{"id":4321,"date":"2006-01-13T16:00:38","date_gmt":"2006-01-13T20:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/formerlyknownas\/2006\/01\/13\/marvin-blogs-alito-hearings-f"},"modified":"2011-08-05T14:54:15","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T18:54:15","slug":"marvin-blogs-alito-hearings-for-mars-audience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2006\/01\/13\/marvin-blogs-alito-hearings-for-mars-audience\/","title":{"rendered":"marvin blogs alito hearings for mars audience"},"content":{"rendered":"

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                                   Editor’s Note: “We’ve turned this post over to a celebrity <\/EM><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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                                                         interplanetary <\/EM><\/FONT>weblogger — <\/EM>Marvin T. Martian<\/EM><\/A>.<\/EM><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/EM> <\/DIV>
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\"MarvinG\" orig.<\/FONT><\/EM><\/A><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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The <\/FONT>Alito Confirmation<\/FONT><\/A> Hearings are <\/FONT>over<\/FONT><\/A> and I need to sum up quickly, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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because my Flying Saucer is about to take off, and there aren’t enough <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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hot spots in this part of the galaxy.  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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The Constitution Drafting Committee of the Martian Transitional    “MarsR”<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Government sent me here, to see how our Liberator, the United States,<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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chooses its most powerful judges.  Although I <\/FONT>listened<\/FONT><\/A>, typed and <\/FONT>read<\/FONT><\/A> <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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all week, the elected Transitional Coalition back home wasn’t impressed, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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and has already sent me on a new assignment.  They told me, quoting one <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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of my own favorite <\/FONT>phrases<\/FONT><\/A>: “back to the old drawing board.”  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Frankly, there were<\/EM> times during this<\/FONT> Hearing when I wanted to use my <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Acme Time-Space Gun on Senators from both sides of the aisle.  Still, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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I learned a lot about the American judicial nomination process and might<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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as well “blog it” (such a euphonic phrase!<\/FONT>).<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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\"MarvinNF\"  It might shock Earth Bloggers, but <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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their Martian colleagues — not being used to Free <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Speech — merely report facts.  Commentary and <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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opinion are risky things, until we get a final Bill <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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of Rights installed.  Also, we never get snide nor <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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use irony.<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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After this hearing, I can say with some certainty,that the following factors <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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are important in the Senate confirmation process for a Supreme Court <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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justice:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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In the United States of America:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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\"TedKg\"  even persons<\/FONT><\/A> living <\/FONT>in glass houses<\/FONT><\/A> are allowed to throw <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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stones (and live under bridges, I think).<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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– even little girls can <\/FONT>grow up<\/FONT><\/A> to distort the truth as much as male <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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politicians do<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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                                                                                            \"SchumerMug\"<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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– even “<\/FONT>very troubled<\/FONT><\/A>” persons get to vote on Supreme Court <\/FONT>violations <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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[ed. note<\/EM>: Dr. Freud apparently got to Mars; Marvin meant “nominations”]<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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– even ardent people of Faith are tolerant of the little white lies used when <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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applying for a job<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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“specterLeahy”<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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– even really smart intellectuals <\/FONT>say<\/FONT><\/A> stuff like “<\/FONT>super-duper<\/FONT><\/A>“<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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– even friendly witnessses can be asked detailed, leading questions<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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all day long (and no stick-in-the-mud gets to say “ask and answered”)<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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                                                                                                  \"AlitoSA\"<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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– even appellate judges get to give fuzzy, circular, non-responsive answers <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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they would never accept from counsel in oral argument<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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From the Mean Stream Media and weblogs, I also learned some other <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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surprising things:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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\"tiny It takes <\/FONT>three to four times<\/FONT><\/A> as many words (thousands of ’em) <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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to ask a question than to answer it  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"MarvinRushmore\" orig<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A>.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"tiny Your party registration has a <\/FONT>lot to do<\/FONT><\/A> with your feelings <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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about Samuel Alito<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"tiny Personal judicial and political philosophy are the same thing <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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as <\/FONT>personal vendettas<\/FONT> (according to one Public Intellectual<\/FONT><\/A>).<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"tiny Former law clerks really like it, when their judge gets to the <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Supreme Court.  <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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Okay, I admit this list doesn’t help the Drafting Committee back home very  \"MarvinAnnoyed\"<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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much.  But is that my fault?  My weblogging career is being disintegrated as<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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I type — and all I did was tell it like I saw it.  As I recently <\/FONT>said<\/FONT><\/A> to my former Earth<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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foe, Bugs Bunny: “Being disintegrated makes me very angry<\/A>. Very angry indeed.” <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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In an Instant Message this afternoon, the Committee Chair back in Marsilia wrote: <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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“This couldn’t possibly be how a Great Nation picks a member of its Highest Court.  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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You might as well have gone to Uranus!”  <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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\"UranusB\"  That’s when he got the bright idea to actually send me to Uranus<\/FONT><\/A> to cover their <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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congressional elections.  I should be back in time to see how you choose a President.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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yours truly,<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Marvin T. Martian<\/STRONG><\/EM> <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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alito<\/FONT><\/A> [means breath]!<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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puffs from the <\/FONT>right<\/FONT><\/A><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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huffs from the <\/FONT>left<\/FONT><\/A><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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feminists<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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shudder —<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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alito<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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federalists<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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sigh —<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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alito<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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dagosan<\/FONT><\/STRONG><\/A>:<\/FONT>  <\/EM><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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S<\/EM>tudy windows frosted–<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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coffee dregs dried <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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in a chipped ceramic mug<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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T<\/EM>he long drive home–<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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stumps in the roadside forest<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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mounded with old snow<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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“PokerDogs”<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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A<\/EM> grey dawn–<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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last night’s poker cards<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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facedown on the table<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Rebecca Lilly<\/FONT><\/A> <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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from <\/FONT>Shadwell Hills<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A> (Birch Brook Press, 2002)<\/EM><\/FONT>  <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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                                                                                                                 \"MarvinGF\"<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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                                                                                      Marvin images thanks to <\/EM><\/FONT><\/FONT>gargaro<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A>!       <\/EM><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/EM><\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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“MarsG”<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                   Editor’s Note: “We’ve turned this post over to a celebrity                                                          interplanetary weblogger — Marvin T. Martian.   orig.   The Alito Confirmation Hearings are over and I need to sum up quickly, because my Flying Saucer is about to take off, and there aren’t enough  hot spots in this part of the galaxy.    The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2926],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pre-06-2006"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6kP1R-17H","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/94"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4321"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4321\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12830,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4321\/revisions\/12830"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}