balls."

NAILED IT!!!! One can only hope and pray the Alito and Roberts got to hear this, although I doubt they would give a damn if they did. Because they're such good little ass-kissers.

Why does it seem that these kinds of thoughtful and articulate statements don't come from politicians from the south or west? (Just indulging a prejudice, thank you.)

Just count me as another proud Rhode Islander, I worked on Whitehouse's campaign because I wanted to help defeat a republican, any republican (but felt a little bad about Linc Chaffee who is a decent person - for a republican). But Sheldon Whitehouse is a class act and all Rhode Islanders should be proud (and of our senior Senator Jack Reed as well).

why keep whitehouse in the senate..

his kind of straight talk and thinking is needed nationally...

I wonder if Roberts is capable of recognizing how activist he has become.

That's like wondering if Al Capone was capable of recognizing that he had broken the law.